One week ago I had my treatment. I never know when I go home what the next few days will look like. This chemo treatment, number 6, has been mild...which is great. I am so thankful to the Lord for His "going before me" again.
I did start to feel the nausea Wednesday afternoon, which really just means I start to feel this queasy stomach feeling. When most of us normally feel that way, the response is to not eat for awhile because your stomach is unsettled. But with chemo, the longer I go without eating, the worse the nausea feels...so the dilemma is needing to eat and not being able to think of what sounds good or what will taste good.
SO...Wednesday night a dear friend was bringing food for our family, but I didn't know what it was going to be. When she arrived, she walked in with poppyseed chicken casserole and some side items. I was so happy...it is one of the things I've been able to eat. It looked good, smelled good, and tasted good. Hooray!
Now, I hesitate to tell you all those details...but I wanted to because I believe the Lord takes care of details in our lives. He is a detail God. The food just "coincidentally" was just the right one for my needs that night. Amazing God... that He should love me through my friends hands and heart in that way.
Then Thursday was my bad day. I woke up achey and nauseous. I prayed that morning "Lord, please stay close to me today...let me feel Your presence, because I just can't do this without it." Everyone went off to school and work and I was there on the sofa. I could see that it was going to be a long, long day.
The doorbell rang around 9:00. It was a church friend and she was bringing fresh organic country eggs. She said "How are you doing today?" I said "kind of yukky today". She came in and sat down and talked a few minutes and prayed with me, then she was off. Just a nice short visit. Around 11:30 another friend from church called and said she was bringing supper, but wanted to deliver it around noon, if that was okay. I said yes...so she came over and brought the food and sat for about 20 minutes and talked to me. Another nice visit. Then around 2:30 another woman from our church stopped by. She is a 12 year breast cancer survivor. She had brought me a song on a CD she wanted to share with me. We talked for over an hour about lots of different things and she prayed with me also. It was such an encouraging conversation time. After she left, all the family started coming home one by one.
I looked back on the day and saw how sweetly my prayer had been answered! The Lord HAD stayed close to me. And He physically sent visible proof that He was watching over me all day long. A visitor in the morning, one at noon and one more mid-afternoon...all encouraging my heart. It definitely helped the day go by faster!
That is how the Holy Spirit moves among us, like a wind that blows the leaves. We see them moving, even if we can't see the wind itself. All those women blessed me and sustained me through a long day. The Lord God was faithful to sustain me!
The next day, Friday morning, I woke up feeling much, much better. I took Mary to school, went to Walmart, came home and did laundry and vacuumed...all by noon! The roughest part of the storm had passed.
Thank You, dear Jesus, for Your presence in our lives, for Your constant love and tenderness to the details. I do not want to live one day without You. Thank You.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Tom got home Monday night...yeah! He flew into Memphis and got there around 5:30pm. He called and said he'd be home around 8:30. Then ...we got another call. The van broke down right after they had crossed over the Mississippi River bridge. They were sitting in West Memphis waiting for a AAA tow truck to arrive. (sigh) They ended up having the van towed all the way to Searcy and riding in the tow truck with the driver. He and John arrived around midnight. I was just glad the breakdown was in Arkansas, instead of somewhere in Africa!
He's home now...and we are thankful!!!
He's home now...and we are thankful!!!
Monday, March 12, 2007
6th Treatment
I went in today for treatment number 6...and it went very well. Only two big treatments left! Yeah!!!
My Mom went with me this time, which was wonderful. She got to meet my oncologist and hear everything she told me. My doctor said I was doing great on the chemo treatments. I asked her about the chemo pills that she wants me to take after the regular treatments are done and she said that she was still deciding what exactly she wanted to do with me at the end of my radiation. I told her I was a little concerned that I would take chemo and do radiation at the same time. She said she would not do them at the same time afterall. I will not start the oral chemo until my radiation is finished. I was very glad to hear about that.
My actual treatment time seemed to go very fast today. My Mom would pop in from time to time to visit, which was great. I did not have to have a red blood booster shot this time because my blood count was so good. Yeah! I didn't have any iron either. The treatment took 3 hours, which seemed shorter than others I've had.
