Let me try to catch you up on the past three weeks.
My appointment went well on Monday, October 15th . Saw my doctor first and after examining me, she decided that I could start chemo. We also talked about working on gaining weight (you all can pray about that) and some of the possible side effects of the new chemo. She said that this chemo is usually tolerated well. It was so good to hear that.
She was right! Praise God...my body's response to the chemo was very good! The first week I was bracing myself about Wednesday and Thursday for crashing with fatigue, nausea, etc., but it never really happened. I did take a precautionary nausea med for two or three days (Zofran), but by Friday I felt pretty good until later that night. We went out with some friends to eat catfish in town. I really only had one piece and about 4 or 5 fries and some other sides. Later on, about 10 pm, I got very, very sick. Nauseous. To make that long story short...the lesson learned was...fried foods need to be avoided big time. :-)
The next day and all the next week went well. One day during that week, I told my husband Tom that I felt the most normal that I had felt for a long time. I still guarded my stamina, but I was getting out and doing a bit more. Just really felt good.
Then I started the third week. Same as week two...very good. My dear friend Carol came to visit me from Abilene, TX and I had enough energy to get out and get around with her. I was so grateful for her visit. One night though I did have another weird "crash" night. I got a bad headache, had a fever of 103+ and had nausea...all from, I believe, being in a store with very strong scents. By the morning, the fever had broken and all was calm again. Lesson learned...strong scents need to be avoided big time. (I continue to learn.)
So that brings this blog up to date. Three very good weeks! I have been thanking God over and over for letting me feel good. I don't know if the new chemo is working on the inside, but I do know that prayers have been answered for me to have very minimal side effects. It's really been incredible! Thank you so much for your prayers!
Lots of other things happened in those 3 weeks. The hardest event was when a sweet friend of mine, a cancer survivor for 5 years, passed away. She was such an amazing fighter...a single mom with four great children, trying to juggle her battle, her family and work. I will miss her and so will many others.
The very next day, October 18th, was the sixth anniversary of when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Six years. Wow. Yes, I am still very much in the fight, but I am SO grateful to God for every single day of those six years. Every single day is another gift of grace from Him. As many days as I am given, I want to continue to praise Him and say "Thank You, O God. You are SO good and faithful."
The weekend of October 19-21 my special longtime friend Kimberly participated in the Komen 3 Day Walk in the city of Atlanta. She walked in my honor and for another friend of hers. Such an awesome honor! This was her second year to do the walk. She's worked so hard training and raising the money to help fight this battle. (Thanks so much Kim!) I'm so grateful for her gift and for our friendship.
One other special thing that happened in the past 3 weeks is that I was given a special honor from the women's club that I help sponsor at Harding University. On Homecoming weekend our club traditionally has an Alumni Brunch for the new members to greet the old members and the old members to reconnect. This year they had a special time to honor me. I was totally surprised! The girls spoke sweet words of love and encouragement to me. Both new and old members gave me some lovely and meaningful gifts...just incredible. Then we all closed with a prayer. It was so sweet. The tears poured down my cheeks and the kleenex in my purse were all used up. :-) Really, once again, I felt like God was pouring down His loving manna into my heart. It was a special, special day.
SO...that's it. The 3 week cycle starts again Monday, November 5th. The main prayer is that the chemo will stop the cancer and that my body can sustain strength enough to heal...all by God's power and love. I will report another area where prayer has been answered. My mind and heart have been renewed with hope and with peace, and I would say the whole family as well. Please continue to pray for all of us to have strength for each day.
God,
Thank You for all the answers to our cries for help that You give graciously. Thank You for all the encouragement and love. Thank You for being a whisper away. When I call Your Name, You hear me. Thank You. Thank You for 6 years more of life and for never leaving our side. You are faithful and good. I don't really want to go Monday, but I can go knowing that You will not be far away, but right there with me. I trust You, God, to walk into that room with me...one more time.
In Jesus' sweet Name,
Amen.
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