I had another round of chemo on Tuesday, so now I'm smack dab in the middle of the difficult days following treatment. I spent all of yesterday in bed with what I would describe as a "skullache." It's different from a headache because I actually feel the pain in my bones. My eyes were also sensitive to light, so I tried to sleep as much as possible in my dark room to pass the time. My teeth were hurting again this time around, so I filled up on applesauce, bananas, and the like. I have been fortunate this far to have experienced only one instance of the vomiting that you often hear comes with chemo, but it came back last night and then woke me up this morning. A red bucket is my best friend today.
I am also a little lonely because my daughter Shannon has a cold, so she and her baby girls won't be able to come over for a while since I'm supposed to avoid sick people. Most of the day it is just Mackenzie and me in the house, and we enjoy each other's company, but we've both heard all of each other's stories at least a hundred times! I need fresh ears to appreciate my riveting tales!
All that being said, I miss you! Where have you all gone? When I started this blog, my reasons were many. One of them was a hope that others who experience unexpected suffering could feel encouragement reading along and knowing they were not alone. Another reason was so that I would not feel alone either! I have been blessed by your comments on this blog, cards in the mail, phone calls, and emails - probably to the point where I've taken them for granted. I want you to know how much those small acts serve to lift my spirits and rejuvenate me. The seventeenth-century English writer Joseph Addison is often remembered by this quote, "Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief." You have all done this for me, and especially on these days when I'm feeling a little down in the dumps, I pray that you will continue to do so.
I can't wait to hear from you!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
An end in sight!
We had another oncology appointment with Dr. Segota last Wednesday where we discussed my chemotherapy treatment. She said studies of patients in my position show that they live longest and most comfortably when they receive a limited number of chemo treatments rather than continuing them indefinitely. This is because eventually the detrimental effects on the body outweigh the positive. Medically speaking, curing my cancer is not a possibility, so Dr. Segota wants to stick with the plan that shows the best quality and length of remaining life for patients with stage 4 lung cancer. So after two more cycles, we will stop the chemo, and I will continue to receive Avastin and Zometa, which are drugs that have already been a part of my treatment which inhibit the development of nourishing blood vessels for the tumors and prevent complications from the cancer in my bones, respectively. After my last chemo treatment, which will be June 17, I will undergo tests to gage the current status of my cancer, and these tests will be repeated every three months. If there is unexpected tumor growth, or I show poor symptoms, we would consider repeating chemo. I immediately felt relieved and encouraged to hear there was an end in sight to these chemo cycles. I can't imagine how people deal with the ups and downs of this treatment for years. I have been getting chemo every three weeks, so I've become used to this schedule where I feel awful for the week after treatment and then alright for two, but I am eagerly looking forward to the time when my health will feel more stable.
Discussing finishing my chemo cycles and the limits of medicine again reminded me of God's sovereignty in my life. He is in control of this entire situation, and it may very well be that I do not have much longer to live. I still believe that if God chooses to heal me, He could defy all medical odds and do it, but if He doesn't, I am happy to rest in His plan for me. Taking me home to be with Him in heaven is not exactly a consolation prize to healing me here on earth! It is the ultimate joy, so I have a great peace and in fact a yearning to experience it at the time God has planned for me. Knowing that my cancer is this severe has encouraged me to live more fully in the time I have left on earth, so in that way it has been a great blessing for me. I take little for granted and am thrilled by all the inspiring and even the more mundane aspects of daily living. I feel fortunate that God has given me this time to gain some perspective and live in a more fulfilling way.
The Biltmore Mansion was as impressive as I expected, and we had beautiful weather all weekend. We got to tour the home, vineyard, and gardens. Bob and I found everyone who worked at the Biltmore to be personable and well-spoken and were impressed by their dedication and pride in their jobs. One of my favorite parts was striking up a conversation with a gardner who had worked on the estate for nine years and whose father had held the same job before him for his entire life. He had fascinating stories to share about George Vanderbilt, who had built the mansion, and his family and servants who had lived there with him. I was amazed at how progressive and cutting edge the bachelor Vanderbilt had been when he built this dream home. The entire place was constructed out of concrete instead of the usual wood to prevent fires, but there was also an intricate fire alarm system installed throughout the estate. It was also the first residence in the US to run on electricity and have home telephones. He not only created a home noteworthy for its size, but also for its top of the line and advanced design. As I mentioned last week, Bob had reserved a wheelchair for me so I wouldn't exhaust myself with the tours. We discovered that crowded, unfamiliar tourist attractions are probably not the best places to get accustomed to pushing a wheelchair. We were knocking people over left and right, and while my legs never got tired, I ended up with some souvenir neck pain from Bob's daredevil navigating.
