by Jenn Parzy
It was 2011, when I was told to get my thyroid checked out. 2 short years later, I was diagnosed with cancer.
It was 2011 and I was on my way to my annual with my OBGYN. My gynecologist felt my throat around the area of my thyroid and said I should go get blood work done because my thyroid seemed a little enlarged. So, following doctor's orders, I went and got bloodwork done and my thyroid was fine.
One short year later, once again my Doctor felt my throat. "Have you had that thyroid checked?" Yes I replied. Everything was fine. This time my doctor suggested I get an ultra sound. "Okay I'll get to it when I get to it." was my thought process. After all, I had a lot going on in my life and it was obvious I was fine.
A summer went by, but something kept gently tugging on me to get the ultrasound done. So, 10 months later I set up the appointment. Less than a week later, my doctor asked me to set up an appointment with an Endocrinologist.
I went in to my first appointment with the Endocrinologist and he explained to me how it works. If the nodule in my thyroid was liquid, than we didn’t have to go any further, but if it was solid, I would have to get it biopsied. As he read my ultrasound results, he told me that my nodule was solid. This is where the journey began. He referred me to get 3 fine needle aspiration biopsies done.
Now let me first explain, that I have always been a very large baby when it comes to getting needles of any type. Usually, I get very anxious, my blood pressure shoots up, and I get light headed. I have to pray a lot before doctor’s appointments. Well, the three fine needle aspirations were not that bad after all--Praise the Lord!
A week later, I recieved a voicemail left by my Endocrinologist. "Jennifer your results are in, and I'd like you to come in to the office to go over them." My mind raced.
For a couple of days, I tried to arrange a visit with the doctor and couldn't seem to get the timing right. So one day after work, I just decided to drive down to the office to hear these "results". Unfortunately, arriving at his office he wasn't there.
So the office and I phoned him. At the point of reaching him, he told me that he didn't want me waiting any longer to hear the news. So here it is: "You have a nodule of cancer on our thyroid. Papillary carcinoma to be exact." He told me that I would have to have a Thyroidectomy (having my thyroid removed completely and be on a pill for the rest of my life to replace the hormone I would be loosing). He let me know he didn't want me to worry and that there was an increasingly high success rate of getting rid of it.
The next few hours I spent driving around town...kind of in a daze. For some reason, I wanted a steak at a nice steakhouse. Weird huh? After calling my mom and breaking down, I called my husband and told him to meet me to talk. This is when I told him. He told me "God has got you.”
About a week passed, and I didn't feel worried about the surgery....in fact, I was at peace. I knew God would take care of me. I was only concerned about the needles I would soon be having put into me. (I do NOT like needles).
Fast forward to the day of surgery. I was blessed with having my family and husband all present with me. I did get a little anxious before surgery...but, in the blink of an eye, it was over. The operation was a true success!
My post op visit was followed by the amazing news of "Your biopsy's that I took during your surgery came back clear and you do not need Radioactive Iodine as a further treatment." The best part is, I am reminded that because of my surgery's post recovery going so well, I was able to fly out to Alabama only days after to say goodbye to my dying grandfather. God is Great!! He was with me from the moment I was handed my prescription to get blood work done and an ultrasound, to the minute I was holding my grandfather's hand. He sure knows the plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.)"