We're Moving

What: John, James, and I are moving. John is being appointed to a new church.
Where: Royal Oak First United Methodist Church
When: June
This was announced at both churches Sunday morning.

Story

Tuesday - Where I Was
My Home Health Nurse had told me three ingredients for healing are:
1) Protein
2) Comfort
3) No/minimal stress

Tuesday morning, I had intentionally decided to let a particular stressor go. I acknowledged my job for the next six months or so is to undergo chemotherapy treatments and to concentrate on healing.

Then came Tuesday night... and a phone call for John.
The Cabinet was assigning him a new appointment.
We would be moving.

I had just encouraged our son James who had been looking for housing in his price range and close enough to his job in Plymouth, to not worry, that I thought we were "safe", that no one would move us in the middle of chemotherapy.

Just shows how self-centered the life of a cancer patient can be.

Life goes on!


Processing
A lot of emotions and processing can be involved with unexpected news. But by Friday night, when John, James and I went to the "Introductory Meeting" with the Staff-Parish Committee at the Royal Oak church, we were mentally open to new possibilities.

The people were wonderful and welcoming!
Plus - bonus surprise - longtime school friend, Kip G-T was on the committee and added her own warmth and enthusiasm.

Meeting Each Other
I was concerned for the group when I said I had cancer.
The room was quiet; what can one say?

There we were:
Their terrific new pastor.
The 24-year-old son who was willing to be involved and active.
Then the wife... so broken and vulnerable.

I had mentally prepared a little speech in case they had questions:
"Would I have expected to move in the middle of chemotherapy?
No, but I had not expected to go to Africa either.
And I did last summer with John's sabbatical.
I found that God's unexpected blessings and grace are no less real, in fact, more real, than any I could imagine."

But they never questioned.
Instead, this group of people on the Royal Oak Staff-Parish Committe said,
"It is our job to support you."
"We will help make this work for you."
"Let us know what you need."

Wow.
Such unexpected blessings and grace.

The Body of Christ...
alive...for us.... in us.

My concept of "home" is expanding.
I trust God - and the Royal Oak people - are preparing a place for me.
And a place in me, for them.

Ta-Daa!

Welcome, Friend Chemo, do your stuff!
My head is ready!

(I pretty much had to talk Julie into cutting this much off.
But then she knew exactly what to do!)

Treatment and Support

Expected Course of Treatment
How long does treatment last?
If I stay on the course of six cycles of chemotherapy, every four weeks, Cycle # 6 should begin in July (meaning have the chemotherapy treatment, then go through the cycle of chemo effects).

So I am looking forward to summer sunshine and healing warmth!

I am also looking forward to my high school class reunion (year 35) on August 2!


Support - Ministries of Our Church

"Parish Nurse"
Karen B. came out this week and sat down with us to help with some of the balancing issues. Helpful!

"Touched by an Angel"
There was a TV show by that name. But our church also has a ministry of helping people out in tangible ways. Judy B. coordinates meals that come to us a couple times a week (complete with nutrution requests/restrictions). I could not have imagined how helpful that is!

"Peer Ministry"
High schoolers learn about helping relationships. They put together a canister with lots of goodies, cards, Isaiah the Teddy Bear, hand lotion, and a Sheryl Crow CD.

Sheryl Crow? I know who she is: she dated Lance Armstrong and had breast cancer. But I admit I had not paid much attention to her music. I thought I might listen to her as I was lying down for a nap one day. Ha! I did discover that she was terrific to play while taking my walks around the house! (The Home Health Care nurse said I should walk at least three minutes three times per day. I walk more when I can.)

"Stephen Ministry"
Nancy S. brought flowers over when I came home from the hospital. I know I am in their prayers.

"Prayer Shawl"
Karen D. brought one over before surgery. The idea is that people pray as they knit or crochet shawls, for whomever might receive it. It often keeps my shoulders warm around the house and reminds me that I have been, and am, remembered in prayer.

We also received a cow box (Gateway computers black and white pattern) in the mail. It had to be sent from the Curtiss family! Sure enough, it contained a "Prayer shawl" from our Traverse City congregation (we were there 8 years). They are known as Traverse Bay United Methodist Church now, but we knew them as "Asbury U.M.C.". I wore this around my shoulders during chemo. Each shawl is unique and beautiful and conveys warmth and loving prayers and wishes.

Good Days

It seems self-centered to call particular days "good" just because I am feeling relatively good and have a good appetite. However, I will still leave the title, as it does fit, and I am not saying other days are "bad".

Catching up
I have felt particularly good for about the last three days. I have had an appetite and have been enjoying food, and really have just been quite happy about that!

