I’ve now had 4 radiation treatments to my whole brain, and this is much tougher than I thought it would be. My body is reacting to this fight severly, which we didn’t expect. Yesterday I started throwing up everything that I ate or drank, so I talked with the doctor after my treatment in the morning. They increased my dosage of steroids to keep swelling down in my brain because they believe this is causing the vomitting too. It took until after 5:00 to get something to stay down in my stomach, but when I finally got the medicine to stay I started feeling a little better. I haven’t thrown up any more since last night, and I’m trying really hard to keep all the medicine down and eat something to keep it there. I’m on the steroid for swelling, an antacid to protect my stomach from the steroid, and I’ve still got cough medicine from earlier this year when I had trouble.
My head is pounding no matter what I take, so it’s been really hard for me to function normally. I had great plans to help Mark at the store and keep doing work from home this next two weeks, but those have been on hold. Today, I’m at my mom’s house near Markle just trying to keep my head from driving me crazy. The girls are here too, and we finally got them to lay down and take a nap. This ordeal has been really hard on them, and I’m sure they understand that I’m sick, but we don’t know how it affects them from there. Their lives and daily routines have been completely turned upside down, so please remember them in your prayers and cards.
We’re still fighting this battle and very encouraged by your words and prayers. I’ve learned to allow others to be our stretcher-bearers sometimes, and I’m grateful that God still acts and moves when others take on this responsibility.
God answered a huge prayer of mine this week! I still had 13 tickets to sell for the Women of Faith conference in Fort Wayne on August 3-4, and a dear friend from my office called to purchase all of them from me. I have been very worried about not selling the tickets because we have already paid for them, so I’ve been asking God to help. She will be offering the tickets to ladies at her church in Fort Wayne, so they can be blessed by the event, too. I’m not sure today if I’ll get to attend the whole conference like I planned, but I hope to be there for some of it. It truly is a wonderful experience of worship and praise with so many God-filled women in one place. Plus, I get to go with my mom, sister, daughter and other friends.
Thanks for everything you do to lift us up. We love you all.
Sandy
Sandy
Chris has been keeping me in the loop on your daily life. Ever since I knew of your battle with cancer, you have truely amazed me!!! Everytime she’d talk about how you’d just continue to go about your busy lifestyle through your treatments I’d sit with my mouth open in awe! You are truely a woman of faith and a FIGHTER! You have not once stopped or slowed down throughout this battle and I know that you are strong enough to continue fighting this in full force. Don’t let your new diagnosis stop your fight! God has given you an amazing gift to work through his obsticals and you have blown through each one with more energy than I’ve ever known anyone to ever have. I know you have it in you to continue through this next fight. Your attitude is half the battle. I can’t imagine how over whelmed you must feel, but way deep down inside of you is that “fighter”. Reach inside of you and bring it back out! You are an amazing woman with many many friends and a wonderful family. There is so much power in prayer and miracles do happen! We’re keeping you and your family in our prayers!!
Sandy – I’m praying for strength to your mind and body to help you fight this new unexpected pain and other side effects. May God give you some peace this week and next week to fight this cancer and heal your body. I’m praying for God’s Angels to come to you and spread their wings over you to give comfort during this time of pain.
Sending Love, Prayer and Angels,
Chris
Sandy,
I’ve been praying for you as we drive across the country.
Sherry
Sandy,
You and your whole family are in our prayers everyday all day. If you ever need a place for your girls to hang out let me know. They can come here and while you are at your moms they will still be close to you. I can do all day or even if you need a break for just a little while. I know that you want to keep things as normal as you can and that has been one of my prayers for your family. Please let me know if I can help…I am right here. If you need some fresh air …I love to walk and I am less than a mile from your moms so I could walk over and we could walk or just watch the kids play outside.
Love ya,
Tammy
Sandy,
Marcia and I are thinking of you and you will be in our prayers as well. You have a beautiful attitude and it, along with God’s help and support of family and friends, will help you in this battle.
Andy
Lamentations 3:21-25 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him…
Sandy, God has compassion on you during this time. Continue to hope, continue to seek. During your times of groaning, know that there are many praying, hoping and seeking on your behalf. God bless you and your family during this season.
My new CD went to duplication this week and will be finished August 31. You will be one of the first receiving…”endless HOPE”.
…we love you! Praying continually for you, Mark and the girls. Thanks for writing these updates! Hang in there!
Scott
P.S. Several (i’d guess 25) people gathered to pray for you all & Mowers yesterday morn. at church.
Sandy,
I have only known you for a year, but in that short time you have already been quite an inspiration to me. I know I mentioned to you almost on a weekly basis when you dropped off the girls that I had no clue how you do everything you do with what you are going through. You always give God the credit for the things you do and keep doing. You are able to look past the darkness and know that everything is in God’s hands. We have talked about how difficult it can be to give up what we think is our own “control” and let God lead us. Sick or not sick you have shown me that life is much easier when you turn it over to God. Hang in there. We pray for you, Mark and the girls everyday. I find myself awake in the middle of the night praying for you guys, while taking care of my daycare, while mowing the yard, etc. You are always in my prayers!!! Love you guys!!
Sandy,
Wow you are amazing. I will be praying for you and your family.
Sandy, Donna and I are praying for you and your family. YOu are an inspiration to all of us. Keep up the hope! You are making a significant contribution to IPFW’s school leadership department and I will pray that that can continue for many years to come.
Jeff
I am encouraged by every comment left on this blog. Thanks for praying for us and letting us know that you care. You lift us up when we cannot do it alone, and that means the world.
God bless you.
Sandy