New Adventures - Background information

This blog was set up to keep family and friends updated on what is going on with Beth. There are SO many of you that have sent texts, emails, voice mails and facebook. We felt this would be the easiest way to update everyone so we don't miss anyone or leave someone out. We will update with news and progress when we have it. In the meantime, we appreciate and welcome all prayers and we thank you in advance for them!!!




So these past couple of weeks have proven to be interesting. It all started on January 22, actually it started much earlier than that, but we will begin this adventure on January 22, 2010. Beth (my sister) went to the doctor to have a colonoscopy done. They were doing tests to see exactly what was going on inside of her. She had been having some symptoms that were puzzling her doctor. She wanted to rule out Crohns disease. So as a result, she had a colonoscopy done.

Al (Beth's husband) sent me a text to let me know she was done and was in recovery. He said he would have her call me when they were getting ready to leave. I was at work waiting for the call....little did I know it would be a call that would change our lives.

I guess it was around 12:30 or so that Friday afternoon that finally my phone rang. I could see it was Beth, my friend had just walked into my office and I remember saying "oh, that's Beth, she is leaving her test". I picked up the phone to hear Beth sobbing. I said "what is wrong", she said "Mary, I have bad news...it is cancer." It was like a scene from a movie. I slowly sat down in my chair and I said "Cancer? Are you sure?" The doctor told her they could tell from the colonoscopy that there was a tumor and it was cancerous. I know the emotions that I was experiencing, I can't begin to imagine the emotions Beth was. My thoughts were racing. I have heard those words all too many times in my life....The first time I heard them I was about 9 years old. My mom was pregnant with Beth at the time and she learned she (my mom) had an inoperable brain tumor. So when we hear those words, they don't bring back the best of memories. Needless to say, we have been on a roller coaster of emotions. Doctors appointments, a variety of tests, more doctor appointments, more tests. Final diagnosis...stage 3B rectal cancer.

That brings us to today! Here we are, nearly 3 weeks after the diagnosis and Beth is starting treatment on Monday, February 15th. The course of action...first they are doing radiation and chemotherapy. This will happen every Monday through Friday for 5 weeks. Then approximately 4 weeks after that, they will do surgery to remove the tumor. They will follow up with chemo after surgery, we just don't have any exact dates as of yet.

As a family, again, we thank you for your thoughts and your prayers...keep them coming.

Thanks~
Mary Geers

I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NIV)