Monday, August 15, 2011
Thank you all SO much for your prayers for Di. It's been a rough week for her and those of us who love her so much, but the good news is that she's now in Zion at the Cancer Treatment Center. She sees a doctor tomorrow about her MALT lymphoma in her stomach, then her primary ovarian cancer doctor later in the week, unless that gets moved up. While we would have liked for the thing in her stomach to be nothing, the next best thing is this MALT. If it's caused by the h-pylori bacteria, it will be cured with antibiotic! And there is much good news on the horizon with ovarian cancer treatment as well. God isn't through with Di yet, and we will get on the other side of this beast yet!
Di's constant faith and love for God is such an inspiration to me personally. Denise and I went to see her on Thursday. We laughed so much I know the nurses were popping in just to see what was going on. Unfortunately there was no morphine button for me to push, but Denise was on her guard so she could stop me from touching anything I wasn't supposed to. LOL I kept my hands folded in my lap, really! :)
We were sitting there talking and all of a sudden, Di says, "No stinkin' way!" I think she yelled loud enough to blow out the door. There stood her son Aaron and his family. During the course of the visit, the family was talking about why this was all happening. son-in-law Kyle said, "I know why. God said, Have you considered my servant Diann?" When I heard about that, I knew it was exactly right. We may not understand why God allows this pain into our Di's life, but God knows. And with her faith and spirit, she is advancing the kingdom of God. She is an example to all of us who watch her steadfast heart and love. Of course my husband is such a joker that he said Kyle was trying to score brownie points but still. :) He was totally right!
I felt so much better after seeing her. I called our friend and editor Ami McConnell to tell her what was going on so she could keep up the prayers. She said, "You sound better today." And the weird thing was that I DID feel better. I got to talk to the doctor, find out what exactly was going on and what was being done. I felt like I was DOING something, even though I wasn't. LOL It's all in the perception.
So what helps you when you're going through a trial like this? Feeling like you're doing something? Praying? Taking in soup? When someone you love is in the middle of the battle, what kind of help fills your well and empowers you?
Labels: Diann Hunt, Job and trials, ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
9:51 PM
Comments (15)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
We know you all love Diann too so I wanted to bring you up to date on what's going on with her. She's in the hospital. They did tests this morning and found her stomach is totally ulcerated. Poor girl hasn't been able to keep anything down in 2 weeks! They also found some kind of growth or "something" that didn't look normal down by the opening to her small intestine. The doc took a biopsy and we'll know more soon. But at least we know what is going on and they will come up with a plan to fix it!
She's in good spirits and is eager to get well. So pray for her and for the doctors to figure out how to help. Love you, Di!
Labels: Diann Hunt, ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
3:46 PM
Comments (8)
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
I have good news to report! We saw Dr. Williams today and while Di does have a recurrence of ovarian cancer, the two spots are just in her abdominal cavity and no where vital. The doctor immediately started her on a different chemo and assured us the fight was far from over. She said this wasn't even maintenance to keep the cancer from progressing but we were still going for eradication!
Di and I both burst into tears at the news. AND this new chemo won't make her lose that adorable hair she has now. I'm going to take a picture and post it. She looks so cute with her hair this length.
I can't even begin to thank you all for your prayers. We know God heard all of us beseeching heaven on her behalf. Please keep up the prayers and we'll keep you posted. Love you all!
Labels: Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Dr. Williams, ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
8:24 PM
Comments (10)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friends, we need you now like never before. Diann was told today that her CA-125 is high again which indicates she has more ovarian cancer growing. Please, please pray! We all love her so much and it's painful to think that she has to go through more treatment. We're all a mess. So please pray for peace for all of us and for the right treatment plan that will eradicate this terrible disease.
We know God is in control, and he loves Di even more than we do. He's holding her close to his heart. Thanks for praying.
Labels: ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
5:51 PM
Comments (37)
Friday, May 07, 2010
I wrote this on my caring bridge site, and Colleen thought it might be a good idea to share it with you since some of you may not be on that site. This is the site if you want to keep tabs that way: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/diannhunt/journal
Your prayers are working, my friends! We just finished our appointments at the Cancer Treatment Center tonight. Chemo finished around 7:00. Very long day, but a very good one! Great report! CA-125 is down to 18 and the doctor says it may not get any lower because that may be MY "normal". Anything under 35 is great, so that's awesome!
