New year, new team
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The Castillo Family
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The Castillo Family
After a lot of back and forth with insurance and hospital billing, I’m finally able to share some good news: my care is officially moving to the cancer research hospital, City of Hope. This has been the on my heart since my diagnosis last April, but the door simply wasn’t open until our insurance changed. The road to get here has been long, frustrating, and emotionally draining—filled with paperwork, phone calls, tears, some doubt and more than a few headaches. There were many moments when it felt like nothing was moving forward and that the plan wouldn’t happen.
Looking back, even the few appointments we paid for out of pocket last year feel purposeful, preparing the way for what’s next. God was working even when I couldn’t see it, when I was struggling to trust and trying to take control myself. His timing is neither rushed nor delayed, and I’m deeply grateful that this door has finally opened exactly when it was meant to.
I kicked off the new year with a full slate of appointments—EKG, echocardiogram, labs, PET scan, and ultrasound. I’m incredibly thankful to share that none of those tests revealed any additional areas of cancer. This is a huge praise and a clear answer to prayer. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17), and we are giving God all the glory for this report.
One of the appointments was with a surgeon I wasn’t able to meet with last year. I had spent a lot of time praying and researching, and I truly felt he might be a missing piece in the next phase of my surgical plan. From the moment we met, he brought up the very things I had been researching on my own and was not only open to being involved in my upcoming surgery, but eager to coordinate closely with my other surgeon. It felt like a gentle but powerful reminder of God’s promises.
Including this surgeon will lengthen both my surgery and recovery, but it will make a significant difference in my long-term quality of life. Once again, God is faithfully providing the right doctors at exactly the right time. I see His hand in every detail, confirming that He is near and deeply involved in this journey.
Because of the test results, I’m cleared to move forward with my next surgery to remove the remaining cancer cells. My new team at City of Hope wants to move quickly, and we received confirmation today that my surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday, 1/14. As we prepare, I’m choosing to trust that God has been lining up each step, each provider, and each detail long before this moment arrived.
In addition to removing the remaining cancer cells, they will also switch my chest expanders (aka “water beds”) to implants and perform a microscopic lymph node bypass. This cutting-edge procedure is designed to significantly reduce my risk of developing lymphedema.
While the journey to transfer care has been filled with stress and uncertainty, now that it’s happening I’m feeling a mix of nerves, excitement, and hope. Recovery will be similar to my last major surgery—about eight weeks with no lifting and limited use of my arms—but I’m thankful to be moving forward with a clear plan, a skilled new team, and the steady peace that comes from knowing God goes before me. “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
Please be praying for our family as we quickly pivot logistics to make next week happen. Your prayers mean more than I can put into words. I’ll share more soon.
Love,
Elly
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