Annabelle and Addison have been able to have some extra sleepovers at Gram's the past few days, and they keep us laughing. The other day Annabelle was curious about all my new hats since I've lost my hair and asked, "Gram, why do you wear those hats all the time? Is it so birds don't poop on your head?" She had no clue why I cracked up, so I explained to her that I hadn't thought of that specific benefit to headwear. She gets to sleep with Gram and Bob when she stays over, and she has taken to wearing a nightcap too to be more like Gram. She is completely adorable.
Memorial Day having just passed, I have to tell you all how proud I am of my son Steve who enlisted in the Navy seventeen years ago. I am so thankful for the selfless service of Steve and the many other military men and women who have taken up this sacrificial profession both now and in past generations.
Discussing finishing my chemo cycles and the limits of medicine again reminded me of God's sovereignty in my life. He is in control of this entire situation, and it may very well be that I do not have much longer to live. I still believe that if God chooses to heal me, He could defy all medical odds and do it, but if He doesn't, I am happy to rest in His plan for me. Taking me home to be with Him in heaven is not exactly a consolation prize to healing me here on earth! It is the ultimate joy, so I have a great peace and in fact a yearning to experience it at the time God has planned for me. Knowing that my cancer is this severe has encouraged me to live more fully in the time I have left on earth, so in that way it has been a great blessing for me. I take little for granted and am thrilled by all the inspiring and even the more mundane aspects of daily living. I feel fortunate that God has given me this time to gain some perspective and live in a more fulfilling way.
The Biltmore Mansion was as impressive as I expected, and we had beautiful weather all weekend. We got to tour the home, vineyard, and gardens. Bob and I found everyone who worked at the Biltmore to be personable and well-spoken and were impressed by their dedication and pride in their jobs. One of my favorite parts was striking up a conversation with a gardner who had worked on the estate for nine years and whose father had held the same job before him for his entire life. He had fascinating stories to share about George Vanderbilt, who had built the mansion, and his family and servants who had lived there with him. I was amazed at how progressive and cutting edge the bachelor Vanderbilt had been when he built this dream home. The entire place was constructed out of concrete instead of the usual wood to prevent fires, but there was also an intricate fire alarm system installed throughout the estate. It was also the first residence in the US to run on electricity and have home telephones. He not only created a home noteworthy for its size, but also for its top of the line and advanced design. As I mentioned last week, Bob had reserved a wheelchair for me so I wouldn't exhaust myself with the tours. We discovered that crowded, unfamiliar tourist attractions are probably not the best places to get accustomed to pushing a wheelchair. We were knocking people over left and right, and while my legs never got tired, I ended up with some souvenir neck pain from Bob's daredevil navigating.
Annabelle and Addison have been able to have some extra sleepovers at Gram's the past few days, and they keep us laughing. The other day Annabelle was curious about all my new hats since I've lost my hair and asked, "Gram, why do you wear those hats all the time? Is it so birds don't poop on your head?" She had no clue why I cracked up, so I explained to her that I hadn't thought of that specific benefit to headwear. She gets to sleep with Gram and Bob when she stays over, and she has taken to wearing a nightcap too to be more like Gram. She is completely adorable.
Memorial Day having just passed, I have to tell you all how proud I am of my son Steve who enlisted in the Navy seventeen years ago. I am so thankful for the selfless service of Steve and the many other military men and women who have taken up this sacrificial profession both now and in past generations.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Weary Bones
I have been feeling the cumulative energy loss from repeated chemotherapy over the past week, and a few days ago I was also feeling pain, which I hadn't experienced in a while. We called Dr. Segota's nurse, and we decided it was time to up my pain medication which solved that problem. It is two weeks after my latest treatment, and the major side effects have worn off except for the tiredness. We had "Fake Mother's Day" on Sunday because most of the family was out of town on real Mother's Day (if you started reading around Christmastime, you'll realize my family has a thing for fake holidays), and I woke up so tired I spent much of the day on the couch while we enjoyed family time. It took a lot out of me just to speak above a whisper. Everyday is not that severe, but I am feeling more overall fatigue.
