Father thank you for your love and presence through these difficult days and thank you all for your prayers.

I missed a week blogging. I just didn’t find the time last week and I am sorry. Theresa finished chemo #5 last week, and #6 on Thursday. She is halfway through the planned regimen. She is finding it harder and harder on her. Her bone marrow has been pretty resilient so far, keeping her white count up, though she persists to be anemic. She is finding the GI effects are getting more intense. The chemo causes esophageal and small intestinal problems. She finds it causes pretty severe acid reflex and intense bowel pain. Each treatment seems to get worse. For a day or so after treatment she just has to wait it out as a variety of pain medications don’t seem to help that much. For a few days after she feels her body is lead and could sleep for days. The week without chemo, she does better. She is going to talk with her oncologist. He said she can do a higher dose 2 weeks on and one off, or do a lower dose every week which would cause less side effects. She thinks this is the way she will want to go.

She had her echocardiogram and saw the cardiologist. The fluid has not returned around her heart. She won’t need to go back again at this time, unless Theresa feels the fluid is returning.

Theresa’s spirits are good. There are days that are pretty rough, but they are fewer than the better days. The ups and down of cancer and cancer treatment are the norm. When you think it is looking up and you can make some plans, then there is a bad day and you’re not sure if those plans will need to be changed. Despite it all you learn how to live and hopefully thrive.

It is easy to get bogged down with negative thoughts, sadness, what could have been, and the like. It is easy to feel overwhelmed as well. But to persevere, to over come, means learning how to continue to live. And this is where daily habits help, daily exercise, devotions and prayer, family time, going to work, and keeping up with relationships. Though the balancing act is more difficult. God is good and provides the spiritual nourishment that is needed every day. He sustains, he waters parched hearts.

Isaiah 44:2-4
“The LORD who made you and helps you says:….For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank.”

May Mother’s day be a joyful time of remembrance, and celebration for you and your family. We are thankful for this Mother’s day we weren’t sure we would be able to celebrate with Theresa. Thank you for your continued prayers.