Sorry for the delay of updates via both email and the blog...I received the below update from my mom this afternoon and wanted to share it before tomorrow's next steps on this journey. Thank you for your continued prayers and for checking in. Your emails, flowers, visits, prayers, phone calls, notes etc. etc. have and continue to cheer my mom on as she slowly puts one foot ahead of the other on this seemingly long road. May your hearts be blessed!
It has been a few weeks since our last update, and while there are no major milestones, God is walking these "baby steps of progress" with me, every step of the way and day. Last week I was relieved of a major "thorn in my side"...as my J-tube or feeding tube was removed. Since I have never been able to tolerate tube feedings, instead getting my supplemental nutrition intravenously via my port and I had been battling an infection at the tube site, my surgeon decided to pull the tube a couple of weeks early. A major answer to prayer as every breath and every twist of my torso caused a knife-like pain. The site is healing well, the infection is resolved, and I no longer have an imaginary knife in my side. I am having a great deal of difficulty consuming enough food to keep my calorie intake high enough for my body to heal. Currently I eat about half of what I need and get the rest via my port. The reintroduction of food has been very challenging. Basically I eat or drink, only to get a stomach ache, and since I have to eat six times a day, and drink 4 ounces once or twice between each "mini-meal" I have a nearly constant upset stomach which leads to my first prayer request. I cannot glorify God with a whiny attitude, and so I am in need of a major attitude readjustment. A friend said that I am now in the trenches, the period of time where improvement is slow to happen, and setbacks are a common occurrence. Would you pray with me for renewed energy, relief from the intestinal discomfort, and an attitude that brings glory to God?
Tomorrow I am supposed to resume chemo. The current plan is to do 6 months, 20 infusions of Gencitabine on a four week cycle; three weeks of chemo followed by one week off. They tell me that often platelets do not recover by the third week, necessitating a 2 week on/1 week off schedule over 7 1/2 months. Neither plan allows for the completion of chemo before J's wedding, but of course I look forward to this part of the journey being over as soon as possible. The most common side effects are flu-like body ache and fever in the 24 hours following the infusion, edema/fluid retention in the arms and legs, some nausea and diarrhea. I would appreciate your prayer against those side effects. My biggest fear, which I am praying to let go and trust God with, is the very small risk of pulmonary fibrosis, a serious, life threatening complication. I am to let my doctors know if I develop any breathing issues or cough of any kind. In this cold and flu season, I feel as if I often have a cough so this is concerning. But.....I believe that God has this covered, He has walked every step of this journey with us, He has answered our prayers with a miraculous healing, and He will continue to be ever-present, protecting me and providing all of my care-givers with wisdom and discernment to make the best decisions and provide the best care possible.
Once again, I stand in awe of your commitment to pray for me. Our God is a mighty and powerful God who is faithful and desires the very best for His own. My prayer is that you will be blessed, as you have blessed me. Thank you so much for your prayers, your concern, your encouragement, your love. Each of you is truly a very special gift.
Relying on God,
Annie
On a minor note...my head is now covered by a very fine coating of "peach fuzz"! My 10 month old granddaughter has more hair than me, but I praise God for notable milestones! I have been told that while growth may be slow, I should not lose my hair with Gencitabine.
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