November 2, 2009

I appreciate your continuing prayers and words of encouragement as we battle cancer. I’ve been taking chemo every three weeks in Indianapolis, and it is going very well. We talked to the doctor about my extreme fatigue, and they prescribed a medicine that has really helped me perk up and have more energy. It’s like a boost every day, and it has brought me back from the fog and depression I was moving toward. If I would have known that a prescription could solve this problem, I would have asked for it a lot sooner. I had my fifth chemo treatment, and I’ve had to go to Indy last week and this week for blood work. It is a routine screening for the clinical trial, and it’s nice to take the day off. My next treatment is Nov. 11.

My foot problems have also improved– mainly because I decided that wearing a brace wasn’t practical for me. I’ve been wearing normal shoes (flats), and I’m walking fine. I’ll probably always have a drop foot from the nerve damage, but at least I can walk almost normally.

In my reading for the bible study I recently joined, I found the most incredible scripture that speaks to my journey. I pray that it will also encourage you if you are struggling. It’s from Isaiah 38: 15-20 (NIV).

15

¹⁶ Lord, by such things men live;
       and my spirit finds life in them too.
       You restored me to health
       and let me live.   

¹⁷ Surely it was for my benefit
       that I suffered such anguish.
       In your love you kept me
       from the pit of destruction;
       you have put all my sins
       behind your back.   

¹⁸ For the grave cannot praise you,
       death cannot sing your praise;
       those who go down to the pit
       cannot hope for your faithfulness.   

¹⁹ The living, the living—they praise you,
       as I am doing today;
       fathers tell their children
       about your faithfulness.   

²⁰ The LORD will save me,
       and we will sing with stringed instruments
       all the days of our lives
       in the temple of the LORD. Today, I’m praising God for being alive!

Blessings to you and your loved ones,

Sandy

But what can I say?
       He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
       I will walk humbly all my years
       because of this anguish of my soul.   

October 1, 2009

Yesterday was chemo in Indianapolis, and Mom drove me down. I’ve been so tired lately, that I slept all the way there and during my whole treatment. We talked to the doctor about my lack of energy, and she’s prescribed something to help me with this. I’m not sure about adding more medicine, but I’m really concerned that my lack of quality-of-life is more important than my fear of more drugs.

I’m still wearing the orthopedic boot on my foot from the nerve damage. They’ve casted my foot and lower leg for a brace that will replace  the boot, and I’m going to Physical therapy 3 times a week for three more weeks. My foot feels better, but I still don’t have the movement I need to walk without tripping. The brace may be something I have to deal with for several months.

Pray for my middle daughter, Shelby, because she had braces put on her teeth yesterday, and she’s not feeling very well. I think the pain is from the installation, and we’re trying to help her cope with having so much metal in her mouth!

I found something in my devotions that seemed appropriate to share here, because it hit me where I needed it that morning. It said, “Instead of seeing mistakes as terrible disasters, we begin to view them as normal and natural results of the courage to make decisions and take risks. For the Christian, that is simply a good definition of determining to live by faith, each day.” I pray that I live by faith every day through this long journey.

Take care and thanks for sharing your love with us,

Sandy

September 22, 2009

I’ve started physical therapy for my ankle and am now wearing a boot to keep it steady. It doesn’t hurt, but we don’t think the therapy is doing much to help it. I see the orthopedic doc again on Friday, so we’ll know more after that. I do all of my exercises every day because I don’t want to have surgery.

The new medicine I’m taking to help my appetite has been working! Food sounds good again, and I’ve been cooking some favorites so there’s more reason to eat. Now I have to avoid getting overweight again!

This weekend I caught a sinus infection and another infection, so I was back at the doctor’s office again yesterday. They prescribed an antibiotic, so I should be filling better really soon. Adding on these problems sure makes it difficult to stay positive, but I feel your prayers encouraging me to keep fighting.

We have a potential buyer for our house! This person tried to buy it before but couldn’t get her house sold, and she’s come back to us with another offer that we might accept. We’ll meet with the realtor tomorrow night and see what the details are, but she wants to purchase the house on a land contract with a good down payment. I have been praying very specifically about the house selling for the last two weeks…even to the point of begging God to move and helping the buyer get prepared to approach us. Less than a week since my last urgent plea, we had this call from our realtor. It feels like an answer to my desperate prayers, so please keep this at the top of your list, too. Selling our house would relieve us of a HUGE burden, and we are ready to leave that issue behind.

I hope you have a great week and enjoy the last snippets of warm, sunny weather that we’re having. Thanks for your ongoing support of me and our family. We love you all.

Sandy

September 11, 2009

This week has been really busy and stressful for us all. On Tuesday my liver bile stent was replaced in outpatient surgery, and I had CT scans in the afternoon. Wednesday, my sister and I went to Indy for my third chemo treatment. The CT scans showed that my tumors have already responded well to my chemo, but my doctor is getting concerned about my weight loss. She prescribed a new medicine that is supposed to help me gain back my appetite, so I’ll start that today.

Today I went to the Orthopedic doctor because I inverted/sprained my left ankle about two weeks ago, and it is still bothering me. They tested my nerve connections in the foot and determined that I have some nerve damage that is probably caused by the sprain. They gave me a boot to wear for two weeks, and I start three days of physical therapy a week next week. After this two week period, they’ll check it again and determine if it’s better or I need surgery. Believe me, you don’t want to have a nerve stimulation test in your ankle and leg! It’s not easy walking in the boot, but my foot feels a lot more stable.

