The very next day after getting the power port installed, I went for my first chemo therapy treatment. The doc said a new study was out that said breast cancer has better results without the Adriamycin, so my chemo regimen was cut down to four treatments, (one every three weeks) instead of eight. Yippee!
I heard a story awhile back about a couple who bought a house. There was a young tree by the front sidewalk. The wife, thinking 'trees; shade and comfort', started nurturing the tree. She watered it, fertilized it, and mulched it. It just looked worse and worse. One day when they came home, the husband thinking 'trees = leaves and work', reached down and pulled the tree out of the ground. The wife said, "What are you doing?! I've been babying that tree, trying to get it to grow! He replied, "I wondered why it wouldn't die. I've been spraying Round-up on it." That's where I'm headed now. Some nurture me while others poison me. I'm just glad no one can pull me up by the roots, because my roots are anchored in Jesus.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
ANOTHER GREAT GIFT
Well, you might know it! After all the surgeries, tests, and doctors visits, I started getting 'letters' from all of them telling me how much money I owed! Doctor bills started coming in a steady stream. Of course, 'blessed insurance' is great; after the deductible. But what do you do till then? Just pay the fiddler, baby! Money came in from several sources; friends, churches, and one very special contributor, Cassie, our baby daughter. She had some money put back, and she brought it to me, and said, "I want to help you. I know you would do it for me, if I needed it, and you had it. So I have it, and you need it. I want to help." So, once again, love came through in a tangible way. Exactly enough came in to pay the deductible for 2007, and again for 2008. And once again, all the hairy, scary details are falling into place. God is good. All the time.
MORE TOOLS FOR THE FIGHT
Valentine's Day. A day for romance, right? The plan was, to get my power-port installed, and then Eugene and I were going out for supper, just the two of us. Well, what is it they say about the 'best-laid plans of mice and men. . . ?
To start with, I couldn't have my morning cappuccino, because I was having 'surgery' with anesthesia, about 11a.m. Secondly, there was a large backlog of patients there, because of an ice storm/power outage delaying treatments and tests for the last two days. We got there early, got checked in, and the the wait began. We waited, and waited, and waited some more. I kept thinking "I'm in the wrong place for surgery. What am I doing in radiology, for surgery?" Usually, it's my husband who is fretting over delays. But not today. We traded personalities today. He was cool as a cucumber, waiting patiently, all day. I was a fretting whine-bag. I paced the floor. I asked 'How much longer?' Then I read a magazine, and paced some more. Finally, they got me back into a curtained room, and on my own cot about 3 p.m. After another while, the nurse came in and gave me a shot of antibiotics and some 'don't care' sedative. After the medicine had time to kick in, they rolled me back to the ex-ray room. What? Ex-ray! For surgery? When I asked why I was in ex-ray for surgery, they said, 'This isn't surgery, it is a radiology thing. We do this procedure in ex-ray all the time.' So, they started in, telling me that this would be a little sting, and rubbing disinfectant and stuff. After they started poking and stinging and whatever else, (I was answering them back, for crying out loud!), she asked me if I was doing okay, and I said, "I'm still caring!" She laughed and gave me more sedative, and I was out. No one had told me how painful this installation of power port would be; only how wonderful the power port would be in the long run. And it was wonderful in the long run. It saved me a lot of needle pokes in the next few months. But the delay, along with the extra 'don't care sedative' cost me my romantic supper. I tried drinking juice and water, then eating soup, then half a banana, and lost it all. So we went home to bed and some pain meds, and hoped for a better day tomorrow; which, of course, came with the sunrise, and a good sweet cappuccino!
