Get-Wel

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been hit by a train. Headache, sore throat, achiness and absolutely no energy. Looks like my immune system is going to get a challenge. I was supposed to receive a transfusion yesterday but my oncologist said that my iron count, which is supposed to be 38, is at 2. He said getting a transfusion wouldn't really help until we got the iron counts up. So Carl and I are trying to figure out how to cook liver and onions without stinking up the house and driving out the piano students.

Carl has literally run circles around me this morning. He started teaching at 7 am. When he finished he cut the grass, edged and ran the weedeater and then went up to the church to work there. He will get back in time to teach again at 3:00. I am somewhat jealous of his energy today but moreover grateful to be married to such a hard working man.

I finally gave in and just went to bed asking God to strengthen me for the upcoming busy weekend with Holly's birthday and Logan's baptism. I have a basket with the many cards that I have gotten from friends over the last few months and I came across one that was so appropriate for today that I wanted to share it. It is folded in the shape of a box that you would find a bottle of cough syrup in. You know the box that has the name of the medicine and all the side effects, etc. This medicine is called Get-Wel. Here are some of the things written on this box:

Get-Wel ASAP now with fast-acting HEALZINNOTIME!

USES
Temporarily relieves these symptoms commonly associated with not feeling so hot:
-Yuckiness
-Tendency to feel poopy
-blah disposition

WARNINGS
You may experience dizziness, drowsiness, incontinence, constipation, bad breath, loss of hair,
loss of appetite, and loss of lunch. Get-Wel causes no side effects so don't even think about
blaming us. There! You've been warned.

AVOID OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY
In fact, avoid operating all machinery. Go ahead and have someone else turn on the television
for you. Why take a chance?

DIRECTIONS
Through a patented delivery process, Get-Wel works without any effort on your part. Just
relax and enjoy the healing power while you watch game shows, spy on the neighbors, build a
pillow fort, taste- test chicken soups, or aphabetize the items in your refrigerator.


OTHER INFORMATION
-The capital of Iowa is Des Moines
-Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
-Don't run with scissors

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Why would anyone want to include ingredients that don't do anything?

ENDORSEMENTS
"Get-Wel is the FIRST thing I recommend to my patients" - Dr. Makim Bedder

"Get-Wel immediately!" - Costas A. Lott, M.D.

"Get- Wel whatever it takes!" - Carl's Mom

Hope this brought a smile to your face. I know I feel better already!

RUNNING AHEAD

When I was first diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) I had never even heard of it. And for good reason. It is relatively new in the cancer field and it acts very diferently than most breast cancers. It's always been my nature to read everything I can find on anything medical if I don't have a good understanding of it. So I saw no problem in researching TNBC. I set out on the wonderful world of the internet and read everything I could get my eyes on. I spent weeks staying up late at night reading articles and statistics. I was going to take this "bull by the horns." But very soon it became a big problem. Many nights, after reading, I went to bed in tears. The statistics caused me to believe I couldn't beat it. I started to feel sorry for myself. But, what made me feel the worst, was the conviction of the Holy Spirit on my heart, that I was running ahead of God and not putting my trust in Him.

So I decided that I would not read anymore about it. I would bury my head in the sand and leave it in God's hands. For several months I was content with the little bit of knowledge I had. I knew that I would soon have to make decisions regarding surgeries after chemo and radiation. I knew I would need to have some facts before making those decisions, but I tossed it aside for fear I was running ahead of God.

Over the last week, God has taught me another new lesson. I received an e-mail from a friend with a website that was dedicated strictly to TNBC. She said it contained a wealth of information on TNBC with the newest advances and latest research. She recommended I read up on several of the new studies. A warning light came up in my head. I was hesitant at first. Was this God's doing or mine? I earnestly asked God to show me what I should do with it. I prayed about it. I sought counsel from a good Christian friend.I opened my bible, asking Him to give me direction, and started to read what God has to say about knowledge. And as I did that, God began to give me a peace about it.


"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way." (Pr. 19:2) I realized in my zeal to learn about this disease, I was too hasty. I went running on my own and missed what He would have wanted me to know.

"The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it out." (Pr. 18:15) The Holy Spirit has given us the gift of discernment. When I seek out knowledge, I first need to pray for His discernment.

"The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge, but He frustrates the word of the unfaithful." (Pr. 22:12). God knows everything there is to know about TNBC and every other medical condition we may face. He keeps watch over all knowledge. But when I run ahead, trying to learn without Him, I will only become frustrated.

God has shown me this week, that He is the giver of all knowledge. He doesn't mind me having knowledge. It's okay to make informed decisions as long as I have earnestly sought His guidance.

And now when I read, I will pray before, not after. I will not run ahead, for I don't even know the way. I will take His hand and let Him lead me along trusting in the knowledge that He knows every step of the way.

GIFTS

This week's chemo treatment went amazingly well. 3 down and 9 to go. I spent Tuesday, treatment day, sleepy and a bit nauseous, but much better than previous treatments.

Today I woke up feeling wonderful. I was able to go to bible study which I enjoy so much and have lunch with my sister afterwards. I told her that God was giving me extra blessings today because I have never been able to eat on the second day. I even had the energy to go to the bookstore and find a book for a study my friend and I are going to do together. When Carl finished teaching, we sat out in the backyard on the swing talking about the day. After a quiet dinner we both laughed at which one of us would be able to stay awake past 9:00. A perfectly normal day.

Six months ago, I would not have given a day like today a second thought. I have always gone to bible study, I have always gone to a bookstore, I have always gone out to eat. I talk to Carl all the time. Nothing special.

But it was special. It was a gift from God. Having Christian friends with which to gather together and study God's word is a gift. Having sisters to have lunch with is a gift. Even being able to eat is a gift. And most of all having Carl to talk to, to spend time with and to enjoy my life with is a tremendous gift.

How sorry I am that I have taken those gifts for granted so many times. And how thankful I am that God loves me enough to keep on giving them to me anyway.

Father, forgive me for the many, times I have taken your gifts for granted. Lord I know that each day I awake is your gift to me, waiting to be opened, to do with what I will. Help me not only to see your gifts in the everyday activities of my life, but to treasure them as well. And I will give you all the praise for your great faithfulness and fresh new mercies every morning.