Week Three...

Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Week three begins! The fatigue is setting in, and I'm feeling a little more "icky" but it's all part of the deal. Today has been the hardest day so far. Loosing your hair is something that you just really can't prepare for, and no matter how much you think you have, it's quite a shock. For me it's not so much a vanity thing, but more of the realization of being a "sick" person. So, this week, I'm praying Psalm 29:11, for strength and peace.

When we met with the oncologist on Friday, they were still unsure if I will need chemo after the radiation is complete. If so, I will get a 6-8 week break, then begin 6-9 months of chemotherapy in Nashville, every-other week. For now, they are doing more research to decide if it is needed.

Thanks to everyone for the continued prayers and support!

Week Two Coming to an End...

This week has been a little more difficult, but I am so thankful for wonderful friends! Even though the fatigue and nausea have been worse, I've had a great support team here to help me. Last week my friend Robin Flowers stayed with me and brought me home for the weekend. Then, this week, I've had Janie Wallace and Brenda McElroy here keeping me cheery and entertained! It has been such a help to the whole family for my mom to get to spend some time at home while they were here with me. Mom is driving down today, however, because we have a follow-up with my oncologist on Friday before heading home. That's about all that's new for now, just looking forward to what another weekend of "normal" at home has to bring! Thanks to those of you who sent cards, flowers, and notes to keep my spirits up this week!

One Week Down... Five to Go

The first week of treatments is over, and I'm feeling as well as can be expected. Very little sickness and just pretty tired. It was nice to spend the weekend doing "normal" things! On Friday night Ryan and Stephanie were nice enough to take me to the Paducah Writer's Group which I love, and Saturday I spent the day being crafty and staging my house. That night Ryan took me to Cracker Barrel with Bridgette and Brandi and we had a great time! Sunday has been a day for church & family and tonight dinner with Millie and Ryan before church.

I've included some pictures of the yummy desserts I made for the 4th of July last weekend!

Thanks again to everyone for their prayers, thoughts, cards and support through this time. I have been so blessed by the outreach from friends, family and complete strangers who have been so helpful and thoughtful through it all. As this week begins please been in prayer that the sickness will continue to subside and treatments will go as easily as they have so far. Thank you all for following along, and I will do my best to update again soon!

First Day of Treatments

Well, we are settled in at the Hope Lodge and I started treatments today. It wasn't too bad, and I'm feeling pretty good! They told me that it would take a few days before I started to feel too sick from the radiaiton, so I'm taking advantage of the good days. :) They have a computer room here so I do have some limited internet access. Other than that, I'm knitting of course!

Today, what is heavy on my heart is the situation in Honduras. Here is an email I received today...
Here is a note from a missionary friend who lives and works in Tegucigalpa. The president has been exiled from Honduras for the past week and claims he will return today:
"Today, the former president Zelaya returns to the capital of Honduras. He has invited mobs of people to "welcome" him, as the interim government threatens him with arrest upon his return. Thus far, this has been a bloodless change of government. But today? I pray for a good outcome. Thousands are camped out at the airport waiting for him. Riot police are there, too. Pray for lives to be spared."
Please join in prayer and email your friends to do likewise. So, as you can see, this is a dangerous situation for everyone.

The saddest part is that when things like this happen, the orphans suffer even more. No one can go and visit the orphanages, and they are often cut off from government support as far as food, supplies, etc. So, these innocent children are suffering even more, as if they don't already have it bad enough. So, for now, prayers are needed for those sweet children in Honduras more than for me. They are the ones suffering today!

A quick update...

So, I still have a blood clot pressing on my optic nerves and some hemorrhaging behind my eyes. We had hoped that a few days in the hospital with blood thinners will cure the problem, but it's taking a little longer than expected. While we had originally hoped to go home by Tuesday, now its looking a little more like late Thursday if not Friday. At least we hope to be home for the holiday weekend!

I'm still set to start radiation on Monday, June 6th and will do 6 weeks of treatment at Vanderbilt. Today I got the markers for the radiation therapy, and tomorrow they will be doing a final scan to verify everything and make sure we're on track to start Monday.

Like I mentioned before, I'll be staying at the Hope Lodge which is a free service of the American Cancer Society, and very nice. Several friends have volunteered to help come and stay with me and take me to treatments so that Mom does not have to be there all the time over the 6 weeks.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, love and support! Hopefully we'll be home for some normalcy on the weekend before starting radiation!