When it rains...

It pours. 

I don’t know who came up with the saying, but gosh I certainly feel like they hit it right on the money. This month has been a very, very rainy month for me. 

It started off with the leak in the wall, the moldy carpet, the construction. I felt like I couldn’t get a break.

Everything was a mess for a solid 2 weeks, and we are just now putting it all back together, but I am very happy to report that the wall is repaired, the plumbing is fixed, and the carpet has been cleaned – all at no expense to us. 

Then came the new storm. 

I have recently been seeing a new chiropractor for my chronic migraines (no I don’t have a brain tumor – just in case anyone was worried). Anyway, we are starting to figure out the cause behind them and this sparked a lot of my own research. This research led me back to my mom and her cancer. Now, if you have known me for any length of time or have been a reader for awhile, you know that my mom passed away from cervical cancer 15 years ago. The cause of her cancer was a drug given to her mother during her pregnancy called DES. This drug has had devastating and deadly consequences; my mom is one of only 740 women in the USA who had her particular type of cancer, caused by nothing other than this drug. Other effects include other types of reproductive cancers, infertility, and malformed reproductive organs for both men and women who were exposed to this drug in-utero. 

Well, they are now coming out with new (very new) studies about the 3^rd generation (that’d be me) effects of DES exposure. Not many of the studies are conclusive because the sample sizes are small, and one of them is on mice, but the results aren’t reassuring to say the least. It appears that the 3^rd generation daughters (and sons) may be genetically pre-disposed to any number of reproductive cancers (although not the type my mom had), infertility, and at a higher risk for miscarriages.

I have also been taking a medication that has the potential to increase this risk for nearly 10 years. 

As you may imagine, I was a ball of nerves, anger, tears, and terror for a couple days after learning about all of this. Plus, the internet can be an evil thing when it comes to health-related research.   

I am in a much better state of mind today. I have a game plan now, which includes stopping some medication, seeing a new gynecologist, a new diet, and learning all that I can about any additional screening I may need to do. I have also been toying with the idea of contacting one of the DES Action Groups to see about being a part of some of their 3^rd generation research.  

I also keep going back to this verse:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

What a beautiful promise. 

And then there is also the wisdom of the great Dolly Parton:

Hey, I take inspiration where ever I can get it. 

I am truly thankful that I have an amazing and supportive family, and most importantly a loving, sweet, supportive husband who holds me when I cry, makes me laugh when I am mad, and lets me have my crazies. I do not know what the future may hold for me, but I know that I will be loved through it all.