I have been putting off writing this blog update because of the pain behind it. At the beginning of July, I was let go from my job. It was messy and hurtful and just seemed unfair. I have always held a job since I was 14 and working at Chick-Fil-A, so this was a shock to suddenly be without one. I questioned how God was going to use this for my good like He promised in Romans 8:28.
As always, God showed His goodness in what was a dark time. I have been having a lingering feeling for several months of how much longer I would be able to work with my fatigue and other side effects from chemo. I don't think that I would have been able to make that decision myself, I would have kept working even to my detriment. God took that decision out of my control and made it for me. Wil put the good spin on it saying that I officially retired at 38 years old.
Since being retired, I have been able to have more energy to spend with my family. I can pick up and drop off the kids, cook dinner, joined a women's bible study, and have had time to meet up with friends and family. Also, having time to actually rest. My body has been beaten up over the past 13 years and tires easily.
Also, I volunteered to help make a video for the manufactorer of my chemotherapy- AbbVie. It will be an internal used video to show employees the "why" of their work. We assumed it would be a small event- with just a few workers and boy did I underestimate the project! There was over 15 people there- camera crew, directors, producers, and more. They kept referring to me and Wil as "the talent." The final video will have three other patients using other medications that will air at their annual conference in January/February of next year. We are hoping we get to see my portion before then though. Wil had the great idea of asking if we can attend the conference too- you know they won't hold it in Chicago in the dead of winter.... hoping we get a trip to somewhere tropical! It never hurts to ask.
Now onto the medical side- my chemotherapy is still working. My cancer blood marker has been stable. I will be getting a PET scan in the next few weeks to monitor since it has been 4-5 months since my last one. I still have neuropathy pain in my feet and numbness in my feet and hands but I am able to manage it.
On my birthday- I had to go to the cancer center to see my Symptom Management Nurse Practitioner and get my labs before chemo. My NP got me flowers and my chemo nurses- Autumn and Ginger- got me coffee. I was able to sit with them and catch up and laugh! Wil and the kids made me feel loved with cards and presents.
Prayer Requests:
1. Praise for the kids having a great start to school - Wilson in 3rd grade and Parker in kindergarten. Both have amazing teachers that fit their personalities well.
2. Pray for the PET scan to show stable tumors- no new tumors and no growth on the ones we know about. Pray for God to grant us peace in the waiting and to lower any anxieties about the results.
