I called him, and told him that I really didn’t think it was a muscle.  He only got mad at me, and told me to go back to the muscle relaxers and give them a chance to work. 

After four months of enduring the pain, I found that I couldn’t function in anything I did.  At this point, I went to our local hospital, and told the doctor there what I was feeling.  He ordered an x-ray and gave me an electrocardiogram.  They just didn’t get it!  They weren’t listening to what I was saying.  So I demanded to be discharged, and went back to my own physician and told him that this has gone on long enough; you’re not listening to me!  He agreed that it has been too long, and sent me for an ultrasound.  That Friday afternoon, he called me several times, in a very frantic tone of voice and told me, over the phone, that I had ovarian cancer.  One tumor was eight centimeters across, pushing on my liver.  Alas, the pain I had felt for seven months was cancer. 

Ovarian Cancer.  If I had known about it, I probably would have feared the worst.  I know now that ovarian cancer kills most women who discover it too late.  I didn't know that, and just thought that I was going to die.  I also didn't know that there wasn't too many symptoms that a woman can tell she may have ovarian cancer.  That's why it's fatal to so many women.

After the tests, it was discovered that the cancer was at stage 2, where the cancer hasn't invade other organs in the abdomen.  I did have tumors on my liver and of course the ovaries, so an operation was scheduled the next week.  My husband was scheduled to start a new job at the same time, but he delayed the start so he could be with me.

The operation went smoothly, but there was still some left behind that the surgeons couldn't get.  I'd need chemotherapy to continue the battle. 

By the Grace of God, I have endured many things I never would have dreamed of.  I have had three operations, several rounds of the most powerful chemotherapy drugs available, and to this date, still have some cancer.  The reason I’m writing this is to inform and educate women, about ovarian cancer, and about your rights to question your doctors.  If you have any doubts, seek help from another source.  Never settle for a diagnosis that you have any doubts about.   

Each time I’m faced with an unknown situation, I remember God’s word from Philippians, where Paul reminds us “we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us.”  People say I’m such a strong person, but on my own, I’m not.  It’s God they see through me.  I’ve also learned in the past four years, that God’s word is still true, and He’ll never put us through anything we can’t handle.  Sometimes He’s allowed me to go right to the edge.  In this I could see it was He who took me out of it.   

My life is not easy, but I thank God for the support of my family, my husband always at my side, ready to help in any way.  My sister, who has constantly encouraged me day and night.  My father, who unselfishly helped in many ways.    And the constant support provided by family and friends all around the country in prayer.  God has shown himself to be all powerful and ever faithful because of those prayers.   

So, in conclusion, we are not in control of our lives.  When you let go and let God (which is not easy to do!) you can see His power.  He is the same God of yesterday, today and forever.  

I am forever grateful for the unselfish love of my husband Larry, our son Andrew, my precious sister Janice, my brother-in-law Kenny, my faithful Dad, my nieces Diane and Cheryl, and my very dear friends and church family.  God bless you as you “run the race” with Christ at your side.  Who could be against you then!  

Update: March 25, 2001
Joann has been without chemotherapy since October 11, 2000.  In that time, she decided to follow the advice of many of her friends to heal her immune system and cause the cancer to stop.  It wasn't an easy decision, but she believe that God placed so many people in her path with the same information, that it was the Lord directing her way.

This month, she found out that her CA-125 marker level has doubled to over 2000, and that tumors continue to grow.  She has received a real blessing through her friends at church and beyond, who are raising money for her to attend Health Quarters Ministries in Colorado.  This 11 day program will teach her how to detox her body and provide a hostile environment for the cancer.  She has adopted a vegetarian, 80/20 diet that is 80% raw vegetables and fruits and 20% cooked.  She is also juicing fruits and vegetables, to obtain the maximum nutrients from these.

Joann is not out of the woods, yet.  She has lost 44 pounds in the past seven months, and has reflux, which prevents her from eating or drinking a lot.  We ask for the prayers of the readers of this site for God to heal Joann, and make her trip possible with the donations she has received. 

Update: April 30, 2001
Joann has gotten weaker, and cannot now go to the Colorado center at this time.  Her doctor has put her on an IV to rehydrate her body, and she can keep only very small amounts of food down.  The plan now is to use chemotherapy to shrink the tumor that is pressing on her stomach, and once she builds up her strength, begin the HealthQuarters immune strengthening plan again, and finally, the trip she wanted to do out in Colorado.

