Here I sit with my sweet Jehovah Rafa, the God who heals, who will never leave me or forsake me. Mark is at church and the children are still in Palm Springs with Grammy so I can rest and recover from a fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and ear aches...hoping to be cleared for surgery tomorrow. Yes, surgery. A week ago, I was experiencing pain, difficulting breathing, and nausea. Blood tests, urine analysis, chest x-rays, abdominal x-rays, ultrasounds, and an MRI were performed within a matter of two days...which is a miracle in and of itself. Praise Jehovah! The findings are a large tumor (7 cm round) in my right ovary and little cysts on the left. Once this was confirmed and he saw me on Thursday, May 7th, Dr. Kevin McNeely (my ob/gyn since soon after Mark and I were married and moved to San Diego) believed that it was necessary to get the tumor out as quickly as possible and scheduled the surgery for the next morning, Friday, May 8th at 11:15 a.m.
I checked in at the hospital at 9 a.m. on Friday with a temperature of 102.4. The nurse immediately called Dr. McNeely to see if he wanted to go forward with the surgery and he said it was an "emergency" so we needed to proceed. Graciously, I was continually provided with warm blankets, but it never seemed to be enough. I was just shivering. Rondi Lauterbach, our pastor's wife, came to visit us, read scripture to us, and pray with us. What a blessing she was for our souls! One of the passages she read was Psalm 121. This is the same Psalm the Lord had led me to bring to the prophecy mic on Sunday, April 26th. Then Tom White brought it to our "Beautification Committee" meeting on Tuesday, April 28th. After that on Thursday, May 7th, Laura Fierro came over to our home, anointed me with oil, prayed for me, and you guessed it, one of the scriptures she read me was Psalm 121. So, in a matter of less than 2 weeks, God brought Psalm 121 to me 4 times. I shared this little story via email with some family and friends and would you believe within that same time frame, God had brought it to my mom, Danielle, and Kei Laliberte!
Because I'm getting tired and need to rest up before the kids are delivered by my mother-in-law, Joanne Hemingway, I'm going to take the easy way out and cut and paste the latest updates that I emailed to some friends and family...
1st Update:
Hi, Friends!
Thanks so much to those of you who have already jumped in and sprang
into action to help me over the past couple days!
Here's the scoop:
-After a bunch of tests yesterday and an ultrasound & MRI today, a 7
cm mass was found in my right ovary & a bunch of cysts on my left.
-It is necessary to take out the right ovary asap...most likely
tomorrow, but if I am in too much pain, they'll do it tonight.
-Urgent Care is working on tracking down my beloved Dr. Kevin McNeely
(ob/gyn who has been w/ me since newlywed & walked through infertility
& Noah & did Chloe's C-section).
-I am praying that Dr. McNeely will be able to do the surgery.
Help needed w/ kids:
Thursday, May 7th
9 a.m Diana Menne will have the kids (Are you able to keep them for
lunch & naps?)
3 or 4ish p.m. need someone to relieve Diana (839 Pinecrest Street,
Escondido is her address)
5 or whenever my kids will need dinner & a place to hang until we can get them
Friday, May 8th
All Day: Chloe needs a place
____7:50 a.m. Chris D. takes Noah to school
____9 a.m. Seth needs a ride to TCA (Laurie Rawson, would you be able
to swing by & pick him up?)
____9:50 a.m. Seth needs someone to be there at TCA when his class dismisses
____10:30 Seth needs to be dropped off at Tennis at the Escondido
Fitness Center (Lincoln & Escondido)
____11:30 Seth needs to be picked up from Tennis
____11:30 Noah needs to be picked up from preschool at Calvin
Christian (Broadway & Vista)
____12:30 Seth needs to be dropped off at Reidy Creek golf course
____1:30 Seth needs to be picked up from golf
Afternoon...
____Seth 1:30 - ?
____Noah 11:30 - ?
____Chloe ?
Late Afternoon/Evening...
Hopefully, my mother-in-law will be here & Mark will be able to get off early.
