Tuesday, March 20

Starting Spring with Good news!

I have good news. It's spring! Sometimes in Minnesota the official first day of Spring arrives and there is still snow on the ground. Not this year. We had temps in the upper 70's for the past four days and that is unheard of in March in Minnesota. Today it's not quite so sunny or warm but it is still spring-like and I can hear the birds singing outside my sewing room window. There aren't any flowers growing yet but some neighbors have tulips that are beginnning to pop up. These beauties will soon bloom again in Ned and Mary Ann Pillings yard. The photo was taken in the spring of 2010. Ned's tulips were so pretty and I love tulips! They are my very favorite sign of spring! I have this quilt that I want to make that will feature tulips. I may get to it this spring. I am taking time just for me these days. And there is good reason for that.............
If you follow my blog regularly or you are in my Yahoo groups, then you know that I have had some health issues. I shared details in my private Yahoo groups last week but then I had to decide........To share or not to share on blog? Well, the time has come when I need to share because I do have some health issues facing me and I need to let you know what is and isn't happening. Let me just say......... I have had a very bumpy road the past two weeks, but I am doing well and have a brighter outlook than I did just two weeks ago. 
For those who don't know......a little background......a routine chest x-ray during a visit in early February to a dermatoligist at the Mayo Clinic revealed a shadow area on my right lung. That triggered a series of exams, a CTscan and then a PETscan. The PETscan showed three tiny areas on the lung that "lit up" (which means they are looked at as possibly cancerous) plus a spine lesion and an ovarian cyst (neither "lit up"). So that meant more exams, a needle biopsy of the lung, an MRI to look at the spine lesion and an appointment with an oncologist. All this in a couple of weeks. I was exhausted, not sleeping well, and my emotions and those of my husband, kids, and family were stressed to the max. Then yesterday, I had my appointment with the oncologist who gave me and my husband the good news that the biopsy showed NO cancer in the lung nodules!!  Big, big sigh of relief!!  However, he thinks I have some kind of an infection/fungus in my lung so I have been referred to a Pulmonary Specialist for an appointment in early April. He felt there is no emergency now that they know they are not cancer but it does need to be treated, whatever it is and he will follow the nodules for several months to observe if they change size. I am not sure what the spine lesion is but at this time it is not looked at as cancer. The next thing up for me is surgery to remove the ovarion cyst (a blood test for ovarian cancer was done and I only scored a 6 and needed to be below 35 so the doctor is confident this is just a water density cyst). That surgery will be "very soon" according to the doctor and I am just waiting for the call with a date. So, behind the scenes of my blog and Facebook, lots of doctoring has been keeping me busy and will continue to keep me busy for a couple months. You all know I would rather be busy stitching instead of visiting new doctors, nurses and clinics. However, there is one plus in meeting new people........I often meet a quilter and get to introduce them to my blog and learn of their quilting adventures. LOL!
Yesterday's news was such a relief as the last two weeks have been "grueling" to say the least. The time had come to share this on my blog because I have not been able to blog regularly.......no time and sometimes just didn't feel well or feel like writing a blogpost.  Now, though, if I'm not chatting much or blogging regularly, you will know why. I am looking forward to getting treated and getting well and getting back to regular blogging and family fun!!!  I have lots of photos for blogposts that never got written and projects I want to do and didn't have the energy to make. Spring is a season of Hope and I have lots of hope that this spring will be a good one!
Thanks to those who have been praying and sending positive thoughts. Knowing others care makes getting through tests, scans, etc. so much easier!
Sandi

28 comments:

luv2quilt2 said...

I'm sorry to hear that you've been facing such health issues. You'll be in my prayers, and as always, I will look forward to your posts when you feel like doing them.

Mary Grace McNamara said...

Well Sandi, that is some news and I am so glad to hear that it seems to be turning out ok! But what an ordeal you have been through lately. Take care of yourself and we will all be happy to hear from you whenever you have the time and energy to write.

MGM

Karen said...

Those tulips are beautiful. I don't think they grow where I live.

Jocelyn said...

Oh my Sandi, this sounds so stressful. I hope the doctors can find out what is causing the infection.

annemarie said...

