Pleasant Times Along the Cancer Journey

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" --- Psalm 107:1

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The past four months of cancer treatments? ** 

Of course, some days felt dark. Grace-less. Scary. Yet, those often served to make any special, healing times shine like miracles.

Like, the silent reflux worsened (I'll spare you the details), but finally, with just one slippery elm pill daily, it cleared up. No throat or digestive problems and I could return to my full gluten-free diet. Such. A. Miracle.

So much was snatched from me--my health, freedom, regular schedule, choices, desires to do nearly anything normal, etc.,-- so food became important, like the one choice left. That is, once I made peace with becoming gluten intolerant (a test, indeed. Made me grumpy until I began searching online for gluten free foods I liked).

The best thing about chemo days? Their breakfasts and lunches. Soo good. Really. The gluten free vegetable lasagna--wow.

Facebook became a huge encouragement and I discovered, more than before, who is in 'my village'. I'd put out my prayer requests and friends quickly responded. They rejoiced with me over my victories, sympathized with my difficulties and left kind words and help in Messenger. 

These encouragers were my connection to the outside world and oh-so appreciated. 

Speaking of Facebook, here are 3 short posts I shared-- 

For fellow lovers of books: Yesterday sitting next to a woman (my age), I asked, "Is that a good book?" and oh my! That opened a door to such a nice conversation. We both preferred morally decent books and shared the types of books we enjoy. It was like speaking to one of you, my friends!

I highly recommend doing this if you find yourself in a waiting situation, etc. It's something I've always wanted to try and am happy I finally did.

Lately? I meet people nearly everyday and can offer them so little, but! I can give them kind words. Compliment their clothing. Or be the tiny waiting room comedienne Or encourage the lab techs to appreciate their youth or thank the wheelchair pushers for their kindness or have conversations with folks who look sad, etc. Our words can change lives and may I never forget that no matter how tired I'm feeling.

Must thank you again for your prayers! I returned to the chemo room for a Keytruda and magnesium treatment and for the first time, ever, I walked up there by myself, no wheelchair needed. Three hallways and an elevator! And my legs no longer feel like they are someone else's faulty ones.

What a miracle and a reminder that many trials are for a season and not to be viewed or feared as lasting forever.

Thanks again to each of you!

Then there was the beautiful 'Doctor Zhivago Woman' in the waiting room. Around my age, she wore full make-up (none of the rest of us did), a beautiful winter outfit and a long, silver ponytail. What a delight each time I saw her (of course I complimented her that first time.).

In fact, I became good at sharing compliments, but only if I truly meant them. You know, so to be genuine.

One time, a doctor alone in the long hospital hallway as I searched for a restroom asked, "Looking for freedom?" (I still smile about that.)

My neighbor, Sue, did our laundry. Tom drove me all those many miles, for months, over the Buffalo thruway and also, washed hundreds of dishes. Naomi often cleaned our kitchen while we were at appointments. Our carpet guy (who'd not been here in years) only charged half. A friend sent me a pot with a tiny rose bush, another friend baked us brownies and my sister mailed a soothing care package. (See my last post for more kindnesses.)

There was the huge rainbow on the drive home on my birthday, lots of sunny, snowless days, all the Aldi deliveries to our door and lunch deliveries as well--how wonderful to not need to run out shopping for these, especially on days I felt exhausted.

So there you go--many of the blessings which, to me, felt like miracles in the midst of storms. And always the goodness and protection of Almighty God, Himself. He is so good.

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** Some of you asked me to share my treatments, so for you, here you go:

External radiation

Internal radiation

Chemotherapy (in case you wondered, yes, I still have my hair. Altho' it is thinner these days.)

MRI's

CT scans

PT scans

Blood transfusions

Keytruda and magnesium treatments (still have those monthly)

Biopsies

... and a port placed in my lower shoulder/chest for IV's and taking blood rather than using my arms. I've come to really appreciate that port.

"If God put a Goliath in front of you, He knows there's a David inside of you."   --- copied

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Finally Checking-In With My Readers. Finally. Whew.

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."   ---   Colossians 3:15

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Oh. My. Goodness.

