:: The S.I.C.L.E. Cell ::

:: Saturday, July 11, 2009 ::

Sorry for my long absence. In May I was diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor that turned out to be cancer. The average survival rate for pancreatic cancer, from diagnosis to the big dirt nap, is three and a half months. It's wicked deadly. So I thought I was out of here. However, after removing most of my pancreas (and my spleen) the tumor was found to be of the NET variety (neuroendocrine tumor), and my particular NET cancer appears to be of low aggression. You may remember the headlines last month re: Steve Jobs and his pancreatic NET-related liver transplant. Yeah, I think my life has been shortened.

Here's how it all came about:

I was visiting a dear friend who happens to be a doctor. I quipped that I grew a better mustache than he. He sent me for labs. I almost didn't go, but I thought it might be interesting to see if anything showed up that might relate to all my horrible HG pregnancies. Everything was normal except an elevated DHEAS level, a marker for adrenal tumors. But the number wasn't terribly high. Normally it's in the 700s for tumors. Mine was in the low 400s. Just to be on the safe side my friend ordered a CT scan. CT scans are no joke, so I didn't want to do it. In fact, the day before the scan I called him and said I wasn't going to do it. Didn't he know my family tree is worm-eaten with cancer? I argued with him for a good half hour, and then finally complied; that's my schtick.

Got the CT, and 4 days after my birthday, on my daughter's birthday, I got the news: adrenals clear, but there is a "small thing" on the pancreas. Then came the inconclusive biopsy. Btw, if you ever find that you have a tumor that will need to be removed surgically no matter what, don't let anyone biopsy it beforehand, because the biopsy can cause malignant seeding, which I am now at risk for, having had a totally unnecessary fine needle biopsy. I didn't know that malignant seeding was a risk, and when I asked, I was literally laughed at by the gastroenterologist who performed the EUS/FNA. Come to find out, there IS a risk, and my surgical oncologist acknowledged it. At any rate, next came the serious surgery, 10-day hospital stay and grueling recovery, which I am still not out of. Next on the menu is the rest of my life, however short or long it is.

And now you may find interesting the phone conversation I had with my endocrinologist who called to inform me that she received a certified letter from the lab where I had my initial blood test. The letter included a list of names of those affected by a faulty lab assay that mistakenly elevated normal levels of DHEAS. My name was on the list, along with the assurance that they had corrected their assay. Obviously, if they had not made the mistake, I would not have had the CT, and the NET would have grown, metastasized to my liver, and that would have been my modus of exit (i.e., I would have died).

Most of my pancreas is gone and also my spleen. It causes problems. I wish I could go to the pancreas/spleen store and get new parts. Or I wish new, cancer-free organs would regenerate. But they don't. No one can make a pancreas or a spleen. It would be a miracle. And yet, there are over 3,000 young Americans today with little spleens and pancreases that are being perfectly, Masterfully formed. These are healthy organs built to sustain long lives. No man can match their handiwork or even come close. And yet all these miraculously made organs, inside these tiny, miraculously made people will be destroyed and thrown in the trash in abortions performed this very day. IT IS SUCH A WASTE.

I knew before that life was precious. Cancer just brings it home. When you get your tumor, you'll see what I mean. And if you're an abortion supporter, maybe you'll reconsider. But hey, why wait? Love life now. (And not just your own.)

Well, that does it for the Cell, kiddies. My clock is ticking audibly now, so I'm investing my remaining time in my children. The years have been long. Thanks for reading me.

:: ashli 10:21 AM # ::
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This reads like a sad, sad comedy. It's sad that George Tiller did not truly know Jesus and sadder still that apparently neither does anyone else at his church. If his church had truly represented Christ, they would have warned him against his occupation and the fate that awaits murderers who are not sorry and choose not to reform. If every church had responded to George Tiller in that manner, perhaps it would have inspired something within him. Whether it would have caused him to reform or to abandon the church...at least he wouldn't have been living under false assumptions. His church allowed him to think that he could murder children and yet have a living relationship with Christ. That is so dangerous.

If you love your brother, you warn him, even when it hurts. You show him the chapter and verse which reveals his offense so that he knows it is not coming from you. You let him vent and walk away if he must, but you risk the friendship (and the donation, hello) for love. You risk it for the good of your brother.

I can't think of anything more heartbreaking than a church that does not know Jesus.

I wish Tiller had lived long enough to be given a chance to find Christ, repent and sin no more. As long as there is life, there's a chance. But what is done is done, and I can at least be grateful that no more children will die at his hands.

:: ashli 9:55 PM # ::
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AP reports Roe no more. Many people still do not realize that even Norma McCorvey herself is anti-abortion.

:: ashli 4:18 PM # ::
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Ever wondered what you can do to help prevent the abortion-related deaths of American children? Ever wanted to take action and yet, standing outside of abortion clinics with posters of aborted babies isn't really your thing? Ever felt like voting pro-life is right up your alley but only being able to do so every 4 years is leaving you a little flat?

