Searching for Summer

If I had written regularly since November 8, there would be screens and screens of lots of whining.  Now I need to squash 2 months into a short explanation of where I am and what I am facing.  I had a swelling on the left side of my face, in front of my ear for several months.  I thought it was a sinus infection.  Sort of silly, since I knew there weren't sinuses in that part of my head.  About 6 weeks ago I found a painful lump under my left ear.  Because of the pain I went to my family doctor.  He sent me immediately to an ENT surgeon. 

The hope was that the lump was a stone in my parotid (salivary) gland.  It turned out to be a 2 cm tumor.  It may be benign or malignant.  I also have a small tumor on one thyroid.  When I thought the surgeon had told me more bad news than I could handle, he told me that the left side of my face could be paralyzed.  The part of the tumor under my ear is under a lot of nerves, which makes surgery difficult and delicate.  Both surgeons in the group will work together on my surgery.   There has been a ridiculous amount of tests and CT scans to give me medical clearance for surgery.  It concerns me that I am having to wait so long for surgery.

The nurse called Wednesday to give me a date, and I reminded her that I would like to have the surgery in the hospital 5 minutes from me.  She said she would have to get with both doctors and would call me back.  The doctors use our hospital, but their favorite is in Arlington.  We had to go there for my appointments.  When we left the hospital I had a nasty surprise when only 3 blocks down is the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium.  For football fans, we are nearing the Super Bowl.  I don't want to be in the hurly-burly of Super Bowl during my surgery.

After having breast cancer in 1996, this is especially frightening for me.  I pray to God a lot and cry a little.  And appreciate prayers in my behalf for healing.