Dear Editor,
As we travel this highway called life many things happen that may be considered interruptions. We grow up, have families, acquire careers perhaps, lose loved ones and in some cases our health may become compromised. But to God Be the Glory! That is what I want to talk about, when your health becomes compromised.
Dealing with life’s interruptions
On June 14, 2010 I was diagnosed with Stage two uterine carcinoma by my gynecologist, Dr. Catherine Jackson-Evans. After consultation with Dr. James J. Burke, II, M.D., Oncology Gynecologist, I was scheduled for invasive surgery that was performed June 24, 2010 at Andersen Cancer Institute/Memorial Medical Hospital. My family was with me through the surgery and during the follow up at home. My pastor, James F. Carter and St. Paul Church of God In Christ church family along with others and my work family kept a constant vigil in prayer for me. And for that I am grateful. For the Lord is my Light and my salvation, whom shall I fear, the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid, for when the wicked (cancer), even mine enemies (cancer) and my foes (cancer), came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Psalms 27:1-2.
I was released on June 25, 2010 and progressed superbly with the healing process. But it seemed like the Devil was still on the attack against me and my confession of salvation that he did not stop at afflicting my body, he proceeded to try to destroy my faith by causing me to become a widow at the young age of 52 years old. It was on July 26, 2010 of the same year that my husband, Herman M. Mobley, Jr. died of a massive heart attack. He had carried me to my follow up six weeks visit to the doctor in Savannah on July 21, 2010 and five days later he was dead. I am still dealing with that and trying to get what the Lord has for me throughout this journey.
I went with my son, Dr. Antonio A. Williams and my daughter, LaRaysha Y. Mobley to Thomaston to live with them while I underwent radiation treatments for three weeks in Upper Riverdale at the Radiation Oncologist Services. My doctor was Dr. Robena M. Medberry and the consultation was done in Griffin where she practices and the treatments were done in Upper Riverdale once a week for three weeks.
I thank God for the two children that He entrusted me to be a mother to, because they really took care of me while I was with them for treatments. My daughter, LaRaysha took me to each treatment, and to her I have already thanked, but want to let know I was and am grateful to her.
I went back to work on Sept. 22, 2010 working and going as usual. Celebrated the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with my family, but in the very back of my mind I felt like something was not quite right, but I kind of sort of attributed it to my body settling back in place after surgery and radiation treatments. But in January 2011 I finally went to my gynecologist and voiced my concerns about how I was feeling. She performed a routine exam, Pap smear to see what was going on, but did not see any major concerns, but you know how you know. It was like a foreboding in my mind, that something was not quite right. I prayed constantly and reminded the Lord of His promise to me that I shall live and not die!!
In the same month I had my six-month follow up visit with the oncologist in Griffin and voiced my concerns, but no exams were done, and I was told to have Dr. James Burke, my surgical oncologist to send them any findings after my visit and exam with him the same month in Savannah. I praise God for my mother, Josie B. Wilson, because she traveled with me to Griffin and Savannah. Love you girl!
The visit with Dr. James Burke resulted in a full exam, which did not seem to cause any alarm with him either. Then you get to the point where you think it may just be that it is all in your mind. But there are some things that you just can’t seem to let go of. So I continued to work and hurt and tell God that I was in His hands.
The pain began to have an affect my daily life. I was not social as I once was. I would go to work, go home, go to church and go home. I was beginning to isolate myself because it felt comforting to be alone with my pain and myself. But I could hear the four lepers in II Kings 1:2-7 say, “Why sit we here and die?” So I got up and got busy and went to my primary care physician with my complaints of pain and discomfort. This was in April and had a stress test done along with colonoscopy and was scheduled with a CAT/PET scan.
Well the CAT/PET scan revealed abnormal lymph nodes and the message was delivered so casual that I did not think nothing of the report until my focus had to come back to realization that the lymph nodes were where the cancer was. Pain has a funny way of messing with your thinking. So I got back with the primary care physician to remind her of my history with cancer and she told me to get in touch with Dr. Burke, who in turn got in touch with my primary care physician to get the results of the CAT/PET scan.
