I wanted to share a detailed update on my post-op status and pathology results earlier, but it's been a difficult few weeks. 

Nearly three weeks ago, my surgeon at Vanderbilt, Dr. Hopkins, and his robotic assistant removed the tumor and part of my colon with clear margins and then reattached the ends. 

I started walking quickly at the hospital and went home on the third day. I switched to just OTC pain medication within a few days. I have six incisions that are healing quite well. Recovery is expected to take six weeks, and I'm nearly halfway through.

Adjusting to this new system has been the real challenge. My digestion and hunger cues are all different, and figuring out what foods I can tolerate is an ongoing experiment. I miss working out, but for now, walks will have to suffice.

My energy levels fluctuate a lot. Some days, I feel great and ambitious, then sick and fatigued the next. I've been on several outings in the last week and then paid for it afterward. It's been hard to track conversations, and answering a lot of questions feels taxing. 

I've been down for the past three days. I'm sorry for not responding to some of my sweet friends who have been texting. I'm just trying to get through this right now.

My sweet Zippy dog has been ever faithful. He's curled up next to me on the bed when I'm resting and at my feet when I'm in the living room. 

Duane and I are incredibly grateful to my sister, Emily, and my best friend, Shelley, for taking turns traveling to Nashville and supporting our family. 

I would have to write a long, separate post to describe all the ways in which Duane has just been the ultimate partner and father through all of this. I love him so much. 

Dr. Hopkins called recently with the pathology results. The tumor had gone through to the last layer of my colon, and out of 18 lymph nodes removed, two were cancerous. While it's a relief to know all the cancer has been removed, it means I will need adjuvant chemotherapy since it affected my lymph nodes.

My official diagnosis is Stage 3b.

I had an appointment with an oncologist on Tuesday and am so thankful that it's Dr. Ciomber at the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). I had preemptively researched CRC oncologists and planned to advocate for her, but Dr. Hopkins was one step ahead of me and specifically referred me to her.

Dr. Ciomber and her fellow onc, Dr. Sharpe, were very warm and optimistic and explained everything well. I will undergo six months (12 rounds) of chemo infusions with a FOLFOX combination. First, I'll have a chemo port implanted in my chest. Then, I'll go in every two weeks for pre-fluids and an oxaliplatin infusion for 4-5 hours. After that, I'll go home with a 46-hour pump of fluorouracil (5FU). Oxaliplatin has the worst side effects, but it's also the less potent of the combo, so it will be administered for only three months (6 rounds).

Is this necessary? Yes. Surgery alone put me at a 56% survival rate for five years, but chemo raises it to 75%. As you know, five years without recurrence is the goal.

Am I scared? Terrified. It's all so surreal—even just walking into the cancer center the other day was a shock. 

I believe God is good and that He is love. I have so much evidence that He has been with me through all of this, but I'm still afraid. And I believe that's okay. God is far greater than our anxious hearts. 

Thank you so much to all the amazing friends who have brought us meals, given us gift cards, sent texts and greeting cards, offered support, and prayed over us. Your kindness and generosity have been such a blessing to us.

So many people have reached out, and I deeply appreciate it. I want to respond personally when I can. I'm just trying to get through the basics right now.

Supporting Spencer and Abby is our priority before we share information more broadly. We live in a world that thrives on minute-by-minute updates via technology, but there are sensitive matters to consider here. 

Please continue to pray for us. Pray for my family. Pray that I will have the stamina to get through the chemo and still be able to teach and support the kids and be here for Duane. Please pray that I can keep my eyes above the waves when my faith feels weak. 

Thank you all for your love and support. It means the world to us. 

Love always, 
Laura