Given the ALL Clear...

The same week we have a fire in my apartment complex, I have to go to California for my 6 month check-up. Not only was I going to have to fly (you read all about our traveling fun in "Losing Wisdom") but I would have to leave my apartment for several days not knowing if I was going to have a place to come back to or not.

With a hint of apprehension, mom and I set off to California. I was certain this was going to be a good check-up, but until the tests were over and the Dr. gave me the results we had to wait to find out for sure. The way I was feeling about this check-up was really positive though. I would go through several tests of a PET Scan and X-rays of my right hip before meeting with Dr. Femino to see how my prosthetic was doing. After gaining a good relationship with him, my appointments became much more friendly. We would do our greetings with him and Helen, get to business about the tests, and then move into random conversations about all types of topics. Sometimes dad and Dr. Femino would talk about the USC Football program, while mom and Helen talked about recipes or vacations. I would bounce between each of the conversations being able to add my two cents to either one of them.

Dr. Femino was becoming a much softer person when we would meet with him, and it was a nice change from our first meeting together. Helen just became more dear to our hearts every time we saw her. She was (and still is) such a positive influence in our lives. She and I email each other encouraging things such as scripture, devotions or poems we run across in our daily lives. It truly is wonderful to have one of your medical professionals not only pray for you but with you. Helen is the best! And, we love her so much.

Dr. Femino went over the images from the PET Scan with us. He sat down at the computer in the room, found the images of the hip and showed us what he saw and what that meant. When looking at some of the images, you could see the internal staples holding the mesh in place which kept vital organs from dropping and causing issues. You could see the prosthetic clearly and an outline of the prosthetic in a milky white. He called this milky white outlining around the prosthetic "New Bone." We all had to ask what he meant by that and with great pleasure he told us that my body was fully accepting the prosthetic and building calcification around it making it stronger.

Such great news that was. The prosthetic was getting stronger because my body was building a wall of defense around it. What a cool thing. Thank you God for making this happen!

Dr. Femino was very pleased at how everything looked. He didn't see any new areas of tumor and felt that all was well. He said he would see me again in six months, but call if anything happened between now and then. This was great, and my parents and I could not have been happier.

We also met with Dr. Paz for a brief time, where he confirmed the great results and also talked about the "new bone." Both doctors had just given me the "all clear" to continue life as I know knew it.

Next..."Another Loss of Wisdom."

Reflection:
"Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34