Treatment Seventeen

 Written by Dawn.

We celebrated grandson Trenton's
4th birthday on Sunday.

Today was treatment day again - "only" chemo today. I'm thankful that I wasn't dreading treatment today like I was last week. I still struggle with breathing issues since I had influenza A last month but the healing over the last week has been quite good. I'm hardly coughing now, so sleeping isn't interrupted as much, and I haven't needed to sleep elevated, and my oxygen is staying at proper levels and not dipping like it was. My blood pressure is still dipping so I have to be very careful to avoid falls. 

We celebrated our grandson Trenton's birthday this past week. I found out about Trenton being on-the-way just after I'd had my massive stroke and surgery in August of 2021. Although my stroke recovery was unbelievably good, I'd just began chemotherapy for my amyloidosis and it was very serious. We didn't know if I'd live to meet Trenton but his ultrasound picture hung by my bed and we hoped and prayed that I'd be able to meet him - due January 2022. God not only answered those prayers, he has given me 4 years to know & love on Trenton and he also blessed us with two additional grandsons after Trenton! God is so good and I feel humbled with every day that He blessed me with life. 


I was able to attend church again yesterday morning, after missing around six Sundays! It was SO nice! Looking around and seeing familiar faces and visitors, children who have grown and new babies too!


One of the hymns we sang was "I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace":


“I know not why God’s wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

 

But “I know Whom I have believed

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I’ve committed

Unto Him against that day.”


I know not how this saving faith

To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His word

Wrought peace within my heart.


I know not how the Spirit moves,

Convincing men of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word,

Creating faith in Him.


I know not what of good or ill

May be reserved for me,

Of weary ways or golden days,

Before His face I see.


I know not when my Lord may come,

At night or noon-day fair,

Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,

Or “meet Him in the air.” 


*I've loved this hymn truly since I was a little one! In fact my older sister Cheryl told me she remembers me singing it in the house when I was about 4 and she was a young teenager! 


While we were singing it in our service I recalled my mom marvelling to me, with tears in her eyes, at why God extended His grace to her, to our family. None of us knows, but we are so thankful for God's gift of faith! 

I was also thinking of two believers in our extended church family who were called home to heaven this week. I'm sad for us but happy for them. 


And I thought about chats with my friend Bev as we walked the road of cancer and chemo and all that goes with it - with the assurance of meeting again in heaven. I really miss chats with her (she passed away in 2024), along with the dark humour we sometimes shared, and our trust in the words of Psalm 139:16: "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." 

Bev & I would surmise about where we'd be when the Lord comes again - and we were excited about "meeting Him in the air" one day. Maybe at the same time, at the same cemetery. 

~

So today's treatment was uneventful again and we are very thankful for that! I'm finding that the "only chemo" days are easier than the "chemo & immunotherapy" days. I am sleeping quite a bit more, all week. I'm losing hair which is messy and annoying but it's unlikely that I'll lose it all, and I'm glad about that. Other little side effects, like flaking skin, small styes in my eyes, and sweating and chills. 

Nausea doesn't seem to be as bad as my treatment in 2021/22 but it's there, usually the last few days before the next treatment. My gastro issues are unpredictable but have been nothing compared to 2021/22. Very thankful for that too. 

The biggest struggle for me, aside from the physical struggles is having patience with myself. Knowing when to listen to my body and when to push myself. And the disappointment that comes when I just can't do something. 


Thanks to all of you for keeping us in prayer and encouraging us along this journey. We are so thankful for the healing that we've already seen and praise God for it! 



Photo - a cross-stitch that my sister Melanie made for me years ago. It's become a good reminder for me when I'm feeling discouraged




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