A little bit of time lapsed and the office of Dr. Burke contacted me to let me know the cancer had returned and was in a cluster in the lymph nodes along the aortic region and chemo/radiation would be needed. My first thought was I would be bald, but the Lord himself asked me, “Who told me I would have to lose my hair?” But how many know that when your world is seemingly turned upside down, the Lord of the whole universe will make your heart go round and round.
My son, the doctor was scheduled to get married on July 21, 2011 and I intended to conceal the news until after the wedding. But one night on the way to or from Bible study my mother told me my countenance did not look right. How many know you can’t hide anything from mother and you sure can’t lie to them? She took me by surprise because I had not told her what the doctors had said. So I told her maybe my countenance did not look right because I was sick. She wanted to know what I meant by sick, so I told her the doctors said the cancer is back. She did not respond well to the news. But I assured her that I would be alright. From there I had to tell my son, but he already knew from some of the complaints I had told him and was getting ready to tell me to get in touch with my doctor. Well we got everything in order, the wedding was a success, I got my new daughter, and in time to come I will rock a grandbaby from them on my knees.
After the wedding, my mother and I, along with my trusted driver, Varie Hayes traveled to Savannah and so I could get a PET scan. The consultation was set with Dr. Martin I. Holzman, MD of Satilla Cancer Treatment Center, LLC, now called CurePoint Cancer Treatment Center in Waycross August 5, 2011 and six weeks of radiation was scheduled to start on Aug. 15.
My church family and work family gave me funds to travel to and from the doctor, which took the worry of this unexpected expense that was not in my so called budget for the first three weeks. But my trusted work partner, Stephanie Leggett put me in touch with somebody that knew somebody that would be able to ease the burden of the travel expenses even more. She told me to get in touch with Peggy Miles of United Way, who in turn directed me to a member of the Appling County Charitable Foundation (ACCF) with Helen Samardjich. My memory fails me as to the name of the ACCF member that told me to go to Stan’s Pharmacy and pick up an application to request assistance from the ACCF, but if you read this, please know I am thankful to you and you know who you are.
I went to Stan’s as directed and got the form and filled it out and misplaced it. Then I was ashamed to go get another form, but pride and resources gave out about the same time so I went back to Stan’s Pharmacy and told Sandra what had happened and got another form and completed it and took it back the next day. Needless to say, Mrs. Samardjich got in touch with me the very next day via message to my mother and the Foundation was able to help me with the rest of my six-week journey to Waycross. I am eternally grateful to a foundation that will set aside resources for its local residents to help ease the burden of the cost that this interruption of life can cause on a person and family.
I praise God for my mother, Josie B. Wilson for she traveled with me every day, but one day, I think that was the Monday it was storming and she stayed behind (I am not mad with you). I like to thank my various drivers that took time out of their busy schedules to assist me: Sis. Daisy Harrell, Sis. Sarah Johnson, Sis. Ann NeSmith and Miss’y Carolyn Holmes. May the Lord award your labor of love.
When my everyday world was shaken by something that I seemingly had no control over I wanted and got answers that would help me on this journey. The one true source that I have truly learned to depend on is the sure promises of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For He assured me in Hebrews 13:5 that He would never leave me nor forsake me. He also comforted me with his Word in Isaiah 53:5 that He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon Him and with His stripes I am healed. Psalms 107:20 states “He sent His word and healed me and delivered me from my destructions. Psalms 103:3 - …Strengthens me because He has forgiven all mine iniquities and healed all my diseases. Psalms 118:17 “I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the LORD. This was and is the daily doses I take everyday all day – I cannot overdose on this medicine nor have side effects from taking it. I have to swallow it with a full glass of assurance. James 2:17 states and I am convinced “Evan so faith, if it hath not works, it is dead, being alone.”
