So Close! (Second to last chemo is done!)

Yesterday I went in for round 7 of 8 of my chemo infusions! I was a bit anxious to see if for some reason it would get postponed, but nope. Our state may be on a shelter at home order, but chemo must go on! In some ways it was a bit of a different experience from two weeks ago due to the Covid outbreak, and in some ways it was the same.

To begin with, I drive right by a drive through testing site to get to the Cancer Center. Thankfully our area hasn't been hit too hard yet, so it has been quiet the times I have driven past. However, they are ready with lots of traffic control and staff ready to go. In some ways it is comforting to know they are ready for it and in others it really makes this all seem more real. When I got to the center there was a nurse at the door to perform a Clovid screening before you could check in. It involved a temperature check and some questions. Once you pass you are given a sticker for the day to let everyone know that you have been screened.The waiting area has also changed with spaced out chairs and no reading materials. There were less people waiting as they have gone to selected care and in person visits. Also, they are no longer allowing visitors. After being called back to the treatment area, nothing much had changed. There were fewer patients, and again, no visitors. The nurses also were all wearing masks the entire time.

Even Hulu had to remind me about Covid!

Since I was there by myself I brought along plenty to occupy my time in the chair. I did some reading, talked on the phone, and watched a little Hulu on my laptop. My infusions are taking about 4 hours these rounds and really the time went fairly quickly. Since we aren't going anywhere these days and since all six of us are at home, it actually was a nice quiet break. (The chairs have heaters and massagers and I get to order a meal. It is almost like a spa day. 😂) I had a nurse that I have had one other time and it was good to talk to her about everything that is going on.

I was able to sit in my favorite bay, #6. I think I have had four of my seven infusions here.

Everything went very well. All of my labs still look great. I take this as a huge blessing. I get to see many other cancer patients while I am at the center and it really makes me so thankful that my treatment is going so smoothly for me. Cancer and its treatment can cause so many different side effects and complications. The Lord has blessed me with such a smooth and uncomplicated treatment path.

I always ask the nurse to turn my chair to face the window. It is such a great view of the lake. This time I could watch ducks flying and fog rolling in.

After treatment I felt a bit worn out, but otherwise well. If this round follows my previous two with Taxol, I should be feeling pretty well with some body aches setting in around day four and five. I am so thankful that this drug has given me less down days.

My "spa" chair.

I was able to schedule all of the appointments for my last round of chemo while I was there! I can't believe that is where I am already. At the beginning it seems like such a long time, but as with many things in life, when you get in the routine it doesn't seem to take so long. After my last round of chemo the plan is to have surgery and then radiation. I am praying that all continues to go as planned and that Covid doesn't interrupt any of these plans, but I know that God has it all figured out. I am also praying for continued health for our family. Two of the kids had fevers and coughs last week. I have never washed my hands so much! I hope they don't have PTSD from me telling them to stay away from me!
I pray that you are all doing well and hanging in there! What a crazy time we are all living through right now. I hope that looking back this is just a small blip in our lives. I continue to remember that like my cancer diagnoses, this is not a surprise to our Lord. He continues to hold us all and carry us through this.

Cast off the Weight

When I was a child I loved rocks. If we were out for a family hike, the rock collecting would commence within one hundred yards from the where we started. Each unique rock I found I would pick up and put in one of my pockets. The problem was that as a young child many rocks were deemed worthy of being added to my collection. Pretty soon my pockets were full. The weight of each addition added up and eventually my rocks grew too heavy for me. I had to let some go just so I could continue walking. I would carefully look through my stash and determine which were worthy of bringing along for the remainder of the hike.

What does your collection look like these days? Are you being weighed down by the troubles in the world around us? Are you feeling weary and burdened? Don't worry, friend. You don't have to bring every burden along with you on this earthly walk. In fact there is one who is able to carry it all for you! The same God that created the world with mere words is walking alongside you and ready to take on your troubles. He is there to take up our collection of earthly troubles and exchange it for perfect peace!

Isaiah 40:28-31 (EHV)
Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God.
He is the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired, and he will not become weary.
No one can find a limit to his understanding.
He is the one who gives strength to the weak,
and he increases the strength of those who lack power.
Young men grow tired and become weary.
Even strong men stumble and fall.
But those who wait for the LORD will receive new strength.
They will lift up their wings and soar like eagles.
They will run and not become weary.
They will walk and not become tired.

We are all being called upon to wait on the Lord. It isn't an easy task to sit back and wait, but look at what happens when we do. We will receive new strength. We will soar. And look what doesn't happen. We will not become weary. We will not become tired. Cast your burdens to him who alone has the strength to carry us all through this trouble.

