Before The Fog Sets In

I thought I would write and get you update before I slip into the chemo fog. I can feel it coming.

I've completed my third chemo treatment. Jim says I'm half way done. I told him until I get through the difficult days ahead, I will not be half way done. Probably, by Tuesday I can say I've gone through three, and have three more to go. My dear friend Jean knows how I am feeling. She prays for me faithfully and sometimes emails me her prayers. I love what she prayed for me this week, "Lord, I wish we could just jump time and land on the other side of this chemo but You don’t allow us to do that and You know it all. Help! Help us trust in that, in You." Amen my sister, amen!! How I wish I could jump forward.

I thank you all for your prayers. It gave me such strength to even step into that chemo room. I had a sweet experience on Wednesday. I heard some noise out front and just thought it was our neighbors. Our dog Jasmine was restless so I decided to look. Out front, sitting on our front lawn, my friend Theressa with her three kids were beginning to pray for me. Deena was on her way to join them. Well, I couldn't just watch, I had to join them. There is such power in praying together. I probably couldn't even tell you what they prayed, but I went into my house with a big smile on my face. It was just what the doctor and God ordered.

I was able to get a few hours of sleep Wednesday evening, even with the steroids. I took some Benedryl because I have been getting a rash on my face and chest right after my chemo treatments. I thought it might help me sleep and prevent the rash. It helped a little.

Kellie took me to my appointment. I think she is becoming their favorite visitor. She made the chemo nurses and staff hash brown potatoes for their breakfast. She also told them she already has the menus picked out of what she is going to make them for the remainder three treatments. She loves to cook and she knows how to make sure I'm going to be taken care of. We've introduced her as my cousin, but they continue to call her my sister, we've stopped correcting them. No matter what our titles, our hearts are connected. At the end of the day that's all that matters.

The strange thing for me is what they continue to call me. My legal name is Teresa (pronoused Tur-ray-sa), but they don't pronouce it the correct way. I have never been called that my whole life. I normally would tell them it's Traci but there was a big confusion when they were trying to get my mammogram results. They kept asking for Traci's results and they kept telling them a Traci hadn't been in, so it delayed my results until they called me and we figured out what was happening. I decided not to make things confusing and just write down Teresa. The funny thing was that I told Jim that I was tired of hearing Teresa called. He then asked me, "Who is Teresa?" I said, "Me, silly." We had a good laugh.

Last night I did well, just a little sleepy. I got a good four hours sleep. Today, I was nauseated more than the last two treatments, but I'm getting through it. Jim's mom was planning on being here today, but Jim's grandmother fell at home and broke her Femur. She had surgery last night. His grandfather had fallen last week and cracked his head open. Jim's mom and his aunts have their hands full. Please keep them in your prayers. I did fine today, and Jim came home early to take me to get my injection. I am now getting four injections of Neupogen. They gave me the first one today, and then sent three more home. They showed Jim how to give them to me. I'm not sure who is more nervous, me or him. Jim says he wants to do it, but his not real good with needles. Tomorrow, will be the true test. Kel kept saying she would come give them to me because she knows how he is with needles. I told her no. We are going to give it a try. If not, I have nurses in the church I can call. We are just hoping the Neulasta was giving me all the side effects and not just the chemo treatments. We will know soon enough.

I'll give you an update on the incision and what the doctors have discussed. They have now agreed NOT to do the VAC treatment. My only disappointment is that I won't have funny stories to share. They have decided on surgically closing the wound before my chemo treatments are completed. The timing will have to be perfect so that my WBC is up and there is enough time before the next chemo treatment. Unfortunately, there is the timing of setting up the surgery with the hospital. I'm assuming it won't get scheduled until after my next chemo treatment. I still have fluid coming out, but it is more like a trickle now - I think the fountain has been stopped up. I am so thankful for my doctors. They are keeping a close watch on the incision and actually call each other to discuss the situation. I know I don't have to be concerned. They want to do the best for me.

Our house is continually being disinfected. Matt has still been sick all week and has had to stay home from school. We try never to be in the same room at the same time (I still wear a mask when I leave our bedroom). Jim and Katie have taken turns eating with one of us. I have such a great family. We also put in an air filter that kills all kinds of germs. Our friends the DeGrotes are independent distributors so Danny came today and set it up. We should have thought of this sooner. We're encouraged that it will do its job and help no one else get sick. Well, it's really just an added bonus to your prayers.

I'll say goodnight with a scripture I got yesterday. It was such an encouragement to me. "In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from the temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears." Psalm 18:6 Right before reading that I just had been crying, as I was praying. I don't believe it was just by chance I was given that verse. He was telling me that He personally heard my cry.

Please know He hears yours too!