Bob and I have planned a trip to North Carolina this weekend to see the Biltmore Mansion, which is something I've always wanted to do. I am excited for the vacation, but we've decided it's the last major out-of-towner we'll be planning for a while since my fatigue has increased. Bob has reserved a wheelchair for our tour so I can sit most of the day and relish any special treatment that comes my way because of it!
My sisters and I are trying to finish up the loose ends of settling my parents' estate, which is necessary, but difficult. I still miss them everyday, and sometimes I can feel an actual pain in my chest because of how hard this is on my heart. I have been reminded, though, that I pass on a great deal of my parents' legacy to my kids and grandkids all the time without even realizing it. Yesterday Annabelle wore one of her new Grandma-made outfits to school and when everyone complimented its adorable design, she responded like a well-trained parrot, "Thank you, my grandmother made it." It was a page right out of my own childhood as I remembered my mother drilling that phrase into me, "Thank you, my mother made it."
I've included a picture of Annabelle playing with her Doodle Bug in the outfit so you'll understand why it is so important that I receive credit for the style!
Bob and I have planned a trip to North Carolina this weekend to see the Biltmore Mansion, which is something I've always wanted to do. I am excited for the vacation, but we've decided it's the last major out-of-towner we'll be planning for a while since my fatigue has increased. Bob has reserved a wheelchair for our tour so I can sit most of the day and relish any special treatment that comes my way because of it!
My sisters and I are trying to finish up the loose ends of settling my parents' estate, which is necessary, but difficult. I still miss them everyday, and sometimes I can feel an actual pain in my chest because of how hard this is on my heart. I have been reminded, though, that I pass on a great deal of my parents' legacy to my kids and grandkids all the time without even realizing it. Yesterday Annabelle wore one of her new Grandma-made outfits to school and when everyone complimented its adorable design, she responded like a well-trained parrot, "Thank you, my grandmother made it." It was a page right out of my own childhood as I remembered my mother drilling that phrase into me, "Thank you, my mother made it."
I've included a picture of Annabelle playing with her Doodle Bug in the outfit so you'll understand why it is so important that I receive credit for the style!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Mother Knows Best
I have made it through another round of chemo and am still shocked at the different symptoms each time. Since Mackenzie was out of town, Shannon rearranged her schedule in order to take me to the chemo infusion, and my caring friends Suzi and Norma shared the responsibilities with Bob and Erin of keeping me comfortable in the following days. In fact, Suzi was so committed, she wouldn't leave the house when Erin arrived for her shift - we later found out Suzi has no cable at home and had gotten addicted to our TV. But everyone was very sweet to me and helped me through the hard few days I always have. The strangest symptom this time was that my teeth became loose and actually wiggled! When Erin checked the internet we found that is a side effect of chemo. My teeth are back to normal now, but I was eating only soft foods for a little while. The only residual effect is a metal taste to all my food.
This Mother's Day was a beautiful time of reflection now that the baby of my four children is 23 years old. I have always been so thankful that I was born a woman and get to experience all that comes with it - especially motherhood. But as I thought back on the way each of these four lives began, I realized there is not a single pregnancy I could call convenient. Motherhood - sacrifice, selflessness, unconditional love - begins at an exact moment. The moment you find out you're pregnant. For me, it meant the end of my fairytale life. It meant dropping out of college during my senior year after so much of my parents' money and my own hard work had been poured out to get me a degree. It meant disgrace on my family, a speedy marriage, and a rocky start. Then came Steve - tiny, colicky, constantly crying Steve. I could actually understand those mothers who end up throwing their baby out a window, but God gave me the grace to survive those first few screaming months. The other beginnings were not without complications either. When I was pregnant with Mackenzie, many of my days ended by 9:00am. I got up, my sciatic nerve from my Polio acted up, and I got back in bed.
As I raised four kids, I learned that if you aren't having a major struggle with one of them at the moment, you can trust it's just around the corner. Whether they're throwing their dinner plate on the floor from their high chair, or you're driving around in the middle of the night searching for your teenage runaway, it is a continuous rollercoaster. I often tell the story of waving goodbye to my long haired, pierced-eared Steve as he got on the plane to Marquette University and then falling to my knees and thanking God for sleep away college. I believe the job of parents is to lay down a foundation of love by providing steadfast rules for their children, and their children's job is to try every way they can think of to challenge those rules. During the times of greatest struggle between myself and my kids, I kept in mind that we were both just doing our jobs, and I had to trust in God that at some point we would come out the other side of the battle.
