Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Hebrews 11:1

Everything was okay with my doctor's appointment today. He said he'll plan another PET scan in about 4 months.

I got this Scripture reference a week ago in an email. I get a daily Scripture email, also, and this was the Scripture on Sunday. Then Sunday night it was the Scripture in my Max Lucado devotional. I think God is meaning for me to put this down in my spirit. I liked the translation Sunday night:

"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it."  Hebrews 11:1 (New Century Version)

Saturday, July 14, 2007

The Maker of heaven and earth

I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

I finished my 8th and final Erbitux treatment on Thursday. It is so good to know I don't have to go next Thursday for that infusion of Benadryl, Decadron, and Erbitux. Also, after this weekend, I can begin putting the side effects behind me. That will be very nice for my body to be able to get more back to normal. My Colorado trip is less than 4 weeks away. Hopefully, my body will have mostly recovered by then.

We make our one day trip on Tuesday to see my surgeon for a follow-up visit. I think he might be surprised to learn that I've now got 8 Erbitux treatments behind me as he thought they were given once a month. Even my radiation onc didn't realize it was a weekly treatment.

(Please pray for a young friend of mine who has already battled breast cancer once. She will be having a lump removed on Thursday for a full biopsy. Tests so far do not show anything alarming, but pray the biopsy finally gives her full peace of mind. Also, her dad found out last week that he has very serious prostate cancer. It has been an overwhelming week.)

Monday, July 9, 2007

Hold back the tears

Today I went for an already scheduled orthodontist appointment. My orthodontist decided I needed to have new retainers made. Therefore, I had to have new impressions made to have the retainers made like he prescribed. Since I've had 3 surgeries in my mouth, my range of motion is limited in my jaw. So the technician uses smaller trays for making the impressions. However, not even that made it easier today. The Erbitux is making my mouth really sore with ulcers and extra sensitive on the right side where I've had the surgeries. Oh my goodness! It was not fun to have her pull on my mouth to get those trays in place! She could tell it was very painful for me and apologized. She assumed it was because of the limits of my mouth to open. I told her that it was actually because my mouth was so sensitive in reaction to the treatments I've been getting for the return of the cancer in my neck. She acknowledged that I had been battling this cancer for a while (as I was in braces when I had the very first surgery on my tongue). She then asked me if it was okay for her to add me to the prayer list at her church. Of course, I told her that would be very nice. She then told me how she believed in prayer and that we just don't understand why some things are allowed to happen. It was all I could do not to burst into tears. It was just so like God. He just has this thing about timing, you know! He is just so good to me. Who am I, that He would use an orthodontics technician to, again, let me know that He is very aware of the battle that I am fighting...to assure me, once again, that there is power in prayer. I need that to hold onto so much. Like I've shared before, there are other voices that try to come in and displace The Voice of Truth. Thank God, He loves me enough to intervene on my behalf and say, "I'm here. I know your struggle. You are not alone."

"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11