Hola Mi Amor!

Hola Mi Amor ❤️‍🩹🙏🏽🕊️

Today’s post is giving honor to God for one of the days that would forever change my life. This was previously multiple blog posts on my Focused. Fearless. Favored. blog which you can click here to read. I’m pasting it all here unedited/unchanged from there.

On September 24th, 2012 I woke up completely weak from the first 12 days of September which I was unable to keep any food down and the 12 days following leading up to this day that I was unable to eat or drink without severe pain so I didn’t. I remember going through such a crazy internal battle of frustration from the pure fact that I could not control my body and everything I ate made me throw up- only 7 years prior I had been delivered from bulimia, a sickness I dealt with on and off since I was in the 5th grade. This felt like 12 of the longest days of my life, an extremely difficult time for me. 

This morning not only was I completely weak but the pains in my abdomen had become worse by the day. I recall getting my children off to the bus then closing the door behind me and I started crying some major crocodile tears. I thought to myself “I think I’m going to die. I can’t have my children coming home and finding me on the floor dead! Lord help me! What should I do?!” At that moment the Holy Spirit instructed me to go to the ER. I was physically and emotionally drained but with a quickness to obey I got a few things together and headed straight to Barnes Jewish St. Peters Hospital. 

Upon arriving at the hospital and getting settled into a room the nurses started an I.V. as I waited for the doctor. The doctor said based on my symptoms I probably was having an appendicitis or gallbladder issues so we would start by doing a CT Scan with contrast. Because I hadn’t eaten in so long I was sent back very quickly with the cup of contrast I had to drink on the way. After the test I was rolled back to my room where I waited by myself for my results. Soon after the ER doctor came in and said that the scan showed that my appendix and gallbladder appeared to be normal and they weren’t certain why I was suffering from so much pain and unable to eat. Next he said but Ms. Gamble there has been an incidental finding on the CT. I said “a what? I took that word out of my vocabulary. There are no incidents or coincidences…” He said we have found a mass in your left kidney. I said “you what?! That’s not possible. 12 months ago I was going to donate my kidney to my best friend Aminah’s dad Al Atkins. I went through every test possible and was a match for him…” The doctor said yes they found a mass and they were admitting me to run further tests. 

I was absolutely beside myself. 12 months ago I was going to donate my left kidney to Al. We even began creating awareness through our Internet Radio Show Living Sweet to encourage others to Donate Life. The only reason that I was denied in the end was because I have the sickle cell trait and 1/3 of the doctors in the country do not recommend a sickle cell trait individual as a Living Organ Donor. So when I called and found this out I had to break the news to Al and his family which after a few days of crying and being heartbroken over the news I was able to do. Here I was a match and Al (dad’s) only hope to live without being on dialysis 3 times a week. Thank God Aminah came forth and was an even better match donating her left kidney to her dad on July 18th, 2012. I was there before, during and after their surgery caring for Aminah’s every need. Aminah and her 5 children even lived with my 2 children and I for over a month following the surgery. 

What do they mean I have a mass in my left kidney? When, where, how & why did it happen? I didn’t understand. I didn’t have any insurance. I’m a single mom of 2, going to school full-time, Speaking and Catering. After telling the guy I was talking to about my diagnosis he said it was too much for him so we were done. For a week I stayed in the hospital mostly by myself but I had a few visitors. They performed 2 Ultrasounds, an MRI, Colonoscopy, Endoscopy- you name it I had it done! Thank God my Ma came up and took care of my babies for me. 

I’ll never forget the looks on the nurses faces as they tip tapped on the computer then looked at me with the fear of death on their faces and asked “how are you doing” every time they walked in the room. It wasn’t until a Urologist with no bedside matter hat on came in and quickly said “Well so you’ve heard you have renal cell carcinoma. I’d like to take your whole left kidney out because of the possibility of reoccurrences. It’s urgent but it’s not something that we need to do today. Once you are able to eat and feel better in the next 2 weeks we can do the surgery…”

I thought what the FRENCH?!! No I’m not going to let you take my whole left kidney I was about to donate it to save someone’s life that I love I’m not gonna just let you throw it all away!!

My #LivingSweet story continued…

I thought what the FRENCH?!! No I’m not going to let you take my whole left kidney I was about to donate it to save someone’s life that I love I’m not gonna just let you throw it all away!!

Again I’m blown away by all of this. I knew that God had me but that it was my responsibility to seek, knock and ask. I immediately called my church, Church on the Rock (COTR) letting them know what was going on so that they could stand in the gap and believe with me both for my healing and provision. Still waiting for my insurance at this point I began trying to find a doctor. After reaching out to everyone I was referred to and being denied my physician started calling me after hours daily with new doctors to try. Finally we struck gold and Dr. Mike all the way out in Fenton, MO said that he would see me.

Almost every day that went by and we checked the mail more and more encouraging cards had been sent to me. What a blessing it was to receive prayers and support from my Pastors and church family which gave me strength every time I looked at them on my kitchen counter. I could literally feel the power of God moving through every angel He sent my way to bless my family financially and spiritually. Even though I wasn’t well I was caring for my neighbor Mercy’s daughter during the day. Each morning Mercy and 4 year old Amaliah would come over to visit and pray over me which made my day. To experience the pure innocence and power of a praying child with deep faith was truly a blessing.

