Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Boobs - can't live with 'em...

The posts on my blog usually go up as I write them but I've pre-scheduled a few to post throughout this week because I knew I'd be busy.
This one is coming to you in realtime though.

So my wife Jolene has breast cancer. I mentioned that at the end of a lengthier post a few weeks ago - but there it is again for any who may have missed it.
Jolene has blogged about it in more detail. For those of you who are interested you can check out her blog right here: Life Through Mommy Eyes.
This is the zac thomas quick rundown.

We've been to the doctor numerous times now and have had a multitude of tests. While this hasn't answered all of our questions it has narrowed down the cause to either cheap Walmart bras or a disagreeable enchilada. We're still waiting on pathology.
As is the case with cancer, it tends to localize itself in certain areas of the body before becoming widespread or systemic.
That's why you generally hear that people have brain cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, etc.
So, a logical course of action would be to remove the area with cancer, however that can have objectionable results - i.e. brain cancer.
But, since this is breast cancer we're dealing with - it seemed reasonable, if undesirable. So, that's what we did.
Jolene went in yesterday for a mastectomy. And, as expected, it was successful. That figures.
You tell doctors to get rid of your cancer and they'll try for years with wildly unpredictable results, you tell them to get rid of a boob and they nail it every time.

Breast cancer - no breast, no cancer - right?
Well, there's the possibility of encountering what's widely referred to as, "the rack of shoes".
Actually, I coined the term "rack of shoes" as it relates to breast cancer and, as such, it has only now begun to gain widespread acceptance among the medical community.
Suppose it's time for a wardrobe overhaul and all the shoes have to go. Though you have a perfectly lovely rack for your shoes, you decide to toss the rack and all the shoes with it. Job well done. But did you check under the bed...
At this point we've tossed a lovely rack.

We're back home today and Jolene is doing well.
We're very appreciative for all of the prayer that has been offered on our behalf as well as the outpouring of concern and support. It means a great deal to us.

Now then, what's a post without a few pictures?
I pulled over at a car wash in West Asheville rather spontaneously on Sunday afternoon and grabbed a few shots of the family.
A tripod and a timer make for rather uninspired family photos but, what can you do?










Even I use a cell phone camera sometimes!

5 comments:

Darlene said...

Hey Zac and Joelyn

You have a gorgeous family! Each of you have a beautiful smile and I see so much love in your eyes.

Please know that I am thinking of you and praying for you. Blogging is a great way to get your feelings out and communicate with others. You are a very special family.

Darlene

Honour Hiers Stewart said...

Zac-
I am thinking of you and your family. Jolene is so blessed to have such a great husband. You and Jolene and the boys will be in my prayers.

KennethMyersPhotographer said...

Girl bikes are always a nice substitute for the batmobile.

Keeping your family in my thoughts

If your in the area and want to grab a bite and talk cameras, let me know

C.J. Carpenter Hardin said...

Zac, We have you and your family in our thoughts. The family pictures are beautiful...truly.

Michele said...

Hi Zac, what a beautiful family you have! We are praying for you, Jolene and the boys...our prayer is that they got all the "shoes" and that there are no more shoes to be found anywhere! You'll just have to go barefoot from now on! :)

You take amazing pictures, I'm blown away by the beauty in what you do. I would have never guessed, skating around the roller rink with you when we were pre-teens that you would be taking pictures for a living, but I'm so very glad you do because this world would be missing out if it didn't have artists like you to show us the beauty in this world.

God bless you and your family.

Michele