Where Do You Look for Help?

Psalm 121 (EHV)
I lift my eyes to the mountains.
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot stumble.
He who watches over you will not slumber.
Yes, he who watches over Israel will not slumber.
He will not sleep.
The LORD watches over you.
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun will not strike you by day,
nor the moon at night.
The LORD will watch to keep you from harm.
He will watch over your life.
The LORD will watch over your going and coming
from now to eternity.

There is no denying it. We are living through an unprecedented time right now. The virus that has taken over the world is taking over our daily lives too. In America we are bracing for the impact this sickness could have on our country. We are watching the countries that have gone before us and using their information to try and lessen the impact COVID-19 has on our population. The unknown of all of this can be very scary.
Where do you find yourself going to get the answers to the unknowns? In the beginning I found myself looking at the news stories that were being fired off constantly by the media. What major event was being canceled now? How many cases were we looking at in our area? But really all these stories are telling us is what people think is happening now, not what the future holds.
Do you find yourself endlessly scrolling social media to see how others are responding? Are you looking to your peers to help direct your decisions in this time of seeming disaster? Yet the feeds of other people are merely a reflection of our society at the moment not a clear cut answer to what the future holds.
Perhaps you find yourself looking to the government for answers and direction. It is no doubt the government's job to help lead us as a nation. To set in place policies that will hopefully help guide its people through these uncharted waters. Our elected officials are trying to do their best, but they don't have the all of the answers or control.
The psalm tells us exactly where we should be looking for help. We can look to the LORD, the Maker of the universe, for our help. Our heavenly Father not only knows what we are experiencing right now, he also knows how all of this will end. He has the answers that we are searching for. Our loving LORD will boldly protect us in all circumstances including this time of sickness and instability.
I have found that in difficult times the devil doesn't have to work very hard to get me to look for answers in all of the wrong places. To combat this temptation, I like to surround myself with God's promises. Think of the words of Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (EHV) "These words that I am commanding you today are to be on your heart. Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates." Hang scripture around your home. Read Christian books and publications. Listen to Christian music. Share God's promises with those around you. Look to the LORD and not to your fears.
Let's place our hope in the almighty God who is strong to save. Let's point others to the one who does have all of the answers!

Round Two of Taxol

This week Tuesday I went in for my second round of the chemo drug Taxol. All of my lab numbers looked great. What a blessing to have my body rebound so well from these treatments. This time a dear friend from 8th grade and high school came to sit with me. It was so great to be able to catch up and chat. The four hours that I was in the chair went by so quickly. She also was able to give me an oncology massage as we sat there as well as thoughtful cards and gifts from classmates. My parents were at the home front while I was at the cancer center and also helped out for a few extra days. I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the various ways people have been helping us out during these months.
All went well with the infusion and I have been feeling fairly well in the days following. I do have the joint aches again and a bit of fatigue. Thankfully I have yet to have any of the nephropathy that many have with Taxol. And I still am the proud owner of 10 fingernails and 10 toenails.

Some have inquired of how I feel with all that is going on in our world and Clovid-19. I probably am at a bit of a higher risk with my treatment affecting my immune system. However, I am reminding myself that the same loving heavenly Father who has been with us on my breast cancer journey is with us now. He continues to look over us and want what is best for us. Our family will continue with the extra hand washing and clothes changing and trying to limit the amount of germs I am exposed to. We will move forward in faith, prayer, and trust and try to make wise decisions.

Over Halfway There

The three big kids graduated from CLIMB. It was a wonderful program that they all loved.

On Wednesday I received my fifth of eight rounds of chemotherapy. The remaining rounds we are changing things up to the drug Taxol. I am on a dense dose, which means I will be getting more of the drug over a smaller period of time. I am very happy to report that besides having some fatigue and joint and muscle pain, I have been feeling pretty good. What a wonderful blessing! 

Enjoying snuggles with my "baby."

I am feeling that the end of chemotherapy is in sight. The wonderful spring-like weather we have been enjoying is also a mood lifter for sure!

We have been spoiled with the meals that caring friends have been sharing with us!

My labs have all been looking good, another blessing! I am praying this continues to be the case with the new drug. Also, we are trying this round without the white blood cell boosting drug, Neulasta. The hope is that my body has enough time between doses to maintain its own white blood cell count.

T-Shirt Day at school!

With this entire journey I have tried to turn to the Lord and his plan. This was a Bible passage that has been on my heart the last few days, "A person's heart plans his way, but the Lord makes his steps secure." Proverbs 16:9 EHV None of this was in our plans for this year, but the Lord has carried us and continues to keep his gracious hand over us.