In the cancer center they have paintings and posters on easels and at the top of each one it tells a story about the artist and their stories of bravery really touches my heart. These last couple of chemo treatments have really zapped my energy level. After my 2nd chemotherapy treatment on April 13, my white blood count was 6.4 (preference is 4-11) and my red blood cells were 4.02 (3.70-5.20 is normal) so I was right in the normal range with both.
The first week after a treatment is usually the worst. Towards the end of that first week was my Grandson's (Joseph's) birthday and we had family in town also that weekend so we surprised him with a party. And with family & celebrating comes lots of yummy food! Now, I know I'm suppose to eat 6 small meals a day, but the food was too tempting and I ate too much in a few meals rather than just a little in a lot of meals and my stomach paid the price. I won't be making that mistake again.
My family left that Tuesday and I began to dwell too much on the negative things, like how many chemo treatments I have left and how tired I feel. I was very emotional and had a bit of a pity party. I decided to check my e-mail and I had just one e-mail in my inbox that day. It was a forward from my Granddaughter, Jamie, and the title was "God is at work!" When I read it I knew that God was still at work in my life and the pity party was over and I put myself back into our Lord's hands.
So far, after my first two chemo treatments, the nausea hasn't been a big problem and most food's are still tasty. My main issue with pain or discomfort has been deep in the bones of my hips and legs. Just a deep ache that causes me many sleepless nights and bothered me throughout the day. I took some pain medication to help dull the pain. One theory is that the pain is caused by my blood cells that are trying to regenerate themselves and that's why I feel so sore. If that's the case, I guess it's a good thing. But, I still wish I could be replenishing my blood counts without the nagging pain. A couple of weeks after my 2nd treatment I had another appointment to check my blood work and the lab results came back a little lower: white blood cells were down from 6.4 to 3.1 and my red blood cells from 4.02 to 3.93. I always tend to worry when those numbers drop. I will be praying they rise up over the coming weeks.
The first week after a treatment is usually the worst. Towards the end of that first week was my Grandson's (Joseph's) birthday and we had family in town also that weekend so we surprised him with a party. And with family & celebrating comes lots of yummy food! Now, I know I'm suppose to eat 6 small meals a day, but the food was too tempting and I ate too much in a few meals rather than just a little in a lot of meals and my stomach paid the price. I won't be making that mistake again.
My family left that Tuesday and I began to dwell too much on the negative things, like how many chemo treatments I have left and how tired I feel. I was very emotional and had a bit of a pity party. I decided to check my e-mail and I had just one e-mail in my inbox that day. It was a forward from my Granddaughter, Jamie, and the title was "God is at work!" When I read it I knew that God was still at work in my life and the pity party was over and I put myself back into our Lord's hands.
So far, after my first two chemo treatments, the nausea hasn't been a big problem and most food's are still tasty. My main issue with pain or discomfort has been deep in the bones of my hips and legs. Just a deep ache that causes me many sleepless nights and bothered me throughout the day. I took some pain medication to help dull the pain. One theory is that the pain is caused by my blood cells that are trying to regenerate themselves and that's why I feel so sore. If that's the case, I guess it's a good thing. But, I still wish I could be replenishing my blood counts without the nagging pain. A couple of weeks after my 2nd treatment I had another appointment to check my blood work and the lab results came back a little lower: white blood cells were down from 6.4 to 3.1 and my red blood cells from 4.02 to 3.93. I always tend to worry when those numbers drop. I will be praying they rise up over the coming weeks.
Here is a copy of the God's at work message:
When your Hut's on Fire
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him
He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him
Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but no one seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky.
He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost.
He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger.
He cried out, "God! How could you do this to me?"
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!
"How did you know I was here?", asked the weary man of his rescuers.
"We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
The moral of this story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
