When No News is Good News

After feeling settled into our new Minnesota home, I had a quick introduction to the local medical services when I began to experience burning in my feet and shins.  After returning from Malaysia this pain was more intense and made walking more difficult. So a trip to the doctor led to an MRI of the lower spine which ruled out a spinal cause for these symptoms (good news), but did find a significant mass on the right kidney (not so good news). So more tests were needed. I went back for an abdominal CT scan a couple weeks later. The good news is that this mass is not a solid tumor (which would indicate cancer). Nor is it a “simple cyst” which would be benign and safe. Somewhere in between, it is a “complex cyst” that has a lower risk than a tumor, but can contain cancer.  So I will go back for another MRI in 3 months to see if anything has changed. While this called for more medical tests and trips than I desired, the news so far is good, and in three months, no news will be good news. But a few weeks of questions and waiting gave me the chance to test and remember that God’s grace will always be sufficient and a further reminder that I must not take good health for granted. That too is a gift.

And the pain in my feet and lower legs? It was relieved by a steroid treatment, and I will hope that it will not return in the future.