On the First Day of Christmas...

On the first day of Christmas, the Good Lord gave to me...

...an MRI with good news we could see!!!

It was amazing, looking at October's scan with the splotch on it, and then looking at today's scan, where the splotch is now nothing more than a tiny hairline mark. It was a dramatic reduction of the tumor, and a very good result. My doctor was almost giddy as she showed this to me.

It was a fun day. I had a good night's rest last night, and I woke up feeling calm about this. As always, I felt the supportive power of the many prayers offered on my behalf. My appointment schedule was less than desirable; I had my scan in the morning and then I had to wait a couple of hours before I could meet with my doctor to get the results. Luckily, I had my good luck charm with me (my husband) and it so happens that the MRI place is right next to Dallas' famous Northpark Mall, so we did a little window shopping to keep my mind off what may or may not be (literally) on my mind. And then when I finally had my appointment, my doctor was mercifully quick to deliver the good news. I felt like someone at a fertility clinic who just got a positive pregnancy test, the way she and all the nurses and staff were congratulating me.

I'm not "done", of course. I still need lots of prayers. I learned that while this is a great result, it is not known how long it will continue to be effective. It is an experimental treatment that has had promising results like this, but it has only been studied for a few months. In any case, though, for now we get to relax and savor a season of joy.

Tomorrow I go in for my toxic drip, and although it isn't my favorite thing to do, it's nice to know that it really is doing me some good.