don't want to be obnoxious

Ok, here's the deal.

I really, really don't want to be obnoxious.

But... I'm just going to throw this out there.

This is something I've been doing low-key for a while now, but I just want to throw it out there and say, if you're a doTERRA user, and you need oils, I'd really love for you to buy them from my site because we could use the money right now.

If you have questions about oils, I'd be more than happy to answer them. I honestly feel like the oils have made an impact on my family and I'm so happy with the results and this is something that we personally use and believe in.

If it's not for you - then just pass this by. :)

But if you are interested in essential oils, I would love you as a customer. <3

>>>Here is my doTERRA site<<<

Thank you!

-Cas

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wondering still

Life just keeps going on.

The children get hungry, the truck needs gas, the trash needs emptied.

All around us are people who are living lives the go on seemingly without any weightiness in their hearts.

And we’re still in a holding pattern.

Todd’s biopsy was rather uneventful. They did it quickly and we spent most of our day watching HGTV and eating hospital food. The nurse in the recovery area was in every 30 minutes to check Todd’s vitals. She checked his incision. She made sure we knew were the bathroom was.

We made a last minute decision to leave the children with Aunties Lisa and Joyce. I spent the whole day amazed that I had planned on bringing them along and realizing what a disaster that would have been.

Instead of chasing kids, I held Todd’s hand and made inappropriate jokes at every given chance. The valet parking guy was trying to be sympathetic but I was cheering because chemo patients get free parking.

Who does that?

Underneath the jokes, the busyness, the “strength” that people see, I’m still left standing alone in the rain, wondering if my husband will live or if he will die.

It’s a very lonely place to stand, no matter who is around. I smile and even laugh at the appropriate times in conversation. I make the appropriate small talk. I do all the things that seem like normal things people would do. All the while, still wondering.

It’s been three and a half weeks now since our lives were turned upside down. Three and a half weeks of uncertainty, craziness, and wondering. I feel like there isn’t much more to say now than when I first started writing. We still don’t know anything more than he has cancer.

Todd’s pain has only increased. The mass of cancer pushes and pulls on things in his belly. He spends most of his time in bed, but also suffers from cabin fever. He looks for opportunities to get out of the house, but then usually ends up regretting it, hurting and back in bed.

So this is where we’re at: the biggest mass of cancer is around all of his main arteries and veins. It’s around other things too and causing other problems, but this is the biggest concern.

We’ll find out hopefully Monday or Tuesday what the results of the biopsy are. That will determine our plan of attack. About 50% of sarcomas aren’t responsive to chemo, so we’d have to try other treatments.

This is the holding pattern we’re in. This is my reality. An inoperable tumor that may or may not be responsive to chemo.

Will it be best case? Or worst case?

Will we grow old together? Or will I be a single mom?

I’m at peace with all the questions, most of the time. I have them, but I have faith too. Faith that no matter the outcome, I won’t be alone. Faith that in the hardest moments Jesus will hold me tight and hold my heart together when it feels like it’s breaking. Faith that goodbye isn’t forever.

I have faith and I am blessed. No matter the outcome, I am blessed.

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not saints but blessed

January 9:
Today, for the first time, I let my mind go where I haven’t let it go yet. I was in the shower and I started thinking about what our lives would look like without Todd. And before you all tell me to rebuke those thought and not have them - my reality is that I can lose my husband. And more than just we can lose anyone at anytime.

I thought about how I would tell the children, and what it would be like to have to call places (student loans, etc.,). Then I thought of sleeping at night all by myself. And I wondered what I would do and where I would go. Not planning, just… wondering. Not getting worked up, just realizing the reality of the situation.

Reality is a weird thing...

People keep treating us like we’re saints. And we are so, so, so not. We sin just as much as everyone else. We have the same struggles as everyone else. We are just as human as everyone else. If you are tempted to think that for whatever we are better/stronger/saintlier than the rest of humanity, please don’t. This entire experience has humbled us more than I knew possible and I fully know how unworthy we are of the ridiculous blessings we are experiencing right now.

It’s because of God’s love, not because of us. Can we just be clear about that?

