The Journey - Part 12

Update: Radiation is in full swing and I’m happy to report I’ve completed over 1/3 of my 35 treatments! Yeah! Some of the side effects are beginning to make their ugly appearances…mouth sores, loss of taste and appetite. I think the hardest thing I’m dealing with is the loss of taste. Everything that may look and sound delicious instantly turns to a bitter cardboard taste when I put it in my mouth. Blech! It’s a mental challenge to eat…such a foreign concept to me…and hard to fully explain. And I am now to the point of utilizing my stomach tube more often than not. I never realized how important every detail of God’s design in us was. Even to the point of a mere taste bud.

But…I am encouraged! My doctor says I am doing fantastic, and keeping a positive attitude is a huge part of the battle. I am grateful for all of you that are journeying with me. I find peace knowing I am not alone. God, you and me. Thank you.

Cancer is Not for Sissies. They Weren’t Kidding.

What happened in the days following my diagnosis were mostly a blur. Numerous doctor visits, blood work, procedures and scans. We were inundated with a lot of foreign medical jargon…some sunk in, most didn’t. Bottom line: Chemotherapy and radiation treatments would be necessary. “The cancer is aggressive and so will the treatments”—the strongest of medications would be administered.

After a successful portacath surgery the week before, my chemo treatments began on Monday, July 15, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. in Winfield, Kansas. The plan was to make the daily trek, Monday through Friday for one week of treatment—get two weeks off to rest—another week of chemo—two weeks off—then one final round. I was also “hooked up” with a pump that allowed the drugs to be dispensed into my system 24/7 during my treatment weeks. An awkward adjustment to carry around and sleep with, but I made it work. A radiation/chemo treatment combo would follow later.

As week one began, the nurses gave me all of the paperwork explaining procedures, expectations, etc. They got me comfortable in “the chair”, hooked me up and so it began. Each treatment took about 4 hours a day. By the end of day 2 of chemo, my nausea overtook my appetite like an out of control riverbed swelling at its banks. It raged viciously with nausea and vomiting, rendering me sorely dehydrated. I couldn’t make myself eat or drink anything. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and sleep—hoping the pain and nausea would subside. It didn’t. By the end of the week while vomiting in my “chemo chair”, the nurses called my doctor and he fixed me up with a two night hospital stay getting the much needed IV fluids to get me back on track. Thank you, Jesus—finally, some relief! It was then I realized why they have the two week hiatus between treatments. I had to learn the hard way—of course.

Since my first week of treatments had gone so badly, the doctors decided it was wise to have a stomach tube inserted to make certain proper nutrition could be better administered if needed. I was told earlier by my doctors this would probably be needed “down the road”—most likely during radiation treatments. It became obvious, the sooner the better for me. Before I left my 3-day hospital stay on Sunday, I was scheduled the following day for the outpatient procedure. The surgery to insert the stomach tube went well—and by the end of the week I slowly began to get my strength back with a gradual increase in appetite. When I would get discouraged about being tired, my daughter would remind me, “Mom, you’ve had 2 outpatient surgeries, 1 full week of chemo and a 3-day hospital stay all within a week and a half. It’s going to take time.” She was right, of course.

Throughout this week of hardships, I was reminded of Job and his sufferings. In all of his trials, he refused to stop fighting for his life. He refused to stop being faithful. He refused to stop believing God loved him. Job made a choice to continue trusting in God.  He had a relationship that was worth fighting for—one that was faithful—loving—and trustworthy. It was all about the relationship. Father God, I will rest in You.

To be continued…