Good morning family and friends. Today is January 14, 2014. “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” ~ Randy Pausch. It’s a rap. My radiation treatment is now complete. I feel a sense of accomplishment as I finished Round #3 of my intense clinical study therapy. It almost feels like I just completed finals week at Bloomington with “A’s” across the board -- especially because I received a “diploma” from the radiology department at the University of Chicago! Oh yes I did! I know that as they study my case and its results, the data that they collect will be put to good use. Wouldn’t it be a bonus to have this therapy actually work… I will be returning to the University of Chicago and meeting with Dr. Liauw in two weeks for a follow up visit. Not much will be discussed at this appointment, it is just a general checkup to make sure that my skin condition is okay and that my vitals are still in check. Then on February 10, I will have a CT scan performed to see the condition of the tumor. Dr. Liauw has already prepared me for the confusing results. Of course, we look for shrinkage of the tumor, but chances are, the tumor will be enlarged -- not because it is spreading, but because it is swollen from the radiation. In fact, my whole insides will probably be swollen as radiation is invasive and causes swelling. I am just going to go with the flow and listen to the expertise of my physicians on this one. If they say there is nothing to worry about, then there is nothing to worry about. I’ll leave the worrying for later down my path. Over the weekend, we celebrated my birthday which had taken place during the frozen vortex of last week. It was such a joy to be able to spend time once again with Addi and Mason. Between illness and weather, we had not been able to see each other since our Christmas picture was taken the day after Christmas. But they made up for lost time as they entertain me to the hilt with their playful bantering. Not only did they help me opened my presents and served me like a queen, they had me laughing nonstop with their many antics. Out of the mouths of babes – Mason thought my new purple coat and my new Swiffer were “amazing”, as were the purple roses on my birthday cake. Yes they are Mason, yes they are! His tiny fingers told the story of just how much he enjoyed those yummy purple roses! If I could ask all of my prayer warriors to switch gears for a moment. Today, I would love to donate all of my well wishes and healing prayers to a special friend who is in dire need of them. Kerri Kimbrell Midkiff is a beautiful young wife and mother in her 30s who battled breast cancer up until four years ago when she went into remission after having a double mastectomy and total hysterectomy. Over the Christmas holiday, Kerri received some devastating news as her routine CT scan detected the return of her cancer -- this time in her lung, five lymph nodes, two ribs and on her spine. This overwhelming news rocked her family to the core. But the Midkiff/Kimbrell family is a strong one and their love will lift Kerri to new heights in her battle with cancer. There are no quitters here, just a strong and determined clan that could use our prayers right now. May I ask you to join me in pleading with our Lord to heal Kerri from this illness and place her on a rose – covered pathway to recovery. She has two beautiful young daughters, a wonderful husband, marvelous parents and siblings, and numerous friends that would appreciate any and all prayers on her behalf. As I have learned during my ordeal, prayers are the best gift that anyone could give, and I know Kerri and her family feel the same way. God bless you, Kerri. Stay strong, sweet girl.… Today I start a break from cancer treatments, and I am going to embrace the days ahead free of injections, blood draws, and hospital gowns. It has been a long eight months of cancer treatments, yet living those days, hours and minutes passed by at lightening speed. I will continue to wake to new sunrises with a song in my heart. I hope you will too. Love to all. EXCERPT from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young: “January 14: Let Me bless you with My grace and Peace. Open your heart and mind to receive all that I have for you. Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My peace. It is easy to touch up your outward appearance, to look as if you have it all together. Your attempts to look good can fool most people. But I see straight through you, into the depths of your being. There is no place for pretense in your relationship with Me. Rejoice in the relief of being fully understood. Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weaknesses into strengths. Remember that your relationship with me is saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing that you do or don’t do can separate you from My Presence.”
Posted on: Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:42:35 +0000
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