Saturday, January 26, 2013

Calcium normal

This past week Tom and I went to LR on Wednesday to see the doctor.  They always check my lab results first, then I see the doctor.  When we went in she told us that my white blood count was too low and that she wanted to wait till this coming Wednesday before I would get chemo. Okay...kind of good news in one way, I get a week's break to get stronger.  But it's not good in another way. It delays the chemo.   SO...what I thought was going to be an all day appointment...was not.  We headed home without my getting chemo.

Good news did come the same day though.  The calcium was checked also on Wednesday and it now is 10.2!  In one week it went from 14.9 to 10.2....that was wonderful news.  Thank You, God.

SO...the past few days at home have been pretty good.  I have been eating better, which is good.  I need to add a few pounds before I start the chemo again.

That's the update medically.   Our family continues to lean on your prayers and your encouragement for strength and hope.  God blesses us in little and big ways everyday. We continue to praise Him and hope in Him.

We love you so much and are grateful for every prayer and every word of love you send our way.

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Calcium Down

Quick update.
Friday I went in to LR and they took some blood to check my calcium.  After that I got 2 more bags of fluid.  While I was getting the fluids the results came back.  YAY!!!  The calcium went from 14.9 to 12.2 !!!  That was wonderful.  Thanks for your specific prayers.

I go back in Wednesday for another chemo treatment and they will check the calcium again that day.

So far, the side effects have not been bad.  Had some nausea Friday, but felt much better all Sat. and today.

Thanks for your loving prayers!

Friday, January 18, 2013

More Fluids

It's Friday and they want me back again for fluids.  They will take lab (blood) and find out the calcium levels before this day is over.  After lab, I get two more bags of saline fluid. Trying to reach the number 10.
Doing okay. 

Good thing God calls us to only look at one day at a time.  That's more than enough.

THANKS for your holy prayers.

Father,
Continue to watch over my beloved Tommy this weekend.  Give our family your strength and peace. You are enough for our hearts. You are Enough.
Your daughter,
Lisa

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Calcium Concerns

Quick update.

I went to the appt and the treatment yesterday.  All went well overall.  Received premeds, new chemo and Zometa, which I get once a month.  My sweet sister-in-law took me and that was a blessing just to catch up and be with her.

After I was home I got a call about 8 pm from the onc nurse.  She said my calcium is up, a lot.  Normal is 10, it was 14.  That's the highest it's been.  SO...I am going today at noon to get saline fluids all afternoon by IV to help bring it down.  Please pray for the number 10 to come back soon!

Other prayers...safety for my Tommy...heading to Dallas for the medical mission seminar that his office puts on.  Pray for me without Tommy.  My sweet all adult children (Mary will like that description :-) ) are here to be my nurses and buddies.  We're thinking chick flicks all weekend.  Also...no side effects, please.  And, of course....healing.

Thank you all for you outpouring of prayer.  It is felt !!!
with much love to you all,
Lisa
(heading out the door)

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

I Choose Hope

This afternoon I go to the oncologist's office to visit with her and then start a new chemo I have not used before.  Let me try to catch up.

It has been awhile since I've written, almost a month! I am sorry for being slow but there has been a lot going on in that month.  Now Christmas and New Year's have come and gone, plus two of our sweet children's birthdays.  God was right there, celebrating with us and holding us up...with strength, with joy, with laughter, delicious meals, music and family time. We even got to go see our Tennessee family after Christmas, which is always special. Very sweet time.

Right after Christmas I had an appointment with the radiologist in Searcy. We discussed radiation treatments to relieve some progression of pain in my hips. ( My Little Rock doctor suggested we look into that.)  The Searcy doctor took some more pictures and decided that, really, my right hip bone was the most at risk situation.  She decided to give me 5 radiation treatments (one per day) to kill the cancer in the zone. SO...that's what I did. She said the dosage was high but they were trying to get the radiation done to get started back with chemo.  I started Thursday January 3rd, and finished on Wednesday January 9th .  I haven't had any bad side effects.  Fatigue did come into the picture but I'm so grateful for a lot of other things that did NOT happen at all. 

Which brings us to today.  Chemo this afternoon.  Starting a new one, and praying, once again, that this one would kill the cancer.  I am trusting God with all of it...getting the chemo, side effects (hopefully none) and strength for this body that is depending on God's strength, not mine.

Emotionally?  Lots of peace that passes understanding. Some moments of tears.  Since the last report was very difficult, my heart and my mind have worked overtime to decide minute by minute hopeful response.  Most the time, daily, I have to intentionally "capture my thoughts" to say to myself..."this is not over yet. There is still time for God to do a mighty work in this body. I choose to watch Him fight. I choose life. I choose hope!"   If I don't wrestle with those thoughts, then it is hard to hope.  Then my mind wanders to thoughts that are not filled with hope. NOT good.  So...the choice before me is to keep choosing to be encouraged by the words of God like "nothing is impossible with God"  and walking in the hope of Christ Jesus  OR  to choose to walk in despair.  I choose life.  It's an easy choice but a hard one to actually do.  If the time comes when I do not see my victory happening on earth, then I will trust God in a new way,  to transition me gently to my victory in heaven. Healing will come one way or the other.

Oh Holy God,

You are SO magnificent and great!  I've come to see a New Year arrive again, and I thank You greatly for this gift of time.  Thank You for all the loving support from my family and from hundreds of friends!  They've cared for me, fed me, prayed for me, encouraged me over and over. I feel extraordinarily blessed.

Father... save me.  However You choose.  Please lift up my chin day by day and let my heart and mind dwell on Your goodness and love. Pour more of Your Holy Spirit into my life and be my Comforter and Counselor. And let me continue to praise You and trust You to watch over my life.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.
  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy Name.
  May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
  even as we put our hope in You."  Psalm 33:20-22

In the powerful Name of Jesus I pray,
Lisa