Treatment Twenty

Written by Dawn and Alyssa.

Andrew and I arrived a bit early at the Cancer Center yesterday. I went to register while Andrew parked the van and as I had just settled in a chair, I thought I heard my name called. My hearing isn't great right now (an ongoing, separate issue that has gone on for a while called Eustachian tube collapse) and my name often sounds like a rhyming name like John, Shaun, or Tom! But this time it was a call for me, 30 minutes before my scheduled appointment! I had to quickly message Andrew because I'd just told him where I was sitting in the waiting room! 

The appointment went well, and my nurse was lovely and administered the shot slowly, which greatly reduced the burning feeling as the treatment went into my skin. I appreciate that! (and Andrew found us!) We have found that if we arrive earlier, I am often called earlier, especially if other patients are late and my treatment is comparatively quick. Yesterday, we were home by my appointment time! 

I felt quite good yesterday, which was a relief after having a hard week since my last treatments. I don't know why it was difficult specifically, but I was very tired and slept every day. I also was lightheaded, had low blood pressure and had one close call with a fall. These difficulties are likely just that the last 5 months of treatments are wearing me down, but I do find that the double treatments (immunotherapy and chemo on the same day) are more difficult between treatments. Last week my steroid was lowered and my chemo dose was increased - only slightly though. So between all of this, the fatigue does make sense. I just need to remind myself that healing needs rest! 

At my appointment with Dr A last week, we asked him if we could move my treatment appointments to earlier in the week. We’re hopeful that this will help for a better recovery during the week and that perhaps I can attend church more frequently again. I won’t have any treatment next week so I can feel better when we attend my niece Olivia’s wedding, dv. My next treatment will be after Family Day instead.  

🌞Lately I am dreaming of spring days - warmer weather minus snow 😎 and days with less tiredness. I am tired of the tiredness, nausea, lightheadedness, etc., but I'm SO thankful that my side effects have been minimal compared to how they were in 2021/22. We're so humbled and thankful for the positive response to my treatments, as shown by my blood labs, so I keep on keeping on! The Lord has answered our prayers and is carrying us. We feel it. 

Another praise: my other heart number has been in "normal range" for 3 months in a row! We weren't expecting this but were thrilled when it hit "normal" for the first time. But THREE times?! Thank you Lord! (this number was over 5,000 at diagnosis and my heart will never be "normal", humanly speaking, but the Lord has allowed so much healing!)

I am scheduled to have another Echocardiogram later this month and a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist in March. We're praying that the treatments haven't negatively affected my heart and its function.

Thank you all for your continued encouragement, prayers, notes, letters and so much! I received a note in the mail this week - at a time when I was feeling discouraged - and the timing couldn't have been better! This type of thing happens so much and is so beautiful!  💕

Prayer Requests:

1. Praise God that my heart number has been in the normal range for 3 months!

2. Pray for continual patience as I experience weakness and tiredness.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

"Do you see it? You and I are vessels purposely placed in a broken world (for just a little while) so we, and those around us, can know the power of God - in spite of the brokenness and heaviness around us. So take heart, Child of God. You are not meant to bear the weight of brokeness or to numb yourself to it. The brokenness and heaviness of heartache around you (and sometimes inside you) is not a problem for you to figure out to fix. 

Instead, the broken world you experience is an opportunity for you to be a vessel of hope in a way that only one who knows this world is not home can be. You were made to be a conduit of God's power to bear the load. Not crushed, not driven to despair. Not forsaken, not destroyed. If you are in Christ, you have the true treasure that this broken world needs. Let it fill you up, and may it overflow." Excerpt from The Way of The Wildflower by Ruth Chou Simons.