Memorial Box Monday – My Miracle at Age 38

This Memorial Box Monday story is another one of my favorites. Frankly sweet friends, I need to remind myself of this Memorial Box story today. And here is a disclaimer: if you find bodily talk gross, disgusting or get squeamish, then probably you ougt to stop right here. For the rest of you….buckled up…cause here goes:

Several years ago we were living in Amelia, Virginia where we had come, the year before, to plant a church. I was 38. We had five kids at home, the church office was in our home and much of the stuff that we used each Sunday was stored in huge boxes in our foyer. Really, life was crowded!

And planting the church? Wow. Tons of long, hard work – but the rewards were out of this world {literally!}….we deeply loved the team we came to plant with and we loved the people who came to be part of it all….many, many, many came to Christ – it was an amazing time in that little rural community….

Suffice it to say, I had little time to think about me. Actually probably none. But one day I

began to notice a non-descript pain in my lower abdomen. I had had my appendix out when I was a teenager, so I didn’t pay alot of attention. Weeks passed and I wondered what that pain was. Soon the weeks turned into months and I was so busy I didn’t think alot about it, but there were days that I had to lay down the pain was so bad.

Finally I thought I better get into see a doctor. I had to find one though! It took forever to get in to an OB/GYN. By the time I got to see her, after months – there was suddenly no more pain. Hmmm. Weird. She said that now that I was an established patient if the pain returned I could get right in. A few weeks later the pain returned. Back I trudged to her office. She examined me and couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary. At that point, my Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God’s mighty hand stepped in. She said, “I really think you need to see a Colo/Rectal Specialist.” Mind you, I was only 38.

She referred me to one of the kindest docs I have ever met. He was so gentle and nice. It took a couple weeks to get into him, but the pain was still there when I met with him. He heard that I had this undetermined pain that the OB/GYN had no clue what to do with. He said he should do a rectal exam. He also asked if my “movements” had changed. Actually, come to think of it, they had. They were now like pencils. {Sorry, but for the sake of others out there, take and learn from my experience. I was only 38, and never would have guessed what was going on deep inside my body.}

Deep inside he reached and found that I had blood. Hmmmm. At that point, my Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God again stepped in…cause the doc could have just ordered a Sygmoidoscopy (lower colon scope)…but instead he said, “I think we better do a complete colonoscopy.”

It was scheduled. I wonder now if that doc really thought he would find anything. I marvel that the OB/GYN sent me to him. To this day I am amazed at God’s hand and work in it all….how He loves each of us and oh my gracious – how He has our back!! He is sooo faithful.

Colonoscopy preps are not as bad as people say. {They’re worse! – j/k} Anyway, I remember being so nervous as I went in. When I woke up I remember seeing Dw nearby. I said, “They found something, didn’t they?” He said, “The doctor hasn’t come in yet.” Soon the doctor appeared. I said, “You found some polyps, didn’t you?” He said, “How did you know?” I said, “The redhead told me.” LOL

I guess there was a red-haired nurse in recovery and she had spilled the beans…don’t imagine she thought I would remember that! The doctor said, “Well actually the nurse in recovery is a redhead.” Anyway, sure enough, he had found Villous Polyps.

Here is what emedicine says:

Villous adenomas are associated with the highest morbidity and mortality rates of all polyps.

Sure enough, at my young age they had found the most deadly type of polyps growing in my colon. The doctor said that in about 18 months I would have had full-blown Cancerous tumors in my colon. Can you imagine? I wouldn’t have even been 40 yet. And most likely you wouldn’t be reading this post, had that happened. And for the record, I have always been very health conscious…I was the woman who ground my own grain, who ate vegetables raw till I grew them out my ears, who ate everything with as much grainy substance as possible, who doesn’t really like meat…..yeah, that woman…and still I had villous polyps discovered at age 38.

But God has our back. He always does. He is faithful. He is working behind the scenes. He is 100% trustworthy. He is OUR Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God!!

I now have regular Colonoscopies. I have the prep down real good. I actually don’t mind them at all. In fact I have said that if I could, I would totally let people pay me to have their colonoscopy for them. You know, kind of like a surrogate colonoscopy. Not possible, but I bet I could make some good money for the orphan – huh? If only….

So how about you? Are you ignoring symptoms from your body? Are you at the age that even though you are not having any problems, you should have a colonoscopy? Please don’t wait. God has too many cool things for you to be doing!! So get “movin” {get it? – sorry, I couldn’t resist}….