Sorry I don't have any more details about myself...length of stay,
time of surgery, recovery expectations, etc.
Thank you all for your prayers and care! Please feel free to forward
this to anyone. :)
Love to you all & thanking Jesus for you,
Tina
Thanks so much to those of you who have already jumped in and sprang
into action to help me over the past couple days!
Here's the scoop:
-After a bunch of tests yesterday and an ultrasound & MRI today, a 7
cm mass was found in my right ovary & a bunch of cysts on my left.
-It is necessary to take out the right ovary asap...most likely
tomorrow, but if I am in too much pain, they'll do it tonight.
-Urgent Care is working on tracking down my beloved Dr. Kevin McNeely
(ob/gyn who has been w/ me since newlywed & walked through infertility
& Noah & did Chloe's C-section).
-I am praying that Dr. McNeely will be able to do the surgery.
Help needed w/ kids:
Thursday, May 7th
9 a.m Diana Menne will have the kids (Are you able to keep them for
lunch & naps?)
3 or 4ish p.m. need someone to relieve Diana (839 Pinecrest Street,
Escondido is her address)
5 or whenever my kids will need dinner & a place to hang until we can get them
Friday, May 8th
All Day: Chloe needs a place
____7:50 a.m. Chris D. takes Noah to school
____9 a.m. Seth needs a ride to TCA (Laurie Rawson, would you be able
to swing by & pick him up?)
____9:50 a.m. Seth needs someone to be there at TCA when his class dismisses
____10:30 Seth needs to be dropped off at Tennis at the Escondido
Fitness Center (Lincoln & Escondido)
____11:30 Seth needs to be picked up from Tennis
____11:30 Noah needs to be picked up from preschool at Calvin
Christian (Broadway & Vista)
____12:30 Seth needs to be dropped off at Reidy Creek golf course
____1:30 Seth needs to be picked up from golf
Afternoon...
____Seth 1:30 - ?
____Noah 11:30 - ?
____Chloe ?
Late Afternoon/Evening...
Hopefully, my mother-in-law will be here & Mark will be able to get off early.
Sorry I don't have any more details about myself...length of stay,
time of surgery, recovery expectations, etc.
Thank you all for your prayers and care! Please feel free to forward
this to anyone. :)
Love to you all & thanking Jesus for you,
Tina
2nd Update:
Hi, Friends & Family!
Well, I am home, but not because the surgery* was a smashing success
and the most beautiful thing you could imagine.... :) As you may
know, I have had a fever, sore throat, swollen gland, & ear ache. On
a normal day that's no biggie and you just push through, right. Well,
what started as smooth sailing as I was prepped for surgery w/ IV,
sticker monitors, leg massagers, a lovely plastic air bubble heating
blanket, and just about to have the marker taken to my abdomen for a
little art work, everything came to a halting stop when the
anesthesiologist looked at how swollen my throat was, combined w/ the
fact of having a fever. She was gravely concerned about extubating
the breathing tube and painted possible scenarios of the complications
leading to being in the ICU on an ventilator for a week or more or
even a chance of death. Well, I knew my doctor believed that the
surgery was "emergency" status (due to the risk of having the tumor
burst and all the complications that may bring) because when the
check-in nurse called to report my fever to him, he didn't even
hesitate and said that we needed to move forward and get the tumor
out. So, my vote was to trust God and go for. Mark was not thrilled
w/ my opinion, but spent some time praying about it. Meanwhile, more
doctors start showing up around the bed. I almost thought we were in
an episode of ER with a great dramatic debate going on right before my
eyes, but it was so strange to think this was real life. Ha! :)
After many opinions were share by the 3 concerned anesthesiologists,
my doctor caved...what else could he do. So, because he is so
adorable he is willing to come in on his days off tomorrow (Sat.) or
even Sunday (Mother's Day) if the pain becomes too great and we have
to take action. My anesthesiologist stepped up and asked him to call
her as well and said she would do the same! Wow! That's when I
really knew they were genuine about their concern and care and not
just covering themselves for liability purposes. At this point, we
have the surgery scheduled for Monday, May 11th at 10:30 a.m. So here
is the scoop regarding help...
