I just thought I'd post a little update on the treatment end of this journey.
I have been taking mega doses of iron for over a week now and am starting to look more like Popeye than Olive Oil. We still haven't figured out how to cook the liver and onions without smelling up the house, but truthfully neither of us has tried very hard.
I think after 4 cycles of this new chemotherapy I've got my week figured out.
Tuesday - receive chemo and steroids, mild manageable nausea, sleepiness from IV benadryl.
Tuesday night - awake all night from steroids
Wednesday - mild nausea, bouncing off the walls from the steroids.
Thursday - start of bone pain, feeling as though I've been hit by a car.
Friday - bone pain all over (even jaw bones), numbness and tingling in my head, hands and feet, feeling as though I've been hit by an Amtrak.
Saturday - Fatigue, bone pain and mental fog
Sunday - tiredness but starting to feel better
Monday - work
Tuesday - start all over.
I really don't say all this to complain for I have found some definite advantages!
Before chemo, there were lots of times I couldn't think of what day of the week it was. Now, I can just figure it out by my symptoms.
Being fatigued is a good excuse for drinking Mountain Dew.
We now receive frequent shopper discounts on Advil.
Wednesday is the best day of the week for me to be wired.
Now, I have an excuse for falling asleep in the middle of the day, or not being able to find my keys or remember names or forgetting what I went to the kitchen for.
Romans 8:28 tells us that "All things work together for good for those who love Him." And I believe that there is something good in every single thing we go through, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to find it.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Unwavering Love
The article in this morning's paper read "Pro Golfer Mickelson On Indefinite Leave, Wife Diagnosed With Cancer" . It went on to say "Phil Mickelson was gearing up for his favorite time of year. All that changed Wednesday, along with his priorities, when he disclosed that his wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer." Jack Nicklaus said. “No one, especially Amy, deserves to have to face the battle that accompanies cancer. But we know that Amy has this amazing inner strength and spirit,and with Phil’s unwavering love and support, they will fight and overcome this."
As I read this, I couldn't help but think of Carl. Like Phil Mickelson, he has put his life on indefinite leave to be able to fight this battle with me. He rearranges his days to go with me to chemo treatments, doctor's visits, tests. He's by my side when I'm sick, he listens to my continual complaints of bone pain, he fusses when I take on too much and does his best to get me to rest. He tells me I'm beautiful to him, with or without hair and scars. He worries, he hurts, he prays.
His love and support is unwavering.
Before I was diagnosed, I witnessed that unwavering love in a dear friend of mine as her husband battled this disease. As I watched her day after day, I never ceased to be amazed at her unending devotion to her husband. Once, I remember asking her if she needed help and she answered "Nobody can take care of him like I can, he belongs to me." At that moment, I saw in her eyes the love of Christ. The kind of love He shows to us because we "belong to Him."
That is the kind of love that Carl shows to me and for which I am so very thankful.
I pray for Phil Mickelson, his wife and their three young children today. And I know that whatever lies ahead of them will be somewhat easier because of that unwavering love.
As I read this, I couldn't help but think of Carl. Like Phil Mickelson, he has put his life on indefinite leave to be able to fight this battle with me. He rearranges his days to go with me to chemo treatments, doctor's visits, tests. He's by my side when I'm sick, he listens to my continual complaints of bone pain, he fusses when I take on too much and does his best to get me to rest. He tells me I'm beautiful to him, with or without hair and scars. He worries, he hurts, he prays.
His love and support is unwavering.
Before I was diagnosed, I witnessed that unwavering love in a dear friend of mine as her husband battled this disease. As I watched her day after day, I never ceased to be amazed at her unending devotion to her husband. Once, I remember asking her if she needed help and she answered "Nobody can take care of him like I can, he belongs to me." At that moment, I saw in her eyes the love of Christ. The kind of love He shows to us because we "belong to Him."
That is the kind of love that Carl shows to me and for which I am so very thankful.
I pray for Phil Mickelson, his wife and their three young children today. And I know that whatever lies ahead of them will be somewhat easier because of that unwavering love.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A Dog Named Lucky
A good friend from work sent me this story this morning and it touched my heart so I wanted to share it.
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease.....in fact; she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.
The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought.
He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom.Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.
Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body f felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.
He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky, He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box, but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
I don't have a dog named Lucky. I don't even have our little Bandit anymore.
But I do have my heavenly Father. This story reminded me in so many ways of how my Father loves me. He is saddened when I am far from Him.When I am in need, He covers me with His love. He has given me His greatest treasure, His Son. I am His treasure and because of that I will live with Him forever.
Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.'
Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy.. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.
Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.
It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease.....in fact; she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.
The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought.
He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him! The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.
The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.
Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom.Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.
Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.
When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body f felt heavy and hot. But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life.
He had covered her with his love.
Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky, He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box, but Mary remains his greatest treasure.
I don't have a dog named Lucky. I don't even have our little Bandit anymore.
But I do have my heavenly Father. This story reminded me in so many ways of how my Father loves me. He is saddened when I am far from Him.When I am in need, He covers me with His love. He has given me His greatest treasure, His Son. I am His treasure and because of that I will live with Him forever.
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