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An Accidental Diagnosis & Raising Awareness

September 15, 2016 by Patti 44 Comments

Lying flat on my back, arms stretched high above my head, the paper covered table beneath me hums as it begins it’s steady movement into the heart of the giant hollow tube.  Once inside a mechanical voice speaks in my ear, “Take a deep breath and hold it”.  I breathe in, hold, and only release when the voice instructs me to do so.  Breathing as normally as possible I wait as strange clicking noises sound all around me.  The voice comes again, “Take a deep breath and hold it.”

When the CT scan is finished the table exits the machine where a technician waits to help me back on my feet.  I go into the dressing room, remove the hospital gown, dump it in the laundry bin, and put my street clothes back on so I can go about my day.  A normal day filled with greetings, and smiles, and thankfulness for all of the beautiful people in my life.

This is the second time this year I’ve been inside this machine and it won’t be the last.  You see last Spring, when I was having medical tests for other concerns, evidence of asbestos exposure was “accidentally” found in my lungs.  This was actually no great surprise to me.  In fact, I had mentioned my asbestos exposure and family history to past doctors, but none ever seemed concerned enough to order x-rays.

My DadMy dad worked with asbestos his entire life.  Asbestos materials were thrown into the back of our family station wagon to haul from job to job, asbestos fibers covered his work clothes and clung for dear life when my mom would shake out his clothes before placing them in the washer, asbestos dust flew through the air as my dad used his saw to cut the edges of the asbestos squares which he installed on the ceiling of our lake cabin.  As a young child I was my dad’s little helper so asbestos also made it’s way into my lungs.

In 1975 my dad was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which at that time was pretty much considered a death sentence.  Survival wasn’t anticipated.  My dad had portions of his lungs removed, suffered sickness from the chemotherapy, became weak from too much weight loss, and one-by-one his best friends, those he had worked side-by-side with throughout his career, also succumbed to lung cancer and eventually death.

But MY dad survived and it was nothing short of a miracle!  If you’d like to read about his miracle you can do so HERE!

If you’d like to read more about mesothelioma THIS is an excellent source.

I’m writing this post today because September 26th is Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Click To TweetAwareness has been raised for a lot of other diseases but most people still don’t understand what exactly mesothelioma is.  They don’t realize that There is no known cure for mesothelioma and the prognosis for a person diagnosed with the disease is very poor Click To Tweet They don’t realize that Once people are diagnosed with mesothelioma most don't survive beyond 15 months Click To Tweet.  They don’t realize that Early diagnosis of mesothelioma is key to a better chance of survival Click To Tweet

Heather Von St. James is another survivor of mesothelioma.  She has turned her pain into her purpose by making it her mission to raise awareness of this deadly disease and I’m coming alongside her today to help spread the word.  So instead of talking any more, I’m going to share Heather’s story with you.  I’m asking you to please take the time to listen to her short video by clicking on her picture and then come back so I can wrap this post up 🙂

Heather Von St. James

Please click on the picture to watch Heather’s story.

Thankfully, the evidence of asbestos in my lungs was found and I will now be monitored on a regular basis to make sure things don’t change or progress.  I know that x-rays are expensive but since early diagnosis of this disease  is critical I wonder why my reports of asbestos exposure weren’t taken more seriously.   Perhaps even our doctors will benefit from raised awareness.  By the way, I’m not getting down on doctors as my hubby is one.

So what about me?  I could spend a lot of time worrying about where this might go but honestly, I have no fear.

My dad's miracle and my deep faith allow me to rest in God and know that He's got this. Click To Tweet

If you feel so inclined I’d love for you to share this post on social media.  Who knows, there may be someone out there who, like me, knows they’ve had asbestos exposure but has never pushed for an x-ray to see where they stand.  This is important stuff.  Your sharing could save a life!

Thank you friends and blessings to you,

My Signature

For more information about Mesothelioma THIS is an excellent source.

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStoryMaking Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking,SmallWonder, LifeGivingLinkup, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story, IntentionalTuesday

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, ChristianBloggerLinkup, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty,  The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy,  Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday, PartyAtMyPlace, 100HappyDays, SincerelyPaulas, ThankfulThursdays

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

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Filed Under: Health Tagged With: Cancer, Health, mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Awareness Day, Prayer

Freedom Friday – Tribute to a Less Than Perfect Dad

June 14, 2016 by Patti 33 Comments

My Dad.  He was a tough man, sometimes very tough on us kids.  He was a perfectionist but not perfect.  Perfectionists never are and this failure to “measure up” frustrates them which often overflows in anger.  This I know.  That anger is rooted in fear of never being “enough.” 