Today:
- A big THANKS to Chris Detrich, Kelly Trader, Laurie Rawson,
Christina Norwood, and Jenna Shirley for shuffling everyone around and
caring so lovingly for the Gist kids!!!
- At the hospital we had visits from Rondi Lauterbach and Danny Frese.
Thanks, Danny for your patience while we were tucked away for what
seemed like hours only to find out we were leaving and thanks for
blessing Mark with a Chipotle lunch! Rondi shared Psalm 121 (as well
as other scriptures :) and I was so blessed by God's specific care as
this is one more example of God's overwhelming care. In a matter of
12 days now, Psalm 121 has been brought by 4 of us at Grace Church
because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Some may remember when I
read it at the prophecy mic on April 26th, then Tom White shared it at
a "beautification committee" meeting at church on April 28th, the
Laura Fierro came over yesterday and read it to me at my bedside, and
finally today, Rondi was led by the Spirit to bring it to me in the
hospital. Wow! God is such a personal, caring, loving God. Praise
be to Him...from where our help comes! :)
- Currently, the kids are off in Palm Springs with Mark's mom (Joanne
Hemingway) and getting to swim and have a great, fun, adventuresome
diversion from all this craziness from now until Sunday afternoon.
- I have been "ordered" by Dr. McNeely to stay in bed, drink lots of
fluids, and take my vitamins until it's time to leave for surgery.
(I'm cheating just a little to update you all, but from now on I will
check my email on my phone and follow doctor's orders. :)
Sunday:
- I will sadly miss sharing in Mother's Day at Grace Church, but know
that God is doing His thing and He is so good that I must trust His
divine care and love for me.
Monday:
- We will drop off Seth to the McGlassons about 7:15 a.m.
- We will drop off Noah at the Detrichs about 7:20 a.m.
_____ Chloe needs a spot for the morning.
- Diana Menne will pick up Noah from preschool at 11:30 and take him
back to her house for lunch/nap.
_____ Chloe needs to be dropped off at Diana's for nap time and
possibly for lunch if that works better for other's schedules.
_____ Seth needs to be picked up at The Classical Academy, 2950 South
Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025, 760.546.0101, and dropped
off at Diana's unless someone wants a play date w/ him.
- All 3 kids will do the rest of the evening (dinner/baths/pjs) w/ Diana.
- Diana will bring them home to be put to bed.
_____ In case we happen to not be home yet, is there someone who could
stay with the kids at our house from about 8 p.m. - ? Lord-willing,
if all goes well, we won't be spending the night at the hospital. If
we do, it would be nice to have a back-up plan for that...meaning you
could have the kids stay at your house or stay at our house for the
night...either is fine w/ us.
Whew, are you overwhelmed yet? If you made it this far in the email,
you are definitely a true friend!!! Thanks for your love, care, &
prayers for us during this time.
May Psalm 121 bring encouragement to your heart in whatever God is
doing with you right now!