If you are new to Memorial Box Monday, it is explained here. If you have a Memorial Box Monday story to share, I would love for you to link below. Please use the Memorial Box badge on the right sidebar. Also, please link using the Permalink {just click on the post and the link that comes up in the address bar of your exact Memorial Box Monday post}. If you merely link to your blog, I will be forced to delete it and you will have to link again using the Permalink to the Memorial Box Monday post. Why am I now requiring that? Because I can!! haha -j/k….but really….I have gotten many, many emails from new bloggy friends who have just read from start to finish A Place Called Simplicity….well what if they click on the link and it merely goes to your blog? Yup, it totally defeats the purpose. So yes, your link must go to your exact Memorial Box Monday post. Thank you for understanding.

15 thoughts on “Memorial Box Monday – My Miracle at Age 38

  1. Linny!!
    Our God reigns!
    I too have had bowel issues and many a colonscopy and girl…I would SO pay you to do the prep. I HATE drinking the stuff. Last time I sweet talked my Dr. into giving me the 1/2 gallon instead of the gallon but I had to drink some other stuff too…UGH. Ugh. Ugh. UGH! My first colonoscopy happened when I was…hmmmm. maybe 30. And they found pre cancerous polyps! The doc said that the source of my pain was from IBS though..totally unrelated! (God!) But the pain is what made me go in for help!
    I laugh because poop and colonoscopies totally make most people embarrassed. Oh well. Welcome to my world. I am ALIVE! 🙂
    35 years old and had 4 colonoscopies! My husband has been here for 1 or 2 of them…he tries to make me laugh about the "Golytely" solution…he says it should have been named Goheavily instead.
    Thank you Lord for humor and for saving our lives time and again!

  2. Linny…wow, that is so timely with some stuff I have going on. I am bringing it up with the OBGYN just to make sure!!!!!! What an awesome post! Still praying for you and for DW's health!
    Hugs,
    Shannon

  3. i'm so glad they found it when they did… but you didn't share what you put in your memorial box to remember…
    i sure hope it's pencil… and not something. um. well. else.

    listening to our bodies… women aren't so good at that, are we?

  4. It is so important to pay attention to what your body is "telling" you. My aunt ignored symptoms (and she's a retired nurse) and was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Even though she had radiation, surgery and chemo it continued to metastisize. We are now praying that she accept OUR Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God as her personal Lord and Savior before she passes away.

    Thank you for sharing your life with us.

  5. Thank you for sharing your Memorial Box idea with all of us. And thank you for telling me how to permalink. I am so not techno savvy. I appreciate all the info -spirtual, Godly advice and techno stuff.
    Still praying for your family and the entire mission team.
    Lisa

  6. My hubby's cousin had colon cancer at 40. She begs everyone to go get tested if you have ANY symptoms at all. Great post. I think any mother can handle the graphic-ness of it. 😉

  7. yep I would say that as a surrogate you would make a fortune…

    those Buttectomy's are just nasty…

    I thought that the Doc said bud lite!!!!

    Naw he was asking for a Butt lite…

    sorry my bad!!!!!

    Been praying for DW… hope he is better…

  8. Oh my goodness..Linny, we went through this with my hubby a year ago..he was only 35 at the time. I will never forget the look on the the dr. and nurses face after the first colonoscopy. They couldn't believe what they had found. We are so thankful that the Lord allowed this to be found when it was.

  9. Thank you so much for your post. I'm 32 and headed in for another colonoscopy this Thursday. A year ago, after 14 years of being sick, they did my first colonoscopy and diagnosed my Crohn's. I was put on medication and praise Jesus for the difference it has made in my life. I am a walking PSA for colonoscopies. Too many go without because of fear and the many horror stories that go around about the prep and procedure. While the prep is admittedly no fun I spend the wait time lying on the gurney before and after the procedure listening to doctors update patients around me with reports of polyps of all varieties. I strongly encourage those with symptoms or over 50 to go in. Its not nearly as bad as some make it out to be and, as you prove here, can be life saving. Thanks so much for spreading the word.

  10. Thank you for sharing, Linny, praise Yah that He let the doctors find out what it was, and had it removed! 🙂
    Two nights ago, I had a really very sharp pain in my right abdomen that got me alarmed, but it lasted only for two or so seconds… in fact when I think about it now, it does have a dull ache. This afternoon my mother let me know about your blog and I'll act on her and your advice have it checked out.
    Thank you for caring to share.

  11. I have to confess that I am one of those who sees colonoscopies in a shroud of fear. Both my mother AND my cousin had their colons RUPTURED by the physician during a colonoscopy and had to have emergency surgery. Different doctors in different states – so not even due to ONE doc's mistake. Needless to say, neither of them has ever had another one done. My mom has continued to have severe consequences from the rupture ever since – about 12 years of torture. Great incentive for me to get one, huh? Definitely something I will have to be praying about as I approach 40.

  12. I'm a week behind on my comments, but current on my prayers.

    You are so funny. I'd love for you to be my colonoscopy surrogate. Do you also do surrogate mammograms?

    Thanks for sharing this. It's a great reminder.

    Kathie

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