Challenges and Fun along the Way

Our daughter Sarah from Cumberland, Maine signed up to run in her first Triathlon early in February. It was a fund raiser for the Maine Cancer Foundation. The very next day, I was diagnosed with colon cancer!

August 15th, Sarah along with over 900 others swam in the ocean 1/3 mile, biked 15 miles, and ran 3 miles. Sarah finished in the upper 10% of competitors. Please see the pictures of why she ran. This race raised over $900,000 for cancer research. Thank you Sarah for your effort for Mom and others.


This past week, with a bit more energy most likely because I had to stop one of the chemo drugs, we have experienced some wonderful adventures.

First was to the Tall Ship Festival at Chicago's lake front. 19 masted ships with an unbelievable amount of ropes, rigging, and masts. We were able to board several of the ships-schooners. The quarters below were tiny. We had to bend over in the living quarters. That's where over 24 hammocks sleep some of the crew, Claustrophobia for me! From the depths of the ships to climbing up the rigging to the high sails. Life on the water is challenging. That life is not for me, but they were delightful to visit.

The next day was a visit to The American Girl Place. What a wonderland for little girls. It is fun to see. Annika, our 9 year old granddaughter, LOVED it. We celebrated her returning to Mongolia with our visit and lunch.

Mark, Cinda, Annika, and Toby return to Mongolia on September 5th traveling through Seoul, Korea and on to Ulanbataar, Mongolia.

Hope - and another treatment

Earlier in the week, someone gave me a rock etched with one word.....Hope. Reading in a devotional on Wednesday morning, the topic was "When I need Hope".

We had blood drawn in the morning and met with the Dr.

We knew the results of the blood counts would determine whether further treatment would be given or stopped after 10 cycles.

The devotional went on with: "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope
Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassion's never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23

We waited, we prayed and hoped we could continue, and we waited. After several minutes, the Dr. came with the word "Come on back, we can give you another treatment."

The ANC - Neutrophil count was the highest almost ever! One of the drugs, Oxaliplatin was stopped due to an increase in side effects which could be permanent. The other two chemo drugs, Leukovorin and 5-FU were continued.

The devotional went on..."The foundation of my hope is Christ's resurrection and the strength of my hope is His presence and power."

For praying, THANK YOU. No one has more profound thanksgiving than Don and I. God's grace is overwhelming. Don wrote the following: It was a fast rule when I operated that I reminded myself and all in the O R.....you have one chance to beat cancer, and this is it. We would then put our hands on top of each other and say, Let's beat cancer. It is my solemn prayer every day.

with JOY and HOPE

# 10 I am getting another treatment

While counts were up last week, they were again down this week with the possibility of stopping any further chemotherapy. Ideally, I still have three treatments to complete the protocol of 12.

ANC - Absolute Neutrophil Count was again 1..0. Not high enough for treatment with that alone.

After talking the Dr., a hand count of a specific sub-set of white blood cells was done. My heart was willing to accept whatever the Lord had prepared. (But I sure wanted all the treatment possible.)
It almost seemed like it came down to one number. That is not a truth as many, many factors enter into the decisions of chemotherapy.

Returning with the hand counted results of the sub-set put me up to 1.7. I was cleared for another round. #10 is infusing as I write. I will be disconnected from the pump on Friday afternoon.

Thank you again to so many who encourage me and most of all pray for all aspects of this illness.

Reading from another blog this eveing, I was directed to Psalm 119:14 "You are my refuge and my shield. I have put my hope in your word, Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live." Repeatedly later in the chapter are further words of petition. "Look upon my suffering and deliver me, renew my life according to your promise, preserve my life, O Lord. v. 175....Let me live that I may praise you."

Praise be to God!