Exposure

 

Today I had a biopsy on my right and left breast as a follow-up to the UltraSound results on Friday. I checked in at 8am. While walking from my car to the check-in level, I noticed that all patients carried their Patient Itinerary. Some of them studied them intently; I wondered as I watched people why they were visiting the Mayo Clinic. If any of them were there for the same reason I was, I looked into some of the eyes and wondered if any of them had the gospel in their lives, if they knew that Heavenly Father loved them and if they knew they could pray for his comfort. While I was waiting, I read from the September Ensign; I decided I would take it with me and read the entire Ensign at the Mayo this week while waiting for Doctors to see me. I love the talk entitled "The Influence of Righteous Women."
by President Uchtdorf. I was inspired to be a better woman; I understand my eternal role as a daughter of God a little more. I know that as I live my daily life with all its challenges, the Lord LOVES me, that he KNOWS me, he listens to my prayers and that he wants me to succeed.
As I was deep in thought, they called my name, and off I went to the biopsy room. My nurse's name was Cheryl, a cute little petite girl with a lot of compassion and spunk. Dr. Lund came in and explained to me what was going to happen. I took my right arm out of the hospital gown put my right arm over my head. They began the exam. This is a needle core biopsy guided by an Ultra Sound, which means he watches on the UltraSound screen as he shows the needle to the spot that needs to be biopsied. First, they sterilize everything, including my breast. Then Dr. Lund deadens the area with several shots. Then they make an incision, and the needle goes to the site. He says you will hear a pop, so don't be alarmed. The pop is the needle being plunged into the breast and grabbing a piece of tissue; this is done about 4 times on the right side. He hit a blood vessel on the last shot, and it started shooting blood in a stream; it took about 45 minutes for him to get it under control. He and Cheryl had to trade off putting all of their body weight on my breast to get the bleeding to stop (seriously not fun), and with my arm up over my head, my fingers were asleep by the time we were done, and he felt so bad. Then we started the same procedure on the left side. After we were all done, I headed over for another mammo. By the time I left the Mayo Clinic, it was around 11:30. I had to be at the Mayo Hospital in Phoenix for a 1pm appointment with Dr. Paul Magtibay Gyno Surgeon. I really liked him a lot; he was very compassionate and knowledgeable. He told me it would be best for me to have the hysterectomy while I have the mastectomy. I left today feeling totally EXPOSED; I had heard "undress from the waist up and put on this gown," then "undress from the waist down and put on this gown" one too many times today. I live in a very modest world, my husband is the only one (other than doctors) who has seen me without clothes, and I do not like to be EXPOSED.
Walking to my car, I read a text from my daughter Haleigh. It said, "Good luck today, mom. I love you so much !" For some reason, I started to cry when I read it; I could not stop. I tried so hard to get it under control before I left but was unsuccessful; families who love, respect, and care for each other are what life is all about.