Sunday, August 30

Today is Mom's 48th birthday! Justin, Allison, and Echo came over this morning and are spending the night. We went to Oakland to the Cornish Manor for lunch and then went caterpillar hunting this evening. My 10 year class reunion was last night and went I got home Dad had shaved Mom's head because her hair was falling out. She's still having some sensitivity on her head around the treatment site, but she doesn't complain. Overall, everything is going very well!

August 28, 2009

I apologize for not keeping up with my posts. It's been a very busy week. Mom continues to take her treatments and is doing well; although, she has been really worn out which is one of the side effects of the radiation. We were sitting together on the swing yesterday evening and noticed that her hair is beginning to fall out around the radiation site. She's also experiencing some discomfort there, as well. After Dad went to work and we had dinner, Mom and I went for a walk with Axle in search of caterpillars. With school being back in session, many Science lessons begin in the fall with the metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies. After unsuccessfully search around our house we decided to take a drive. It was an interesting adventure, as we took off just after 8:00. It soon became dark and there we were, with our flashlight driving down a dirt road in search of monarch caterpillars. She was on the lookout for milkweed and when she'd see it, I'd slow down and shine the flashlight. We were able to locate four and I took them to school today. I hope spotlighting caterpillars isn't illegal.

Today was her thirteenth of thirty treatments, so we're nearly halfway there! Thank you to all of you who have volunteered to take Mom to her appointments and treatments. Also, thank you to all of you who continue to show your concern and generosity by preparing meals, mailing cards, sending flowers and gifts. We have been very blessed by good friends and good food!

On a daily basis I am asked several times how Mom is doing. As I provide updates I always tell about her positive attitude to which people respond, "I think that's half the battle." Isn't that half the battle with anything we struggle with. Throughout this whole ordeal I've been made aware of how blessed we truly are each and every day. With all these blessings, why shouldn't we have a positive attitude. With the beginning of a new school year, and a new perspective, I've seen how a positive attitude can be contagious to an entire group of people. Our county and my school are under new administration and each teacher has a new group of students and parents. The environment has been dramatically different, at least from where I'm standing, and I see how each person plays an integral part in the overall attitude of the school. Teachers have the fortunate opportunity to get a fresh start each fall with new students, but there is no reason that each and every one of us can't wake up each morning to a fresh start. God has blessed us with a new opportunity and a beautiful day! Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Here's your opportunity for a fresh start. Have a positive outlook on life and know that your attitude, positive or negative, can be contagious. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how far a little kindness will go. And just like the caterpillars, sometimes change can be a beautiful thing!

Thursday, August 20

Treatment continues to go well and Mom has been doing very well. She has been very tired, but we were told that that is to be expected with the radiation. It's becoming a regular habit for her to have an afternoon and/or evening nap. I told her that's how we know the treatment is working! Our refrigerator continues to remain full despite our lack of trips to the grocery store! We greatly appreciate the thoughtfulness of each and every one of you who have made sure that we're not going to go hungry.

Today was my first day back to school. It was wonderful to see so many concerned friends and received hugs and words of love and encouragement. It's unfortunate that it takes something like this to bring people closer together; however, maybe that's just another one of the blessings associated with unfortunate situations. While today was a big boost for me emotionally, I'm going back with mixed feelings. It's going to be hard to be away from Mom and not go to her appointments and treatments every day. On the other hand, having gone through what's happened this summer, I feel better equipped to tackle this school year. Trivial problems at school (or anywhere else) just don't really seem to matter now, seeing "the big picture" putting everything in a much better perspective. God has put me exactly where He wants me to be. It makes me wonder what he was subtly trying to tell me that I wasn't hearing. I often think of Jonah and how loud and clear God's message was to him. Is this the whale that God sent to swallow you? Just something to think about.

One last thing, just to satisfy my curiosity, I've noticed that the number of views to my site has dramatically increased since I began posting about what's going on with Mom. There's no guest book, but I'm just curious to see how many people are actually keeping up with what's going on via this blog. So if you're reading, drop a comment and let us know! Thanks!

Monday, August 17

Radiation was back on schedule today. Mom's rash and nausea have subsided and everything is going very well. We met with the radiation oncologist, Dr. Jueng, today. He wanted to check on Mom, how she's feeling and to see if she had any questions about her radiation. Her hair is growing in nicely and will soon be long enough to cover the scars. We had dinner tonight provided by Linda Sanders, then had some crafting time. Dad's on midnight shift tonight and tomorrow night, so Mom's sleeping with me. I really hope the nausea medication is doing it's job.

We have been thoroughly impressed with all the doctors, nurses, and staff at the hospital and Cancer Center. Everyone has been wonderful. Especially the delightful man who attends to the parking booth. His job is to direct people to their location and hand out parking passes. He is so friendly! Each day when we pull up, he greets us like we're his best friends. When I tell him we're going to the Cancer Center he says, "God bless you, folks" and today he told us that he's praying for us. How many lives does he touch each and every day? And what a way to minister to others! Maybe we don't sit in a parking booth and see car after car filled with people, but all of us encounter others in some way or another throughout our day, and how are we ministering for Christ?

