2021 First Update
How is it that I've let all this time pass without an update? I think the truth is I'm kind of done being the "sick one" or the "cancer patient" because the other side of that is I'm not sick and I don't have cancer anymore because we removed and killed it. I just have side effects. I mentioned this before that someone told me I'm at the stage in my journey where it's all about treating the treatment. I'm at that stage and that stage doesn't have a term except hard.
I'm at the stage where things are just hard because I just want to be "normal" or maybe a better word is past this. Many days I feel normal. Many days I don't think about what I still have to do or how I'm feeling. Many days are good, but there are still little reminders we aren't done with this journey. We aren't past this. When I have to remember to take the meds that I have to take for neuropathy. Or I twist the wrong way and I experience pain. Or I can't do things that I used to be able to do. That is when it's hard.
I didn't really tell anyone, even my kids didn't know but at my first post-cancer treatment appointment where they take blood and get base lines for the next 5 years, my liver functions came back high. We have been watching my liver functions this whole time because the meds they had me on can cause liver damage. They were expecting my functions to have gone back down, they hadn't, they had actually gone higher. They said we'd take another test in a month and told me to stop drinking alcohol (which I laughed out loud at because I haven't had any alcohol in a really really long time and definitely not since cancer) and to stop taking Tylenol (which again I'm not taking). I went back in a month later and the level went down a little but still high they decided we should do an ultrasound just to check that there is no damage. Today we had that ultrasound - the results came back really fast - like 4 hours fast- and no damage. Praise God! Everything looks normal. So it's probably just the meds and my body trying to heal from all it's been through. I think I forget how much my body really as been through. It's a lot.
And we aren't done yet. I have to do some physical therapy before surgery to try to gain some mobility in my arms. Reconstruction is still scheduled for March 17th as of right now. They keep reminding me that things could change. We really don't know what is going to happen because it's a week to week thing. I'm praying that we are going to be able to have it done because I'm not sure I can take another set back. The surgery is big and long and requires me to stay in the hospital 3-5 days afterwards so that is why everything has to line up perfectly. It's not like I can just go home afterwards or even the next day. I'm praying the hospitals will be moving back to some normalcy and that they will be able to handle my case. Prayers appreciated!
I'm not sure 2021 is looking much brighter than 2020 did at the beginning, which I'm sure most of you are still feeling. But the one thing I know is that I'm still walking by faith. I'm still trusting in God's plan and not my own. I'm still blessed beyond belief at all that He has brought us through. And I know even on the days that are hard there is always something to be grateful for! We appreciate you continuing to pray for us and for walking beside us during this journey.
Specific prayer requests:
1. Surgery happens.
2. We all handle the stress/process ok.
3. Guidance for our kids in their plans.
