Competition

I've been off sweets now for 9 days.

I had the grand idea last week to give up something during Lent, simply for the sake of a challenge. I'm not changing religions or anything, I just like the idea of Lent.  It's like a spring new year's resolution that only lasts 40 days!
So, I chose to not eat sweets.  Its a tough challenge, but very doable and certainly its good for me.  I've been fluxuating around the same 3 lbs for over a year now and I definitely need to push myself more.  This challege can only be good for me.

After the first day, I invited my mom to join me.  I couldn't convince her to do a self vs. self challenge so out came the wagers. :)  That's right, I challenged her to a Rachel vs. Mom competition!

The wager: Pedicures. We will go together to get Easter pedicures.  If we are both successful, then it is just a fun excursion with each other.  If one of us fails, we pay for the other person's pedicure.

The Exception: Because we know our history with sweets, we decided to have one exception each for the days that is seems simply unbearble! Mom chose dark chocolate chips and I chose Red Mango, with fruit toppings only.  Both are things we won't eat in excess.  They are both about as healthy as sweets can be and still satisfy our sweet tooth on those dark days, which is much better than completely giving up!

So how is it going so far? Well, I feel much better without the sweets; and just importantly is the pride I feel when I know I have successfully evaded the food pushers that want me to eat this cake, and that cookie, and these treats. I can't deceive myself though. I know I miss the sugary goodness of Smart Cookie and the happy socializing I once did over sweets at church functions and at work. I've even had dreams that I ate candy, and for the next 24 hours I had to revisit what I did the day before to make sure it was in fact a dream.  But the sweets had to come to and end eventually, and I'm sure this change will be well worth it.

Interestingly enough, the socializing is just as good without the sweets!

Update on My Mother

Many of you have called to ask how my mother is doing, so I thought it was probably time I post something about it.

On July 9 she had surgery to remove a portion of the tumor for a biopsy. Last week when my parents met with the oncologist, they learned that the sample of the tumor which was removed showed no results of even being a tumor according to the tests at the pathology lab! How does that work? We were not quite sure how to react to this news except wait for their appointment with the neurosurgeon.

Well the appointment with the neurosurgeon took place on Monday and at that time they decided to do another surgery on August 12. They are hopeful to remove a good portion during this surgery, about 80%, and send some of it to the pathology lab again to get new results. Once the pathology lab informs the doctors of what type of tumor it is, they will know which type of chemotherapy will be best. It is likely that chemo will be the next step in her battle after the surgery. However, there is still the possibility of the gamma or cyber knife.

There are some definite risks or side effects with all of these future procedures so I ask for your continued prayers for my mom. Our family is continuing in faith and trust in the Lord. But is important at this time to try to keep up the intensity of faith that was shown at the beginning. We want the Lord to know that we will do all we can to keep our mother with us and for her to keep all her mobility! Thank you for your love and support. My family appreciates it greatly, and we have all been touch to learn just how wonderful our friends and family are. Thank you.

Luke 8:50 "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."

Oligodendroglioma

In 1995, my sweet mother was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor called Oligodendroglioma. With the faith, prayers, and fasting of friends and family spanning the world, coupled with the skills of many physicians, my mother was able to beat the cancer and showed our family that miracles do still happen.

Unfortunately, this last week my mother was again diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, most likely the same Oligodendroglioma. There is a 95% chance that it is the same, but that last 5% will not be confirmed until some of it is removed and tested.

It has been 13 years since she last fought the cancer, but it has been a beautiful 13 years. I was only 10 years old the last time so the memories are relatively vague. This go-around feels almost like a first time. It is a tough situation to face. Surprisingly, I am not angry and not asking why this had to happen. What is, is. At this point, we just have to turn our hearts to the Lord and trust that he will give us another miracle. I have to ask Him, what is next? And to give me the strength to move forward.

I admire my sweet mother so much for her strength and faith. She teaches me so much about life and about faith. I am praying for her and for the time we will continue to have when she beats this disease again!

This coming Sunday, July 6, our family and wards are going to fast on her behalf. I ask all of you who wish, to join in this fast and pray for my mother. Little miracles are already happening
(like the fact she got her routine MRI 4 months earlier than necessary, and that all my siblings were already planning to fly home this week for a scheduled family reunion), and with the faith and love of so many, she will have her miracle again!


If any of you wish to learn more about Oligodendroglioma, click here. This is a link from cancerbackup.org defining Oligodendroglioma, its symptoms, and types of treatments.