I wish each one of you could meet my long haired, peirced-eared Steve now. He is a buzz-cut, Naval petty officer first class, God-fearing role model of a man. Bob has joked about the way I brag on Steve saying, "Oh right, I forgot, Steve walks on water," but the more he sees of Steve, Bob says he's beginning to believe he really might be able to do anything. Steve spends most of his time on a ship of seamen and doesn't even curse! Can you imagine how rare that is? A sailor who doesn't swear! Beyond that, Steve is consistently at the top of his class, he holds Bible studies, he and his wife have spoken to youth groups about their commitment to abstinence until the day of their marriage, and he is an example of patience and love as he fathers beautiful Emma.
My second-born Erin is also characterized by a selfless commitment to the Lord. She is the picture of a godly woman. It is amazing that in this family of teasing and sarcasm, you will never hear a harsh word from Erin's mouth. She is filled with love and compassion beyond what I can understand. And she has an admirable self-reliant zeal for life. My sweet Erin's hands became lethal weapons when she received her brown belt in karate. She has travelled to Japan, Korea, Europe, and all over the US because she has that great "yes" attitude. But one of my favorite joys in my first daughter is that as she has grown-up, I have found one of my dearest companions who I am always thankful to travel alongside.
My teenage runaway, Shannon, made it through her wild days and settled down with a good husband who is helping her raise two adorable daughters. I'll admit I get great satisfaction when I find her doing the same things with her kids she swore she would never do while she was growing up. I was tickled when she asked me to sew matching outfits for her girls, which was a plague to her existence and the cause of many tears when she and Mackenzie were little. Shannon takes the same joy in being a mother that I do, and I love to watch her hands-on approach with her girls. She and John have erected a butterfly garden and a goldfish pond in their backyard to teach the kids about plants and animals. Shannon loves kids so much, she uses her athletic skills to coach junior high girls' volleyball in the evening. But I am most proud of Shannon on Sunday mornings because I know, without fail, exactly where I'll find her. She and her kids will be in church and Annabelle will have a new memorized Bible verse to tell us in the afternoon.
And then there's Mackenzie - the most obstinate of my children. She calls it headstrong; I call it a pain in the butt. Mackenzie started running this family the day she was born, and she still does. It is not easy raising a kid who is determined to raise herself. Mackenzie was never really a baby and started handling her own life very early on. She is a thinker and a perfectionist. I think she misspelled her first word in the sixth grade which meant she did not get a perfect score. You should all be thankful you were not around for that day of slamming doors. But with this thinking perfectionism comes a great deal of wisdom. Mackenzie makes good decisions, and as she grew up, compassion joined with her wisdom to make her a counselor. She not only gives insightful, Biblically based advice, but she lives as an example. There used to be a joke about getting in tough situations and thinking, "What would Mackenzie do?" I would have never thought with Mackenzie's left-brained approach to life that she would pursue a career in the performing arts, but I knew with her determination she could make it happen. The blessing of motherhood leads to moments like I had last night when Mackenzie was singing How Great Thou Art in church and I wanted to stand up and scream, "That's my daughter!!"
My point is that there will never be a time in a woman's life when a pregnancy is convenient. It means everything you have grown accustomed to will change. You will have to say no to yourself a lot, and you will have to say no to your kids a lot - which can be even harder. But God promises in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." That means he can use a pregnancy like my first, which came from a bad decision at a terrible time, to create an incredible person like Steve who has positively enriched my life and the lives of countless he has met through God's divine purpose. And it means that Steve could fulfill his dream of becoming a father through adopting his marvelous daughter Emma because someone else was brave enough to have her baby at an inconvenient time.
