Last week was such an incredible week. The Lord has been so merciful to me. The main symptoms that I felt were fatigue and a little nausea. I expected Wednesday or Thursday to be out of it, but it never hit that hard. I was very tired on Wed and Thurs, but by Friday I was getting around again. I'm so thankful to the Lord God for holding me up!
Tuesday was historical because it was the first day I wore my wig out in public. Tommy and I went to Mary's school Thanksgiving luncheon. It was fine...easier than I thought it would be. The hair loss is definitely going to be a slow adjustment...but the Lord has helped me with all these other steps, I know He'll walk me through this.
Last Wednesday I had to go back in to get a shot to boost my white blood cells. I guess they will do that everytime I have a treatment. The first time I had that shot it was horrible...there was a burning sensation as the drug went in. Well...I went in thinking that it was going to go in my port, which I thought would make it easier. I got there and they said they don't use the port, they need to put it in under the skin. I left the room, went to the restroom, called Tommy and asked for him to pray about the shot. So he and Mary did. They went to a corner of Barnes and Noble (they had dropped me off at the office because we didn't really want Mary to go in) and prayed for me while I was going back in to the lab area. I sat down, braced myself and the nurse gave me the shot. I couldn't believe it... it did not hurt. It did not burn. I barely felt it. Wow. I couldn't believe it. Nothing like the first time. Yeah God!!!
On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we had the nicest day. We just hung out quietly. I hung out VERY quietly, as I was sleeping on and off throughout the day. :-) Tom worked in the yard, while smoking a turkey breast in our cooker. Jamie helped Tommy and did some school. Mary was the Queen of Thanksgiving . She made stuffing, sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and rolls. I think the only things she didn't make were the turkey and the corn. Amazing! Not many 11 year olds can say they made Thanksgiving dinner. When they called me to the table, everything was there...just beautiful! Candles lit, smoked turkey and plenty of extras. Tears came to my eyes...it was truly a beautiful table. We all think it was one of the most special Thanksgiving meals we've ever had.
I am thankful...SO thankful. To be blessed with a precious family. To have so many dear friends. To have so many people praying for me. To know that each day when I wake up the mercies of the Lord are fresh and new for that day. I'm thankful for Jesus, who is the hope and joy that we all can build each day of our lives around.
What a great Thanksgiving week.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
First chemo report
I saw my doctor today and after talking to me and examing me she said the chemo is working. YEAH! Thank you Lord!!! Jesse came and met her and my other nurses, which was very comforting and sweet. My blood counts were slightly improved...I'll take slightly anyday over a negative report. It was a good day... no, a great day. It's working...thanks to the Lord God!!! And thanks for your prayers!
Friday, November 17, 2006
The last four weeks
Some people visiting this site for the first time may not know what all has been happening. Feel free to skip this post if you've heard everything, but I thought I'd write a history of the past few weeks.
The last four weeks have felt like four months because so much has happened in them. I found out I had cancer on a Wednesday evening Oct.18. I moved from the shock to just busyness...lots and lots of tests. Thursday, ultrasounds and mammograms. Friday I had a biopsy. Saturday the doctor called and confirmed that it was breast cancer. That's when we let everyone hear the news, so we could have as many people praying as possible. The news spread fast and far! We began hearing from people all over the country...saying they were praying for me and had put my name on their church's prayer lists. I was so overwhelmed but so thankful!
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were all days that we were passionately praying , with many, many others that the Lord would do something miraculous. We had a healing service at our church on Sunday night that was such an incredible night of love and hope and worship. The elders anointed my head with oil and prayed over our whole family, with over a hundred people gathered as witnesses. We knew of several other groups that were meeting at the same time in other places around the country, joining us in prayer for healing. I felt so much hope and complete peace from the Lord.
Wednesday I went in to get the PET scan, to see if the cancer was anywhere else in my body.
Friday, a CT scan and a muga heart test, all preliminary steps before I would start the chemo on Monday Oct. 30. That Sunday night was such a hard night because I could see that the Lord wasn't going to do the surprise-radical-miraculous healing that we had all prayed about...so it was time to start the long, slower medical plan , which I believe He can also use for His healing.
That Monday they said the PET scan did not find cancer anywhere else. That was HUGE! Yeah...a wonderful answer to prayers! I also had my first chemo treatment that day.The first chemo was hard emotionally. I guess it was just processing again the reality. When you sit there and watch all this stuff go into your arm, it's definitely real. My side effects that week were not too bad. I did hit a fatigue wall and I had nausea on that Wednesday...but took some medicine that just made me sleep all day. After that each day that followed got better.
This week was the third week since my treatment, and it's been the most normal feeling. But this week brought a different issue...my hair started to fall out. BUT...the Lord was so sweet to send a box of new hats from some dear Tennessee girlfriends just on the week that I started to notice it coming out. That really has been the pattern. Everyday it seems like something has happened that God sent just the right person, right food or right gift when I needed it, and many times before I even knew I needed it. I feel so blessed with prayers and fasting, cards, meals, books, emails, help with errands, housework, phone calls, and more. The Lord has really sent His love through all these precious friends and family. Thanks so much to all of you that have stepped in to encourage me in different ways. Thank you!
