This has been a whirlwind of a week. I’m going to blog partly because I think it’s helpful to keep a log of my thoughts, and also because I have a lot of people asking. I don’t know how often I will blog, but perhaps this will help keep you all up to date on the logistical and medical stuff, so we can spend our conversations on more important things. 🙂 Always feel free to ask if you want to know how I’m doing. I’ll let you know if I don’t feel up to talking at it.
On Monday I flew home from Orlando after a wonderful time visiting with friends and family. (Tim had to go on to Daytona for his regional pastor’s annual retreat.) We felt so much love from all the people who came to wish us well, give us a hug, and tell us they love us. My loving daughter picked me up from the airport. She left the baby with Daddy as she’s still not quite comfortable driving in Houston traffic. I was told Paige was pushing against Anthony to try and find Mommy while she was gone. When they walked around the apartment and Mommy was no where to be found, she gave Anthony a pouty face. This is a true story! It’s amazing how much an infant knows at just a couple of months. This is probably the longest Paige has been away from her Mommy, so it was a sacrifice much appreciated.
Tuesday started the testing. I had a contrast MRI of the brain in the afternoon. That was about a 30 minute test, lying very still, and trying not to fall asleep. They had music playing in my ears, and wouldn’t you know they selected praise songs! How cool is that. Since then I found out I do have a brain. That is the good news! The other good news is they did not find any cancer in the brain. PTL! It is in the skull on a couple of places (one I have felt pain at the base of my skull on the left side) but that is bone, not organ. So that is a win for the team.
Wednesday I had an Echocardiogram, because the drugs they will give me is hard on the heart, and they watch it closely. My Echo was great, and my heart is strong. Even after all the other chemo, I am still doing well! Another organ has passed the test. Whew! Right after that I was sedated and put under for the placement of my port. They put it in the same place as last time, but I think he might have left me some room to wear my necklaces, although he said it was impossible because he has to access the vein. I have to wait about 10 days to tell for sure, as there are bandages and it’s still sensitive to the touch, but I am hopeful!
Through all of these tests, I have been at peace like never before. I have entered each room knowing that God is with me. Please don’t mistake me as the strong one. I am not strong. It is God’s strength, and His Holy Spirit, that lives in and through me. He gets all the credit. I am just enjoying His strength! Your prayers are lifting me up, and He is surrounding me with a “great cloud of witnesses.” I could not do this without Him, and I don’t know how anyone does.
So today (Friday) was the big chemo day. I was there from 8:30 until about 4:30 giving blood, seeing the doctor, and getting chemo. I won’t bore you with the details, but it went very well. They do a slower drip on the first round, to ensure there are not any side effects. Bryan came to visit and brought me lunch. A fresh spinach salad with fresh fruit. Yum! He works around the corner, so it was a nice surprise! Then one of my Aussie friends Kamila spent her morning chatting with me, and it was a great way to kill time; we laughed until my computer ran out of juice. I love the connections with people from all over the world. I have gotten your messages, read your comments on my Facebook posts, and I am truly touched by your love and concern for my healing.
Plan: I will have chemo every three weeks, about 4 hours per infusion. We’re doing three drugs. Two are targeting the HER2+ and one is chemotherapy (Taxotere). He said we’ll do about 4-6 and see how I am tolerating it. If I’m doing well, we’ll keep going. Chemotherapy is faster acting than biotherapy alone, and with the multiple locations affected in my body, he wants to attack it aggressively. So that’s the route we are taking at first, then biotherapy will be continued long-term as well.
This time around I didn’t have to do Benadryl, so I could drive myself home. Liz and Anthony (and of course Paige) are spending the night in case I need anything. But honestly, I’m doing okay. I ate some dinner and I got energy from holding the baby and giving her a bottle. I haven’t felt sick although the steroids do give me some face flushes. I’m a little tired, and I need to go to sleep, but it’s been a good week and I’m glad all of that is behind me. I’m also looking forward to when my hubby gets home tomorrow! Then all will be right again.
Until next time…