Doctor Paul, MD

A small-town doctor working to preserve the art of old-fashioned primary care.

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Slow but steady improvement

July 6, 2019 by Paul Williams 5 Comments

Thank you Father for your many blessings, for hope and little gains along the way. Thank you all for you prayers.

As has been Theresa’s history, she may go through a rough time, but she does bounce back. This one though has been a slower return. She found the Lovenox shots to be pretty uncomfortable, so she was happy when the warfarin level was high enough she could stop getting them. Her neck pain has improved as well. As the weeks pass from the last chemo, she is finding less gastrointestinal discomfort. Her appetite is coming back and she has been able to drop the pain medications down. Her anemia is improving slowly. When she came home she could walk across the room with a cane and her heart rate would go up, she would be winded, and feel faint. Each day this has gotten better.

For this long weekend we went on our first outing in three weeks. We had lunch at Red Robin, which we all enjoyed. Today we went to Costco and she was able to make it the whole time. We both took a nap afterwards.

Theresa has been resilient. She doesn’t give up. Though that does not mean there are times when she is low, tearful, and knocked down for a time. This has been really hard. And when we think about the future, it can really overwhelm today. So we have to make those times brief, and fill the rest with enjoyment of today. We know God is in control, Sovereign, and we rest in Him captaining this ship. He truly does provide Himself and with that comes peace, comfort, and assurance.

These past 4 years fighting cancer has affected our family for sure in both good and bad ways. The kids worry about their mom. This last hospitalization was hard on them as they weren’t at the hospital and didn’t know if their mom would make it home. This has caused anxiety, trouble sleeping, and worry. Yet to be exposed to the reality of life, its uncertainty and brevity, has allowed them to grow up faster than they would have. They have chosen to be more thoughtful and helpful. Chosen to shorten adolescence and be responsible. They have matured in ways that would not have occurred without this illness. We are so thankful that their hearts have been softened during this, and that they do take seriously their spiritual lives.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28 (ESV). And in the Message paraphrase, the Spirit “keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Yes the Goodness of God percolates through all of life’s experiences. How can we not have humble and grateful hearts?

Thank you for your prayers, your words of encouragement, and your lovingly walking with us in this. Father, thank you for your family. For we know we are lifted up to you in prayer, and their prayers sustain us and you are pleased by them.

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Filed Under: Breast Cancer - our new normal

Comments

  1. Debbie OConnor says

    July 7, 2019 at 6:07 am

    I’m so thankful to hear Theresa is getting stronger. Thank you for the update.

    Reply
  2. Toni Belveal says

    July 7, 2019 at 7:49 am

    Thank you for the update! Theresa, you are a Warrior! Continued prayers for the whole family

    Reply
  3. Donna rao says

    July 8, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    Theresa, Paul & family,May God continue to walk this path with each of you and fulfill your needs as they arrive. My love & prayers are, as always with each of you.I love you❤️ Auntie Donna

    PS:please let me know if there is ANYTHING I can do, now or in the future, to help, I would truly love to do it!!!

    Reply
  4. Nannette Hoile says

    July 10, 2019 at 3:09 pm

    As always, thank you for the update. Your blog and words of encouragement bring blessing to my soul and I am sure to many others. Daniel and I continue to pray…

    Reply
  5. Candace Horch says

    July 15, 2019 at 10:01 pm

    So thankful to hear this latest update… God is good and He has blessed you with some good things along this journey. We will not stop praying for His mercy and grace… Each of your children are also in our prayers and we know that while His eye is on the sparrow, he watches over each one of you.

    Reply

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About Doctor Paul

Dr. Paul Williams, MD is a small-town family practice doctor working in Centralia, Washington. He works from the same office where his primary care practice was established by his father over 38 years ago. He believes strongly that the art of the old-fashioned primary care doctor is an important feature of our medical system that should be preserved and protected from excess interference from insurance companies and government regulation alike.

Due to changes in the health care industry and regulations affecting it, and in an effort to preserve the art of old-fashioned primary care, Dr. Paul has shifted his practice to a Direct Care model, meaning that patients pay an affordable monthly fee to purchase primary care health care services directly, rather than having their services billed through an insurance company.

This blog is intended to help Dr. Paul's patients (and anyone else!) understand the changes the medical industry is going through, and to provide information about the Direct Care model of primary care.

Copyright © 2021 · Dr. Paul Williams, M.D.

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