This afternoon after church our closest friends, our pastor, and the elders from our church came to our house and surrounded us with so much love. They shared, encouraged, and prayed for us, and the pastor anointed Todd. Such a moving experience. It was draining because it was so emotional. Emotions make me so tired. I wish I couldn’t feel anything for just a little while.

I feel like I could start a new blog called, “All the Ways the Andersons are Blessed.” It would be a full time job just to keep it updated. Yesterday I took Amelia to church and this is what I have to say about our church - they know how to love on people! I can’t even tell you. The love was so thicks you could feel it in the air. And these loves gave so generously to Todd and I. We were blown away with a substantial gift that our church family all contributed to.

So much love. So many blessings.

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something to smile about

January 7:
It feels like weeks since I’ve written last - so much has happened. So many emotions. So many feelings. So many blessings.

Our day began with the news that our local hospital, where we went to the ER initially, called to tell us that the tumor is inoperable as-is. They wanted to start chemo right away to try to shrink it so it can be removed as soon as possible.

One thing we have learned about Sarcoma is that about half of Sarcomas are not responsive to chemo.

You can read between the lines and imagine the thoughts that exploded as the chain-reaction of realizations went through my mind. My husband looked numb. I went into “strong mode” and set to work on the tasks that needed to be done.

Be strong for Todd. Stay strong for him. Don’t break down yet.

By the time I got home from the bank and picking up trash bags, the west coast was awake. I might have made more calls today than I’ve made in the last 4 years combined.

After paying the deposit to make an appointment (which praise the Lord, they will give back to us after the insurance gets all entered), I was able to start talking to various departments around the hospital. My little notebook is filling up fast.

The surgeon who will be doing the surgery to remove the cancer needed to look at Todd’s file before they could give us too much info. We made a tentative appointment for January 18th, the first available appointment. The lady scheduling it said that we could do the biopsy tomorrow morning as planned and have it all sent up to Seattle.

Hours later, they called back. The doctor had looked at the file. Suddenly an appointment opened up a week earlier and they want him in right away. The doc also said no biopsy here - he wants to do it himself in Seattle when Todd gets here. I’d like to think I shouldn’t feel nervous about the haste, but after hearing this morning what the local hospital’s opinion is, it’s hard not to. 

January 8:
Today we packed up the hangar. Eleven months of blood, sweat, and tears was boxed away, and put in one of 2 piles: one of our personal belongings that got piled in one corner, waiting for us to return to pick back up where we left off, and the other in the opposite corner of everything needed to finish the plane. That pile is the small pile.

If this cancer thing wouldn’t have happened, I might have been writing about our first flight today. It’s that close. But, nonetheless not finished. Everything is boxed up neatly, waiting for someone to be able to come along and finish it up so it can get down to Guyana.

Today was the most normal day I’ve had since this all started. There were some hilarious parts, like when my girlfriend and I got back to the hangar and realized that the tailgate had not latched and the massive truck grill had fallen out at some point. Not hilarious until we found it and were able to make sure no one was hurt.

And there were some surprises, like when I took Amelia out to say goodbye to the horses and was thinking we might be able to let her get the pony out to ride in the yard, and we were actually surprised with one last little trail ride. I didn’t want to get on that horse, but as soon as I did, I was so very glad for this blessing. It was the first time since all this happened that I felt free. Just for a moment, all was right in my world and I felt the sunshine on my face.

And there was a scary part, when Amelia’s friend was bucked off the pony. I was so glad - we were all so glad - she was OK. Just a little scared. When I got a call from the hospital I popped off my horse and the little one got on her. I was happy to see her get back on.

The best part of the day was finally getting a prescription for some stronger medication for Todd. I’ve been worrying so much about him flying alone in so much pain. At least he’s got something to help him now. I just hope he’s not too drugged!

The most exciting part of our day was finding out that Amelia (6) has not one, but two loose teeth! Both her bottom front teeth are loose and she is thrilled! She’s been wanting to lose a tooth ever since her friend Liam lost his first tooth.

It’s nice to have something to smile about.

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up and down

It was this time last week my whole world was turned upside down. I feel like I’m forced to walk on a treadmill. Only the treadmill is on a roller coaster. And there is a tornado. Up, down, 5 steps back, and everything is up in the air again. Rinse, repeat.

