March Update - surgery scheduled!

I just had another birthday and recognizing that the treatments I received for my cancer were not available 20 years ago made it all the more sweet. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9

I have had 3 infusions now and still no side effects - praise the Lord! "Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer or His lovingkindness from me." Psalm 66:20

My next infusion will be on April 20. We had to push it back a few days because I was able to schedule my last surgery! Woohoo. (Normally, surgery is nothing to rejoice over, but after the nurse strike, my supposed-to-be-April-27 surgery was being pushed to "probably August or September"! So I called everyday looking for a cancelation and got an April 14 slot - so totally worth rejoicing over.) Surgery could have a short recovery period this time. "Some patients recover in a couple days." We shall see. "I am He who will sustain you. I have made you & I will carry you." Isaiah 46:4

I don't think I've mentioned the extreme stomach pain I was having that sent me to the ER last November. My oncologist said just like chemo can cause mouth sores, it can cause stomach ulcers. Well, I enjoyed the pain meds from the hospital and they gave me a prescription that I took only a couple times and decided wasn't working. Fast forward a few months and the pain is regularly waking me several times each night and I'm taking Tums all the time and I remembered the prescription. So I committed to taking the rest of the 26 daily pills in the bottle and, thankfully, I have been stomach-pain free since I started taking them! Woohoo. When they run out Easter weekend, I will see whether the ulcers are healed or not. "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:2-5

Physical therapy helped make great progress with range of motion for my arms. I can reach my kitchen cabinets and my steering wheel! We'll start up again a month after surgery. Infusions will continue every 3 weeks til October or November (depending on any unforeseen delays). Six of my fingernails have died and 2 are still trying to die. This is only super painful for the 3 days before "death" when they swell and such. But my toenails are all good. yay! My hair continues to grow, but not fast enough. I really didn't mind being bald, but this super short stage is not fun. My hair doesn't have any outrageous cowlicks, but it does grow down on the sides and straight up on the top, so I have a "fun" mohawk that I'm not really enjoying. But it's just a season. (Hoping the season goes by fast!) "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Last week, I was able to head to the hills to walk 5 miles on my own. This is something I've missed so much. Scott & Kaden & even my friend Jenny each took me up there a few times so we'd know that I won't die on my own. When we started with the shortest route at 2.2 miles, it took forever at first. I was super slow and took breaks as needed. We worked up to the 3.7mi and finally to the 5.0mi. Now I can do it on my own, though the uphills I still take really slow as the infusion meds I'm on still cause my heart rate to run pretty high when under duress. It is so exciting to have another little piece of my "normal" life back. "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up." Psalm 71:20

Looking ahead - I am excited to celebrate our 26th wedding anniversary next week, to attend Silas's graduation from GCU on 4/22 and Jonas's graduation from the Air Force Academy on 5/28, and to have a family vacation with all 6 of us together during Jonas's leave after graduation and before he reports to his next base in July. "Many are asking, 'Who can show us any good?' Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound." Psalm 4:6-7

Please continue to pray... for healing after surgery 4/14 (especially as I want to be well to attend Silas's graduation 8 days later!) and also less painful fingernails, for infusions to continue to be uneventful and have no side effects, and for me to be a light in dark places. 

Praise the Lord with us... for healing of stomach ulcers, for surgery being scheduled, for infusions happening, for the lack of side effects, for the energy to walk in the hills, for the progress of physical therapy, for upcoming graduations and time with family, for another year of life - so many things to be thankful for!

February Update

 At 8 weeks post surgery, I am finally feeling less sore and am able to do more of my normal activities. 

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40

I am in weekly physical therapy for my arms, and both are progressing well, though the one they took the lymph node from still cannot reach very high or wide. I am super thankful that I was able to get physical therapy started as I was struggling to push, pull, lift, or stretch to just do normal things like get dressed or get something out of a kitchen cabinet. 

My fingernails are struggling to stay alive after the chemo last fall and cause my fingers to hurt making it pretty challenging at times to do easy things like grabbing something out of a purse or typing or picking up objects.

I do have more energy and have been going for (almost) daily walks of 2-4 miles. Yay! This is something I've missed so much for the last months. I can't do hills yet, but I can keep a pretty good pace going on a flat path.

My hair is starting to grow back. For several weeks, I did not drive, but I am back to feeling comfortable behind the wheel (and my arms can both reach the steering wheel and move it safely now!)

It has been a time of slow but steady progress. I am so thankful that I have the time to work on recovering and I am even to the point that I am starting to look for ways to fill my time.

A couple weeks ago, my health insurance got a bit messed up and that was cause for some stress, but it looks like it is resolved. 

Thankfully that didn't keep me from getting restarted with my infusions. Last fall, every 3 weeks I went for chemotherapy infusions and received 4 drugs each time. Two of the drugs are chemotherapies which are completely done after 6 sessions. The other two drugs are "targeted therapies" which I have to do for 12 more sessions. I took a break for surgery and now we have restarted those. Thankfully, these two drugs do not have the horrible chemotherapy side effects. We shall see in the coming weeks what difficulties, if any, I experience from these infusions. Since my first infusion on 2/13, I have not experienced any new side effects. Woohoo!

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  - Hebrews 4

Please pray for healing (and especially for my fingernails), for better range of motion with my arms, for insurance to work like it's supposed to, for me to get infusions and surgery scheduled (as those had to be put off because of a nurse strike), for continued lack of side effects with the infusions (next on 3/5) and for me to be a light in dark places. Praise the Lord with me for having more energy, getting to go for walks, the progress already made through physical therapy, for the lack of side effects, and for the insurance resolve so far.

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."  - Psalm 61

Good news

 

Thank you for praying! We have received all good news in our follow up appointments.

 

The general surgeon reports “no residual invasive carcinoma” and my lymph node was also “negative for carcinoma”. Praise the Lord for no cancer!

The plastic surgeon says everything is good. There has been no tissue damage and I have good blood flow to the skin and I will see him for the next several weeks then wait 3 months before (what should be) a final surgery in early May.

 

Before surgery I arranged for some ladies to “babysit” me during the day for a few hours so Scott could get some work done. These ladies jumped in and did whatever was needed - from getting meds and meals for me to catching me when I fainted and helping manage drain tubes. I have been so blessed by friends old and new.  (Thank you so much Angela, Kelli, Kim, Luci, Kristen, Julianne, and Patti!)

Monday morning, I spent a few hours in the ER and it turned out to be an amazing blessing as well. A lovely PA walked me through all my post-op issues and was really reassuring (after some imaging for blood clots) that all was well and that with some easy techniques I could manage all that brought me to the ER. I am so thankful for her kindness and thoroughness! After my time with her I felt confident to manage my symptoms at home.

Our church family has provided cards and texts and various meals since August through each chemo and surgery. The meals have not just provided food for our bellies, but have shown the overwhelming love of Christ in a tangible way. We never felt alone in our difficulties. People constantly offered grocery & errand runs and whatever we needed. Thank you so much to everyone!

 

Please rejoice with us and continue to pray for complete healing.