I was 38 years old.  Was married and had two boys, ages 8 and 10.  One beautiful, summer, sunny day in Ohio, I was playing golf with some friends.  Around the fourth hole, my side started aching.  It felt like the kind of ache you might have when you run too hard, and you double over with pain.  As it happened, I was cutting the grass the next day and the same thing occurred. I went in and laid down and the pain went away. 

The next day I had a PAP test with my general doctor.  He said the test came back with some dysplasia and he wanted to send me to the gynecologist (across the hall) and as it happened, I could get in now.  So, across the hall, I went.  The doctor said he wanted me to get an ultrasound.  I told him I would schedule one maybe next week. He said, “No, I have someone available at the hospital and he can do it now.”  At about that time, I started to worry but the doctor said to just take my time.  While I was on the table, the tech handed me the phone (this was before cell phones) and told me that my doctor wanted to talk to me.  My doctor told me to come back to the office.  Now I was worried.

By 6:00 AM the next morning, I was on the operating table.  A tumor was completely encased in my ovary and my ovary was twisted around it.  Oh, by the way, did I mention that it was the size of a GRAPEFRUIT? My doctor sent me to the Cleveland Clinic and there they reassured me that I would not need any further treatments. 

That was 32 years ago and I am convinced that God was telling me that he was not done with me.  I am here to tell you, listen to your body.  If something does not feel right, get it checked out.