Thursday, April 28, 2011

Personal share

Dearest blogging friends - I haven't shared my journey with you which started on the 7th of April this year but I feel the time has come to do so. I  will be needing prayer; but also to laugh and share with you all!
I went for a routine Mammography on the 7th of April and although I knew I had lumps in my right breast, they were always found to be benign, showing no danger, although in 2005, they said I was at 'risk'. This time around an echoscopy followed and a direct journey to the Hospital for a Biopsy. I had to wait eight days for the results. They found a cancerous tumor of 2 cm, unaggressive, which reacted positively to treatment. Then followed an MRI Scan which concluded another two smaller nodes were found, but unidentified.
Yesterday I underwent surgery and had a chunk of my right breast removed as well as 15 lymph nodes as one of them was suspect. Why so many - French protocol.
The good news is - I am alive and I still have two breasts! Protocol subscribes Chemotherapy for four months, after which I will have to have radio therapy. These are preventive measures, as I have been cured!
Good news is I am full of peace and joy - because Jesus has been with me all the way!! I was even laughing before going into the operation room, telling them how I wanted to lay comfortably before the anesthesia kicked in.
Numerous people have been praying for me around the world - I believe in the power of prayer and it has helped me enormously. Of course, I have been praying and proclaiming non stop for a healing miracle, I want God to glorify Himself through my life. He can still do it - I do not limit Him in any way!!
I am in bed now, resting, but thinking of you all. How lovely to get my prize box of Hero Arts goodies delivered just this morning!! What a lovely surprise!
I may be absent in the coming months, I hope not for long because crafting is such a fantastic therapy for me.
Please know that I am not looking for sympathy - I am a very lucky woman - I have had a fantastic life, I have been blessed beyond measures!! Hair can grow back on - wounds do heal - all I really need is your company, your friendship. Thank you so much and God bless!!
Jacqueline

40 comments:

  1. Jacqueline add my prayers to your list of people who are thinking of you. God can heal and I will pray for you.

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  2. Hello sweet beautiful woman!!! I love you.. Plain and simple.... Love your relationship with God and how he is holding your hand.

    What a beautiful approach to life and all it's 'stumbling' blocks...

    And, I am also praying for you!!!
    xo

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  3. God bless you and be with you...!!
    i shall pray !!
    love and hugs
    chris richards
    xxx

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  4. My prayers are certainly with you! You inspire me!

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  5. Sending many many Prayers your way Jacqueline. Stay strong :)

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  6. Best of luck during this life challenge! Prayers are with you!

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  7. Oh, Jacqueline, you are such an inspiration in so many ways. Your positive attitude and relationship with God will help you so much in the coming weeks and months. I'll be thinking of you lots, praying for you too and please know that you will be missed when absent, but I'm hoping you'll check in once in awhile to let us know how you're doing. Sending you love, hugs and more prayers, my friend. . .

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  8. All I can do is tell you that I will be constantly thinking of you and missing you terribly during those times that we cannot connect on common ground, crafting! As a woman, you are such an inspiration to me in the strength of your beliefs and how you choose, daily, to look at life! I hope that maybe one day we may meet. You are an amazing woman! All my love and hugs go out to you today!

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  9. You know what strikes me most about your post Jacqueline? What a remarkable, positive, strong and passionate woman you are. These qualities will guide you through these rough waters. This will not be easy for your husband and boys either, but I personally strongly believe in the power of true love. I'm embracing you from a distance and I'll be thinking of you and your family. Big hugs from me to you, Ira xox

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  10. Jacqueline, I, too, believe in the power of prayerand that God can do over and above anything we can possibly imagine. Your faith and trust in Him will carry you through - love and prayers to you!

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  11. You have been a blessing to me with your prayers Jacqueline. I have been praying for you and your family and will continue as you go through this difficult time. I know God is with you and will bless you. Sending you a big hug and lots of love.

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  12. Dear Jacqueline, my thoughts and prayers are for you, I,m sure your faith will carry you throught this difficult time. Will keep checking in your blog to follow your recovery!
    Hugs

    Joan

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  13. This post made me cry..... My prayers are with you. I admire your strength...There is a Heavenly Father and he will take care of you.

    Camcer is a horrible disease and the fact that you are willing to share it with all of us made a big impression. Your story touched my heart and brought back memories of last year. One of my sisters and one of my SIL were diagnosed with cancer last year.


    Cancer is a huge battle to fight. I know you can and will do it. It will be tough and difficult. And you will be lonely sometimes on this difficult schedule and period of time with chemo and radiation. I know we all will be thinnking of you and keep you in our prayers.


    Big big hugs and XXXX
    Stella

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  14. Zeker, onze Schepper draagt ons door de moeilijke momenten in ons leven; fijn dat je dat ook zo mag ervaren.
    Ik bid je dus ook de kracht toe dat je nodig hebt....

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  15. Hi Jacqueline, thank you for this post, I am so pleased to hear you are through the operation and my thoughts and prayers are with you on your road to recovery. Its good to share at a time like this and I will be thinking of you. Hugs
    Sally

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  16. Dear Jacqueline, I'm very sorry to read your post. What a difficult time this is for you. I hope you'll have the strength to sustain the chemotherapie the coming months. You are in my thoughts. Big hugs, Petra

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  17. Dear Jacqueline. I am so sorry to read your post. You are a remarkable and inspiring woman. You have always touched me in a special way.
    I am sure you have the strength and love from your family to get through the difficult time. You will be in my thoughts.
    Big hugs
    Helle

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  18. God bless you and you will be in my prayers and thoughts!

