I'm a Mutant

Y'all probably didn't know that, did ya?  The problem is that I don't have special powers.  My mutation is of my MSH6 gene and is called Lynch Syndrome.  Who knew that all our genes are cataloged?  Here's how my daughter, Katie, describes our mutation (she's a mutant too and has a degree in biology so she knows what she's talking about):  


"Lynch Syndrome is a genetic mutation that is in every one of my cell’s DNA.  As DNA copies itself, a “spellchecker “goes behind it to ensure that the code was copied correctly.  If it is not correct, then it will initiate a process to fix the damaged code.  Lynch Syndrome causes that spellchecker to malfunction, so that if my DNA has a mistake during copying, that mistake will not be corrected in the new cell.  This change in the code increases my risk for certain types of cancers.  The specific spellchecker protein affected in my case is MsH6."


Yeah, we were pretty freaked out when we found out we had this a couple of years ago.  My aunt started the ball rolling when she tested positively for it.   My dad then tested positive too.  That meant my chances were 50/50 for having it, so I optimistically assumed I wouldn't. I debated getting tested, but figured I would rather know.  Do I need to have a colonoscopy every year or every 7-10 years like everybody else?  I preferred the option with the least frequency and being optimistic, I figured I probably didn't inherit the offensive gene.  Wrong!  Ugh.  The worst thing was knowing that I may have passed my mutation on to my kids.  And I did.  At least once anyway.


But we got over the freak-out stage, and now we're down to the business of just getting screenings done more frequently than the average population:  like getting a colonoscopy every year.  Not fun, but definitely not the worst thing in the world.  If you don't want to hear anything more about colons, you better stop reading now.   Katie and I like to do this as a Mother/Daughter event.  We prepare the appropriate solutions, tap our glasses together, say "Cheers", and it's down the hatch!  This year, just to make it all worthwhile, the doc even found two polyps for me (non-cancerous)-- and removed them of course.


Today's sermon at church was about having thankful hearts.  The main scripture passage used was the one from Luke about the 10 lepers that were healed and how only one turned around and ran back to thank Jesus... for healing him from the dreaded disease of leprosy!  Too often I forget to thank Him too, for all kinds of things.  But right now, right here, I will.    Thank You God for genetic tests so I know how to take care of myself.  Thank You that my dad is 88 even though he's a mutant too.  Thank You for doctors and nurses and anesthesiologists and technicians and volunteers.  Thank You for all they are able to see and do and treat.  Thank You that my daughter doesn't blame me for passing on a bad gene to her.  Thank You that the polyps I didn't even know I had are gone now.


I usually post pictures with my blogs, but I just can't think of any appropriate ones for this post other than this:

The Mutants

P.S.  If you have a huge family history of a particular disease, like my family has for cancer, talk to your doctor.  Maybe there's a genetic test you could get to know how best to take care of yourself.  Knowledge is power.


P.P.S.  I now have a tattoo!  The doctor tattooed the inside of my colon to mark where one of the polyps was.  Now I'm cool.

Teux Deux... all done

I'm afraid this is starting out to be a blog about nothing.  We'll see what happens.  I've had a blogging dry spell. I have a couple of drafts that I've started and discarded out of busyness or inability to bring something together.  Writing is like that though.  If you have a dry spell, you just have to start writing something and ideas will come.

You want to know what I've been doing lately?  Wayne was in Africa for two weeks.  He had an awesome trip by the way... lots of work, but two excellent pastors conferences with a total of about 600 pastors attending!  Each pastor got a set of Bibles and reference books to use in their ministries.  Imagine the impact on so many African congregations!  But, I wasn't in Africa.  I was home with my humongous to-do list.  (or Teux Deux list as per my current online list-keeper at TeuxDeux.com).

 This is Bekah's prom dress.  It would fit her perfectly if she were size nothing and six feet tall.  She is size nothing, but she's not six feet tall.  I am too cheap to pay someone to hem it.  So, I decide to take the fate of this dress into my own hands.  See that ruffle sloping down the front?  The chiffon hem around the bottom?  Well, it also has not one, but two layer of lining fabric underneath.

This is my desk in its usual shape.  I am a neat and organized person.  Except when it comes to my desk.  And it's been worse since we moved.  I don't have a system down yet.  You see, this antique desk was made before the invention of file folders and file drawers.  Pigeon holes just don't cut it.

These plants all need to come out of their pots and somehow get in the ground.

There are five sets of blinds here.  They need to be hung up because when it gets warm our house turns into a giant oven.  We need to control some solar energy.

And I can't remember what else was on my to do list.  But these are some of what I wanted to get done while Wayne was in Africa.  Apparently I like to set unrealistic deadlines for myself.  I also needed to go out to lunch and/or dinner with various people, shop for a wedding gown, watch the 5-hour version of Jane Eyre and watch various Doris Day movies.  Priorities, you know!

But with a little help, a lot got done!  Here are some results:

More nurseries visited (yeah, six to be exact).  Plants planted.

Thanks to my daughters for "digging in" when I grew weary.

5 blinds are hung, thanks to Katie's help and an electric drill.

The dress is hemmed!  I decided to do it by hand rather than try to get my 30-year-old sewing machine to work on chiffon.  I'm not going to show the girl in the dress, because it's not prom day yet.

A wedding dress was bought (not the prom daughter, the engaged daughter).  It wasn't this one.  You think I'm going to post those pictures??  I think not.

My work is done.  I'm just kidding.  The desk improved for a day, then reverted back to its usual state.  And of course the teux deux list keeps expanding.  But... for now I am satisfied.

And here's how Wayne was spending his time while I was doing all this:

 Now that's some awesome kind of work!!!