I got puppy therapy today

This morning I woke up to the news that Todd is required by the FAA to ground himself. That means he’s not allowed to be PIC (pilot in command). Having cancer means he lost his medical. The FAA will clear him to fly PIC again 1 year after the cancer is totally gone and treatments are done.

The only thing on the planet, other than finding out my husband has cancer, that makes my heart break to pieces is finding out his love, passion, and lives work is being taken away. Down, down deep.

Sob.

We later found out that there might be loopholes, and it might depend on the type of cancer. I am praying this is true. Back up.

Later, I hear a knock at the door. I look at my friend who was over, and in the middle of a good cry with me, and winced. I open the door to a group of kind looking people. I wasn’t ready for this visit. Down we go.

The came to pray with us, encourage us, and people I had never met before left us with $1,700 in our hands. Soaring high to see that God is providing through strangers!

Up, down, 5 steps back, and everything is up in the air again.

We found out that there are very specialized Sarcoma hospitals in the US. Hospitals that only deal with this rare cancer. Did you know this? I did not. The thought never occurred to me.
But there are. Only, not in Tennessee. If we want to best care to Todd - which we do - maybe it will be best to leave after all. The though of leaving our support network makes me sink down, makes my heart sink down.

On the phone with the Seattle Cancer Center Alliance and as I’m talking to the new patient adviser, I begin to feel so strongly that this is where I want my husband to get care. And then we start talking about the finances. Down, down to the bottom dollar. They won’t even make an appointment unless they know we can pay for it. Our insurance doesn’t cover out-of-state. Down, down I go.

And then she tells me that if we’re self pay, we have to pay a deposit.
“Are we talking $50 or $50,000??”
A pause. “$1,600.”
I laugh.
She must think I’m crazy.
I am laughing harder, “I just have to tell you something. These strangers showed up at my door today…”

Up, up to the heavens where God quietly whispers in my ear, “I am with you.” 

Up, down, 5 steps back, and everything is up in the air again.

So now we are trying to see if we can get insurance in Washington. Figure out housing. Get Todd over there. Get the kids and I over there. I need to pack. What do I pack for Todd? What do cancer patients need? Will I be able to cook for him and keep him on his whole foods, plant-based diet? This part, the part with all the questions, feels like the treadmill. The questions run and run through my mind but so far, our answers continue to be few.

Sigh.

I would like to address something that has been said to us a few times so far. Everyone has their own spin on it, but basically it’s a statement about how we’re so amazing, or so strong, or so whatever.

Yesterday I wrote about why we aren’t asking, “why us?” and this is a continuation of that thought. This is going to suck and it’s going to be hard - but aren’t the things that are the most meaningful and the most worth it hard? We are ready for this. I mean, as ready as we can be at the moment, but God is sustaining us. God is leading us. We truly believe that. That doesn’t make us amazing - that makes us Christians.

We are no more amazing than anyone else.

We are no more strong than anyone else.

We have nothing special in and of ourselves that makes it so we can be or do something extra-ordinary.

We are simply people who love and trust God.

We go through ups and we go through downs.

And when we’re up, we thank God.

And when we’re down, we thank God.

We are amazing? No. We are nothing but vessels. Who’s love we’re filled up with - now THAT’S amazing.

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why [not] us?

Trials. The Bible says to rejoice in them. Have you ever rejoiced in your trials? I haven’t. I don’t even know what that means. How can you be happy about a trial, especially when it’s ripping your life and your heart apart?

The night we were in the ER, my life changed. All I could see that night was darkness. Sometimes if I would squint into the darkness, I would see the light, waiting for me to run to it. But mostly it was just a scary, dark night.

The next few days were blurs. In fact, I just had to go back and reread my journal to make sure they actually happened. But I wrote words about them, so I guess I kept on breathing.

Today it's been almost a week since the dark night. And while we’re still adjusting and trying to figure out what our life looks like now and trying to make hard decisions, the fog and the darkness is lifting. I can feel the fresh air and the sunshine on my face. Not every moment, but some.

The other night I went to a friends house to pick some things up, and on the way I talked to Jesus. I’ve been praying, it’s been more of the groaning, wordless kind of prayers. I haven’t known what to really pray. But that night, I was able to find the words to tell Jesus that I feel scared and that I needed Him.

