On Sunday morning, the 25th of November, I was too weak to lead worship service at New Friendship Church. My symptoms were very flu-like on Saturday evening, so I called in a dear friend who agreed to preach for me. Thank you, Marty Bean.
It is difficult to know if these symptoms are from the chemo or from the cancer. We will know by January. Lack of strength, decreased mental acuity, stomach problems... these have become my companions.
On Sunday morning, December 2, I was still weak but determined to lead worship. A friend at church picked me up and off to church I went. I don't like admitting it but I was dreading the service; not because of the worship, but because of the way I was looking and the weakness my body was showing.
After the service I felt God's encouragement. He let me know that the worship was all His and that New Friendship Church was able to pitch in and assist.
I had a diagnostic CT last week and met with my oncologist yesterday to review the results. Not terrifying news, but not good either. We will be changing chemotherapy treatments to a drug that I will take once every two weeks. The last drug I took was ineffective.
There is some wonderful news. I have the month of December to recharge my system. No Chemo In December. Yay!
There are times when everyone needs to conserve their energy for the most important tasks. When you are sick conservation becomes doubly important. I have a link listed here. The site has a wonderful modern parable explaining how an ill person needs to conserve energy.
The writer is a Lupus sufferer and definitely has a way with words. She tells a simple story and when she is done you have a new understanding about needing to conserve energy. Take a look. I think you will like it.
Merry Christmas to You
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
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Diagnosis: Esophageal Cancer, adeno-carcinoma at the junction in July 18, 2011
Staged: at 4a just a couple of days later
Chemo Port Installed: July 31, 2011
Began radiation and chemotherapy: early August 2011
Esophagus removed: Jan. 19, 2012
Surgery Approach: Large belly incision to allow access to gall bladder, lymph
nodes, esophageal junction with stomach, etc. Large back
incision to allow access to the upper esophagus and lymph
nodes through the ribs.
Hospital Stay: 10 days
Feeding tube removed: end of Feb/first of March
Life changes: Type 2 diabetes disappeared. Current weight <200 lbs. (This
is a HUGE loss for me.) Very little stomach remains. Small
meals and many meals. Dumping Syndrome remains. (Look
it up.) Weakness. Some depression. I have received love I
didn't know I had. God has emptied His blessing bucket on
me many times since diagnosis.
