Weird and Wild Things Are Happening!

Hello friends! I am sorry to worry you with the news, but I have had friends wanting to hear updates since they heard my recent news, and I figured this was the best place to give updates. I don't know if you'll be able to reach me by phone or visit, so at least you can hear the latest!

So anyway, life has been good- it was a busy and fun October, including a family trip to Moab and a fun, relaxing cruise with friends Alli and Kami to the Bahamas, along with a day in Epcot, which I love! I posted a bunch of pictures of all this on facebook if you want to see.

But as for the crazy news... Last week after getting back from the Bahamas I had an eye appointment with my eye doctor. I have lost a lot of vision in my right eye recently and wondered if my prescription needed to be changed or if my diabetes was causing blindness. Well, Monday he couldn't find anything, so he sent me to a retina specialist to have a further look. On Tuesday they took a picture of my retinas, which looked normal. I requested to get an angiogram to look for anything else. After the 2nd dilation for the week and the angiogram, they showed me what kind of retinopathy is forming and some cataracts in my left eye, but he couldn't detect problems. I am so grateful for this thorough doctor, though, because he finally did a quick reading test where I covered each eye. From this test he could see that I wasn't reacting to light or colors in my right eye, so he asked me to return Thursday to do a final test. On Thursday (without my eyes dilated) he saw how my pupils were reacting and saw there was a problem with my optic nerve. After consulting with the eye doctor, he ordered an MRI. Thank goodness I was off track, because it took all week to get to this point! And thank heaven for an amazing mom who was with me, because he said it MS was a possibility! :)

Okay, so Friday morning, I'm getting up to go to school for my track on day, and I get a phone call from my doctor saying I have a tumor growing and wrapping around my optic nerve. He sent the MRI results to a great neurosurgeon, recommended by my boss who had a brain tumor a few years ago as well. I anxiously awaited all day, impatiently called several times to get through, and never heard from them. I was okay, but still anxious. I went to work at the temple that night, and gratefully my mom said to ask for a blessing from the men working there. Pres. Layton (Oquirrh Mtn. temple president) and Bro. Pinney (my sunshine-friend and amazing temple worker) gave me a beautiful blessing. I honestly don't know how I would have stayed sane all weekend without such a comforting blessing. It was one of the most amazing blessings. And to be there in the temple, a place I love so much, while receiving it made it feel all the more celestial! I felt the words were truly straight from Heavenly Father. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood in worthy, faithful men (Alma 13) and the way that power is manifest. Several comforting words were given:

-Bless you to heal completely to carry on with your life's work

-Your work here on the earth is not done, and this is not the end of your mortal experience

-You have a special mission and purpose on the earth and in the eternities

-You can be an example of faith and strength to others

Wow, could I have asked for anything more? I left feeling so lifted from a heavy burden, and ready to reach out and serve others rather than look inward to my own problems. Saturday, Sunday, and today I have been on the phone and email with several friends and family members, and I have already been overwhelmed to hear of those fasting and praying so earnestly for me. Thank you to my family for standing by and loving and strengthening me so much already... and now through this! All the fasting from you and great friends have pretty much overwhelmed me! Hard as a trial like this may be, how nice to be reminded that people love you! I sure love you too!

So, today-- let's get to the news and details:

the Neurologist will see me in a week to go over details, but he was so kind to answer questions I had! He said that the tumor is in a dangerous and sensitive area-- where my carotid splits and the tumor is pushing on nerves, which is why it is pushing on my optic nerve and causing the vision loss. They will need to do surgery for two reason: 1- Determine what kind of tumor it is, and 2- To get it away from the nerve and carotid artery and prevent further vision loss, etc. But because the tumor is near such sensitive areas, and in places that are so delicate, they will have to take most of the tumor out and then leave certain parts of the tumor in and take care of those later with radiation (when I have recovered enough from surgery). The hospital stay will be about 3-4 days, and it will take about 6 weeks to feel back to myself. They will cut behind my hairline from the middle of my forehead to behind my right ear, then remove a bone about the size of my ear to get to the matter they need to perform surgery on. I'm hoping that means no shaving,... but hey, they will do what they gotta do! (Maybe I can request a facelift while I'm at it!)

I will give more updates as I learn more. I just want to testify that I know of the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know this power is real, and I believe in the reality of the priesthood as God's power on Earth. As I have been preparing to go to Israel again, I have thought upon the amazing miracles Jesus performed in His life, of healing the sick, raising Lazarus from the dead, causing the BLIND to see, and healing our souls. I know He can still perform miracles today. I love Him with all my heart, and find hope in the scripture: "all things work together for good to them that love God." I hope and pray I will learn what it is the Lord wants me to learn through this time! More to come. :)