One thought that I would have expected to have, but I don’t, is “Why us? We are missionaries and gave our whole hearts and lives to God, so why us?”

Why not us?

We gave our whole hearts and lives to God. They are His. While I’m scared at the thought of losing my best friend and my partner in everything, he’s not mine to keep. I want to keep him, and I’m praying I will, but he belongs to God, just like I do. Like my kids do.

We are missionaries. We’ve poured our lives into serving this God of love. What God is most concerned about is saving the lost, so that’s what we’re most concerned about too. If God can use this situation to somehow show His love to, say, 4 people who then chose to follow Him, then we’re ready! If taking my husband’s life will save even one person, then we freely give it!

I feel so unworthy that God would chose us for the honor of this hard task. I kind of feel like Abraham and I’ve been asked to offer up my precious husband. I’m willing. It’s hard. But I’m willing. And oddly enough, I’m rejoicing in this trial. Still not every moment, but more and more. As the sunshine warms my face and my lungs fill with fresh air, I find more joy in each breathe.

I am yours, Lord. I trust You.

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the first 6 days of cancer

December 30:
Todd was texting and I was halfheartedly playing a game of Sudoko on my Kindle. I was glad I thought to grab it. I was also glad for the free Wi-Fi in the emergency room. There had been a slew of nurses and other people in and out of our room and we sat and waited for the CAT scan results. Blood work had already come back clear and so we were hoping that the scan would show a small enough kidney stone to pass without needing a procedure. Todd’s pain level had gone back up so they had given him some morphine to help the pain.

The door opens and I looked up from my Kindle. A no-nonsense woman entered and identified herself as Dr. Something or other. She strode into the room and stopped mid-stride.
“Who is with you?”
A pause. “This is my wife.”
I climb up in the bed and sit next to my husband.
Dr. Something nodded her approval and headed to the computer to pull up Todd’s chart.
“I have some bad news for you.” She said still typing on the computer.
Todd and I half smirked.
“Nice opening line,” I thought.
She looked at Todd, then me, then back to her computer.
“We found cancer in your abdomen…” More words followed and kept coming. Technical words, words I didn’t understand. They filled up the room and made it very hot and very cold at the same time.
My hand clasp Todd’s.
“I don’t know what you’re saying.” I interrupt her. What did she just say? I can’t remember.
“Sarcoma. It’s they type of cancer.” More words. I couldn’t make them out though. 
A feeling hits my chest. This didn’t seem like a joke. But it didn’t feel real.
Dr. Something is trying to explain something. Probably something important. Probably something I should know. But for some reason I just can’t make out what she is saying.
Finally the words stop. She leaves.

And we are left there in the hospital bed together. Crying. Staring. Thinking. Silent.

…

By the time Dr. Something came back, hours had passed. Todd had gone in for more scans, my good friends had our kids settled down for the night at their house, and another good friend had taken on the task of keeping us from falling into a pit of despair with all the unknowns. She sat in the ER room until 2 am with us, laughing, crying, and thinking with us.

Dr. Something looked at Mandy, “Who is this?”
Todd, defensively, “Our friend, she can be here.”
Dr. Something gave the nod of approval.
Again the chart was pulled up and again all the words. I could comprehend more of what she was saying this time, a mass has grown on Todd’s psoas muscle. It’s crushing his ureter - the tube that carries fluid from the kidney to the bladder. That’s why his kidney were hurting so much. It can’t drain.

So many words. They are so heavy. They are crushing me.

December 31:
Todd woke up this morning and cried. He had been hoping he had a bad dream and would wake up and it would be all over. But, it’s not a dream.

I picked up the kids from my friend Jenny’s house this morning. I faked this normal, cheery voice when talking to them. But I don’t feel normal or cheery. But they are children, so I need to act like everything is normal or cheery, right? How am I supposed to act? I don’t know.

Todd has slept most of the day due to the narcotics he’s taking for pain. I have spent the day bouncing from peeking in on Todd, checking the zillions of notifications that continually pop up on my phone, and trying to be normal for the kids. 

