Recovery Update From Mary John….

December 16, 2008

Dear friends,

Good news from your newly non-radioactive District Superintendent! The course is finished and I am so very happy to be able to resume a normal life! Yesterday, I got the results from last week’s full body scan confirming what the surgeon had projected: the only traces of remaining cancer cells were confined to the immediate area where the thyroid used to be. Last week’s treatment was designed to finish off that last bit of cancer. Knowing that there is nothing else lighting up is great news.

I give thanks for all the research and medical technology and dedicated lives that this healing possible. Although the cure rate for thyroid cancer is blessedly high, I, like all cancer survivors, will continue to live under the cloud of followup scans for years to come…remembering that vigilance is part of the reason that more and more people are surviving and recovering from cancer. I thank God and all of you for sustaining and guiding me through this time and I pray that my appreciation for this new re-gift of life will show in all that I do. Blessed, blessed Christmas to each of you,

Mary John

December 12, 2008

It is finished! The radioactive iodine treatment that is! I trust God’s healing work will be ongoing but I am home, finished with the radioactive treatment, back on thyroid meds and (praise the Lord!) able to resume a regular diet! I am giving up the kitchen! I will probably cook on Christmas Day when my family gathers, but other than that, I am going to take a break from the last 4 weeks of cooking every single meal from scratch at home.

I am still radioactive until Wednesday, but that feels like a very small thing compared to all the other things I have been juggling over the last 6 weeks! (Although, the radioactivity DID seem a little daunting when Duke gave me a certification for homeland security in case my high radioactivity set off a security sensor anywhere! They said they were having patients come for this treatment and then get stopped by security when they tried to fly home! J Oh dear. Apparently no amount of talking will convince security people that this very high level of radioactivity doesn’t mean something sinster. So that was sobering!)

I am released until a followup scan next May.

How grateful I am for all your support, prayers and expressions and concerns! I took bags full of your cards and read and re-read them during this week of isolation and I am so grateful for every expression of kindness and blessing. You have contributed directly to my healing and well being.

Although the doctor anticipates that I will not be back to completely full strength until mid-January, I am already feeling so much better. I will pace myself as needed, but I am ready to resume the ministry life I love and hope you will continue to keep me in prayer.

.Mary John

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Phone: 704-873-6162 Fax: 704-873-8271 Email: sdumc@wnccumc.org
District Office Address: 941 Thomas Street, Statesville, NC 28677