House Before Pictures...

So these are the before pictures of my house....

AFTER PICTURES WILL SOON ARRIVE!!! ABOUT ONE MORE WEEK IF GOD IS WILLING!!!

Review: Live Loved (Experience God's Presence in Everyday Life)

Author: Max Lucado
$9.46 (Amazon price)
Paperback: 320 pages
Publishing Details:
Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Gift edition (May 3, 2011)
Date: May 3, 2011
Format: Hardcover
ISBN10: 1404190066
ISBN13: 978-1404190061
Language: English

This book helped me survive treatment through Cancer; so weird how much hope, faith, and inspiration you can get from a little book. Every time I felt down or when hope began to fade away I opened up Love Lived and tears of joy came down my cheeks because what this book says is so very true; God never leaves us alone, he is there by our side to guide and protect us and everything he does is because it was written for us to live through that experience. We might not understand his doing or why bad things happen to us, but they happen to make us stronger people, only God knows why tough things arise through our path. This book helps you build faith and help remind ourselves that we can do anything with hope and prayer. Each word goes deep in my heart, I cry every time I read it because I feel God so near; it reminds me that he has never left and is always there to listen, all I have to do is ask of him and he will be there to listen and help with my problems. If you are depressed, going through Cancer, or just have a tough time with life, this book is great to help bring back hope it will show you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Marx Lucado is a great Author; I love all the books I have read so far, I still have a long list to go. You will definitely enjoy this book if you open your heart to it, every time I feel down I open Live Loved and I feel a little better. Hope you Enjoy & God Bless!

Señor yo Te Amo...¡Gracias, Señor!

Señor,

Tú conoces todo y sabes que Te amo. Ayúdame a tener siempre en cuenta mi limitación humana y mi debilidad. Dame un espíritu sincero y generoso de aceptación de mi dolor y enfermedad. Que tu gracia me ayude a no encerrarme en mi misma. Dame luz y valor para ver tu mano bondadosa que va trabajando en m¡ a través de mi enfermedad, aún sin darme yo cuenta de ello. Cuando esté triste y deprimida, nunca permitas que falle mi confianza en Tí y en tu gracia poderosa.

Enséñame a ser abierta, para apreciar los esfuerzos de los doctores,

de las enfermeras y de todos los que cuidan mi salud. A veces tengo dolores, muchos dolores, sufro mucho y me parece que nadie sabe comprenderme, que nunca voy a salir de mis males, y la desesperación quiere apoderarse de mi espíritu. Dame fe y fuerza para levantar mis ojos hacia Tí, mi ayuda y mi salvación. Te pido sigas bendiciendo este día, cuidándome con tu mirada de Padre e iluminando a todos aquellos que hoy me llegen a visitar y rezan por mi. Tambien te inploro por la salud de Cesar Nevarez, y muchas gracias por eschucar nuestras oraciones hacia el. Te lo agradezco de todo corazon dioscito. ¡Gracias, Señor!

Amén.

 

Surgery Day... MD Anderson

I'm on my way to the hospital, I have a pet scan at 7am and my surgery is scheduled for 10:30am. I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of my friends and family members who have been supporting me through this tough journey! I want all of you to know that I LOVE & appreciate you very much! I also want my son Alexandro to know that he is the most important person in my life and that I love him with all my heart and I thank God everyday for giving me the gift of being his mother. I LOVE YOU BABE (MI FLACO) ;)

Thanks again to everyone and hope to see u very soon!

Oh and FELIZ DIA DE LAS MADRES (today is mothers Day in Mexico)

Thyroid Cancer helpful Links

Here are some more helpful links the National Cancer Association Center e-mailed me.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/thyroid/AllPages


http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/thyroid/Patient/AllPages

http://ncit.nci.nih.gov/ncitbrowser/ConceptReport.jsp?dictionary=NCI%20Thesaurus&code=C3772

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/takingtime/AllPages

https://cissecure.nci.nih.gov/factsheet/FactsheetSearchResult8_1.aspx?~UHViTG5rPTguMSZDYW5jZXJUeXBlPTU3-lCU1qhgCB%2fw%3d

Finding Faith...