My next hurdle will be Monday, my second treatment. Jesse, our 22 year old, wants to take me Monday, which I thought was really sweet. He's out of school next week for Thanksgiving break, so he wanted to take me this time.
My heart is full of hope and peace and faith...and I know, I KNOW this is from Jesus Christ.
Thank you all again for all your prayers.
The last four weeks have felt like four months because so much has happened in them. I found out I had cancer on a Wednesday evening Oct.18. I moved from the shock to just busyness...lots and lots of tests. Thursday, ultrasounds and mammograms. Friday I had a biopsy. Saturday the doctor called and confirmed that it was breast cancer. That's when we let everyone hear the news, so we could have as many people praying as possible. The news spread fast and far! We began hearing from people all over the country...saying they were praying for me and had put my name on their church's prayer lists. I was so overwhelmed but so thankful!
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were all days that we were passionately praying , with many, many others that the Lord would do something miraculous. We had a healing service at our church on Sunday night that was such an incredible night of love and hope and worship. The elders anointed my head with oil and prayed over our whole family, with over a hundred people gathered as witnesses. We knew of several other groups that were meeting at the same time in other places around the country, joining us in prayer for healing. I felt so much hope and complete peace from the Lord.
Wednesday I went in to get the PET scan, to see if the cancer was anywhere else in my body.
Friday, a CT scan and a muga heart test, all preliminary steps before I would start the chemo on Monday Oct. 30. That Sunday night was such a hard night because I could see that the Lord wasn't going to do the surprise-radical-miraculous healing that we had all prayed about...so it was time to start the long, slower medical plan , which I believe He can also use for His healing.
That Monday they said the PET scan did not find cancer anywhere else. That was HUGE! Yeah...a wonderful answer to prayers! I also had my first chemo treatment that day.The first chemo was hard emotionally. I guess it was just processing again the reality. When you sit there and watch all this stuff go into your arm, it's definitely real. My side effects that week were not too bad. I did hit a fatigue wall and I had nausea on that Wednesday...but took some medicine that just made me sleep all day. After that each day that followed got better.
This week was the third week since my treatment, and it's been the most normal feeling. But this week brought a different issue...my hair started to fall out. BUT...the Lord was so sweet to send a box of new hats from some dear Tennessee girlfriends just on the week that I started to notice it coming out. That really has been the pattern. Everyday it seems like something has happened that God sent just the right person, right food or right gift when I needed it, and many times before I even knew I needed it. I feel so blessed with prayers and fasting, cards, meals, books, emails, help with errands, housework, phone calls, and more. The Lord has really sent His love through all these precious friends and family. Thanks so much to all of you that have stepped in to encourage me in different ways. Thank you!
My next hurdle will be Monday, my second treatment. Jesse, our 22 year old, wants to take me Monday, which I thought was really sweet. He's out of school next week for Thanksgiving break, so he wanted to take me this time.
My heart is full of hope and peace and faith...and I know, I KNOW this is from Jesus Christ.
Thank you all again for all your prayers.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Can't believe I'm blogging
About two months ago I was walking with my sister-in-law around the university track getting some exercise. We were talking about alll sorts of subjects. Then our conversation turned to blogging. Neither one of us were interested in blogging, at all. Just didn't have a desire or interest or the time. "Besides," I said, "I can't imagine wanting to share my thoughts to the entire universe of cyberland." Hmmm...
Well...that was two months ago. I changed my mind.
Four weeks ago, on October 18th, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So many things have changed in just four weeks. And I guess I realized that since my life will continue to be in a season of change that I decided maybe a blog was a good idea after all. There are so many people that the Lord has blessed me with that are either family or friends, some acquaintances and even some people that I haven't ever met that have said to me "we are praying for you". I am so, so thankful for each and every prayer. As a matter of fact, I know I am going through each day right now lifted up by these prayers. I can feel it. It is not me, It is the intercessory prayers of so many brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you very much.
So...I decided to write this blog to chronicle this season of my life. If you would like to catch up or walk with me on this journey, then come visit. Feel free to still send me letters at my email site. Those have been such an encouragement. I just thought I could update more frequently on this format.
Isn't this amazing? I am not a computer type person, but I know that I am grateful for this technology, even more than ever right now. All this communication in a split second. Yeah!
I guess that's all for this first post. Welcome to my new blog!
Well...that was two months ago. I changed my mind.
Four weeks ago, on October 18th, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. So many things have changed in just four weeks. And I guess I realized that since my life will continue to be in a season of change that I decided maybe a blog was a good idea after all. There are so many people that the Lord has blessed me with that are either family or friends, some acquaintances and even some people that I haven't ever met that have said to me "we are praying for you". I am so, so thankful for each and every prayer. As a matter of fact, I know I am going through each day right now lifted up by these prayers. I can feel it. It is not me, It is the intercessory prayers of so many brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you very much.
So...I decided to write this blog to chronicle this season of my life. If you would like to catch up or walk with me on this journey, then come visit. Feel free to still send me letters at my email site. Those have been such an encouragement. I just thought I could update more frequently on this format.
Isn't this amazing? I am not a computer type person, but I know that I am grateful for this technology, even more than ever right now. All this communication in a split second. Yeah!
I guess that's all for this first post. Welcome to my new blog!
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