Chemotherapy #5

John and I started out the week on Monday with a quick evening trip to Grand Rapids to see Peter Storey (South African Bishop), after John's full day of work, the church healing service, and a "blood draw" for me. Long day, but it was good to see friends.

Wednesday, I both had chemotherapy and (unusual schedule) also had my monthly appointment with Dr. Malviya. He explained something about lymph nodes and the need to be especially protective of my lower body. Most of my abdominal lymph nodes were removed, so infection cannot be filtered out as well. In two years, about 50% could grow back, but never all of it. (I liked the idea of having time for it to grow back. He also mentioned having a mole removed before my hair grows back.)

Other new information.
I had understood that the regimen of chemotherapy treatments consisted of 6 cycles, one every 4 weeks. So I was beginning to plan around that.

I found out it is actually 9 cycles.

That is good. A chance for more healing. I just need to readjust my thinking, as I thought July 2 would be my last one and that I would have a month to recover before my August 2 class reunion. Now Homecoming/Reunion will only be the third day after treatment #7.

Oh well. I am thankful for the opportunities of those "extra" treatments!

People sometimes ask how chemotherapy goes.
This time it took three needle-pokes to find a vein, but I normally have had pretty "good" veins.
I sit in the transfusion room with as many as three other patients and two nurses.
I have an IV transfusion in my arm for 5-6 hours, with various medicines besides the chemotherapy drugs.
I return to the office 24 hours later for a Neulasta shot (bone marrow booster).
I try to avoid the constipating Zophran (anti-nausea drug), but took one-half tab today.
The drugs, and especially the Neulasta, tend to make bones and muscles ache for a couple days.
So I am currently tender-to-the-touch.
And tired.
But I am in the process of healing.

Rest of the week
Yesterday, we drove over to the Royal Oak church to see John's office and then to see the house. Trustee Chair Kay and husband Dick (and others) are taking good care of preparing a place for us.

This evening, there is a farewell dinner at the Northville church.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

It is not everyday I would have such an exotic title.

While otherwise enjoying walks through the woods and fields, John apparently encountered some of what we have heard described as a "bumper crop" of dog ticks (or wood ticks). We later found (and removed) a couple latched onto his skin (arm and back). While at his regularly scheduled checkup Monday, his doctor put him on antibiotics, just in case. (No signs of illness, mainly in the interest of taking care of me.)

I appear to have been spared from a tick-attack (as a friend termed it). I was mostly covered up with a hat and long sleeves and slippery light-colored hiking pants tucked into my socks. A couple times, I brushed something off that I assumed was a little spider. Who knows? So enjoy the woods and fields, but keep watch.

Wind in My Face

My mom has the thoughtful habit of sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and illness. My dad has the thoughtful habit (and duty) of mailing those cards for her. It may not be at the closest post office, but wherever his motorcycle takes him. Today, I had the duty (and honor) of helping by going along for the ride.

There is a quotation (or maybe a poem... I tend not to check details as much when I am away from home), something like "One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth." [But I did check after I got home. It is credited to Dorothy Frances Gurney.] Perhaps an argument could be made for substituting "on a motorcycle" for "in a garden" just by being so vulnerable. Whenever I climb on the back on the motorcycle, I am aware of the need to be ready to die (only half joking to myself). But today, the wind in my face (and there was Wind!) seemed to blow away loose cancer cells and to pump fresh healthy air into my body. And I was more aware of the need to be ready to live.

Or to take a nap. ;)

Just kidding. No nap. Afterward, we planted bush beans in his garden.

Jo's Boys

I liked playing with the Louisa May Alcott title, even though this is not just about Jo's boys.

John and I are up north for a few days, visiting my parents and generally celebrating my dad's 75th birthday.

Sunday, we all drove two hours west to visit our farm cousins at Kewadin, and to celebrate the 90th birthday of Jo (Josephine) Bargy. Every family vacation of my growing up years, we would drive up to the Bargy farm and camp out, while my dad found chores to do. I learned up close that milk comes from cows, and that cherries grow on trees, and that there is no vacation from chores. My brother learned even more intimately, as he spent the summer before his senior year of high school working there. And he keeps going back.

Jo's "boys" are sons Larry and Lon. Larry's wife Alice was not well enough to attend the birthday party. Lon's wife Ann was there, as were grandchildren and great-grandchildren, siblings, neices, nephews, cousins. A particular hero to me is Jo's granddaughter Anna, who is 10 years younger (is that all?), is married to Dan, is mother to Natalie, works at the Post Office four days a week, but also works as, and is at heart, a farmer.

