It has been quite a while since I have posted anything. But there is something I would like to share with all of our followers. When I started this blog I had no idea how it would do nor did I know where it would go. My original idea was to let Janeen, along with family and friends follow us along a path that was both foreign and very scary. I have said before it ended up being very cathartic for me and equally as cathartic for Janeen once she was told the blog existed. I had always hoped Janeen would eventually meet through this blog, other women who were facing the same decisions that Janeen was facing and women who shared her anger along with her fears. This has happened and continues to happen on somewhat of a regular basis. When she shares the stories of these women we have never met and probably never will meet, we cry and immediately I say a prayer for that person. These women are all in different phases of their journey but they are able to tell each other how they handled their mastectomy's or maybe one gal opted to have her hysterectomy first then remove her breasts. No matter what the order of the surgeries each one has chosen, there is a common denominator and that is testing positive for BRCA 2. I cannot stress enough how common this scenario is and still there are so many of you out there have never ever heard of this gene. I will never understand why more doctors do not test for this genetic component and why insurance companies refuse to pay for this simple blood test that is outrageously expensive. This is so wrong on so many levels and my heart goes out to each and everyone who has had to make very difficult decisions, in order to save their lives while still having to fight the insurance companies for compensation at the same time. Unless their are drastic changes in the medical arena, women will just sit and wait for cancer to attack and ultimately kill them. There is a lady in Georgia, she has breast cancer and she has opted for a double mastectomy. Her doctor will not do the surgery unless she is tested for BRAC 1 and BRCA 2 gene. Her insurance will not pay for the test and she cannot afford to pay for the test. So she just sits and waits. I pray for this woman daily.
So, to all of you ladies who have met my daughter through this blog or twitter please keep in touch. You are helping each other more than you probably realize at this moment and the beauty of these relationships that are forming you all know exactly how each one of you feels and that has to be comforting for all of you. Janeen's next surgery will be the hysterectomy but no date has been set as of this posting. She is once again due to have her pancreas and other organs screened and check ups are coming up again soon. I realize all of you are so sick of doctor's offices but hang in there ladies one day the road you now travel will be a distant memory.
God bless you all and your families and this mom is so happy you have found each other.
Love,
Barb ( Janeen's Mom :)
1 comment:
Barb- You are such a great mom! Not to speak for her but Janeen has told me how blessed she feels to have had you go thru this journey with you and that she couldnt have done it without you. Sometimes its nice to hear from a third party how much you are appreciated by Janeen & Jack.
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