I saw Sunshine again today at the Cancer Center. We are already on a first name basis. I know her name and she is getting to know my smile and birthdate. It looks like we will cross paths many times over the next few months.
Sunshine checked me in for “education day” two and later for the blood work. As I am sitting in the chair waiting for the “vampire” to draw my blood, I see Sunshine walking down the hall. She looks in the room and says to the tech, “You’d better keep an eye on this guy.” I was hoping that the tech would keep her eye on the vein that she was about to stick. It doesn’t take long to develop a reputation. The bell rings tomorrow for round two. Today was the final preparation. It remains to be seen if I come out fighting. I am not sure which will be more exhausting, the mental strain or the physical treatments. I will likely get some insight into which one in the next few days. Today was a day filled with mixed emotions. The endocrinologist’s office called with the initial results of the thyroid biopsy: inconclusive. More testing and more waiting, maybe two weeks or longer. I know that many of you have been praying for me. If some of you have been praying for patience for me, I would appreciate it if you’d ask for faith, hope, or love instead. Since last summer it seems like waiting has been front and center. We got some mixed news on the new treatment plan. First, some good news. By God’s grace the replacement drug is not as harsh as the “preferred one.” I think that means that I might get a hug or two from time to time, depending on my health and the health of others. For that I am more than grateful. The new therapy will be by injection and not by IV. That, too, is welcome news. There are some downers. One is that I will receive two injections a week, one on Tuesday and one on Friday. I have no clue what that means in terms of me being able to somewhat function normally. I was hoping that five days (Tuesday to Sunday) would enable me to preach each week. Two days might be a challenge. Another concern is that the steroids are increased considerably. I’ve only been on steroids once that I can remember and I quit taking them after a couple of days. There’s no choice this time. I see a battle brewing. The steroids cause increased appetite and weight gain. The chemotherapy drugs cause lack of appetite and weight loss. I hope that doesn’t mean that I gain weight in one part of my body and lose weight in another. 22 years ago I made a personal commitment to jog from the parking lot to the hospital each day when I was having seven weeks of radiation on my leg before surgery. The last four or five days the jog was pretty tough. I made a similar commitment today. Over the next four months I am going to do everything in the strength that God gives me to walk into the Cancer Center and bring some joy, some hope, some life, some laughter, or at least a smile. The three times that I have been at the Cancer Center I have not seen one person smile except the medical staff in response to something I have said. Cancer is like a darkness that can be overwhelming. I intend to be a light in the darkness. That may be a tougher challenge than taking the medicine.
2 Comments
Rhonda Dedic
4/17/2023 10:22:29 pm
Many prayers as you start your 2nd step. Don’t let that devil get in your head. God will carry you through this and you take one day at a time.
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Mike Webster
4/18/2023 06:18:14 am
Just came across your blog this morning.
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Chuck Cooper
Pastor at Daybreak Community Church Archives
February 2025
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