Yesterday's mass was beautiful...  I cried with the words the father was preaching.  Jesus Christ never leaves us alone, faith makes things possible.  If things occur that you do not understand its because God knows your strong enough to face them and you will become stronger by knowing your faith will save you.  i am reading a book that says things that happen to us is not to punish us but for a reason to be put to good use, a circumstance or to help others even though we might not know why or what they mean.  Even if its just to touch the soul of one person, God uses you to help others and yourself. 

I don't know why or how I got Cancer, but now I know its to help those who are going through the same as I am, those who need my guidance and advice.  With my advice I can help people not make the same mistakes I did when first diagnosed.  Seek professional treatment with Doctors I know are good providers. 

I was really touched today, I got a FaceBook message by a girl who read my blog seeking information on Thyroid Cancer; she was first diagnosed and her message touched me!  I don't know her and she doesn't know me, but she was first diagnosed last week and came across my blog, and is seeking my advice of what I think she should do; I am honered and belive it is my duty and gift from God to help her.  God once again has given me a sign he is always here!  Faith will bring us to better health. 

P.S. For anyone going through the struggle of this tough battle of fighting cancer here are some great resources you can use which have help me through this tough journey, and I am always here is anyone needs of me :)

American Cancer Society (they are always willing to help and answer any questions) http://www.cancer.org/

Md Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, Texas) www.mdanderson.org 

Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (Denver, Colorado) http://www.rockymountaincancercenters.com/

Cancer Care http://www.cancercare.org/


These are just a few of the so many resources that are out there to seek information and help regarding cancer. Remember I am here to answer any questions, if I don't know the answer I will help you find it.   God bless & never give up hope!

MD Anderson Confirmed...

So I leave to Houston Tx on May 7, 2011.  I have 8 appointment lined up on May 9th and my surgery will be held on May 10 (mexican mothers day :( )  I made reservations at a studio 6, but I hope I can get in with the rotary house because it is so much cheaper.  

To be honest, I am scared, this surgery sounds very complicating.  I just pray that everything turns out for the best, its in Gods hand now.  I should have not of done this but I went on the Internet to see the neck dissection surgeries and they are awful; oh my I am freaking out!  I should have not looked at that!!!  Oh boy...

I will be out there for about 2 weeks; hopefully I can get back before my sons 10th birthday! Poor baby I wanted to through him a birthday party, but I have no money and my house is still destroyed so that is off the list.  Hope you all have a great weekend! God bless.

MD Anderson…

So on Monday I went to my consult with the general surgeon Dr. Kimberly Vanderveen, great person by the way; she explained my entire situation and as it looks it is more complicating than I thought. The type of cancer that I have will never ever really go away, it’s like weeds in your yard you cut them, kill them and eventually sooner or later they come back; obviously that is not what I wanted to hear, but I appreciate her honesty. Dr. Vanderveen gave great detail to everything I needed to know.

It all got to me and I started crying; she said Cristina you’re so young and I want the best treatment for you so you can learn to live with this and survive, I don’t want this cancer to be life threatening to you in the future because if we don’t get this done soon it can spread to the rest of your body, lungs, blood vessels, and bones. With all this information all giving to me at once, I could not take all the emotional distress and tears just rolled down my eyes. The doctor asked me if I had children, I answered yes a 9 year old son, this is when she started crying with me which made me feel she cared what I am going through. The result is the surgery can not be done here in Albuquerque; there are a lot of risks. This surgery requires a lot of detail and a surgeon with experience.

I have been referred to MD Anderson to Dr. Gary Clayman. If I would stay and do the surgery here in Albuquerque I have the risk of losing my life or losing my voice for ever since the lymph nodes which have cancer is surrounding the vocal box and cords. There are also more lymph nodes surrounding over areas of the neck and upper chest. The surgery I will be having is about 10 hours long. I left the office crying and totally scared of what the next few months hold for me.