I had the privilege of counseling at Hope Pregnancy Center for a few years, and I found that often it was not just the young girls considering abortion, but it was their parents pressuring them not to have their baby. Pregnancies and trials in parenthood may come to us unexpectedly, but don't believe they are unexpected to God. He has purposefully created each child as a gift whether you can see it that way in the moment or not. The Lord speaks repeatedly in the Bible about children being a blessing to their parents. Believe Him. I am telling you this because I have been through the unplanned pregnancy, the sacrifices, the baby smearing its poop on the wall, the screaming matches, and the other hardships that come with motherhood, and I would not go back and change a thing. I am so thankful for these four utmost blessings God has brought into my life. And frankly, if you know my kids at all, you'll have to admit God and I do pretty good work!
This Mother's Day was a beautiful time of reflection now that the baby of my four children is 23 years old. I have always been so thankful that I was born a woman and get to experience all that comes with it - especially motherhood. But as I thought back on the way each of these four lives began, I realized there is not a single pregnancy I could call convenient. Motherhood - sacrifice, selflessness, unconditional love - begins at an exact moment. The moment you find out you're pregnant. For me, it meant the end of my fairytale life. It meant dropping out of college during my senior year after so much of my parents' money and my own hard work had been poured out to get me a degree. It meant disgrace on my family, a speedy marriage, and a rocky start. Then came Steve - tiny, colicky, constantly crying Steve. I could actually understand those mothers who end up throwing their baby out a window, but God gave me the grace to survive those first few screaming months. The other beginnings were not without complications either. When I was pregnant with Mackenzie, many of my days ended by 9:00am. I got up, my sciatic nerve from my Polio acted up, and I got back in bed.
As I raised four kids, I learned that if you aren't having a major struggle with one of them at the moment, you can trust it's just around the corner. Whether they're throwing their dinner plate on the floor from their high chair, or you're driving around in the middle of the night searching for your teenage runaway, it is a continuous rollercoaster. I often tell the story of waving goodbye to my long haired, pierced-eared Steve as he got on the plane to Marquette University and then falling to my knees and thanking God for sleep away college. I believe the job of parents is to lay down a foundation of love by providing steadfast rules for their children, and their children's job is to try every way they can think of to challenge those rules. During the times of greatest struggle between myself and my kids, I kept in mind that we were both just doing our jobs, and I had to trust in God that at some point we would come out the other side of the battle.
I wish each one of you could meet my long haired, peirced-eared Steve now. He is a buzz-cut, Naval petty officer first class, God-fearing role model of a man. Bob has joked about the way I brag on Steve saying, "Oh right, I forgot, Steve walks on water," but the more he sees of Steve, Bob says he's beginning to believe he really might be able to do anything. Steve spends most of his time on a ship of seamen and doesn't even curse! Can you imagine how rare that is? A sailor who doesn't swear! Beyond that, Steve is consistently at the top of his class, he holds Bible studies, he and his wife have spoken to youth groups about their commitment to abstinence until the day of their marriage, and he is an example of patience and love as he fathers beautiful Emma.
My second-born Erin is also characterized by a selfless commitment to the Lord. She is the picture of a godly woman. It is amazing that in this family of teasing and sarcasm, you will never hear a harsh word from Erin's mouth. She is filled with love and compassion beyond what I can understand. And she has an admirable self-reliant zeal for life. My sweet Erin's hands became lethal weapons when she received her brown belt in karate. She has travelled to Japan, Korea, Europe, and all over the US because she has that great "yes" attitude. But one of my favorite joys in my first daughter is that as she has grown-up, I have found one of my dearest companions who I am always thankful to travel alongside.
My teenage runaway, Shannon, made it through her wild days and settled down with a good husband who is helping her raise two adorable daughters. I'll admit I get great satisfaction when I find her doing the same things with her kids she swore she would never do while she was growing up. I was tickled when she asked me to sew matching outfits for her girls, which was a plague to her existence and the cause of many tears when she and Mackenzie were little. Shannon takes the same joy in being a mother that I do, and I love to watch her hands-on approach with her girls. She and John have erected a butterfly garden and a goldfish pond in their backyard to teach the kids about plants and animals. Shannon loves kids so much, she uses her athletic skills to coach junior high girls' volleyball in the evening. But I am most proud of Shannon on Sunday mornings because I know, without fail, exactly where I'll find her. She and her kids will be in church and Annabelle will have a new memorized Bible verse to tell us in the afternoon.