Overall...the whole day was a HUGE answer to prayers. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I've been thanking God all afternoon for walking me through this day.
I had a nice side blessing. A woman that comes with her mother to the same office handed me a card. I met her at the last treatment. Last time I had just found out I had to take more chemo and was very upset as I sat down to begin my treatment. My nurse was talking quietly to me and finding out why I was teary. This woman, Deb, watched the whole thing and after the nurse left she came over to me with tears in her eyes and said that she would be praying for me and asked my name. Total stranger, with a merciful heart. SO...this week I saw her again. The card was saying that she and many others at her church are praying for me. That is so amazing. It has happened over and over...complete strangers writing or speaking to me, telling me that they are praying for me.
Tom went to a church in Accra, Ghana, West Africa last Sunday. Two men came up to "Brother Tom" and told him that they were praying regularly for his wife and have fasted for my healing. GHANA!!! Wow. I'm so humbled by this kind of love. It is not just a random kindness thing, or a social concern love. It is the love of Jesus Christ...which steps in to pray and love someone they've never met. It's a fellowship literally around the world with so many people...I feel overwhelmed with the love of Jesus Christ through His children. Again. I think I've said that before, but it's still true.
Praise to the Lord God, Creator of All! Thank you Lord for this good day...Your mercy and love were evident proof of You. I saw it all day long. Thank You.
My Mom went with me this time, which was wonderful. She got to meet my oncologist and hear everything she told me. My doctor said I was doing great on the chemo treatments. I asked her about the chemo pills that she wants me to take after the regular treatments are done and she said that she was still deciding what exactly she wanted to do with me at the end of my radiation. I told her I was a little concerned that I would take chemo and do radiation at the same time. She said she would not do them at the same time afterall. I will not start the oral chemo until my radiation is finished. I was very glad to hear about that.
My actual treatment time seemed to go very fast today. My Mom would pop in from time to time to visit, which was great. I did not have to have a red blood booster shot this time because my blood count was so good. Yeah! I didn't have any iron either. The treatment took 3 hours, which seemed shorter than others I've had.
Overall...the whole day was a HUGE answer to prayers. Thank you so much for all your prayers. I've been thanking God all afternoon for walking me through this day.
I had a nice side blessing. A woman that comes with her mother to the same office handed me a card. I met her at the last treatment. Last time I had just found out I had to take more chemo and was very upset as I sat down to begin my treatment. My nurse was talking quietly to me and finding out why I was teary. This woman, Deb, watched the whole thing and after the nurse left she came over to me with tears in her eyes and said that she would be praying for me and asked my name. Total stranger, with a merciful heart. SO...this week I saw her again. The card was saying that she and many others at her church are praying for me. That is so amazing. It has happened over and over...complete strangers writing or speaking to me, telling me that they are praying for me.
Tom went to a church in Accra, Ghana, West Africa last Sunday. Two men came up to "Brother Tom" and told him that they were praying regularly for his wife and have fasted for my healing. GHANA!!! Wow. I'm so humbled by this kind of love. It is not just a random kindness thing, or a social concern love. It is the love of Jesus Christ...which steps in to pray and love someone they've never met. It's a fellowship literally around the world with so many people...I feel overwhelmed with the love of Jesus Christ through His children. Again. I think I've said that before, but it's still true.
Praise to the Lord God, Creator of All! Thank you Lord for this good day...Your mercy and love were evident proof of You. I saw it all day long. Thank You.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Catching up
It's been awhile since I've written, I realize. I left off with my 5th treatment.
My excuse is that the first week I wasn't feeling that well, which is the norm. My other excuse is that I've had a lot of wonderful company.
I had the treatment on Monday, felt crummy Wed and Thurs, but started feeling great that Friday. So I thought I was climbing out of the whole nausea thing. But Sunday night I started feeling bad again. I was sick on Mon and Tues again, then felt better again Wed morning. I'm not sure why I went down twice this time, if it is just accumulating, so I don't recover as quickly. I don't know. Now I'm in week three since my treatment, so I'm doing fine, feeling mostly normal. I can tell the fatigue is adding up. I feel pretty good in the morning, but as the day wears on I just don't have any energy reserve...so I move slower and slower by the end of the day.
