Hello everybody,
A quick update for ya. I finished chemo!!!! It felt so good to close that chapter of this journey. I even saw my doctor that day and finally got an idea of what’s next. I started taking a pill called Anastrozole (aromatase inhibitor) for 5 years. Its a hormone-blocking medication that blocks the effects of estrogen on the tumor cells. Normal breast tissue cells have receptors for both progesterone and estrogen. They cause normal breast tissue to grow and mature properly. But when a cell becomes cancerous, those receptors need to be blocked to be able to fight the spread of cancer. Its not chemo, but it is used for very aggressive cancer types. Apparently thats what kind we have been dealing with all along. My doctor is kinda funny that way. He doesn’t tell you everything, which is probably wise but makes me curious as to what the big picture really is. Oh well, ignorance is bliss they say and sometimes the more I know, the more fear or doubt can creep in. I will also be going in every 3 weeks for 1 year to receive more treatment of something called Herceptin. It will be given through my port, just like chemo. My doctor said that this was why I had a port put in because he knew I would need it for the long haul. Today I started having the tests to see how the chemo and radiation did. I am looking forward to hear what the results are. I will write sooner, I promise, and let you all know what they are.
I actually started this blog a few weeks ago and got side tracked. I went to Australia for the Hillsong Conference. It was fantastic and I wish you all could have been there, even though I think God designed the whole conference just for me (some thousand people attend). How wonderful is God to do that for me (smile). I felt like He spoke through the speakers to me, to encourage and strengthen my faith. Its amazing how all these different speakers can come together and not know what the other one is speaking on, and they all flow into one heart and add to the other to complete the package. Every year this happens and this year was no exception. There was one session in particular that was definitely for me. It was one of the most beautifully orchestrated sessions I’ve seen. There were various speakers including Darlene Zschech, who shared their story of going through a difficult circumstance. Darlene having had a miscarriage, a faith preacher loosing his son to cancer, another having gone on a mission trip with his pregnant wife and child and how they caught a life threatening virus that took the life of their unborn baby and threatened their little girl. They shared how they got through these heart breaking difficulties in spite of themselves. What I appreciated was their openness about the struggles in “being a christian” and yet not receiving the results they had prayed for. In between some of the speakers, there was special music that was so powerful. Its amazing what people go through in this life, but how beautiful it is to see how strong they are today. The one thing that they all had in common was that they kept their eyes on Jesus and put their trust in Him. That was really a huge comfort for me because I might not know if I’m doing the right thing, or if I have enough faith or if I’ve prayed the correct way or whatever, specially when you have people try to encourage you by saying THEY were healed. But all I know is that I can keep my eyes on Him and I can put my trust in Him. That’s a good place to be.
Lets keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and see how amazing He is…He is worthy of our trust.
I love you all very much and thank you for your prayers and warm wishes. I see Jesus when I look at you.
Big hugs….karyn
20 Comments
Hey Karyn, been waiting for this blog so I can get news of you. Sent you an email to AOL, don’t know if you got it. We are still praying for you!!! So glad to know that you are fixing your eyes on Jesus as that’s the best that any of us can ever do. He is our all in all. I love you! xoxoxo!
Expecting a good report for you!!!! Let me know if you need anything I can get here. HUGSSSS.
We are trusting God for a great report. We pray for you daily and are so glad that you have completed your chemo. Way to go girl! We miss you and Robert and all the precious folks and Camino de Vida and are praying to be able to return for a visit next year. We are going to be grandparents in February, so we will have to see how that goes. We love you.
Yay!!! Nice to have news from you. I have been longing for news from you and visiting your blog quite often… what a relief that the chemo treatment finished!!!
Karyn we love you! My brother Jimmy told me the other day he stopped by CDV and he was so happy to see you leading the worship… I love you and I am very proud of you.
Your are a living testimony of the love of God, I am always encouraged by your words.
I have been meaning to go to the Hillsong Conference for 2 years now… I hope to make it next year, it is just an hour away from where I live… by plane…
God bless you!!!
Vanessa
hey girlfriend,,I kinda freaked out when i saw your tweet but I hadn’t had time to read the blog..ok I am calmer now. I know God is working and healing..just hoping no more treatments for awhile..but we shall do what needs to be done. I believe and stand for you my heart always toward you. IN HIS NAME>>>love you sooooo much. JESuS HEAL MY FRIEND>>ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!
