Faith, Family, and a 9.5cm Miracle: How Listening to My Body Led me Through a Medical Miracle by Lynette Ward
In late September 2023, I noticed swelling in my abdomen. I habitually schedule all my check-ups in the 4th quarter of every year. With a sense of unease, I made an appointment with my gynecologist, who acknowledged that my fibroids were still stagnant, as I had a uterine artery embolization many years ago. As she examined my uterus, she said everything was status quo. I told her I had noticed swelling in my abdomen, and I asked her to order an ultrasound because this swelling was new. She obliged. When the results came back, we were both shocked to learn there was a 9.5 cm mass that appeared to be lodged in my fallopian tube. My OBGYN was perplexed and kept asking me was I in any pain, and I told her that I was not. She said that I needed to get a CAT scan of my abdomen, and when I called for an appointment, I was told the first available appointment was not until late November. If you know my husband, Gordon, then you know that was totally unacceptable. He called every facility within a 15-mile radius and got me any appointment the following week. A follow-up CAT scan confirmed that I had a 9.5 cm mass that appeared to be in my fallopian tubes. My OBGYN, rather bluntly, referred me to an Oncology Gynecologist due to the mass's location. After 20 years of being my physician, I called her out on her lack of empathy, and she apologized.
The Oncology Gynecologist reviewed all my tests and concluded that I would need a total hysterectomy. He seemed puzzled that I wasn’t in any pain despite the size and location of the mass. He kept asking me if I was in any pain and my answer was no. As I had just turned 61 and had a history of fibroids, I was prepared for the surgery because quiet as kept, I wanted a hysterectomy years ago.
That evening my husband was taking his shower and I heard him wailing which was so unlike him. I ran upstairs and asked him what was wrong, and he said that God had spoken to him and said that we must begin to fast and pray. I told him that this surgery was not that big of a deal and that women have it all the time. What I did not know, was God was preparing my husband to cover me. We ordered the book, “Prayers for Hope and Healing: Seeking God’s Strength as I Face Health Challenges and began our fast from red meats and began to pray daily for me. During this time, God led me to lean on my husband, children, son-in-law, and two prayer partners. Sharing my upcoming surgery news with this close-knit group brought me comfort and strength, and of course, I had to inform my job regarding my upcoming medical leave of absence.
My husband became my pillar of support, his prayers became my anchor, while my children and prayer partners interceded on my behalf. During one of our prayer sessions, God clearly instructed me to ask my surgeon if he was a Christian. Trusting this divine guidance, I asked, and he smiled, opened his white coat to reveal a cross, and joyfully confirmed his faith. This revelation filled me with immense peace, and he mentioned that no one had ever asked him that before. I told him I was simply being obedient to God.
The weeks leading up to the surgery were a whirlwind of pre-surgery tests, including a blood test to check for cancer, which came back negative, much to my relief. On the morning of my surgery, December 11, 2023, my daughters and I prayed together, led by my husband. As we drove to the hospital, God spoke to me once more, instructing me to pray with my surgeon and my husband before the surgery. Though uncertain how it would happen, I trusted God's plan. After meeting the anesthesiologist and other medical staff, the surgeon came to see me, and I seized the moment to ask if we could pray together. Without hesitation, he agreed, and we held hands as I led a heartfelt prayer. He later said no one had ever prayed for him like that before, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude.
As I was being taken to surgery, I kissed my husband and we exchanged words of love, feeling a peace that truly surpassed understanding. The surgery was a robotic laparoscopic with five incisions. As I entered the operating room, I greeted everyone with a smile, saying, “God’s got this.” Their smiles in return were reassuring and I remembered nothing else.
When I woke up in recovery, the first person I saw was my husband. He gently shared that the surgery took longer than expected. You see, the surgeon told us it should take about 1.5 hours, and instead it took almost 4 hours. My husband explained that to everyone’s surprise, the 9.5 cm mass was not in my fallopian tube, but it was in my appendix. My surgeon had a plan of action, but he also consulted another surgeon, an expert in appendiceal cancer, who came to oversee the removal of my appendix. They also had to take samples of the surrounding tissue and send it to the lab to determine if it was cancerous. Miraculously, the mass was in the beginning stages of cancer, however the surrounding tissue was negative, and I needed no further treatment. Let me just say that I was in a state of shock having just had a complete hysterectomy and an appendectomy. My husband continued to explain that because it was localized to my appendix that I would not need any chemo or radiation. When my surgeon came to the recovery room to check on me, he told me that he was certain that my prayers is what saved me. I told him that I truly believe in prayer and now I have a testimony. I knew in my heart that God had heard all my prayers, as well as those of my husband, children son-in-law and prayer partners and He answered them because I still have purpose.
Fast forward to today, I am filled with humility and a profound sense of gratitude. This journey has taught me the incredible power of faith, prayer, and the importance of listening to our bodies. If something feels off, don’t wait—see your doctor and advocate for yourself. Do not let any medical professional downplay what you are feeling. My experience has strengthened my faith and underscored the value of early detection and the support of loved ones.