While I was awaiting word on my cancer treatment we were preparing to celebrate Aminah & Al’s transplant and headed to Nashville VA for a checkup. It was certainly good to get away and to be able to share what was going on with me with our transplant team that had taken me through the beginning of the kidney transplant journey. We purposed a trip down to records to collect all of my images and previous scans that clearly showed 12 months prior I had a perfect looking and functioning left kidney vs. my current diagnosis of 3 years worth of growth of renal cell carcinoma.

Finally it was time to see Dr. Mike and of course my faithful mother drove up 2 hours to be by my side. The next hour spent in his office would change my life.

My #LivingSweet story continued…

Finally it was time to see Dr. Mike and of course my faithful mother drove up 2 hours to be by my side. The next hour spent in his office would change my life. Dr. Mike was excited to meet us and was very serious about providing me the best options. After reviewing my scans from both 2011 & 2012 he came back in the room and shared with my Ma and I his absolute amazement from the growth of this “mass” they called renal cell carcinoma. 

Dr. Mike said it really was a miracle that this cancer was found when we did and completely crazy that there was no evidence at all of it only 12 months prior. He explained to us that he did not have the technology or training to give me the procedure that I deserve which would allow for smaller incisions and a quicker recovery time. He said that because of my willingness to donate my kidney to my best friend’s dad as a Living Organ Donor that they would do everything they could to make sure that I get the best, and his name is Dr. Sam Bhayani.

Dr. Bhayani, who teaches doctors how to do robotic surgery, agreed to do a robotic laparoscopic partial nephrectomy on me to remove only the cancer and surrounding tissue. This news gave me great peace! Then Dr. Mike went even deeper and explained how we need to use preventive measures to assure early detection for my children as they reach adulthood monitoring their kidneys with the history of masses that occurred in our family. We were told that this type of cancer may happen in Caucasian men age 50-60 years of age. Well I was born from my Mexican mother and my African-American father and this time I was only 30 years old! Absolutely crazy but again God kept me and provided for my family’s every need. 

The combination of everything Aminah and I had been doing with raising awareness through our Living Sweet Internet Radio Show promoting healthy living, giving back and now an even stronger passion about kidneys, we decided to start the process of making Living Sweet a charity. At this time Aminah was still recovering from being a Living Kidney Donor for her dad and I was waiting to have the cancerous part of my kidney removed. 

My surgery was set within the coming weeks for on October 31st but then the unexpected early season snow storm occurred leaving Dr. Bhayani’s family stranded in New York so we rescheduled for November 9th, 2012.

My #LivingSweet story continued…

Let me rewind a bit and tell you how God keeps showing out! First of all Giving is what I do. I wrote a book in 2007 called “107 Ways to Give When You Think You Have Nothing to Give”, I live a Lifestyle of a Giver & October begins Living Sweet’s Annual 10 Weeks of Giving Movement. From the time I came home God kept sending people my way dropping off $200, $400 and even $500 at a time to bless me and only God knew I didn’t have an income during this time to support my 2 children and I. Simply in awe I ended up with nearly 50 Get Well Soon cards including those from my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop as part of their Giving Back Patch! The love my church family and community showed me was a beautiful thing. 

My dear friend Dr. Christy Jenkins, B.C.N.D. (Naturo Health Solutions LLC) took me under her wing and began putting me through detox treatments and other Naturopathic procedures that would aid in both my healing and preparation for surgery. I almost fell out after a treatment in her office one day but Dr. Jenkins prayed over me and asked the Holy Spirit to guide her and then I started to regain my strength. 

It was very important to me that my Pastor David Blunt lay hands and pray over me before my surgery. Gratefully he was able to do so one Sunday after service. I’ll never forget Pastor said “just stay in the Throne Room…” and I held on to those words and dove deeper into his teaching. That very series he was teaching at that time helped me draw closer to God and learn His nature providing me great peace in my situation. 

Another great sister in Christ Regena Richardson also was a major support system and prayer warrior during this time. The morning of my surgery she and her mother conference called me to pray over me, the surgeons and claim my healing. I’m forever grateful…

My surgery was set for October 31st but then the unexpected early season snow storm occurred leaving Dr. Bhayani’s family stranded in New York so we rescheduled for November 9th, 2012 at Barnes Jewish West Hospital. On the day of the surgery my son Jabri, daughter Dyawna, mom & dad all came to support me. 

I think they skipped me I kept thinking as every time someone passed me they would say “20 more minutes.” It became a running joke as I patiently waited for my surgery. Over 4 hours after being in surgery I came out with a partial left kidney and now a cancer free woman! The cancer was contained and the tissue surrounding was not affected. Days later without no radiation, no chemotherapy, additional medications I walked out of that hospital with 4 incisions, some pain but I was cancer free!! 

God is so faithful!! I’m still in awe of how He saved me!! God kept me #LivingSweet so I could continue to #Live2Give!!

Want to hear more? Follow my blog http://www.AuthorJMG.Wordpress.com to read more about my journey.

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So much has happened in these last 12 years than the law should allow- BUT God!!! THANK God I’m STILL HERE- On Purpose!!! Hallelujah!!! Oh the stories I’ll tell… Stay connected.

Te amo mucho mi amor. Hablo contigo luego. 🙏🏽❤️‍🩹💜😘🕊️