Continuing the Path

I continue to respond to the initial chemo after 30 weeks so we will continue on that course of treatment. On new meds for the numbness in my hands and feet. I was diagnosed with glaucoma about a month ago will see a neuro-ophthalmologist on Oct 4th. However my first check-up with the ophthalmologist showed the pressure in my eyes is down to 14. The taxol is still continuing to play tricks on my eyes but I am doing pretty well and I have not had to curtail many of my activities especially church/ministry and hanging out with my grandson, the other two members of his family and my friends. Sending lots of love. Peace

FUN Wednesday

Another great chemo day! After chemo we went to the High Line then to Chelsea Market to pick up lunch and then back to the Highline to dine outside. On the way home I mentioned to my girlfriend Susan that Wednesday is a perfectly day for the middle day of the week and I must stop calling it chemo day. She agreed with me it is so much more. She called it a day of Fun, Food, Fitness and Chemo. This morning the #6 was not running uptown from 53rd and Lex so we walked to 66th and 2nd and then we walked part of the High Line, the Chelsea Market and then part of the High Line again then on to Penn Station. In between we enjoyed a lovely lunch of lobster bisque, shrimp wrap, lobster roll and yes we were a little bad we ate the home made chips and before lunch we ate our two customary tri color cookies; one for each of us. Unfortunately my sister Jackie, who also went to Chemo with me, left us just before lunch to return to work. It was a truly wonderful day. The topper was I called my girlfriend Lorraine who prays me through Wednesday mornings and asked her if she prayed for fun. She shared she prayed for fun for some children who were attending a grief camp. I believe those prayers carried over to me also. I also believe those children had a truly wonderful day filled with fun since that was the prayer request. God leads I try to follow since there was a part of me that did not think I could do the High Line today since recently I am very tired after chemo. Today was no exception, I was even tired before and I was asleep even before the Benadryl was administered and I slept in the cab all the way downtown. I thank Jackie for taking us downtown and God for giving me the stamina to have FUN. I thank God for the strength to walk on numb feet and have FUN. I also thank God for all of you who like Lorraine are praying me through WEDNESDAYS.

God is GOOD All the Time

At an early dinner Val my friend who accompanied me to Chemo treatment today declared today was a good day and I fully agreed with her. Who would have thought you could utter chemo and good day in the same sentence. It was truly a good day. God placed four stage 4 cancer patients and three supporters together in the same area and we got to talking. We were soon talking and laughing out loudly. In the process we each shared some of our story. We also saw the sonogram picture of the soon to be first time grandma in the group. There was a wait however the infusion went smoothly and I slept as usual. I came home took Negra for a walk, did some reading from The Lord of the Rings and will soon be off to bed for an early night. God is GOOD all the time. Love to all.

God's Sense of Humor

God has a great sense of humor and finds very original ways so I do not forget his lessons. A few days ago I received a lovely card from Monica telling me she loved me and wanted me to be reminded she is praying for me daily. I recognized what a dear friend Monica is and then I remarked thank you God for showing me how to care for the sick so when this is past I will know how to love your children who are sick in deed and action. You see I am surrounded by such a circle of love it is truly truly remarkable. I shared this with Val at Chemo yesterday and I really believed that was the lesson attached to that card but there was more to it. This is when God’s sense of humor surfaced. I asked Val and John to look in my back-pack and hand me my bottle of water. They asked did I want it opened and my response was no. So with my left hand in the nurse's, as she was putting in the line, I placed the bottle between my legs and with the numb fingers on my right hand I opened the bottle and you can guess what happened, yes water all down the front of my pants. After much giggling and plenty paper towels I fell asleep. I woke later for my trip to the bathroom with my date (the IV pole). I pulled down the pants and they were wetter and colder on my legs than I thought they should be. So there I am in the bathroom having a conversation with God about that wicked sense of humor. Out loud I said You knew that recliners are tilted backwards, you could have reminded me the water would flow backwards but no. My lesson was to not only to ask for help but was to accept it when offered and not to deflect any of the love sent my way. There is nothing like walking to the subway on a rainy day with a wet bottom to cement a lesson in one's memory. I thank Monica for the lovely card which God used to teach me some valuable lessons. The first phase of my treatment is winding down with three more chemo sessons left. My oncologist is pleased with the progress so far. The next phase will be determined at the end of my last session. I thank you all for this circle of love around me and ask that you continue to keep me in your prayers. God bless you my sisters and brothers. Peace

Good News

I received great news today. The CT scan shows healing of the cancer in the hip and a remarkable improvement in the lymph nodes and the breast. This scan was performed last week; just past the half way point of my chemo treatments. I am thanking God and praying others receive good news as well and have friends and family with whom they can share their good news. There was much joy and praises lifted up in the examining room as my friends Susan and John received the news along with me. Please pray for a former colleague I saw at Sloan today. Thanks for all your prayers and I ask that you continue to lift me up in prayer. God Bless you all.

God is Faithful

Yesterday I reached the halfway point of my treatments. I was a little more tired than usual as a result of the night before. Plumbing problems caused a lot of anxiety. God however gave me quite a hug as I dicovered a bible reference written on a receipt as I cleaned off the dining room table that night. The reference was Jer. 29:11. When the plumber left it was almost midnight but the problem was only a clog in the main sewer line and not what I first feared. God continues to give me a hug whenever I am in dire need of one. I am so gratedful for all your love and prayers which contribute greatly to my peace as I live into the hope, both now and eternal. As we move into Holy week may you all look to the hope our faith makes possible. The hugs he provides via all of you keep me smiling and for that I thank God. Loads of love to all of you . Peace, His Peace. I ask your prayers for 8 year old Niamh and her mom Petra as Niamh undergoes extremly painful and difficult antibody treatment for stage 4 cancer. In his love. Margaret

April 7, 2011

Yesterday, April 6, 2011 Margaret began Cycle #3 of her treatment! According to Margaret herself, Dr. Goldfarb was very, very pleased at the apparent response to the chemotherapy; there is certainly significant visual change to the area. Follow up tests including extra lab/blood work, CT scans, EKG, and an Echo are scheduled and will be completed before her next doctor appointment at the beginning of Cycle #4 on April 27th. Margaret and I both noted that it is amazing how time passes so quickly noticing with thanksgiving that 7 weeks of chemotherapy infusions have passed, only 9 more to go to the 16th week mark! I give thanks to the Lord for Margaret's continued strength and courage during this trial. Margaret continues to inspire me. Her faith, trust, and love for Jesus continues to support her in remarkable ways, and therefore she is such a magnificent witness to the Love, which is our gift from the most loving God. Thank you for your continued love, prayers and support. Lorraine