Tom is in Africa right now. So far his trip has gone great...which is wonderful. He will leave Ghana tomorrow and be in Europe over the weekend. He'll return on Monday night. That is the same day as my next treatment. My parents are here now. I've had lots of company. Gloria from Co, Karen and Michelle from TN, my sister Diane from MI and now my parents from TN. They are staying until Tommy gets back next week...which is a great blessing. I am so thankful for all these encouragers...it has definitely been a great help. They have all been blessings to our home!
The Lord continues to send support and love in all different forms. One unique show of love is a friend that's a college student here. She's a friend of our son Jesse.
She came to me a couple of weeks ago and told me that she is going to run a half triathlon in my honor, as a symbol of my "running this race". What an extraordinary honor! I couldn't believe it. She has started her training and we are going to meet once a week to share with each other. She'll share her progress and emotions and what the Lord is teaching her in this, and I'll do the same from my own "race". I was just so humbled by this show of kindness.
I've had emails, cards, food, an exercise DVD (I love it!), music...just so many ways that people have said "we love you and we are thinking about you". Whenever I read something or receive something I consider it from the Lord God through the hands of his children. It has been VERY encouraging!
That's all for tonight. Today is today. God has been faithful to walk with me through this day, lifting my heart with His strength. That's as far as I look these days...or at least I am trying to train myself to take "just this day".
Thank you Lord for a nice day. Mary returned safely from space camp in AL. Jamie did well on his midterm tests. Betsy stopped by for while and all is well. And I'm trusting Tom is fine, in Your hands and care, Lord. Same with Jess. Thank you for this plain, uneventful day that still shows me Your love. Thank You, Lord.
My excuse is that the first week I wasn't feeling that well, which is the norm. My other excuse is that I've had a lot of wonderful company.
I had the treatment on Monday, felt crummy Wed and Thurs, but started feeling great that Friday. So I thought I was climbing out of the whole nausea thing. But Sunday night I started feeling bad again. I was sick on Mon and Tues again, then felt better again Wed morning. I'm not sure why I went down twice this time, if it is just accumulating, so I don't recover as quickly. I don't know. Now I'm in week three since my treatment, so I'm doing fine, feeling mostly normal. I can tell the fatigue is adding up. I feel pretty good in the morning, but as the day wears on I just don't have any energy reserve...so I move slower and slower by the end of the day.
Tom is in Africa right now. So far his trip has gone great...which is wonderful. He will leave Ghana tomorrow and be in Europe over the weekend. He'll return on Monday night. That is the same day as my next treatment. My parents are here now. I've had lots of company. Gloria from Co, Karen and Michelle from TN, my sister Diane from MI and now my parents from TN. They are staying until Tommy gets back next week...which is a great blessing. I am so thankful for all these encouragers...it has definitely been a great help. They have all been blessings to our home!
The Lord continues to send support and love in all different forms. One unique show of love is a friend that's a college student here. She's a friend of our son Jesse.
She came to me a couple of weeks ago and told me that she is going to run a half triathlon in my honor, as a symbol of my "running this race". What an extraordinary honor! I couldn't believe it. She has started her training and we are going to meet once a week to share with each other. She'll share her progress and emotions and what the Lord is teaching her in this, and I'll do the same from my own "race". I was just so humbled by this show of kindness.
I've had emails, cards, food, an exercise DVD (I love it!), music...just so many ways that people have said "we love you and we are thinking about you". Whenever I read something or receive something I consider it from the Lord God through the hands of his children. It has been VERY encouraging!
That's all for tonight. Today is today. God has been faithful to walk with me through this day, lifting my heart with His strength. That's as far as I look these days...or at least I am trying to train myself to take "just this day".
Thank you Lord for a nice day. Mary returned safely from space camp in AL. Jamie did well on his midterm tests. Betsy stopped by for while and all is well. And I'm trusting Tom is fine, in Your hands and care, Lord. Same with Jess. Thank you for this plain, uneventful day that still shows me Your love. Thank You, Lord.
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