Oh, No! It’s That Time Again!

~ Sandi Staton

When I had my first colonoscopy more than eight years ago, I wasn’t surprised when the doctor came to my room and said he couldn’t even begin the procedure because of  a blockage.

I had been sick off and on for months; doubled over with pain and waking up in the middle of the night sick and throwing up and shaking like an earthquake. But, it wasn’t until I saw the blood that I was convinced something was really wrong and finally went to the doctor.

I am a cancer survivor of eight years, now. Thankfully, I didn’t have to do radiation or chemo of any kind. After seeing what that poison did to my sister, I wasn’t sure I would even consent to it. I’m just happy I didn’t have to decide one way or the other.

However, it was a totally different story for my husband, Buck. He was 68 and had never had a colonoscopy. He wasn’t having any problems, but since he was long over due, I convinced him to talk to the doctor and have him set up an appointment for one.

After the procedure, the doctor’s news couldn’t have been more alarming if he had delivered it wearing a black hooded cape and holding a scythe.

I couldn’t believe it! You’re supposed to have symptoms of colon cancer, right? You’re supposed to be sick and throwing up and hemorrhaging, right? This was just a routine check up. He wasn’t supposed to have cancer!

There were polyps. Lots and lots of polyps and several cancerous tumors. The worse the news got the more I wanted to cover my ears and run out the door screaming, “NO! I don’t want to hear it! He’s not gonna die! God, please don’t let him die!”

The doctor removed four feet of his colon, leaving him with only a foot, which was great news considering that the plan was to remove all of it and insert a colostomy bag. But, we were willing to live with whatever it took for him to survive.

Amazingly, twenty pounds of his infected colon was removed and he didn’t have to take one drop of chemo or radiation.

Last week, Buck was put on the survivor’s list at the VA hospital. YAY!

We are both 73. We are both colon cancer survivors. We are both grateful to God and colonoscopies for saving our lives.

Looking at the bright side of colonoscopies, I’ve posted a few humorous memes. But, all jokes aside, get that colonoscopy. It could save your life!

By the way, I have an appointment this week. March 11th, 2020 at 2:30 pm. That means, tomorrow I get to break in my brand new toilet.

 

 

Published by Sandi Staton

So, I'm sitting here trying to figure out how to describe myself to you, and these are the words jumping up and down in my heart: I'm just a simple human being living in a complicated, messed-up world. I speak my mind. I love hard. My feelings run deep. When push comes to shove, I stand my ground. Sometimes I push back. Sometimes I walk away. I've surfed the crashing waves of life that threatened to destroy me only to make me stronger. I bear the scars of emotional rape, sadness, and depression. I've walked the golden streets of churches and religion only to be disappointed time and time again. And as a result, it's taken me seventy-five years to get where I'm sitting today; a sinner saved by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. I fell at the cross. I repented of my sins, and Jesus saved and washed me clean. I still fall flat on my face. I still get dirty as a pig in a mudhole. And Jesus still picks me up, dries my tears, forgives me again and again, and continues walking close beside me. No one has ever loved me like that. And no one ever will.