We Pause …

This week we (Mary) takes a break from all treatment and the daily routines. This is the week of the annual convention of operating room nurse’s. I believe the formal title is the AORN Congress, I’m sure there is more in the title but I don’t feel like look it up. Besides if you are not an OR nurse it may not mean much to you.

This has been an annual event at our house almost sine we were married. It was more exciting when the girls were little, but we learned we could get along for  week without mom. We also learned that Dad (me) isn’t a bad cook, but I don’t keep notes. So reproducing a memorial meal could be a challenge. But I wonder off course.

The date and place of the Congress varies from year-to-year but it is usually in early spring. Which means that a year ago, cancer was something that other people dealt with. My how times change. It also means that this will be the first time Mary has seen an number of folks in a while, and it may be the first they have heard of her journey with cancer in the past 10 months. I makes me stop and think how many people all of us come in contact with during our lives. Regretfully we don’t always do a good job of keeping in touch. It makes the support so many of you have expressed n so many ways that much more meaningful.

I think this week will do Mary as much or more good than all the medicine. It is a chance to regain some control of things. Don’t we all want to control our own lives? It means a return to normalcy on some level. It also means a break from treatment and work. Hopefully it will recharge her emotionally and physically as she nears the end of active treatment. (I will make another post and an mail on that soon.)

So when you read this say a little prayer that she has a good week, doesn’t over extended herself and is able to renew so long term friendships. Until next time may the grace and peace of God be with you.

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Speaking of the Mississippi gulf coast, I learned this morning that there is a “Before and After” link on the home page of Sun Herald that has a fast collection of before and after images and stories. So here is a link to that site if you are interested. (http://www.sunherald.com/217) On a note of personal interest today’s headline deals with renovations of the Biloxi Lighthouse. Which if you hav been to our house you know Mary and I have more than a passing an interest in lighthouses.

March 14th Sun Herald http://www.sunherald.com/100/index.html

A Change

Life is about changes. Some change is good, some change we understand, some change will challenge us and some change is just change. Watching radiation treatment is a lot like that. I can’t detect much of a change and Mary hasn’t reported lots of change, which I suppose is a good thing, but it is changing.

For one thing the days left in the treatment process are decreasing. I think it is safe to say that we have passed the halfway point. Earlier in the week the doctor reported that treatment for the Hodgkin’s was nearing completion. By next week they will only be treating for the breast cancer. Then last night Mary reported that they have changed the orientation of the radiation treatment. I guess this means we have indeed moved to a new phase of the treatment.

Two noticeable side effects from the radiation are worth mentioning. The most significant is an irritation of the throat. This has made swallowing difficult for Mary. It is not that she can’t swallow as much as it is a lingering sore throat. As a result she prefers softer foods that are less of an irritant. The less significant effect is that what e called the chemo cough has returned. Good news is that these should fade away once the radiation is complete. We are hopeful that completion of the Hodgkin’s treatment will decrease the irritation to the throat, since that treatment was focused on the breast bone.

Another area of change is Long Beach, Mississippi and the Gulf Coast in general. It is now eleven months since my first trip to this area since Katrina. In that time our church has made numerous tips, at least 8, to the area. We are seeing change but it is slow. I haven’t been here since last November. Our small group got in late last night, so it will be interesting to see what has changed when we go out this morning. Changes, improvements are slow to come but they are coming. The speed of the change challenges us to continue our efforts. As a society we have come to expect results, on our timetable, usually quickly. Some change takes time. Like treatment for cancer, rebuilding after such a devastating event takes time. There is so much to be done that it can be overwhelming.

In the end we must trust in God and rejoice in the small steps that we are able to accomplish and see first hand. Our faith must be in God, who uses all things for good; when we work on His time table and not our own.

May the grace and peace the comes from knowing God be with you.

Half WayThrough Radiation

By this afternoon Mary will have completed 15 of the 33 radiation treatments. Her natural tendency to tan rather than burn has severed her well to this point. Some of the other people she has meet during treatment have had the anticipated sunburn effect along with peeling skin. Thus far she has not had any of that.

On the down side the radiation for the Hodgkin’s tumor has caused some irritation in her throat. It hurts to swallow rough foods and she has some hoarseness and a slight cough. She is eating a lot of soft foods and dripping vitamin E tablets down her throat to keep it from getting any worse. On the whole she is doing well and goes to work most days.

We were told to anticipate a short break in the treatments but for the time being she goes by each weekday after work for a 30 to 40 minute treatment. I think the worse part is the extra traffic se encounters on her way home. Let’s pray that will continue to be the most noticeable effect. As always we covet your prayers.

May the grace and peace of God be with you, Mike