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  19. Wow! This was a shock, I think everyone feels sick in the stomach after reading your post Jacqueline.
    What a remarkable lady you are, being so positive during this testing time is an inspiration to us all. Of course we are praying for you BIG time, and it is good news that you have had the surgery with a good outcome.
    Chemo is hard on the Body Jacqueline, and I know you do not want sympathy but you will always receive empathy from us all whenever you want to talk over the next few months, you will have a down day, but just know we are here always...
    Smiles:)

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  20. Jacqueline, sending healing thoughts and prayers
    your way. As one survivor to another, I have
    an idea of what your journey has been and will
    continue to think of you.

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  21. Jacqueline... all my love and prayers are heading your way... others have so perfectly said what I feel... your faith is amazing and I pray God continues to flow through you, my friend. Thank goodness you have these mammagrams. Only this very morning I had to go back for some 2nd xrays as some of my last weeks ones, were a bit blurry... Thinking of you always on your journey to 100% health

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  22. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Your outlook and attitude are so positive and uplifting and will tremendously help during your treatments.

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  23. I'm so sorry to hear about your misfortune, but thankfully your form of the disease is controllable. I send you all best wishes so that your chemo and radiation therapy cause you as little distress as possible. Your experience should remind us all of how important routine mammograms are.

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  24. Jacqueline....my prayers are with you. I'm happy to hear that your chemo is just "making sure." I just visited briefly with a friend who told me she is "halfway through" her treatments. She, too, had beautiful long hair, and I know it will grow back ...even more beautiful.

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  25. Lieve Jaqueline,
    Wat een bericht! Ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat ik er van schrik, maar jij schrijft er zo mooi over!
    Ik bewonder jouw moed en dankbaarheid. Je bent een dappere vrouw! Ik hoop dat je spoedig opknapt van de operatie en dat je niet erg ziek wordt van de chemo. Ik wens en bid je alle goeds toe en alle kracht die je nodig hebt.
    liefs,
    Wilmi

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  26. You have my faithful prayers and loving thoughts on your journey to complete healing.
    hugs and blessings!

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  27. Jacqueline, thank you for your willingness to share this part of your journey with us. Your faith and your strength are such a wonderful example to all of us!

    May God continue to give you His strength and healing presence, especially in this Easter season of resurrection and new life. Be assured of my thoughts and prayers.
    Sincerely,
    Judy1223

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  28. You are so inspiring for so many woman..you are strong and have the most positive attitude, I know that you will come through this amazing...sending all my hugs and thoughts your way!

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  29. hi jacqueline - i am a breast cancer survivor - same procedure as you had and am 12 years free. i know your faith and prayers will bring you thru - i never doubted that for a moment. the surgery and treatments will certainly leave you tired and not feeling great for awhile but you will make it with flying colors. keeping you in my prayers - fondly, betty

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  30. You are such a strong and inspiration woman Jacqueline!!! Please now that I will send all my positive thoughts your way on a daily basis!Hugs,
    TRace

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  31. Oh Jacqueline, I am just now reading this. I have every faith that you will come through this just fine - it sounds like you are getting very good, conservative medical treatment to make sure all of the cancer is removed, you have zillions of people praying for you - including me, now that I know! - and you have your strong faith in God. A recipe for complete success!! I will be thinking of you often in the coming months. My mom is a 10 year survivor, and I know what she went through with chemo and radiation - but it is a temporary discomfort for a lifetime of cure. All the best to you. Hugs,
    Jean

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  32. only good thoughts your way Jacqueline. May He give you all you need until you are healed.

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  33. What a truly amazing lady you are ... my Aunt underwent a double mastectomy at 80 and 4 years on is fine ... I know you are strong and your faith will carry you through and my thoughts and prayers are with you too ... take it easy

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  34. God only gives us what we can bear ... you are a strong spirit surrounded by friends and family who love and adore you. The Lord has blessed you in many ways and you are sharing his message of hope through the sharing of your life. Thank you.

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  35. Jacqueline, I had no idea, I was out of town for several days and just now catching up. I am relieved to hear they got it all. My prayers are with you, I hope you continue to heal and find strength every day.
    Hugs Lynn

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  36. Jacqueline, my friend, I am so behind on my blog reading and I just read this today. I feel so terrible! Please know that I will be keeping you in my prayers each day. Sending you BIG, BIG, BIG hugs!

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  37. I am so sorry to hear your news and am sending thoughts and prayers. I admire your positive attitude and know that God will be with you to help and guide you through this.
    Hugs
    Debbie

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  38. Dear Jacqueline,

    I'm so behind in my blog reading that I just read this post!

    Trust you are recovering well from the surgery and having had a friend who survived breast cancer, I know the next few months will not be pleasant but your attitude is amazing, your loving family surround you and the Lord is the vital constant in your life --

    May He carry you in His everlasting arms and may it give you comfort to know that all of us are praying for you and are hear to listen and share :)

    Blessings always!

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  39. Jacqueline - I obviously missed this post .... sending hugs to you as I just read that you underwent your first chemo session last Monday. Your words in this post are so inspiring - no doubt in my mind that God is walking with you on this journey. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

    Hugs, hugs, hugs, Deirdre

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  40. My dear Jacqueline, I have long been an admirer of your beautiful art, but have not been creating myself much recently, and have not blog-surfed much at all during the past year or so. All this to say that it's only today that I've learned of your illness. I have read every single post, and feel so inspired by your faith and your CAN-DO attitude! Adding my prayers to the thousands of others praying for you all around the world. Blessings...

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Thanks so much for your visit - I so appreciate it!