Power Port Appointment Coming Up

Oh, I'm loving this beautiful summer weather! Today was a good day and I even was out and about a bit running some errands with my niece. I checked in with my own GP this afternoon and we readjusted my morphine intake so I can be pain-free. I really want to be able to move around more and when that sun is shining, I am determined to be out there enjoying it. The hospital called this afternoon and I will be getting my power port on Monday afternoon. I'm so happy about that - I'm looking forward to procedures becoming so much easier.
Did you notice that I finally figured out how to remove the pictures? Time for some new ones now. Maybe this weekend!
Onward and forward - one day at a time (thanks for that musical reminder, T!)

Love in Him,
Sandra

New Hope

This afternoon I had another big appointment with my oncologist. The CT scan showed that there was no change and everything has remained stable. That was the most promising news I could have expected. I, as well as my onc., were surprised by the good results. The left kidney remains the biggest problem, however, and it seems as though there may be cancer in the kidney. However, that is a bit of a mystery to the medical profession. I am going to change to a new regimen of chemotherapy - one drug that I have not had before. Hopefully, the side effects won't be too harsh. Before I start the new chemo, however, I will have a power port "installed.". That way no one will need to find veins again. The power port will allow them to do chemo, do blood work, and even inject dye for CT scans. I am looking forward to having that done as soon as possible. My onc. wants me to begin chemo within the next two weeks so the power port has to be put in soon.
I feel thankful and encouraged by today's visit. God answers prayers and He has given me results that I hadn't even thought possible. It amazes me how God answers our prayers in surprising ways. I am blessed with new hope. Thank you, God.

In Christ Alone,
Sandra

Happy Canada Day!

It was a good day today. My parents came by this afternoon and I even squeezed in a nap after their visit. I've been reading a good book, too, and I think I may even finish it tonight.
"You are my hiding place.
You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyous songs of salvation."(Psalm 32:7)
I missed being able to sing songs with God's people at church today but what a promise to know that I am surrounded by songs of God's saving grace. And sometimes, even in the night, those songs come to mind to bring comfort and joy.

Live in joy this first week of July!
Love, Sandra

Hide and Seek

What should have been a routine CT scan turned into a 3 and a half hour painful search for a vein. When I went into the radiology department this morning they needed a vein for the dye that they use for a CT scan. My veins went on strike and could not be found. They looked in my arm, my hand, and my feet. Nothing! It was pretty awful being poked over and over again. When a vein was finally found it was extremely tiny so they had to drip the dye through it in the slowest pace they could go, and even that was excruciatingly painful. It was not a fun morning and now my right hand is going to look like a bruised pin cushion.
The afternoon was all about relaxing and resting and recuperating from the morning ordeal and now I'm feeling much better again. I kept a cold compress on my hand so hopefully that will keep the swelling down. Definitely time for a port line of some kind.
My sister just left this evening and my niece is here with me now. Thank you, staff, for the beautiful bouquet of flowers and your card of kind words. Thank you, everyone, for prayers and love and concern.

God is ALWAYS present - even on the tough days.
Sandra

God is good!

What a beautiful day! Sunny, warm, and full of good things. My brother-in-law fixed something that had been broken a long time on my computer. My sister gave me a little hair trim this evening. We tried to make my hair look thicker because it's getting so thin and it worked. I had friends drop by to visit and that was just plain heart-warming. I didn't have to move around much today and that meant the pain stayed away for the most part. Yay! Thank you, God, for relief from pain. I even played a song on the piano. God is so good; He's so good to me!

In God's love,
Sandra

Shielded and Protected

It's going to be a very still week. As long as I stay put and don't move around too much, I can keep the pain under control. And that's my goal. I'm so glad to have my sister here with me this week so she can help out in so many different ways. Today she baked some delicious cookies. Come on over for tea and you can taste them.
My sister shared a beautiful Bible verse with me and I want to pass it on. Deuteronomy 33:12 says "Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders." Isn't that just so comforting? I love that verse - the image of God wrapping His shoulders around me to protect me and shield me as I walk along step by step.

God is my shield,
Sandra

Let Go and Let God

Finally I'm feeling awake and alert enough to put up this post on my blog. Yesterday afternoon I had my nephrostomy tube replaced. However, just like Monday afternoon, what was supposed to be routine and painless turned into another painful experience. When the doctor went in to replace the tube he noticed that the kidney had collapsed, or was not dilated. He suspects that there is either a tumour in the kidney, or a tumour pressing against it. I needed a lot of morphine and have continued taking a lot today, too. I'm pretty good as long as I remain still and don't move around much. It takes all my pain-fighting energy just to go in or out of my chair. I'm the most content to just stay put in one place and I keep dozing off. My mom and dad were with me the last two nights and now my sister and brother-in-law are here.
I just read a devotional about worry. Pretty appropriate for me right now. It's easy to worry about what is next down the road but that's not going to help. Help me to let go, God, and give this painful burden over to You.

Thank you all for your prayers and love,
Sandra