I do apologize for such a long passage of time after my last post. My excuse? Mostly, my entire life changed.

For months my head consistently was all jet-lagged. I felt like doing nothing. Really, nothing. And oh dear, I could barely walk. Remember those three stairs into our kitchen (where I'd stand and encourage Tom)? Some days arriving home from appointments, I could only crawl up those steps, at times, crying.

Not a pretty sight.

Mainly the problem was once-weekly chemo and 5-days-per-week external radiation. They took much out of me.  Other treatments, too. At appointments, often I got pushed around in wheelchairs by kind folks when my walk resembled that of a sad little duck. 

Well, you get it.

The good news? All these weeks later I'm feeling/doing much better. Chemo is over, as are the external radiation days and tomorrow is my final internal radiation surgery (fourth one. Prayers appreciated.). The trips over the wild Buffalo thruway are far fewer. Whew.

I actually feel like washing dishes, cleaning house, reading, cooking, watching Youtube and writing to you. My doctor says the tumor has shrunk a great deal. And I've come away with a much deeper sense of gratitude for God than ever.

So there is my just-checking-in post to let you know I'm still around, improving slowly, and so very grateful for Tom, Naomi and each of you who prayed for me and sent me cards, gifts, Facebook messages and posts, emails, comments here at my blog, etc. 

Thank-you.

Thank-you.

Thank-you.

Every act of kindness encouraged me so much.

I'll write much sooner next time. I promise.

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."   --- Jeremiah 17:14   (oh, how often I've meditated upon this verse!)

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Oh, and on December 1st, my mother passed away. She was 87 and ready for Heaven and being reunited with my dad, relatives and many friends--- and that is a comfort.

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And here are some videos you may enjoy:

Five Dollar Dinners that Help (Check out all Julia's videos for very inexpensive meals, many Mexican ones which are my favorites).  Here's another one: Emergency Budget.

Here's an update for Adventures of A + K.

Ever considered a river boat cruise? Go here.

Wow, I'd never heard of this place! 

I enjoyed listening to this woman in her tiny house.

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Ooooo.... At Niagara Falls in 1910. 

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

Where They Whisked Debra Away In an Ambulance. (Part One)

                                    "Heal me and I shall be healed."

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(If you can't handle mentions of blood, you may want to avoid this. I am skipping a hundred details, though.)

Oh dear. Lately I'd wished for an adventure and yikes! I got a huge one.

Thursday night around 7:00 (Gross Alert) I awoke to discover I was bleeding like horror movie crazy (well...). Felt dizzy, too. Somehow I made it safely down the stairs, laid on the kitchen floor and spoke words to Tom I thought I'd never say:

"Tom. I need an ambulance." 

He'd fallen asleep in his recliner, but he pulled himself together, made the call, and yelled for Naomi down the stairs. Then they both did 50 little things for me to prepare me to go. 

Eventually the ambulance arrived, they placed me in a rolling chair then took me out into the dark, cold night. Tom rode in the front and Naomi followed. Have you ever ridden in an ambulance? Picture yourself inside a toolbox being shaken and the rattling! Oh my.

At the local hospital they changed me out of my bloody nightgown, asked bunches of questions and said I needed a blood transfusion. Over the night they gave me 3 bags of blood. Oh dear.

But that continued in a different hospital! This current one had no ob gyn services so yes, another ambulance ride, this one longer, over to Buffalo. And there I stayed until Sunday afternoon. Tons of adventures over those days and so many kind, helpful people (and so many Hallmark movies and episodes of NCIS. heh.)

Yet I felt peoples' prayers and such grace and peace. And you know? I even loved the MRI. Had a mild sedative and they wrapped me in soft, warm blankets, I closed my eyes, and felt so loved.

So that's a sign of how things tended to go those days, but yeah, a couple parts were hairy-rough. One was a scariest moment, ever, but even Jesus turned that around. (More later.)

And that's enough for today, except I ended up being diagnosed with cervical cancer, around 1B. But again! Jesus has given me such peace and I truly do feel everything is gonna be ok.

Thanks for your prayers!

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Oh, and my mom is in hospice. Please pray for our whole family, ok? Thanks so much.

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15