Balance
Before that I had been struggling more with balance.
From life decisions to bowel function.
How active vs. restive should I be?
I am finding more balance, and realize that each day, maybe each moment may hold those questions...
and am thankful for help in the process of working them out.

Tuesday - Wig Day and a Visit to Randa's
The big event on Tuesday, was that Molly G. came over (with her wisdom and experience and good humor), and John drove all three of us to Randa's Cutting Edge on Mound Rd., south of 14 Mile in Warren. I had not definitely decided to get a wig. The people at chemotherapy said not everyone does, and that there are lots of other comfortable head coverings. But they also gave me a card for Randa's, saying she gives "Free wigs to cancer patients". So I thought I would try it out as an option. Randa is a really kind and generous and sweet woman, and sent me home with two wigs actually. I had not expected to duplicate my own hair, so my goal was more some sort of head covering... maybe more for fun than to try to look exactly like I look now. So they are both short and different from my current hair.

Tomorrow's Hair
Even though my hair is not falling out yet, I know it will. My plan has been to get it cut short, rather than to find long hanks of it on my pillow in the morning. So even though my head and neck are still loving that warm protection today, my "nadir" (low white blood count) days are expected to be coming up this coming week, and it seems better to get out while I am more able. Tomorrow, Nicole is coming to take me to see Julie, who will cut my hair SHORT!


Wise Parental Advice
Mom told me to keep smiling.
Dad told me I do not have to always smile.
I need both those words!
Thanks!
I love you!

"For everything there is a season,
and a time for every purpose under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1

"If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"

There is a children's book by that name that tells a story of one thing leading to another. (If you give a mouse a cookie, then you will have to give it a glass of milk, etc...) I am experiencing some of that. There was chemo on Wednesday and thus anti-nausea medicine, which seemed to work well. Then on Thursday, we went back to the doctor's office for an injection of "Neulasta", which is "white blood cell booster" to help protect against chemotherapy-related infection. In case that makes my joints hurt (it goes to the bone marrow), I can take Tylenol. In the meantime, because of taking iron and other drugs, there are other drugs to take for constipation, like Senokot-S and Milk of Magnesia. And now I need to balance those all out.

Two other highlights of Thursday:
- On the way home from the doctor's, we stopped by the Secretary of State to get my driver's license renewed (and got my picture taken while I still have hair).

- Friend Debbie came over in the a.m. and helped with cleaning. Ah... Thanks so much.

Chemo #1 - I Did Take Steroids

Today was my first chemotherapy day. My appointment was at 10:00 a.m, and I think we were done by 4:00 p.m. (including our questions), sooner than I expected really.

I walked out of the chemo ("infusion therapy") room at my doctor's office into the reception area, where a TV news show featured Roger Clemens declaring that he has never had steroids. I do not know about anyone else, but I will tell you they were part of my preparation for chemo, and along with everything else, have seemed to work very well so far. So far, no nausea. It could still appear, but I am glad that so far, so good. I think the steroids really picked up my appetite too. I came home So Hungry! I actually ate quite a bit of food for me these days. Of course I filled up quickly. And I had no naps today. So now my energy has worn off. (Next time I should be intentional about grabbing some z's at chemo. The pre-drugs made me a little sleepy.)

I did get some more dates for my upcoming schedule:

Feb. 14, Thursday
Back to Dr. Malviya's office for 24-hour-post-chemo injection to help protect bone marrow.

Feb. 27, Wed.
Go to the Lab for a "Blood Draw ".
In the next 7-14 days, my immune system may be lower, so they want to check what, if anything, I might need for that.

(John and I are also hoping to stop by a Secretary of State office while we are out to get my driver's license renewed - even though I can't drive for 6 weeks.)

March 10, Monday
Another Blood Draw to make sure that my counts are high enough for the next chemo.

March 12, Wednesday Noon.
Chemo Day #2.

March 14, Friday
Appointment to see Dr. Malviya

There is a plan, and it seems to be working well.

Oh, also John brought me an early "Valentine's present": a portable CD player, so if I want to listen to an audio book in the future, that is an option. (My library has resources!)

I mostly just read through today's paper and this week's Newsweek magazine today. Little articles seemed good for my attention span.

Some people told me they were specifically praying for me today.
Thank you so much.
It was a good day.
Love,
Laura

Thankful...

for
food brought over by "Touched by an Angel" volunteers and others,
flowers,
family,
friends,
neighbors,
offers of help still to be called on,
doctors,
nurses,
insurance,
car that works,
warm house,
"prayer shawls",
mending bladder,
healthy cells,
dragon-slaying medicine,
John
and other companion-travelers,
Loving God.