Needless to say I finished the treatments on Sept. 21 and went back for a follow-up visit on Oct. 25. I am scheduled for another PET scan on Dec. 8 at 10:45 in Savannah with Dr. James Burke at the Andersen Cancer Institute with a follow-up visit with Dr. Holzman on Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Keep me in your daily prayers that the Lord’s will would continue to be done in and through me. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow and my life is hid in Him and his name is Jesus. For the scripture declares in Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Patricia A. Mobley
I was released on June 25, 2010 and progressed superbly with the healing process. But it seemed like the Devil was still on the attack against me and my confession of salvation that he did not stop at afflicting my body, he proceeded to try to destroy my faith by causing me to become a widow at the young age of 52 years old. It was on July 26, 2010 of the same year that my husband, Herman M. Mobley, Jr. died of a massive heart attack. He had carried me to my follow up six weeks visit to the doctor in Savannah on July 21, 2010 and five days later he was dead. I am still dealing with that and trying to get what the Lord has for me throughout this journey.
I went with my son, Dr. Antonio A. Williams and my daughter, LaRaysha Y. Mobley to Thomaston to live with them while I underwent radiation treatments for three weeks in Upper Riverdale at the Radiation Oncologist Services. My doctor was Dr. Robena M. Medberry and the consultation was done in Griffin where she practices and the treatments were done in Upper Riverdale once a week for three weeks.
I thank God for the two children that He entrusted me to be a mother to, because they really took care of me while I was with them for treatments. My daughter, LaRaysha took me to each treatment, and to her I have already thanked, but want to let know I was and am grateful to her.
I went back to work on Sept. 22, 2010 working and going as usual. Celebrated the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with my family, but in the very back of my mind I felt like something was not quite right, but I kind of sort of attributed it to my body settling back in place after surgery and radiation treatments. But in January 2011 I finally went to my gynecologist and voiced my concerns about how I was feeling. She performed a routine exam, Pap smear to see what was going on, but did not see any major concerns, but you know how you know. It was like a foreboding in my mind, that something was not quite right. I prayed constantly and reminded the Lord of His promise to me that I shall live and not die!!
In the same month I had my six-month follow up visit with the oncologist in Griffin and voiced my concerns, but no exams were done, and I was told to have Dr. James Burke, my surgical oncologist to send them any findings after my visit and exam with him the same month in Savannah. I praise God for my mother, Josie B. Wilson, because she traveled with me to Griffin and Savannah. Love you girl!
The visit with Dr. James Burke resulted in a full exam, which did not seem to cause any alarm with him either. Then you get to the point where you think it may just be that it is all in your mind. But there are some things that you just can’t seem to let go of. So I continued to work and hurt and tell God that I was in His hands.
The pain began to have an affect my daily life. I was not social as I once was. I would go to work, go home, go to church and go home. I was beginning to isolate myself because it felt comforting to be alone with my pain and myself. But I could hear the four lepers in II Kings 1:2-7 say, “Why sit we here and die?” So I got up and got busy and went to my primary care physician with my complaints of pain and discomfort. This was in April and had a stress test done along with colonoscopy and was scheduled with a CAT/PET scan.
Well the CAT/PET scan revealed abnormal lymph nodes and the message was delivered so casual that I did not think nothing of the report until my focus had to come back to realization that the lymph nodes were where the cancer was. Pain has a funny way of messing with your thinking. So I got back with the primary care physician to remind her of my history with cancer and she told me to get in touch with Dr. Burke, who in turn got in touch with my primary care physician to get the results of the CAT/PET scan.
A little bit of time lapsed and the office of Dr. Burke contacted me to let me know the cancer had returned and was in a cluster in the lymph nodes along the aortic region and chemo/radiation would be needed. My first thought was I would be bald, but the Lord himself asked me, “Who told me I would have to lose my hair?” But how many know that when your world is seemingly turned upside down, the Lord of the whole universe will make your heart go round and round.