Well, cheer up! Today you can take a stand and say NO to the Obama administration's imminent intent (we're talkin' within the next 24 hours) to fast-track socialized health care. Socialized health care means RATIONING health care...which means that women with RARE and EXPENSIVE pregnancy diseases will more than likely not make the cut...which means that more of their pregnancies will end in abortion.

So, do this today (you can do it for FREE by clicking on the "How to Send Your Own Faxes" button on the left sidebar at that site). Also, these Dems oppose fast-tracking, so call them and urge them to oppose fast-tracking socialized health care:

Senator Mark Begich 202-224-3004
Senator Robert Casey 202-224-6324
Senator Mary Landrieu 202-224-5824
Senator Max Baucus 202-224-2651
Senator Daniel Inouye 202-224-3934
Senator Mark Pryor 202-224-2353
Senator Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244
Senator Carl Levin 202-224-6221
Senator Blanche Lincoln 202-224-4843
Senator Robert Byrd 202-224-3954
Senator Evan Bayh 202-224-5623

And as always call your own senators/congressperson.

I sent the faxes, called the Democrat senators and my own senators and congressman. You do the same. You'll be glad you did!

:: ashli 8:43 AM # ::
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Another moment brought to you by abortion...

Today at around 3:08 PM in Florida, you would have found me pulled over on the side of the road with my face buried in my hands as I gasped for oxygen and very audibly sobbed, because my very challenging son, who was diagnosed with autism at 8 and who had just had yet another public episode, innocently asked me if I wished I would have aborted him.

I was not prepared for this question. It felt like the whole of my viscera had been pulled through my navel in one neat tug, and I started weeping inconsolably. Not because there was any truth to his statement, but because I killed his brother or sister, my first child, in a second trimester abortion.

I was crying, my startled four-year-old was crying, my son was confused...

This is where we are 12 years later.

Abortion is forever.

:: ashli 9:28 PM # ::
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Bet you anything these two are staunch abortion supporters.

:: ashli 6:15 PM # ::
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Well, this torques me off. First of all, we're talking 17-year-olds, technically still kids. They can't buy a beer until they're 21, but they can unnaturally halt a huge, natural process that studies show has huge health ramifications...oh, not to mention it kills a kid. Yeah, there is that.

In a massive display of cajones, "U.S. District Judge Edward Korman ruled last month in a lawsuit filed in New York that President George W. Bush's appointees let politics, not science, drive their decision to restrict over-the-counter access."

Politics and not science? POLITICS AND NOT SCIENCE??? Are you flipping KIDDING me?!? Is this for freaking REAL??? Oh my gosh, I'm in freakin CRAZY TOWN.

Science, not politics, CLEARLY shows when a human being's life begins. CLEARLY. And everybody knows it. But POLITICS has been the ONLY focus since day freaking one; science has been completely ignored. So I find it oh just a tad more than hypocritical when an abortion supporter cries foul because "science is being ignored." Oh my freaking goodness!!!

"Among many in the medical community, it came to symbolize the decline of science at the agency because top FDA managers refused to go along with the recommendations of scientific staff and outside advisers that the drug be made available with no age restrictions."

Hello, did a three-year-old write this AP article? "decline of science" and "scientific staff." Good freakin' grief. Science, scientific staff and outside advisers. ROFL! It's hilarious! And there are actually real flesh and blood people who eat this bilgewater up! Oh my gosh, it's freakin comedy!

"'The FDA got caught up in a saga, it got caught up in a drama,' said Susan Wood, who served as the agency's top women's health official and resigned in 2005 over delays in issuing a decision. 'This issue served as a clear example of the agency being taken off track, and it highlighted the problems FDA was facing in many other areas.'"

Translation: The FDA didn't rule in favor of my political ideology, so they were "off track." P.S. anyone who questions abortion is a drama queen.

Speaking of drama, did you hear the one about the woman who resigned from her job because it didn't give her an answer about abortion when she wanted it? It's almost like the FDA's top women's health official was, politically speaking, an abortion zealot. Where are the "scientific staff" with their "scientific thingies" (that show that abortion is good) when you need them?

"Early in the Bush administration, more than 60 organizations petitioned the FDA to allow sales without a prescription. But according to court documents, the issue quickly became politicized."

Ooo! >60 organizations? "What's WRONG with that awful ol' woman-hating Bush organization?" LOL! Hey, I wonder W.H.O. those 60 organizations were. I'm sure all were completely politically objective "scientific staff."

"In 2005, the Center for Reproductive Rights and other organizations sued in federal court to force an FDA decision."

Oh, how novel: people who make money off of killing your children want to make even more money off of killing even more of your children. THAT'S progress for women!

"In his ruling, Korman said that FDA staffers were told the White House had been involved in the decision on Plan B. The government said in court papers that politics played no role."

Another novelty: a democrat charging conspiracy.

"The FDA allowed Plan B to be sold without a prescription to adults. But the controversy raged on over access for teens."

I hear the Center for Reproductive Rights' (and "other organizations'") next big lawsuit is whether or not to include Fred Flintstone, a male, in a chewable version of Plan B for those women who are too young yet to actually swallow pills. Thankfully, now that the FDA is back on track under the Obama Administration that decision will be based totally on science.

:: ashli 9:09 AM # ::
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