Several months ago, Chris came to me and said, “Hey, Kenny is playing at the Sphere in Las Vegas, want to go?” If you know me well, you know he is my favorite non-Gospel-related performer. So, of course, I said, “YES!” A couple of weeks later, we asked Hannah and Samuel if they wanted to join us, and they said “YES!” So the trip was planned about a month before I was told I had cancer. The amazing part was that it fell in the time between getting my port and starting infusions. I checked with my doctor, who said yes, go and have fun! And so we did! I’ve included a few pictures of that trip. If you ever have the opportunity to be at the Sphere for a concert, I highly encourage it. Chris described it as a combination of the best show plus the best Disney ride. I’d say that is true, times about 100. It’s impossible to describe effectively. Just go! We also got to eat at Peter Luger Steak House and Hell's Kitchen (get the Lobster risotto!)
Back to
reality. We got back Monday afternoon
and went straight to an appointment with my oncologist. She’s amazing, and I always feel better after
I meet with her. Then it was an MRI and
an echocardiogram the next two days.
Thursday was the only day with no appointments. I can’t wait for that to settle down to just
infusions on Friday. It is truly
overwhelming all that gets thrown at you when you get this diagnosis. I had no idea and little empathy or understanding
of those going through this. I wish I
had been more aware in the past, but maybe that’s not even possible. Sigh.
I cannot fathom it without the partner I have in Chris. He has been amazing.
Speaking of
amazing…my dear friend Janey has spoiled me rotten with the most thoughtful
gifts. She keeps saying she’s not
bringing me anything else, but I don’t believe her! I’ve received cards from my
sweet cousin up in Maine, as well as various friends. Flowers from neighbors and lifelong friends. Daily texts from those praying for me. Ya’ll, it makes a difference. I will forever be
changed by the love I have been shown over these last 5 weeks. And I pray I am mindful of that when I am on
the other end of this in the future. Thank
you to everyone for the texts, Bible verses, and phone calls. I know I said it last time, but I mean it!
Your prayers are sustaining me, there is no doubt.
Today I went for
my first infusion. I don’t want to focus
too much on that topic, it is what it is.
I will say that everyone at Texas Oncology is so professional, helpful,
and kind. I do want to share the stories
of those divine encounters:
We got there early,
and a young woman sat across from me.
She was obviously being treated for cancer as she was wearing a hat and
didn’t have hair, the telltale sign of chemo.
We started chatting, and I found out she is 32 and was diagnosed with the
same type of cancer I have. She
discovered it while she was nursing her second child. Gulp. But
do you know what that precious young lady did?
She asked me if she could pray for me!
I was stunned. Of course, I said
yes, and I added my prayers for her as well.
After we were done praying, she looked at me and said, “You’re going to
be okay!” She told me this 3x before she
left a couple of hours later. It blessed
me beyond words. Her name is Meagan. As
you read this, will you pray for her?
She has two young children. She is
so clearly full of faith and the joy of the Lord. I asked her where they went to church, and
she said they hadn’t yet settled after moving here from Tennessee. So I was able to give her the info on ours. I love that!
The second story is
connected to the Cold Cap I’m wearing during each treatment to hopefully avoid
losing all my hair. As it was the first
time we had done this, Chris and I were struggling to get going with it. It’s a several step process with the last one
being hooked up to a machine that pumps cold fluid through a cap attached very
tightly to your skull! When I say cold, please look at the picture I’ve attached
of the frozen bits in my hair when we took it off 5 hours later. So, we are sitting there trying to figure it
out, fumbling around, when two women walk over and jump in to help us. They are sisters, one local and one from
Peru. When I say jump in, I’m saying that
they told me exactly what to do, then sat there and put the condition in my
hair for me, put the cap on and decided I had the wrong size, made sure I got
the right one and gave me hints on how to endure the next few hours. It was like two angels walked across the room
just to be there in that moment for me.
I am really looking forward to seeing them each Friday! The sister that
is local is actually a pediatric dentist in Round Rock and also offered
information on diet and avoiding some of the side effects of this therapy.
God showed up y’all. He was so generous to me today. SO generous.
That’s who He is, the Good Father.
Eyes.On.Jesus
I love you all so
much!
N
“The righteous flourish
like the palm tree and grow like cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord,
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness
in Him.” Psalm 92:12-15