Please continue to pray for Joann, that the tumors shrink and that she can eat well again.  We know the Lord can heal Joann, and want the voices of the believers across the land to echo this.  God bless you.

Update: June 10, 2001
She has gotten weaker still, but now has a G-tube to relieve the pressure on her stomach and drain fluids from it.  This has the effect of relieving the acid from her esophagus, so she is not vomiting from that.  Joann has been able to eat small portions of food and drink, but is receiving her principal nutrition through her IV.  

She had one chemo treatment on May 24, but it was disastrous, with the treatment lasting six hours beyond it's time. and constant vomiting until the G-tube was put in.  I was able to stay with her for three weeks, working from home mostly at night.  I thank God she isn't in that state now, but her next treatment is June 14.  Please pray for her and this treatment that she'll be able to manage it  better.

Update: July 10, 2001
Joann has not had a chemotherapy treatment since May 24, 2001.  Recently, she has been in and out of the hospital with an infection in her port (device to connect iv fluids).  The treatments for June 14 was cancelled because Joann was exposed to some bug that left her not feeling well.  Then, the next week, she spiked a fever of 104° and was in the hospital for two days, but not knowing what the infection was or where it came from.  Back home, a few days later, she went to 103.3° and went back in.  This time, they found the infection and she has been treated for it since.  

The good news is that her doctor came into her room one day and told Joann that her CA-125 level, which was at 3600 the day before her first chemo treatment in May, had dropped to 900!  A seventy-five percent drop.  Praise the Lord!  

She will end the Cipro antibiotic iv treatment the day of her scheduled chemotherapy on July 12.  She has still been experiencing intestinal cramps and pain, with some vomiting.  The doctor attributes it to the cancer.  Please pray for the treatment and the results.  

Update: July 26, 2001
Joann had her chemotherapy treatment on the 12th, and has not had the horrors of the first, but is constantly tired and is vomiting infrequently.  She is experiencing bloating in her abdomen and pain.  Her blood work was low in hemoglobin again, so she was in the hospital (only for a day) to receive two units.  Her CA-125 has not been done yet, and she will face another treatment, if she is up to it, on August 2.  Fortunately, no fevers this time around, but her G-tube doesn't seem to be working well, and that, coupled with the cancer, may be causing her to vomit once in a while.  Prayer is needed for her to feel comfortable, especially with the pain and bloating in her abdomen.  The doctor attributes it to fluid buildup because of the chemo, but Joann is conscious of the fact that her abdomen was much smaller before the chemo and is concerned.  

Update: August 9, 2001
She did not get her chemo on the 2nd, because of an infection that was believed to be in her port.  So, into the hospital she went, and went through an operation to remove her old, sub-cutaneous port and install a Hickman, which has two external clave connections.  She will be able to have her TPN and morphine at the same time, and the nurses will be able to draw blood without a needle stick.  We'll see of she can have chemo on the 17th.  In the mean time, her weekly blood tests revealed another drop in hemoglobin, so she received three units of blood.  What a long day, there from 9 am to 11:30 pm.  We hope that this will kickstart the kidneys, which has been in danger of failing.

Update: August 26, 2001
Joann is now near death.  Her blood chemistry has been going haywire, with a definite sign of the kidneys failing.  On Friday, August 17, her tests were generally good, with a view toward chemo on the 23rd.  On Monday, August 22, her tests showed her chemistry to be all over the map, and a certainty that the kidneys have failed.  A meeting with her doctor (Joann was home, unable to get out of the house) told her husband, father and brother in law that it was possible for her to die within hours or days.  At this writing, she is still struggling to breathe, while the heart weakly pushes unclean blood into the body.  Joann's family and friends have been keeping a daily vigil and are preparing for the hour Joann will go to be with her Lord.

Time: 5:37 pm August 26, 2001
Joann passed away to be with our Lord in Heaven.  Surrounded by family and friends, she died in peace.  
It is fitting that her favorite verse, Isaiah 40:31 be told here:   But they that wait upon the Lord, they shall renew their strength,  they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not get weary, they shall walk and not be faint.

Joann will not faint or stumble again.  She will never experience illness and the cancer that robbed her of life will be gone in the new body she has in Heaven.  

We mourn, and laugh at the remembrance of Joann's "wacky" humor.  We cry, and think about the beauty she was, even through chemotherapy and hospitalization.  We are sad, and celebrate Joann's entrance into Heaven, to be with Jesus forever.

We have begun a guest page where our visitors can share their stories about living with cancer.  Please view our guestbook here and add your comments..