Please be in prayer for the family of my friend, Sally L. She lost her battle with cancer this week, and we’ve been friends since we were little kids. She was also my college roommate at Ball State for our sophomore year. Her cancer was very similar to mine, so we often talked and compared notes. We even met a couple of times at the chemo center in Bluffton! She had a beautiful, christian spirit, and everyone who knew her will miss her until we see her again in Heaven.

Your prayers are working! Thanks for keeping them up on my and my family’s behalf.

Sandy

August 31, 2009

I have been feeling remarkably well since starting on chemotherapy again. My pain and nausea are gone, and I’ve been able to reduce the strength of my pain patch. My energy level is still very low, and I feel exhausted more than I have in the past, but I’ve also been able to rest most of the time that I needed it.

I’ll have my third chemo treatment next week in Indy, and I am scheduled to have my gall bladder stent replaced on Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Parkview. This has to be done every three months to keep it clear.

Thanks for taking the time to encourage me and our family. Your kind words and prayers keep us going.

Sandy

August 17, 2009

I have my next treatment on Wednesday in Indianapolis. Overall, I’ve felt better since the first one, and we’ve been able to reduce my pain medication! I still get really tired on random days when I’ve pushed too much, and I’ve learned to stop and rest as much as I can.

The girls are back in school and having a great time, and I think they were ready to gain some space from each other. Summer break sounds like it would be fun all the time, but they were getting sick of each other this month.

We continue to be grateful for your prayers and concern.

Sandy

August 6, 2009

We went to Indy yesterday for bloodwork for the study, and made it a date for our 14th anniversary too! It’s pretty sad that our times alone are almost all for medical stuff, but we can laugh at it and still have fun.

I’ve been feeling much better, and we’re going to drop down the pain patch dose and see if it affects me. I’d love to be off of these drugs all the time. I’m still getting sick after I eat a meal, and it seems to happen more when I try to eat meat. I’m losing quite a bit of weight, which isn’t so bad, but I may need to try some protein shakes or something to keep from losing too much more. My pants from last fall/winter don’t fit.

Thanks for your prayers.

Sandy

July 29, 2009

I had my first treatment for the new chemo yesterday, and it went well. We were in Indy for the whole day, so it made it long, and I was tired when we got home. There aren’t too many side effects for this chemo, so we’re excited about getting it started.

We were told by the doctor’s nurse that my participation in this study came together at the last minute of the last hour, and she told us we were lucky to get in. There are only 9 other women in the study, and I’m in the third group to get started. I told the nurse that it wasn’t luck that got us in to the trial…it was our own miracle from God and the prayers you are all sending on our behalf. God keeps providing situations and conversations to share what he’s done for us, and I’m grateful we can do this and give Him credit.

This Friday I am set up for another outpatient surgery to place a uretal stent between my bladder and kidneys so the fluids can drain properly. The bone scan last week showed a blockage in this area, and they are pretty sure it is related to the cancer and not a kidney stone. This might also be why my lower back has been hurting so much, especially on my right side.

Keep praying for strength and energy to keep this up. I’ll be going to Indy every three weeks for this treatment, and they couldn’t say when it will end…maybe never.

We love you all.

Sandy

July 27, 2009

We have our first appointment in Indy for the new treatment tomorrow (Tuesday). It will include talking with the doctor and then chemotherapy will be given for the cancer. I think I’m one of only 6 people in the state that were approved for this trial, so your prayers are working!!

One of the scans I had on Friday showed another blockage around my bladder, and the doctor wants to put in a stent to help the area drain like it should. I don’t know when I’ll have this done, but it will be another outpatient procedure.

This hill I’m climbing to keep my head up is getting steaper every day. I’m cutting my hours back from work this week because I’m too tired and groggy to do much worthwhile anyway. We are urgently praying that the new chemo will begin to resolve the pain and nausea symptoms that I’ve been experiencing right away.

Thanks again for your support for me and my family.

Sandy

PS– Shelby’s at camp this week at Lake James Christian Assembly, and she was pretty leary about seeing us leave for the whole week. Please keep her in your prayers also.

July 21, 2009

I spent the weekend in the hospital because I had an infection that caused a high fever and severe vomitting. They got me going with fluids, antibiotics, and pain medicine, and it all felt better by Sunday so I could come home. I’ve been working this week, but I’m not making it the full 8 hours. Yesterday and today I’ve gotten too tired to continue after lunch, and I’m going home early. My office is supportive of this schedule, and I’m still getting a lot done when I am here.

The doctor from Indy called today about the drug trial that I’ll be enrolling in. I have 2 major scans to do at Parkview on Friday that will take all day. The results will be sent to Indy, and then we’re hoping that treatment will begin the next week (end of July). Please pray that I’ll be healthy enough to be accepted into the trial and receive this new treatment. It will mean more trips to Indy for care, but it’s absolutely worth it if this helps me get better overall.

I’m very tired most of the time, and I’m still fighting pain everyday; even with the increased strength of my pain patch. The bleeding has stopped, so we may not need the hysterectomy, and that is great!

We’re still fighting this disease and trying to live life to its fullest. Thanks for your support in so many ways.

Sandy