My Help Comes from the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Much love & gratitude,
Tina
Well, I am home, but not because the surgery* was a smashing success
and the most beautiful thing you could imagine.... :) As you may
know, I have had a fever, sore throat, swollen gland, & ear ache. On
a normal day that's no biggie and you just push through, right. Well,
what started as smooth sailing as I was prepped for surgery w/ IV,
sticker monitors, leg massagers, a lovely plastic air bubble heating
blanket, and just about to have the marker taken to my abdomen for a
little art work, everything came to a halting stop when the
anesthesiologist looked at how swollen my throat was, combined w/ the
fact of having a fever. She was gravely concerned about extubating
the breathing tube and painted possible scenarios of the complications
leading to being in the ICU on an ventilator for a week or more or
even a chance of death. Well, I knew my doctor believed that the
surgery was "emergency" status (due to the risk of having the tumor
burst and all the complications that may bring) because when the
check-in nurse called to report my fever to him, he didn't even
hesitate and said that we needed to move forward and get the tumor
out. So, my vote was to trust God and go for. Mark was not thrilled
w/ my opinion, but spent some time praying about it. Meanwhile, more
doctors start showing up around the bed. I almost thought we were in
an episode of ER with a great dramatic debate going on right before my
eyes, but it was so strange to think this was real life. Ha! :)
After many opinions were share by the 3 concerned anesthesiologists,
my doctor caved...what else could he do. So, because he is so
adorable he is willing to come in on his days off tomorrow (Sat.) or
even Sunday (Mother's Day) if the pain becomes too great and we have
to take action. My anesthesiologist stepped up and asked him to call
her as well and said she would do the same! Wow! That's when I
really knew they were genuine about their concern and care and not
just covering themselves for liability purposes. At this point, we
have the surgery scheduled for Monday, May 11th at 10:30 a.m. So here
is the scoop regarding help...
Today:
- A big THANKS to Chris Detrich, Kelly Trader, Laurie Rawson,
Christina Norwood, and Jenna Shirley for shuffling everyone around and
caring so lovingly for the Gist kids!!!
- At the hospital we had visits from Rondi Lauterbach and Danny Frese.
Thanks, Danny for your patience while we were tucked away for what
seemed like hours only to find out we were leaving and thanks for
blessing Mark with a Chipotle lunch! Rondi shared Psalm 121 (as well
as other scriptures :) and I was so blessed by God's specific care as
this is one more example of God's overwhelming care. In a matter of
12 days now, Psalm 121 has been brought by 4 of us at Grace Church
because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Some may remember when I
read it at the prophecy mic on April 26th, then Tom White shared it at
a "beautification committee" meeting at church on April 28th, the
Laura Fierro came over yesterday and read it to me at my bedside, and
finally today, Rondi was led by the Spirit to bring it to me in the
hospital. Wow! God is such a personal, caring, loving God. Praise
be to Him...from where our help comes! :)
- Currently, the kids are off in Palm Springs with Mark's mom (Joanne
Hemingway) and getting to swim and have a great, fun, adventuresome
diversion from all this craziness from now until Sunday afternoon.
- I have been "ordered" by Dr. McNeely to stay in bed, drink lots of
fluids, and take my vitamins until it's time to leave for surgery.
(I'm cheating just a little to update you all, but from now on I will
check my email on my phone and follow doctor's orders. :)
Sunday:
- I will sadly miss sharing in Mother's Day at Grace Church, but know
that God is doing His thing and He is so good that I must trust His
divine care and love for me.
Monday:
- We will drop off Seth to the McGlassons about 7:15 a.m.
- We will drop off Noah at the Detrichs about 7:20 a.m.
_____ Chloe needs a spot for the morning.
- Diana Menne will pick up Noah from preschool at 11:30 and take him
back to her house for lunch/nap.
_____ Chloe needs to be dropped off at Diana's for nap time and
possibly for lunch if that works better for other's schedules.
_____ Seth needs to be picked up at The Classical Academy, 2950 South
Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025, 760.546.0101, and dropped
off at Diana's unless someone wants a play date w/ him.
- All 3 kids will do the rest of the evening (dinner/baths/pjs) w/ Diana.
- Diana will bring them home to be put to bed.
_____ In case we happen to not be home yet, is there someone who could
stay with the kids at our house from about 8 p.m. - ? Lord-willing,
if all goes well, we won't be spending the night at the hospital. If
we do, it would be nice to have a back-up plan for that...meaning you
could have the kids stay at your house or stay at our house for the
night...either is fine w/ us.
Whew, are you overwhelmed yet? If you made it this far in the email,
you are definitely a true friend!!! Thanks for your love, care, &
prayers for us during this time.
May Psalm 121 bring encouragement to your heart in whatever God is
doing with you right now!
My Help Comes from the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Much love & gratitude,
Tina
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