A little history might be in order for the record. :-)
On January 20th I went to my regular doctor at Brookwood for a follow-up for high cholesterol (it's low now). I did not expect to see my doctor at that visit - I thought I'd just have my labs drawn. However, she did ask to see me and did a physical exam, including a breast exam. She felt something abnormal in my left breast, frowned and said I needed a mammogram. It'd been 4 years since my last one. I do self-breast exams every couple of months. This lump was new.
January 24th I went to get a mammogram. When I showed the tech where I felt the lump, it was the size of a large grape. During the mammogram they found another lump, also in the left breast. They did an ultrasound the same day and said I was going to need a biopsy. The biopsy was scheduled for January 28th at Brookwood.
January 28th it snowed. Postponed to February 4th. The biopsy was done on the 4th and told to expect results on the 6th. BTW, February 4th is World Cancer Day (cue the eye-roll).
February 6th, in the evening, I received a call that I was positive for "invasive lobular cancer".
At that moment, Matt and I decided we would transfer my care to UAB Breast Health Center at the Kirklin Clinic (univ. of alabama in birmingham for you out of towners reading this). The dates of the subsequent tests, biopsies, mammograms, CAT scans and labs are a blur. The cancer has spread to a lymph node (or more), but as of today has NOT spread to other organs nor to my bones.
And here we are. Surrounded by the best in the field. Just to give you an idea of how the Lord has been preparing the way for me and my family.
1. I work at the UAB School of Nursing on the same hall with breast cancer researchers and counselors. And it is a part time job (20 hours a week) with FULL HEALTH benefits. Very, very rare.
2. One of my dear friends got a job recently at the Kirklin clinic as an oncology pharmacist - she will be on the team providing my chemotherapy.
3. My doctor, Dr. Forero, is a feisty old Colombian man who happens to be a fantastic communicator. He leaves no doubts in my mind when he tells me what's coming.
4. The nurse practitioner who works with Dr. Forero on Wednesdays in his clinic, is a co-worker of mine at the school of nursing AND we became friends during our trip to Africa two years ago for work. AND she, too, is a cancer researcher advancing cancer care worldwide (she just got back from 3 weeks in Malawi helping set up some nursing education for oncology at the university there).

5. My own boss is a breast cancer survivor. She's been cancer free for 25 years. She is my walking, talking inspiration. And she just arranged for my work family to start bringing me meals. Wow.
7. My church family - There are some walking-talking inspirations there, too. There are no words to express my gratefulness.
So, there you have it. I'm surrounded by expertise, kindness, understanding, love, knowledge, compassion, friendship, and so much more.