The kids now know that Papa has “cancer” although that doesn’t mean too much to them at this point. They know he has a tummy ache and is taking medicine. They know he’s going to have surgery to try to take out the “cancer” in him.

I finally sat down with the 500 page report (slight exaggeration but it might as well be 500 pages). I’m finding out all kinds of tidbits that the doctor may or may not have told us last night. For instance, there are 3 masses - 2 in his abdomen and 1 on the lining of the sac around his lungs. They suspect the middle size one, 2 cm, is metastatic and the smallest one, by his lungs, to be benign.

There are a lot of words in the report. They are very large and make my head hurt. I feel like a kindergartner trying to sound them out. I’ve called some dear medical friends more than once to ask what words mean. What does all of this mean? We have a lot of questions. Monday feels like a very long time away.

January 1, 2016
I sit down to eat and end up staring at my food. Already I’m hearing, “you need to eat,” “you need to make yourself eat.” I put food in my mouth because I should. But I can’t remember the last time I was hungry. Wait, yes, I was hungry in the hospital room when we still thought we were dealing with a kidney stone. Cancer has eaten away my hunger. But still I eat. For Todd, and for the kids.

I’ve begun writing the letter that our donors will receive next week. Of course until we know more and have a plan we don’t quite know what to say to people, but we’re preparing. For the best, for the worst, for just an hour at a time.

Slowly we’re letting friends know, although a well-meaning friend has shared this information with the world before we feel ready. I can tell when someone knows as soon as I say “hello.” It’s always the same:
Me: “Hello?”
Person: “Hi Cas, this is so-and-so…” Their voice is always soft, and they speak gentle words that they fumble over. It’s not that I don’t love and appreciate people for caring - because we do. We do. It’s just that we are still processing. We are still wrapping our heads around the “c” word.

Everyone is asking so many questions. “What can we do for you?” What can you do? What can I do? I end up pacing the house and checking on Todd and feeling restless but unable to concentrate on anything. I wish my sister and mama Joyce was here. I don’t want to be alone. But I don’t really want to talk to anyone either.

Todd has always been my rock. It never occurred to me that my rock might break. Everyone is telling me I need to be strong. Be strong for Todd. I’m trying so hard but I feel so weak. And cold. It’s so cold.

Despite the constant ups and downs, today was a great day - Todd’s pain subsided for most of the day. Sam spent the day with friends, and Amelia was there until after lunch, then she came home and I took her out to a friend’s to ride a horse. We both needed that.

It was the first time I’ve left Todd since I picked him up to take him to the ER Wednesday afternoon. It was hard and I was scared. We texted often and that helped ease my mind and let me focus on Amelia more. She is proud that she has moved from walking the horse to trotting. A few times I had to remind her she can’t canter yet. Love my horse girl.

January 2:
A new thought came to my mind early this morning. What if… what if this was all just a mistake? What if the radiologist was wrong? I closed my mind and tried to think what it would be like. A wave of hope flickered through me, gently warming my cold heart.

A second new thought came from nowhere while I was in the shower. All along we’ve been thinking about surgeries and chemo and radiation and treatment and support and getting though this. But what if he doesn’t? I could potentially be a single mother… I mean, anyone could lose their spouse any day of the week, so many things could happen - but we’re potentially standing on the brink of something happening.

I wondered briefly what it would be like to be a single mother, and then I let my mind turn to Jesus. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I believe He does. I don’t know how this will work out for good, but it will. Even if I don’t see the good right away.

January 3:
2016 isn’t quite starting out the way I expected. This year was going to be the year we moved back to Guyana. We were building a house in Paruima village. We were hoping to adopt a child this year. Things aren’t what we thought they were - but we are at peace with it. Most of the time.

