Prayer

“Dear Jim,

We have never met. We do not know one another yet we are brethren in Christ, and in occupation. Know that I likely represent countless others who might not post because they do not know you, but I hope it helps to know that we are out here praying for you and your family.

May He bring your perfect healing and a peace that passes all understanding.”

My dear family and friends, how can I ever thank you enough for your prayers and sustaining thoughts. Everyday is a challenge. I battle some discouragement because I never thought that it would take this long to get past all of this. In my minds eye, I thought I’d be back to work long before this. The struggle within is indescribable at times. Yet, when I receive a message like the one I received this morning (above), how can I be impatient or discouraged? I have been so blessed.

I have my sweetheart of nearly 35 years (we met in high school in 1974) at my side. I have my wonderful children, their spouses and our two grandchildren all checking on me, praying for me, lifting me up. I have so many wonderful friends, family and neighbors that stop by to visit or drop off a meal or a treat or call to see how I am doing. I have so many good PA friends around the country that check on me and have helped in so many ways in our time of need.

And then I have these wonderful but anonymous messages from other PAs that I do not know and will probably never meet. Yet the messages of faith and hope are invaluable to me. I so appreciate the prayers and encouragement. Thank you to all.

I have neglected to update this blog for a while because there hasn’t been much to update. I just completed round three of this current regimen of chemotherapy. Although not as psychologically toxic as the previous chemo and somewhat less bothersome in many other ways, it is still difficult. As I think I have surmised before, the effects seem to be cumulative. By that I meant that it seems that each time I get the treatment, the sickness that follows is more pronounced.

I completed the infusion of IV drugs on Friday last week and continued the oral drugs until Monday. However, I spent most of Saturday through Monday in bed. Just as before, exhaustion seems to be the primary side effect. Weakness and shakiness all over are the hallmarks and they tend to linger until just before the next round of drugs. Then there is this darned chemical taste that I cannot get rid of.

Actually, food doesn’t taste too bad while I am eating it, but after, I am left to deal with this nasty chemical taste that just won’t go away. About a week from now, it will start to taper off and I hope to be able to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with family just in time to go back for another round of chemo the following week.

This last round of chemo was postponed one week due to severely low platelets the week before when I was scheduled to have treatment. That puts me another week behind. Blast it all!

The plan at this point is to complete this round of four treatments without killing me off. I have to have frequent blood draws to monitor my blood. I’ve actually been doing this all along. I just hope that my system can keep up this time and allow me to get the next round of chemo when it is scheduled (Dec. 3 start date). After that, another CT scan will be ordered – probably about three weeks later – to see how the cancer in my lungs has responded.

We were very encouraged with the last CT report and are hoping for more of the same with this next one.

In the mean time, I am trying to suck on strong candy or eat strong flavored foods to cover this nasty taste and make it to next weeks celebration.

God bless you all. Thank you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Jim