My son, the doctor was scheduled to get married on July 21, 2011 and I intended to conceal the news until after the wedding. But one night on the way to or from Bible study my mother told me my countenance did not look right. How many know you can’t hide anything from mother and you sure can’t lie to them? She took me by surprise because I had not told her what the doctors had said. So I told her maybe my countenance did not look right because I was sick. She wanted to know what I meant by sick, so I told her the doctors said the cancer is back. She did not respond well to the news. But I assured her that I would be alright. From there I had to tell my son, but he already knew from some of the complaints I had told him and was getting ready to tell me to get in touch with my doctor. Well we got everything in order, the wedding was a success, I got my new daughter, and in time to come I will rock a grandbaby from them on my knees.
After the wedding, my mother and I, along with my trusted driver, Varie Hayes traveled to Savannah and so I could get a PET scan. The consultation was set with Dr. Martin I. Holzman, MD of Satilla Cancer Treatment Center, LLC, now called CurePoint Cancer Treatment Center in Waycross August 5, 2011 and six weeks of radiation was scheduled to start on Aug. 15.
My church family and work family gave me funds to travel to and from the doctor, which took the worry of this unexpected expense that was not in my so called budget for the first three weeks. But my trusted work partner, Stephanie Leggett put me in touch with somebody that knew somebody that would be able to ease the burden of the travel expenses even more. She told me to get in touch with Peggy Miles of United Way, who in turn directed me to a member of the Appling County Charitable Foundation (ACCF) with Helen Samardjich. My memory fails me as to the name of the ACCF member that told me to go to Stan’s Pharmacy and pick up an application to request assistance from the ACCF, but if you read this, please know I am thankful to you and you know who you are.
I went to Stan’s as directed and got the form and filled it out and misplaced it. Then I was ashamed to go get another form, but pride and resources gave out about the same time so I went back to Stan’s Pharmacy and told Sandra what had happened and got another form and completed it and took it back the next day. Needless to say, Mrs. Samardjich got in touch with me the very next day via message to my mother and the Foundation was able to help me with the rest of my six-week journey to Waycross. I am eternally grateful to a foundation that will set aside resources for its local residents to help ease the burden of the cost that this interruption of life can cause on a person and family.
I praise God for my mother, Josie B. Wilson for she traveled with me every day, but one day, I think that was the Monday it was storming and she stayed behind (I am not mad with you). I like to thank my various drivers that took time out of their busy schedules to assist me: Sis. Daisy Harrell, Sis. Sarah Johnson, Sis. Ann NeSmith and Miss’y Carolyn Holmes. May the Lord award your labor of love.
When my everyday world was shaken by something that I seemingly had no control over I wanted and got answers that would help me on this journey. The one true source that I have truly learned to depend on is the sure promises of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For He assured me in Hebrews 13:5 that He would never leave me nor forsake me. He also comforted me with his Word in Isaiah 53:5 that He was wounded for my transgressions, He was bruised for my iniquities, the chastisement of my peace was upon Him and with His stripes I am healed. Psalms 107:20 states “He sent His word and healed me and delivered me from my destructions. Psalms 103:3 - …Strengthens me because He has forgiven all mine iniquities and healed all my diseases. Psalms 118:17 “I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the LORD. This was and is the daily doses I take everyday all day – I cannot overdose on this medicine nor have side effects from taking it. I have to swallow it with a full glass of assurance. James 2:17 states and I am convinced “Evan so faith, if it hath not works, it is dead, being alone.”
Needless to say I finished the treatments on Sept. 21 and went back for a follow-up visit on Oct. 25. I am scheduled for another PET scan on Dec. 8 at 10:45 in Savannah with Dr. James Burke at the Andersen Cancer Institute with a follow-up visit with Dr. Holzman on Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. Keep me in your daily prayers that the Lord’s will would continue to be done in and through me. I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow and my life is hid in Him and his name is Jesus. For the scripture declares in Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Patricia A. Mobley
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