Friday, August 14

We had an unexpected appointment with Dr. Torres yesterday morning due to Mom's reaction. He was quite concerned with the rash on her arms and legs, and changed her anti-nausea medication in hopes that that was the cause. He told us that it would be much easier to change that instead of having to explore a different form of chemotherapy. So far, it's looking pretty good with the exception that the two new anti-nausea medications aren't as strong as the former one. The rash has cleared up and doesn't seem to be coming back; however, Mom's been sick already twice this morning and has been sleeping on the couch most of the day. I guess that's the tradeoff for not having an allergic reaction and thankfully, it seems that we'll be able to stick with the same chemo medication and just change the anti-nausea ones.

The Cancer Center called this morning and cancelled her radiation today because the machine wasn't working. We'll resume treatments again on Monday. Please continue to remember us in your prayers as we get through this treatment. Thanks for your continued support and concern!

Wednesday, August 12

We had our second radiation treatment today, but Mom is having some sort of reaction to what we are assuming is the chemo drug, so she's not taking it tonight and has to meet with the oncologist tomorrow morning. We had a lazy morning and went to radiation today, had dinner, and then stopped in to visit Justin, Allison, and Echo for a little while. When we got home Mom was pretty tired, so she took a nap. She had a bit of a headache this evening but that subsided before she went to bed. Overall, she's been feeling pretty good. Aside from the rash and the headache, she hasn't had any other side effects yet.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated. That's what has gotten us this far and what will carry us until the end.

Wednesday, August 12

Mom started her chemotherapy on Monday evening and had her first radiation treatment yesterday. So far she has been feeling alright aside from a rash on her arms and legs. We're going to get that checked out when we go back for the treatment today. I'm trying to think back on our week to determine if anything is worthy of talking about. The kind people at the plant are spoiling us with their good meals! Our refrigerator is full and we're well-fed. Axle's polecat perfume has finally faded enough that it is only detected when it rains. Lucky for us it rained yesterday!

Since Mom's treatments didn't begin on Monday, she and Dad helped me paint my classroom! The work went much faster than had I tried to go at it alone. We had a good time listening to good music and just painting. Sometimes it's important to do thoughtless tasks to let your mind wander. I was once told that it is good for your mind to do things like that, for example, when you're driving a very familiar stretch of road, and you awake from your daydreaming and don't really remember driving the trip. The drive home from Michaels on I-68 is that for me. Journaling is also another one of those tasks. Take care of your minds!

I will leave you with this scripture from James 2:26: As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. What works can you do for others in the name of The Father today?

Wednesday, August 5

There has been a lot going on for us this week and I haven't been as diligent about posting as I should be. Our family has suffered a loss in the passing of John Jenkins and we celebrated his life yesterday. It was a nice few days of seeing family and friends that I haven't seen for a while; however, I have been thinking since that it's a shame we wait until a death to get together with one another. We seem to enjoy the company of one another so much, yet it's generally only when we're attending a funeral that we make getting together a priority.

Mom's battle with cancer has awakened me to many things, one being the value of building meaningful relationships with others. I guess I never realized how each and every one of us holds the potential to be instrumental in the lives of others. I'm not talking about anything earth-shattering, but just sitting down and not being so absorbed in ourselves long enough to listen to someone else. Mom, Allison, and I attended an event at the Cancer Center on Monday evening called "Look Good Feel Better." The program is sponsored by the American Cancer Society in partnership with cosmetologists and various cosmetic manufacturers. Each patient who attended was given a make-up bag filled with products and together these ladies were shown tips and techniques to applying makeup. There was a specific emphasis on cleanliness and ways to prevent the spread of germs during treatments. There were 13 ladies in attendance, with various types of cancer and in different stages of treatment. Some came with friends or family members, while others came alone. It was a wonderful program, but as I sat there I couldn't help but wonder how many of these ladies may be fighting their battle alone. Later, Allison and I talked that we feel so blessed that we have the support of so many friends and family members as we're going through our battle. Cancer aside, how many people in our lives are fighting some type of battle alone? This comes back to building meaningful relationships and extending ourselves to others. I've seen the wonderful things people are doing for our family and it is so touching, and now I encourage each of you to make the time to nurture a relationship with someone else.

Saturday, August 1

Sorry, all. I had every intention of posting yesterday evening after we got home, but just got busy and didn't get around to it until now. The appointment with Dr. Jueng went fine and we're scheduled to begin radiation treatments on August 10. Dr. Jueng told on Friday that she will get the 6 week (30 treatment) dose of radiation. The chemo will begin the night before, and as I think I've said before, it's just a pill that she will take in the evenings before bed. We have to go back to see Dr. Jueng one more time on Thursday before beginning treatment for a simulation and measurements. Continue to pray that all goes well with this final stage of treatment and we'll soon be well on our way to a full recovery!

My devotion for today seems very appropriate for everyone! How many times have you heard someone say, "All I can do is pray"? All I can do is pray?! You might as well say to a starving man, "All I can do is offer you food," or to a sick person, "All I can do is give you medicine that will make you well." Praying unlocks the doors of Heaven and releases the power of God. James 4:2 says, "You do not have because you do not ask." The Bible says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God" (Phi. 4:6).

This is true not only for our needs, but the needs of others. So often our prayers focus only on ourselves. But God wants to use us, through our prayers, to touch the lives of other people as well. For whom should you be praying this day?