How can anyone who loves to eat not love farmers?

I recently finished reading a book called The Last Farmer, An American Memoir by Howard Kohn. (It was a gift of relatives of the author when we moved from Traverse City, and it was about time I read it!) His family lived on a Saginaw Valley farm for generations. But no one of his generation stayed to take it over. There were other callings drawing them away from the farm, and an economy that made it harder to stay.

If you ask me who is more important, an oncologist or a farmer, I could not chose one, of course. Both are essential for life.

Today, back at my folks' place, according to my dad, it is time for potato planting.

"Blessed are you God our King, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth..."
(Along with your partners, the farmers...)

Disciple Friends

Sunday evening was Lesson #34, our final Disciple Bible Study with this group of sixteen. What a good year together! We worshiped and prayed together and shared remembrances and the Lord's Supper.

A common perception change over the year was of the relevance of the Old Testament, and of the God of the Old Testament being a God of "grace and forgiveness, rather than an angry God". He was "always there, loving, with his arms wide open". "We are connected all the way back" to the time of the Patriarchs. Also mentioned was the application of our lessons to our prayer life and to home and every part of life.

Classmates represented a variety of ages and family situations and church backgrounds and years (or months) at this church. But they listened to each other with respect and care. They participated with dedication and insight and creativity, and they are making the world a better place beyond the classroom. They are Jesus' disciples.

We are letters written on each others' hearts.
II Corinthians 3:1-6

Sunday Sermon

Since this past weekend was Annual Conference, when all the U.M. clergy of the "Detroit Annual Conference" (eastern half of the state, plus the U.P.), plus an equal number of lay persons, gathered at Adrian College for worship and meetings, it was "Laity Sunday" at our church. That included a good sermon by Dave E. on giving our "all" to God.

An even more personal message came to me when I returned to church in the afternoon to make copies of the evening's Disciple Bible study lesson plan. Doug H. (our Sunday custodian), who was helping to pack up after the Red Cross Blood Drive, made sure the workroom was unlocked for me, and he checked if I needed anything else.

And then he told me about God's healing assurance and power in his own life. I have tried to be so open to trusting God, whatever comes into my life. Sometimes people pray, but do not always have the response they are looking for. What if this is one of those times? I do not want to be presumptuous (that God would heal me and not someone else). I try to figure out that balance. But Doug's story was full of faith in God's love and strength. It does not matter if I understand the mysteries. God was certainly with Doug in his treatments. He made a difference. He is responsible for Doug's healing. I saw Jesus' face in Doug's experience, and I heard God's voice in Doug's words of assurance.

Jesus unlocked the door for me today.

Weekend: Mosaic Theatre; Relay for Life; Shower Shopping

Mosaic Youth Theatre as Fisk Jubiliee Singers
While reading the newspaper at my most recent chemotherapy session, I was struck by an article about a Mosaic Youth Theatre presentation about a 1871 Fisk University touring choir that calmed a lynch mob with their music, particularly the spirituals. It seemed important and powerful. So, while John was away at Adrian for "Annual Conference" (United Methodist worship and church business) over the weekend, James and Sarah took me Friday night.

Relay for Life
American Cancer Society's Relay for Life: My first cancer-walk event as a "cancer survivor". Anne M. had encouraged me to participate in the Saturday morning "Survivor's Lap", as she said I am considered a "survivor" without waiting for treatment to be completed; it starts as soon as the diagnosis is made. Looking for familiar faces at Northville's Ford Field, I first found Jane S., then Anne M., and then Anne and John P., and Janet M. We were even fed breakfast! And I won flowers for being among the most recently diagnosed. Well, I never thought of that category! They're lovely.

Shower Shopping
Childhood friend Donna (Tifrea) Gurk's son Ben is getting married this summer, so I attended a shower for Ben and Rachel Saturday afternoon. I had looked up their Bed Bath & Beyond gift registry online, and knew exactly what I wanted. However, when I arrived at my local store (Haggerty and 6 Mile), they did not have that particular item. The salesperson offered to order it, and then explained an even more helpful offer. They could just send it directly to the gift registry address! What a good idea. I am including this store story in my blog, as she really made my shopping experience pleasant!

Of course, I also got to meet Rachel and to see some "longtime friends" (we don't say "old friends") at the shower. Susan, who had driven in from Chicago, even drove me back to Northville, making a stop at the grocery store. I needed milk!