My infection is still there, doggone it, so Dr. Williams had to do a little minor procedure thingy in her office. She showed Jim how to pack it and ordered him to do so every night. I fell prostrate before her, grabbed her ankles and hung on for dear life as she dragged me down the hall. All the while, I begged her to come home with us. I even offered her my secret chocolate stash, but she held her ground. Chris Zinsli, I'm calling you next . . . . ;-)
Clearly, they didn't do the peritoneal treatment this time. We may not do it at all, and the doctor says that's okay, too.
We're getting to know the workers and thank God for every one of them! All go beyond the call of duty and are such a blessing!
Now for the big news. I am so gettin' this eyebrow thing down! I drew those puppies in this morning and they look just as good tonight! No fuller brush, fuzzy caterpillar brows on this face, thank you very much. I told Jim I'd like to add a little drama to it all. One day make a surprised look with my eyebrows, another day a frown, another day a happy face. Well, you get the idea. The possibilities are endless, why, it could open a whole new world for me! (Don't think I didn't hear you say, "Yeah, one with padded cells.")
From the start, God confirmed in my heart the verse that I would claim for this journey. "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
God is TRULY my joy and my strength! The dignity thing is coming along. And YOU are the most blessed treasures of all!! I NEVER take lightly that you are praying for me and I love you so much for it!!
Until next time, Scatter Joy!
Labels: CA-125, joy, ovarian cancer
Diann Hunt
posted at
9:51 PM
Comments (8)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
One of my goodie baskets from a friend included teal nail polish (teal is the color representing ovarian cancer). So when my granddaughter spent the night tonight, we decided to paint our nails. I'm not normally a teal nail polish kind of gal, but things, they are a changing. :-)
So I had on my navy blue turban, which was so comfy and my sparkly glasses so I could see to paint our nails. After we were finished I walked by the mirror and caught a glimpse of myself. Blue turban. Teal nail polish. Sparkly glasses. All that was missing was a crystal ball and a wagon for the side show. It made me laugh.
I can't say that I want to walk this road. Believe me, if my GPS could take me another way, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But what I can say is there is STILL joy in the journey.
Every day is a gift. Every. Day.
In a few short weeks I've learned the power of friendship such as I have never known. The GWO team, and so many of you, have strengthened me through your prayers and support. Ruthie sent a gorgeous prayer shawl, Lenora sent a beautiful quilt, another sent a lapghan, we've had enough food brought in to feed an army. The list goes on.
In short, we are blessed. Please know that I do not take your prayers for granted. I know they have carried me this far and will continue to help me.
Please know, too, that once I get through this, I'll be stronger, more informed, and more ready to help get the word out on ovarian cancer than ever before.
Lastly, don't be surprised if you see me at conference sportin' teal nail polish. :-)
Love you all!
P. S. By the way, did I tell you the verse the Lord gave me at the beginning of this journey? Proverbs 31:25, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Appropriate, don't you think? :-)
Labels: ovarian cancer, prayer shawl, teal
Diann Hunt
posted at
9:39 PM
Comments (21)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
TRUE COURAGE
For we women, our hair is part of our identity. Curly, straight, thick or thin, it's our covering in some special way. This week I got to see real courage in action. Yesterday I got to the hospital. Di looked good. Makeup already on, her cute navy turban in place. I eyed her bright eyes then asked, "The wig appointment is at 9. Do you want me to see if they can do your hair instead?" I was expecting her to waffle and decide not to do this but no. With her head up and her eyes shining, she said very emphatically, "I'm going to do it."
The nurse came in about then and she made the call for me. At ten to nine, the nurse and I helped her into the wheelchair. By now her eyes were gleaming with tears, but we prayed together and I helped wheel her down to the salon on the 1st floor. She didn't want anyone back there as they shaved her head, so I sat on a chair outside the door in case she needed me and prayed. A few minutes later I heard laughter and knew it was going to be okay. Wherever Di is, laughter is sure to be floating in the air! When I next saw her, she looked just the same. Navy turban in place, beautiful eyes shining. But there was a new sense of accomplishment in her face. She'd taken this big step with courage. I was so proud of her!
