This past weekend after I posted, our family enjoyed a beautiful Mother's Day hike on the Pulaski Trail in Wallace. If you are local or if you are visiting the area, I definitely encourage you to check it out. It's about 2 miles up and 2 miles back with around a 650-foot elevation gain. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sure how well I was going to do. Dan even offered to stay back with me if I needed to turn around. Thankfully, I was able to push through, even though I was pretty winded about three-quarters of the way up. I actually felt really good on the hike overall, and I know it was so good for my body, spirit, and soul to be outside in God's creation.
Monday marked Day 11 of 30 chemo-radiation treatments. Every Sunday, so far, I find myself having to mentally and emotionally prepare for another week and the possibility of increasing side effects.
But Monday also brought a very encouraging surprise.
Mondays are my appointments with Dr. Sharrett, my oncologist. He showed us the comparison between my very first scan and the current one they did before radiation. The techs scan me daily for several reasons, one of which is checking how full my bladder is before treatment - which honestly has become a whole drama story in itself. 😂
But the important part? The tumor is shrinking. The swollen lymph nodes are shrinking too.
Praise the Lord!!!
Seeing that comparison gave me such encouragement and renewed hope. Sometimes when you are in the middle of treatment day after day, it can feel like you are just enduring. To actually see evidence that things are working was such a gift from God.
My mornings this week have definitely been the hardest. I have felt pretty off physically during those early hours, but by afternoon I usually start feeling a little more normal again. Tuesday after IV hydration therapy, I felt noticeably better.
By the end of the week, I think I am finally getting a little better at the balancing act of having my bladder full and my colon empty for radiation. Craig, one of the radiation techs, even gave me a thumbs up when he came to get me from the waiting room while I was sitting there rocking back and forth trying to hold everything together. 😅 Considering how many times I have had to wait an extra 10 minutes on the table, go out into the waiting room and drink more water and wait, or come back later in the day, this feels like a HUGE win!
I am really cherishing weekends right now - the simple joy of waking up and just doing my normal routine instead of carefully timing water intake, trying not to use the bathroom too soon, and making sure I eat enough to take my chemo pills.
The end of the treatment week is definitely the hardest physically as my body reacts more and more to everything. My hip area throbs and becomes painful if I sit too long, but I also get tired quickly if I stay on my feet too much. My fingers are getting sore too, even though I am lathering them with ointments and lotions. It is amazing how much we take our fingertips for granted until everyday things like washing dishes or opening jars become painful.
One symptom I did not expect has been dizziness and moments that almost feel like tunnel vision.
Friday we switched up my usual IV treatment and focused more on nutrients and glutathione support to help clean up and support my liver because I was feeling pretty rough by then. Today I am noticing a difference from it, so I am so glad I have that extra support through my naturopath.
But here is the exciting part…
I am officially halfway through treatment! Just 15 more to go!
This coming Thursday I will also have an evaluation with the radiologist, and there is a possibility they could shorten the total number of treatments a little bit depending on how things are responding. I would definitely be okay with that. 😊
We are also still working on the exciting news I hinted at in last week’s blog post. As soon as everything is ready, I will share more with all of you.
For now, I am trying to balance resting with catching up on some household chores this weekend.
Later today we are attending a celebration of life service for a neighbor and veteran who recently lost his battle with cancer. My heart hurts deeply for his wife, and yet even in the middle of her own grief, she continues encouraging me and wanting to support me.
People really are amazing. God’s love shines through people in ways we can easily miss if we are not paying attention.
I have found myself in awe of God this week and deeply thankful for the many ways He works in our lives - often quietly, gently, and through ordinary moments and people. It makes me wonder how many things I have missed over the years simply because I was too distracted, too busy, or not looking for His hand at work.
It feels especially important right now to keep our hearts tuned to the Lord, grounded in His Word, and aware of His presence so we do not miss the countless ways He touches our lives and pours out His blessings.
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13
If you are walking through a hard season right now - whether it is illness, grief, uncertainty, or exhaustion - I just want to encourage you not to lose heart. Sometimes God’s goodness shows up in the biggest miracles, and sometimes it appears in the smallest moments: a kind word, a helping hand, unexpected strength for one more day, or hope returning right when you need it most.
Keep looking for Him, keep seeking Him. He is there.
“Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things……” — Psalm 119:18
And thank you, again, for continuing to pray for us, encourage us, and walk alongside us through this journey. We feel it more than you know.
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