My thoughts are with you Sandi - I know this has been trying for you. You are in good hands at the Mayo Clinic. Please know we are all thinking about you and praying for your good health.

Amy, a redeemed sheep said...

I am so glad to hear that it's not cancer! Whew...I can imagine how hard this has all been for you. I am thankful for the care that the Mayo Clinic gave you.

Blog when you can and the rest of the time, take care of yourself. =) We will be here...

Kate said...

Take care of yourself and savour the good news that it is not cancer.

Karen said...

Hello Sandi...I'm so sorry for the huge stress you and your family have been through recently. Having had cancer in the past (breast), I fully understand how worried and stressed you've been. I'm so glad to hear that you do not have lung cancer! What a blessing! I hope and pray that these health issues can be taken care of promptly and successfully.

Know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Karen
A cancer survivor of 11 years.

Christine M said...

Take care of yourself Sandi and get well. Hugs, Christine

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

It does sound as if the worst is behind you. Will be keeping you in our prayers Sandi.

Ray and Jeanne said...

I pray that the worst is over. Hang in there and I hope things improve soon. ~Jeanne

Ray and Jeanne said...

I pray that the worst is over. Hang in there and I hope things improve soon. ~Jeanne

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I've just added you to my prayer list. Glad the spots aren't cancer, but, I'll keep praying that everything else gets healed quickly.

Quilt n Queen said...

You are in good hands at the Mayo Clinic, take care of yourself and hopefully you will feel better soon and will have the energy to do what makes your heart sing again. Thanks for sharing Sandi....sending get well wishes and prayers from Michigan.

Debbie said...

Sorry you are going through all these health issues, Sandi. I am not a member of your yahoogroup, so this is new to me. I hope you continue to hear only good news and have a full recovery very soon!

Sandi said...

Sandi,

I'm glad to hear you have a care plan in place and hopefully will be feeling back to normal soon.

I enjoy visiting your blog and hope all goes will with your treatments and your creativity will bloom with the Spring.

Take care,
Sandi with an I also!

Grammasheri said...

You will be in my prayers as you get well Sandi. I'm so very glad the news has been good and am confident it will continue to be so. Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your decision to do more things that make you happy, content, well-rested. All good thoughts for you and your family.

Sunnybec said...

Glad to hear the results were negative. It is such a stressful time, keep us posted of our progress. Hugs Linda

Cath said...

I'm so pleased that you have had good news , and hope for everything else to go just as well.
Take care of yourself and do what you want ,when you want to .
XXX

Miss Hillbilly said...

Oh, what a big sigh of relief! Happy Spring to you, huh?!

Dee said...

Prayers coming your way for happy healthy year!

Diane Wild said...

Goodness, you certainly have had a lot on your plate. Health issues can be so worrisome and stressful. Glad to hear your tests came out okay and that you can fix the rest. You'll be in my prayers.

Needled Mom said...

I am so glad the results came back with such great news, Sandi. I hope they get to the bottom of it and get you on the road to recovery. I will be keeping you in my prayers. Take care and get the needed rest!

Colleen M said...

Glad to hear you received good news. I'll be praying for you and speedy recoveries.

Anonymous said...

Oh dear,I'm so sorry you've had such a hard time. Although waiting for an operation isn't the easiest thing either, I'm happy the outcome so far is this positive.
Wishing you lits of strength,
Dutch hugs

Anonymous said...

Sandi,
Happy for your good news. Take a big breath and go slowly thru the rest of it. Kit up a take along for those inevitable "waits". A needle in hand might just be the relaxer you need.
In my prayers, Mary Jane

Patty Nordahl said...

So sorry to hear that you are having all these health issues. Thankful for the good news that it doesn't appear to be any cancer. Keep taking care of yourself and as Rachel Ray says"See ya when we see ya". Feel well soon.

Sandi Linn Andersen said...

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and positive thoughts. They are felt and very much appreciated! Surgery to remove the ovarian cyst is next Monday. And then I begin recovery and hope that I will feel much better. Surgery isn't pain free but the end result should be better health!

"Peace can be found in the piecing of a quilt."
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