And then there's Mackenzie - the most obstinate of my children. She calls it headstrong; I call it a pain in the butt. Mackenzie started running this family the day she was born, and she still does. It is not easy raising a kid who is determined to raise herself. Mackenzie was never really a baby and started handling her own life very early on. She is a thinker and a perfectionist. I think she misspelled her first word in the sixth grade which meant she did not get a perfect score. You should all be thankful you were not around for that day of slamming doors. But with this thinking perfectionism comes a great deal of wisdom. Mackenzie makes good decisions, and as she grew up, compassion joined with her wisdom to make her a counselor. She not only gives insightful, Biblically based advice, but she lives as an example. There used to be a joke about getting in tough situations and thinking, "What would Mackenzie do?" I would have never thought with Mackenzie's left-brained approach to life that she would pursue a career in the performing arts, but I knew with her determination she could make it happen. The blessing of motherhood leads to moments like I had last night when Mackenzie was singing How Great Thou Art in church and I wanted to stand up and scream, "That's my daughter!!"
My point is that there will never be a time in a woman's life when a pregnancy is convenient. It means everything you have grown accustomed to will change. You will have to say no to yourself a lot, and you will have to say no to your kids a lot - which can be even harder. But God promises in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." That means he can use a pregnancy like my first, which came from a bad decision at a terrible time, to create an incredible person like Steve who has positively enriched my life and the lives of countless he has met through God's divine purpose. And it means that Steve could fulfill his dream of becoming a father through adopting his marvelous daughter Emma because someone else was brave enough to have her baby at an inconvenient time.
I had the privilege of counseling at Hope Pregnancy Center for a few years, and I found that often it was not just the young girls considering abortion, but it was their parents pressuring them not to have their baby. Pregnancies and trials in parenthood may come to us unexpectedly, but don't believe they are unexpected to God. He has purposefully created each child as a gift whether you can see it that way in the moment or not. The Lord speaks repeatedly in the Bible about children being a blessing to their parents. Believe Him. I am telling you this because I have been through the unplanned pregnancy, the sacrifices, the baby smearing its poop on the wall, the screaming matches, and the other hardships that come with motherhood, and I would not go back and change a thing. I am so thankful for these four utmost blessings God has brought into my life. And frankly, if you know my kids at all, you'll have to admit God and I do pretty good work!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Staying the course
It feels so good to have answers! Today we learned the results of my PETscan which showed that the cancer in my bones has not grown, meaning the chemo is working! Thank God! In fact, while most of the cancer hot spots in my body are about the same, some of my lymph nodes have improved. It was so freeing to get this news. No biopsies and hospital stays to plan, no more testing, no new burdens to bear. I can stay on the same course we've planned, so we've scheduled my next three rounds of chemo and will retest in nine weeks. The relief I feel after the appointment today reminds me of school days when I would hand in my final paper. This thing that's been weighing on my mind for the past week is suddenly lifted, and I am free to focus on anything else, which in this case, means I got to sew Annabelle another adorable dress. She's in a butterfly phase at the moment, so she loves the purple dress with butterflies and ribbons decorating the skirt.
Bob and I sat by the water at Houston's tonight to celebrate our good news after visiting the grandkids. It was so nice to breathe easy and enjoy the tranquil Florida twilight. I am thankful for your prayers that the chemo would work in my body and that God chose to answer them in this way.
Some of you may know that Mackenzie recently graduated college with a musical theatre degree and plans on moving to New York City to put her training into action. She has postponed the move to see me through my cancer, but occasionally still has commitments in the Big Apple. So this week while she sings in a showcase in New York and I receive chemo on Tuesday, I will be counting on my loyal friends to take care of me when Bob, Shannon, and Erin need to be at their jobs. I know I am blessed to have such willing companions and truly appreciate all the kindness I continue to receive. Keep it coming!
Bob and I sat by the water at Houston's tonight to celebrate our good news after visiting the grandkids. It was so nice to breathe easy and enjoy the tranquil Florida twilight. I am thankful for your prayers that the chemo would work in my body and that God chose to answer them in this way.
Some of you may know that Mackenzie recently graduated college with a musical theatre degree and plans on moving to New York City to put her training into action. She has postponed the move to see me through my cancer, but occasionally still has commitments in the Big Apple. So this week while she sings in a showcase in New York and I receive chemo on Tuesday, I will be counting on my loyal friends to take care of me when Bob, Shannon, and Erin need to be at their jobs. I know I am blessed to have such willing companions and truly appreciate all the kindness I continue to receive. Keep it coming!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)