Hey Karyn, I was glad to see some info in your blog. I must confess I haven’t been to it for a while. I feel like I am in touch seeing your tweets. I haven’t quite made it yet in doing the whole tweet thing. Still don’t understand it. Oh well Love you and can’t wait until you get here! Just know we are standing with you and pray for you daily. Brittnee still prays for you and asks about you. She also prays for Jennifers friend who has breast cancer. Oh by the way she sang after Buddy preached on ministering to children. She did so good. Wow she has come so far!!
Talk to you soon.
Kathy
Hi Karyn! So good to read your blog/journey. I have prayed for you many times and will continue to lift you up to HIM! So happy you went to Israel too - what a faith builing visit. So glad you are in good doctors/medical staff hands. Y’all are the best - love the website and all the fantastic wonders God is doing in your midst. Blessings to CDV, the children too, and to your lovely family and grandchildren. Con cariño, Janet
Hello Karyn, just found your blog site. So good to hear you are doing well. Dad and I are dooing good. Dad went to Israel and Egypt earlier this year. He walked up Mt. Sinai. [not bad for age 75] We had been wondering how you and Robert and CDV were doing . Now we can check the site.
Love You Guys. Oh and happy birthday Karyn, and many more.
God bless you!
Hi Karyn, we don’t know each other so much but I have seen you when I visited CDV for one of the cults, also friends have talked good about you and your husband and all the good you do for all of who believe in Jesus. I am more than sure that you would get better soon because you have your eyes fixed on the best Doctor and He would make your life bloom again as He has promised.
God Bless you, your family and your doings.
Love,
Manny
Karyn,
Judy and I still think of you often and we pray for God’s total healing for you. Be blessed. We love you.
Greg and Judy Kegin
Mustang, Oklahoma
Karyn,
I miss hearing from you. Please let us know from you.
Love you,
Vanessa
I met your husband at our church tonight. He is an amazing guy. I just wanted to thank the 2 of you for all you do. God placed it on my heart as Robert was speaking to do something in the missions field. I love working with Children and hope that someday my dream will come true to be able to do some wonderful things as you do.
you are in my prayers daily!!! I hope to one day meet you!
Taylor
Karen,it’s been a long time since we have any comunication but you and Pastor Robert are always in my heart,I passed the best years of my life with you guys in Lima and with all the group,it make me so happy to know that your are much better,God is always with you and I Know,taht everything is going to be ok,te mando un fuerte abrazo para ti y para el pastor,los quiero mucho y siempre los recuerdo con mucho amor.
FELICITACIONES POR LA NUEVA NIETA, ES UNA BELLEZA!!
Karen, you are amazing. I am so glad God put you and pastor Robert in our lives, even though we are far physically you are always in our hearts. One more time you guys have won a battle and touch many lives with your testimony of faith and trust in God. We love you, congratulations for your newborn grand daughter.
Flor
Hi Karyn,
Sitting in hotel in Athens Greece thought I would check up on you. Looks like Jesus is still alive and well! Missed you in Oct. but will see you in Feb. Let’s all go and get a Banana, strawberry, chocolate syrup, and whip cream crape after the meeting :). We are excited about Robert’s new book! OOPs maybe I wasn’t suppose to tell anyone about it :) Love from the one that makes you laugh!
Ps. Karyn you are amazing! I’ve learned a lot from you through this last year and I’m glad now you are enjoying your little granddaughter Mischa.. Hope you are going to share something else with us soon. You know we love you so much..
Hi Karyn…You don’t know me but I have been praying for you this year. We were in Peru at your church the Sunday before you were to have surgery in February. Today I decided to read your church web site and enjoyed reading your Blog pages. I will continue to keep you in prayer.
You are amazing and blessed. Jenelle
Karyn, I love you and miss you heaps. Please update your blog to be able to hear from you. Love you heaps and miss you heaps!!!
Vanessa
Hi Karyn, I am hoping you remember me. I met you at Oasis Christian Center in October of last year at their Pink Night. My daughter Ashley and I travelled from Dallas for the weekend. I was the other woman with breast cancer. I somehow found your church web site and this blog (following a twitter lead). I tried to find your information previously but the unusual spelling of your name must have stumped me. At any rate, I wanted to say hello and congratulations on the completion of your chemo and I pray - continued improving health. I myself have just completed round 10 of 12 - but on a lighter version now than previously. In December I completed lumpectomy and determined cancer free. Now doing the whole herceptin, hormone management, radiation…etc., etc., Bottom line - well but not completely restorated. Still journeying with Jesus daily and leaning on him for strength. Thanks for sharing in your post! I can totally relate. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed meeting you last fall. That I have thought of you often and prayed for your restoration! Believing with you in faith…Jan Greenwood