My dad’s own upbringing was pretty rough and he wanted better for his kids than what he’d experienced, so when we screwed up, and he blew up, it was because he was afraid that we would settle for less than the best.  No matter what, we all knew that he loved us deeply.

Poppy's Tea Cart 4

Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts. Why?  Because though once bound in chains Christ has set me free –  FREE to live, to love, to dance, to sing, to be who God created me to be!

Late in life the tough dad became the soft-hearted dad.  Mesothelioma, the result of years in the construction field working with asbestos, tried to claim his life.  It did in fact claim the lives of every single friend and co-worker that received the same diagnosis.  My dad though . . . he had a praying wife . . . and praying friends.

Surgery, chemo, loss of hair, skin and bones, we entered church that day and sat to listen to the speaker.  I don’t recall what the message was about but I do remember afterwards standing in the church foyer, waiting in line with all the others to shake the hand of the guest preacher.  I was probably anxious to get out of there because in my late teens church was the most boring place I could spend one of my precious weekend days.

Poppy's Tea Cart 2

This day.  It was different.  When my dad’s turn came to shake this preacher’s hand the man asked him the simple question, “Can I pray for your healing?”

Now my dad had received lots of prayers before and during surgery and chemo but this was different.  I wasn’t raised in a charismatic church so it wasn’t the norm for me to see hand-laying healing prayers.  My dad was ready.

The Preacher prayed.  My Father received what was offered.  The Heaven’s shifted.  My dad walked away from church that day believing that he was completely healed of cancer.

Popppy's Tea Cart 3

From that time forward my dad grew stronger.  He eventually returned to a healthy weight, his hair grew back black, not the gray color it had been prior to the cancer.  After a couple of years he became so much stronger that he and my mom bought a mini farm where they tended a large garden and raised beef for the family.  There he also took up woodworking in his little shop out back and learned to build beautiful furniture from sticks of wood.

My dad’s harsh heart became soft like a child’s after this very personal encounter with God.  Jesus’ touch that healed his body also healed the wounded places of his heart and for that he was forever grateful. He had such a special relationship with his Lord in fact, that he would stand at his workbench praying and blow kisses to Jesus.  I believe that in working with wood my dad identified with Jesus the carpenter and that seeing a block of wood transformed into a beautiful creation reminded him of what Jesus had done in his own life.

Poppy's Tea Cart 6

After that time, I never saw my dad sit through church without tears spilling from his eyes and down onto his cheeks.  He was forever grateful that God had restored the wasted years of his life and Joel 2:25 became one of his favorite verses of Scripture.  He lived fifteen more years and saw the birth of all of his grandchildren.  He loved his family with a passion and prayed that all would understand the transforming power of Jesus in their lives.  It wasn’t about following rules, or being good.  It was ALL about a personal, kiss-blowing relationship with the Creator.  Experiencing firsthand His healing power then loving Him because He first loved us.

My dad’s relationship with Jesus and the fullness of his life after his healing is the greatest legacy he could have bestowed upon his family.  Now as I work with my hands, just like my father, making broken things beautiful, I have decided that I will take up my dad’s torch.  As I see transformation taking place beneath my hands I too will lift my fingers to my mouth, stretch my hands toward the Heavens, and blow kisses of gratefulness toward the Redeemer of my soul.

Lord, thank You for the life changing transformation I was allowed to witness in my earthly Father.  Thank you that his and my mom’s prayers were answered as you also redeemed, set free and delivered me.  Thank you that you are at work in the hearts of all my father’s children, grands, and great grands, to bring them to a place of KNOWING you in the deepest places of their hearts.

Poppy's Tea Cart 1

Poppy’s Tea Cart

“Our children will serve Him; future generations will hear the story of how God rescued us.”  Ps. 22:30 The Voice

“The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”  Ps. 16:6 NKJV

My Dad

Happy Father’s Day dad,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory
Making Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Dream.Create.Inspire.Link, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky,Time Warp Wife, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, A Little R & R, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat, ThoughtsOfHomeOnThursday, MakingBrokenBeautiful
KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, YourTurnToShine, Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy,  Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
  ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,
  Blessing Counters,Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Grace & Truth Linkup, Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories, Dance With Jesus
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

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Filed Under: Christianity, Family, Freedom Friday, God's Grace, Re-purposing Tagged With: Christianity, Family, Freedom, Freedom Friday, God's grace, mesothelioma, Old things made new, Repurposing

OldThingsNew

I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

Disclosure: Old Things New is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com . . . or, in other words, Shopping through my links helps Old Things New keep the lights on!

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