Sorry for the delay in blogging. Life has been busy. This blog post was started on December 4, 2022 and finished on December 20, 2022. 😳
It states in 1 Thessalonians 5:18a "in everything give thanks..." And so, as I continue on this journey, I try to give my Savior & Lord thanks for the good and the not so good. As you know, it's much easier to acknowledge good things and show gratitude than it is to when everything is crumbling around you. I'm learning that it's all in your attitude. When my attitude isn't what it should be, I am not a great person to be around!!! And I need a lot of prayer and an attitude adjustment!!! I hope over the past weeks, you took a few moments to thank the Lord for the many blessings in your life and I pray that you will continue to do that daily!!!
My doctor appointment was early on Thursday, November 17. It was a short and sweet appointment, and she was pleased with my numbers and how my lungs sounded. I wasn't as pleased with my CA-125 number. It only went down to 287 which was about 20 points from the end of October, but I was hoping for a bigger drop. Maybe next time. After my appointment, I headed up to the infusion floor and waited to be called back to my lovely chair.
After I got hooked up, I had a cup of tea and relaxed a bit. I had just finished my drip of Avastin when suddenly, the fire alarm went off. And it's quite loud and annoying. We were told it was not a drill and we would need to evacuate the building. YIKES!!! They nurses worked quickly to unhook everyone from their various treatments. Once I was unhooked, I grabbed my coat, handbag, and backpack and headed to the emergency exit. We walked down the three flights of stairs and headed through the lobby, out the front door and onto the little island across the street. As I didn't see flames shooting out the windows or roof, I figured it was some sensor that picked a really bad time to go bad. Of course, it was a very cold day, and I was sure glad I put on my coat. Finally, the firemen gave us the all clear and then we all had to make our way back into the building and get to our various floors and appointments. Thankfully, I could take the elevator back to the third floor.
I think the worst side effect this time around is the constant fatigue. Sometimes I push through and sometimes, I take a nap. However, I'm thankful that my employer has changed my hours and allowed me to work 5 hours a day/4 days a week. And I have every Friday off!!! WooHoo!!! And my sister's employer offered her the same type of schedule, so we both have Friday off!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!! And, to top it off, my employer was just named one of the top 5 places to work in Alabama. Way to go Adtrav!!!
The week following Chemo 2A was Thanksgiving. We decided to do something we had never done before. We ordered a complete dinner from Cracker Barrel. We picked it up the day before, popped it in the fridge, and just had to reheat most of the items on Thursday. It wasn't exactly what we usually have, but it was good and for a dinner that was listed as serves 4-6, we got 6 dinners for 3 plus an extra turkey sandwich! Gobble, gobble!!! And guess what? We ordered Christmas dinner from Cracker Barrel again. Prime Rib ... yum!!!
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| Pumpkin Roll from Wegman's |
December 1st was Chemo 2B. Of course, I had done the required labs (urine test) on Tuesday, received the results on Wednesday and knew I was good to get chemo on Thursday. After dropping my sister at work in Philly, I went right to MDA and waited for them to call me back to my chair. Again, they wanted to take more blood, but after speaking with my doctor and the nurse at my appointment, they advise if it happens again, to have them call and verify that I did not need to have blood drawn. So, I waited for them to contact my doctor. Finally, I was called back to my chair. They reached my doctor and she advised that although it is their protocol, at least for me, I would not require blood work before my "B" treatment. My wonderful nurse, Amanda, advised that she put that info in my chart and hopefully, I would not have to wait again. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!
And guess what??? I had an uneventful day ... finally!!! I finished my infusion before noon, set up my schedule for Chemo 3A & B, and went home for some lunch and a nap.
As I now approach treatment 3A, I'm so thankful for so many people and so many experiences over the past month. From the beautiful message at Hope Community Church Ladies' Christmas Event, "A Weary World Rejoices," to singing with many choir friends at the Sage Christmas Banquet at Fellowship Alliance to the Sunday Advent message series at Hope, "Missing Christmas." I'm reminded in this season that we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ; we do live in a weary world - COVID, RSV, flu, inflation/recession, broken relationships, job stress, and the list goes on and on. I know I'm weary of this cancer journey. How on earth could I or anyone rejoice? Like gratitude, rejoicing is more than just being happy. Recently, I've been thinking a lot about joy. In fact, in this past Sunday's Advent message was on Joy. Bible Project was quoted,
"Joy is an attitude God’s people adopt, not because of happy circumstances, but because of their hope in God’s love and promise. The joy of God’s people is not determined by their struggles, but by their future destiny. Christian joy is a profound decision of faith and hope in the power of Jesus’ own life and love."
If you'd like to watch the entire video about joy from Bible Project, please click on the following link:
Watch: Joy (Chara) Advent Word Study Video | BibleProject™
As you gather with family & friends during the Christmas holiday, I truly pray that you can find true joy, hope, love, and peace that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can provide.
When I first started this post, several weeks ago, I heard this song and it got me thinking about being a thanks giver. I'm hoping you'll be a thanks giver and a joy giver, too!!! The song is by Crowder.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come!!!
Only by His Strength,
Sandy