This morning I went to the supermarket to get a load of organic veggies for Todd. While waiting for the cashier to ring me up, I got a text from Todd.
“And he wants tomatoes.” I mumbled.
“What do you need, sweetheart? We’ll get it for you.” The cashier smiled.
I was quick to not cause trouble. “No, no, that’s ok. I’ll pay then go get it.”
“No, I’ll get it, what do you need?” The girl bagging the beets asked.
“Tomatoes. Organic. Whatever is cheapest.”
“How many?”
“6…?” I wasn’t sure. But she took off towards the tomatoes.
The cashier was making friendly conversation when another customer got in line.
“You can ring her up, I’ll wait.”
She grabbed something from the lady’s pile, but then put it in my bag.
“Oh, that’s not mine!”
She looked at the lady, “Oh my goodness. She’s buying all this healthy food and I was going to be so proud of her for buying some pudding!”
We all three laughed.
I looked at the cashier again, “I’m so sorry, I should have just paid and then went and got it.”
She was in the middle of assuring me that it’s no problem, as was the lady behind me, when I burst out crying. Hard. And loudly. If ever I needed a transport beam, it was then. I was so embarrassed.
When I calmed down I looked at the perplexed cashier. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know where that came from. I just found out my husband has cancer.” Why did I say that? Why am I telling strangers? It just came out.
They were very sympathetic and soon my tomatoes arrived and I could retreat to the truck.
Lord, help me.

Today was actually a good day, even though we had a rough patch. I got a funny email and went to tell Todd. I found him on the bathroom floor, curled up. My heart went to my toes. Then, I heard him. The sound no wife ever wants to hear. The sound of my husband sobbing in a dispair I can do nothing to ease. My dad’s words played in my head - “You need to be strong for him now.” I wanted to cry with him, but instead I just held him and rubbed his back. I prayed. I wondered when our hearts will heal. But I didn’t cry.

Todd’s pain wasn’t as bad to today and I’m so thankful. He was able to be out and about, which he was thankful for. He’s going stir-crazy in bed. It took a bit of stubbornness on his part to convince me, but I’m glad I didn’t fight him. He was right - he did need to get out of the house. He and Sam spent an hour exploring Toys R Us while Amelia and I shopped for some winter clothes for her. I guess now she’ll need more than 2 pairs of pants.

I’m anxious for tomorrow. I’m not sure what to expect. I’m not sure what I’m hoping to hear. But ready or not… Tomorrow is the day.

January 4:
I woke up with my heart in my throat. I planned on turning off the alarm and going back to sleep (this staying up till midnight and waking up at 6 business is getting old). Instead, my brain figured out in about .5 seconds that it’s Monday.

I was ushering everyone out the door and had to go to the bathroom one more time. Nerves making things… overactive. I probably shouldn’t talk about that in public. There is so much in my mind, it might spill out. I have several pages of the little notebook Mandy bought me to write down questions for the doc filled. What is it? How did? When can we? What if…?

We sat in the little room for probably 20 minutes. Or 40. Or 5. Or an eternity. I’m not really sure. The doctor came in, let me turn on the audio recorder I brought (bless her) and we started talking. It turns out she couldn’t tell us that much more than what we had already deciphered from reading the report from the ER. They need to do a body scan to make sure there’s not cancer elsewhere in the body.

We keep using that word. I hate it. Cancer. What a jerk.

I again asked - are they sure it’s cancer without having a biopsy? Modern technology and experienced radiologists are a thing to be marveled. They are sure. She said, in a very unconvincing tone, that there is a slight chance that it’s not cancer, but she - nor the radiologist - think so. The size and shape and texture and behavior and whatever of the mass apparently just screams, “I am cancer and I suck!” Jerk.

So. Ultrasound is scheduled. Scan is not. Biopsy is not. Hoping those two would get scheduled today, but she thinks they’ll happen this week.

We have some heavy options to weigh about where to get treatment. Our family is spread throughout the Pacific Northwest. If we go to Oregon and to OHSU, we won’t have our church family, Bible study group, and homeschool group. My Bible study alone is keeping us alive with meals each night. I’m sure Todd and I both would have lost more weight than we already have if not for those meals. I still don’t have hardly any appetite but it’s so much easier to eat when the food is put on the table for us. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank these families enough.

We can stay in Tennessee where we have a house and a fantastic support system, but then we are so far from family. And we need them too. Almost all our family would be within a 5-hour drive. But almost all of them would be an hour or more away.

Sigh.

So many things to sort out. The doctor said we need to decide pretty quick because treatment should all be at one place, ideally. Pro/con list. Flip a coin. Draw straws. Cast the lot. How can we decide? 

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