It would have been more than I could have handled to wait until my hair was falling out in clumps. This way SHE was in control, not the cancer or the chemo. I've just been so encouraged and blessed by her attitude this past week and a half. She has a lot to teach younger women. :-)
I'm home now. I wanted to cry when I left her, but I had to finally get home. Dave had to be back to work, and I have a dr appt tomorrow I've been waiting on. But she's in great hands. I can't recommend the Cancer Treatment Center of America enough! It didn't feel like a hospital but like a really nice Victorian mansion (bigger than that though) and the nurses and doctors were incredible. They prayed with us at the drop of a hat. They have cutting edge technology plus all the support like homeopathy and nutrition guidelines. Dr. Williams and her nurse Carm are wonderful. Supportive and encouraging. It wasn't at all like I expected. Though everyone had cancer, you saw hope everywhere you looked. The food was incredible too! I didn't want to have to come home and cook. LOL
Continue to pray for Di, my dear friends. She has a long road of chemo ahead of her. But a woman who takes charge the way she has will have the fortitude to go all the way! this pic is her with her new wig. Doesn't she look adorable?
Labels: Cancer Treatment Centers of America, chemo, ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
11:20 AM
Comments (19)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
JOSHUA 1:9
Celeste, our buddy here on the blog, gave me this verse and it's so needed for all of us right now. I was all set to write a light-hearted blog post but we all just had a curve ball that has left us breathless. Our dear, dear Di was diagnosed yesterday morning with ovarian cancer. While we're thankful it was found in a routine PET scan, we're reeling and grieving that she has to go through this again.
There are some people who light up a room. Di is that person. She can make me laugh and just being around her lifts any care I might have away. She has so much love and compassion for people. She's the best grandma around and a wonderful mom and wife. Go
here to read her daughter's post about yesterday. Di has this way of just looking at a situation that makes me giggle. Sometimes we laugh so hard we cry. I would do anything for her, just anything. I'd even take this on myself if it would mean this cup would pass from her. I can't do that, but I can pray. I can research the best treatments. I will go with her anywhere we need to go for treatment. I could take her wig shopping, but I hear Amber has already claimed that joy. :-) I can hear the laughter now. (Anywhere Di is you'll find lots of laughter.) So I'll do the things I can and know God loves her even more than I do. I know He has her wrapped in His big arms. He has us cradled there with her because He knows those of us who love her are hurting too.
Now realize that after surgery I won't be allowed anywhere near her morphine pump. Last time I gave her a shot of pain meds when I thought I was calling the nurse! I will never live that one down. All of us will be in town for the surgery. We'd planned two days of brainstorming together but God knew we needed to be together for this. Isn't that cool how He had it all planned out? And there is nowhere any of us would rather be than with Di.
We'll know about staging and treatment at the end of the week, but please, please keep Di in your prayers. Let's flood the gates of heaven with our petition on her behalf! Thanks for praying, friends. I know you love her too.
Labels: ovarian cancer
Colleen Coble
posted at
5:32 AM
Comments (44)
Thank you all SO much for your prayers for Di. It's been a rough week for her and those of us who love her so much, but the good news is that she's now in Zion at the Cancer Treatment Center. She sees a doctor tomorrow about her MALT lymphoma in her stomach, then her primary ovarian cancer doctor later in the week, unless that gets moved up. While we would have liked for the thing in her stomach to be nothing, the next best thing is this MALT. If it's caused by the h-pylori bacteria, it will be cured with antibiotic! And there is much good news on the horizon with ovarian cancer treatment as well. God isn't through with Di yet, and we will get on the other side of this beast yet!
Delicious
We know you all love Diann too so I wanted to bring you up to date on what's going on with her. She's in the hospital. They did tests this morning and found her stomach is totally ulcerated. Poor girl hasn't been able to keep anything down in 2 weeks! They also found some kind of growth or "something" that didn't look normal down by the opening to her small intestine. The doc took a biopsy and we'll know more soon. But at least we know what is going on and they will come up with a plan to fix it!
I have good news to report! We saw Dr. Williams today and while Di does have a recurrence of ovarian cancer, the two spots are just in her abdominal cavity and no where vital. The doctor immediately started her on a different chemo and assured us the fight was far from over. She said this wasn't even maintenance to keep the cancer from progressing but we were still going for eradication! 
Friends, we need you now like never before. Diann was told today that her CA-125 is high again which indicates she has more ovarian cancer growing. Please, please pray! We all love her so much and it's painful to think that she has to go through more treatment. We're all a mess. So please pray for peace for all of us and for the right treatment plan that will eradicate this terrible disease.
