Hey Everyone,
First I just wanted to say thank you all for taking the time to read our story. Thank you so much for your time, continued support, prayers, and love.
As you can imagine this journey has not been easy, but God! We have seen so much healing and pray that the healing continues. Our faith isn’t wavering and we know that God has us and is the ultimate physician and healer! For those of you who do not know our story, I would like to take the time now to tell you about us.
In January of 2024 I started having some pretty severe back pain. I’ve had back issues before so I didn’t think to much of it. Then in February I sneezed in the shower and felt a sudden pop and then a lot of pain. I went to the ER and had some XRAYS taken. They let me know that I had strained a left lumbar muscle and to follow up with my Primary care doctor. Of course I didn’t have a primary care doctor at the time so I made an appointment with a new one. When I was able to get in with this new doctor(March), she recommended that I see an orthopedic specialist, but then also recommended a repeat diagnostic mammogram since I had not had one in 2 years.
I was able to get in with ortho in April and MRI’s were ordered, but she also wanted me to start Physical Therapy immediately. Physical Therapy was excruciatingly painful, but I kept going in hopes that it would help. I got the MRI’s completed in May and results soon after. On my MRI my doctor saw that not only did I have a thoracic compression fracture, but also a lumbar compression fracture. She was also concerned because it looked like my body was having some issues with marrow production. She suggested I make an appointment with Hematology.
While waiting for the Hematology appointment I started to experience some breast changes(discoloration, warmth, pain, swelling). I was able to move up my Mammogram appointment and went in for the diagnostic mammogram within a few days. Our lives were changed after this day. They ended up taking two separate mammograms and then I immediately was taken in for an ultrasound. I will never forget the look on the techs face. She did what she needed to do and then immediately went and got the radiologist. The radiologist came back in and collected more images and basically told me that she would be surprised if this came back as not cancer.
They rushed me in to meet with their counselor to get the biopsy scheduled and she told me what would happen from here on out. I went back just a few days later for the biopsy and then the waiting began again.
About a week later on a standard virtual visit with my Primary Care physician she let me know that she had received the results and that it was indeed breast cancer(Invasive Carcinoma). I cannot tell you how grateful I am that it was her who had to give me those results. As I sat alone in my house hearing the words no one ever wants to hear she was so so kind and encouraging to me and for that I am forever grateful.
We immediately moved up my appointment with Hematology/Oncology. We met virtually and she explained that she wanted to get a full body MRI and send off my biopsy results for staging, but she was afraid that it was in my bones given the issues that I’m having and the possible bone marrow issues. The results did show that I did indeed have Stage 4 Breast cancer.
I’m not going to include that first oncology appointment here because it was probably the worst day of our lives. I was basically told that that’s it, I’m going to die and there isn’t anything we can do about it and no hope. BUT this appointment did lead to me meeting my radiation oncologist who I will never be able to thank enough. She saw the sadness and defeat in me and called her friend(another oncologist) and was able to get me an appointment for a second opinion.
My new oncologist is such a wonderful person with the most wonderful team around her. They give you hope and they are filled with faith and it’s just truly beautiful to see how God puts the right people in your path. We finally had a solid plan! The beginning wasn’t easy and I thought radiation might take me out I was so sick, but praise God I made it through. Blood transfusions were a weekly event until my body began healing and producing blood cells again, twice a week labs to monitor everything made me some of the sweetest friends in my wonderful phlebotomists, and home health physical therapy also gained me such a sweet Christ centered friend. I have now been on my regimen of medication for almost 12 months. My bones are healing and producing the marrow and Red blood cells again, and I am walking and moving around so much better now.
Life feels good! God is good!
That being said, with cancer and probably any major disease such as this surviving and getting better is only half of the battle. I am blessed to have insurance through my job, but unfortunately it doesn’t cover everything and add in the extra expenses that this last year has costed us and I’d be lying if I said we aren’t struggling a little bit. It’s a new year with new deductibles and new scans and none of this is affordable. We have managed so far but now we are at a crossroads. I have a lot of costs coming up and we just are at a point that we have to ask for help. We are both still working full time, but sometimes it just isn’t enough. We are trying to set our pride aside and just ask for some support, for extra prayers, and just for you to pass our story along in hopes that we are able to get just a little assistance.
I know this was a lot so I thank you for sticking with me and thank you in advance for your prayers and shares.
Love you all,
Amanda & Marc Davis