After the consult I went to my dads I needed comfort from a blood relative; he showed much concern and since we don’t have the financial resources to go on a trip to Houston Texas at this time he decided to go ask the bank for a loan so we can have money for the trip to put gas, food, motel, etc. I will be in the hospital but my father, son, and boyfriend will need a place to stay while I’m there. The doctor thinks I will be at MD Anderson about 1-2 weeks and off of work for about a month. My other worry is that I have not PTO to get paid while I am off work to pay the bills and the mortgage; I am freaking out! I guess I will have to deal with one problem at a time. The good news is that my dad called last night while I was sleeping and told my boyfriend he got a small loan from the bank approved to pay for our trip.

In other news or problems the seller to my house has still not contacted the lawyer; she has until Friday the 22nd or else she will be sued and we will go to court and fight to get the insurance money she kept in order to fix my home. So many things to deal with at once I still don’t know how I can still keep a smile on my face  LOL LOL LOL. All I know God is with me and will help me get out of all these issues. Hopefully after this one he will know I have a lot of faith in him so he can stop testing it.  I ask all of you to please pray for my family and me in these hurtful times. Thank you in advance for you prayers.

Houston Texas here I come!!! I have never been to Houston at least I will see the convention center where my idol Selena Quintanilla used to sing  even in the bad of circumstances I always try to find a good out of it!

Selena Quintanilla RIP + (1971-1995) +

Was murdered on March 31, 1995

PS. I forgot to mention Alexandro lost another tooth while he was sleeping last night so this time he might only get $1, times are bad right now LOL hope he doesn't get too upset!  Now he decided to lose teeth!!  We both have an orthodontist apt this evening so the orthodontist will be pleased those teeth he lost are no longer in the way! LOL

Update on this past Palm sunday weekend...

Oh my goodness today is my consult with the surgeon and I am almost positive my surgery will be this week. I checked her schedule and she has tomorrow and Friday open! I know it had to come, but now that is has, I am very nervous. My dad called yesterday and said he dreamt I was healthy and thin like I used to be before; I wish that was the case. He said maybe my dream means you are going to get well. I sure hope that is true.

So in other news, Alexandro lost a tooth on Friday; he was so excited about getting money from the tooth fairy. Usually years back when he lost a tooth the tooth fairy would give him $5 a tooth, now the tooth fairy is broke so she only gave him $2 LOL LOL LOL. So he put his tooth under the pillow on Friday and on Saturday he comes into my room saying mom the tooth fairy didn’t give me no money; (*the tooth fairy had forgotten about it ooppss), oh no babe maybe she is on vacation I told him. LOL LOL LOL. Oh I guess that is it mom; lets see if she comes tonight. So when he fell asleep my BF went in to get the tooth and put the $2. Sunday morning he comes in and says mom the tooth fairy is back from vacation she gave me $2 dollars; I think the molars are only $2 because for canines she always would give me $5, I need to lose a canines so I can get more money mommy. LOL LOL LOL funny!!!

On Saturday I was supposed to go to a birthday party, but I stayed in bed all day long; I was not feeling good at all, my entire body was hurting. I was so excited for the weekend to arrive and then the illness hit me; it is so weird like some days I can be ok and others I can’t even move. Literally I feel like a woman of 80 years old!!! It is so frustrating for our minds to feel so young and our body to feel older than it is. I just hope it gets better after the surgery. Well that is it for today folks, have a wonderful week.

Donate Life Register to save lives...

"I, Cristina Rodriguez , have signed up with the Donate Life New Mexico Organ & Tissue Donor Registry to save lives. Please join me in saving and enhancing the lives of thousands of people in need of your help. It took me only a few minutes to sign up -- minutes that could mean years of life for someone else. To sign up or for more information, please visit www.nmdonor.com  or www.nmdonor.org.


PS. If you don't live in NM register in your state :) God will bless you!