To start with, I couldn't have my morning cappuccino, because I was having 'surgery' with anesthesia, about 11a.m. Secondly, there was a large backlog of patients there, because of an ice storm/power outage delaying treatments and tests for the last two days. We got there early, got checked in, and the the wait began. We waited, and waited, and waited some more. I kept thinking "I'm in the wrong place for surgery. What am I doing in radiology, for surgery?" Usually, it's my husband who is fretting over delays. But not today. We traded personalities today. He was cool as a cucumber, waiting patiently, all day. I was a fretting whine-bag. I paced the floor. I asked 'How much longer?' Then I read a magazine, and paced some more. Finally, they got me back into a curtained room, and on my own cot about 3 p.m. After another while, the nurse came in and gave me a shot of antibiotics and some 'don't care' sedative. After the medicine had time to kick in, they rolled me back to the ex-ray room. What? Ex-ray! For surgery? When I asked why I was in ex-ray for surgery, they said, 'This isn't surgery, it is a radiology thing. We do this procedure in ex-ray all the time.' So, they started in, telling me that this would be a little sting, and rubbing disinfectant and stuff. After they started poking and stinging and whatever else, (I was answering them back, for crying out loud!), she asked me if I was doing okay, and I said, "I'm still caring!" She laughed and gave me more sedative, and I was out. No one had told me how painful this installation of power port would be; only how wonderful the power port would be in the long run. And it was wonderful in the long run. It saved me a lot of needle pokes in the next few months. But the delay, along with the extra 'don't care sedative' cost me my romantic supper. I tried drinking juice and water, then eating soup, then half a banana, and lost it all. So we went home to bed and some pain meds, and hoped for a better day tomorrow; which, of course, came with the sunrise, and a good sweet cappuccino!
FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE
About three weeks after the hysterectomy, I went to the oncologist to get the final plan for chemical warfare on this enemy. He explained it all and actually repeated the plan which had been put before me by the surgeon and the other oncologist from St. Louis. I was beginning to feel comfortable about the plan of action, since all the doctors were in agreement.
The doc sent me over to the hospital to get an ECHO cardiogram and blood work to make sure my blood counts were healthy and my heart was good to go, as one of the chemo drugs can damage the heart, if it isn't strong to begin with.
I laid there and watched my own heart beating faithfully, those supple little valves flapping back and forth, and was amazed at how well God made us. Those little parts of our body just keep on going, and we take them for granted, and really make them work. I remembered a friend who had died recently after a long illness, and I thought, "That's what takes us so long to die of disease, because God made us so well in the first place." We truly are "Fearfully and wonderfully made," just like the Bible says.
The doc sent me over to the hospital to get an ECHO cardiogram and blood work to make sure my blood counts were healthy and my heart was good to go, as one of the chemo drugs can damage the heart, if it isn't strong to begin with.
I laid there and watched my own heart beating faithfully, those supple little valves flapping back and forth, and was amazed at how well God made us. Those little parts of our body just keep on going, and we take them for granted, and really make them work. I remembered a friend who had died recently after a long illness, and I thought, "That's what takes us so long to die of disease, because God made us so well in the first place." We truly are "Fearfully and wonderfully made," just like the Bible says.
GIFT OF LOVE
In early February, I stopped by Beth's house, and she had gotten her long beautiful hair cut. I asked if she had given it to Locks of Love, because a friend of hers had done that before. She said, "No, it wasn't long enough." Then she handed me a box and said "I have an early Valentine's gift for you." I opened it, and it was her hair, all wrapped in bands, just like they do for Locks of Love. Tears came to her eyes, and she said, "I just thought that if you have to lose your hair, it might mean something for you to wear mine. " Then tears came to my eyes, and I was speechless. It was a very touching moment. Beth's primary love language surely must be giving gifts, as she does it in such a moving way.
I did research about having a wig made, as I would need one in a few weeks. But it turned out that we would need much more hair, and it was very expensive to have one made from real hair. Also, real hair wigs are much more high maintenance. So, I put the hair in a shadow box with Beth's picture, to remind me of her gift of love.
I did research about having a wig made, as I would need one in a few weeks. But it turned out that we would need much more hair, and it was very expensive to have one made from real hair. Also, real hair wigs are much more high maintenance. So, I put the hair in a shadow box with Beth's picture, to remind me of her gift of love.
CATCHING A WHOPPER!
When the wraps came off after my hysterectomy, I discovered I'd been sewn up with a fishing line in a running stitch! The doc had twirled the loose ends around and taped them to my stomach. When I left the hospital, he said "Now be sure and don't be hanging that fishing line on any door knobs." The thought made me cringe! In a few days, the nurse removed it by untaping the ends and pulling it straight out with one big long swish! That was easy! I didn't even have time to say "Ouch!"
I guess since I've been stitched up with fishing line, my husband thinks he has caught himself a big wh0pper!
I guess since I've been stitched up with fishing line, my husband thinks he has caught himself a big wh0pper!
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