Monday, July 21, 2008

Spiritual warfare

I am beginning this post while we are sitting in the clinic. Keith is sleeping. Of the five bags of chemo he gets, two have finished. We still have about three and a half hours to go.

Keith has been feeling pretty good. We were able to go on our trip to be with Keith's parents, sisters and their families for his dad's 70th birthday. It was nice for everyone to be able to be together. I think the last time everyone was together was at the wedding for Keith's nephew a couple of years ago.

As I sit, watching over Keith as he gets his chemo, I think a lot. Today my thoughts have centered around spiritual warfare, and how Satan is continually trying to get to us. Everywhere God's people are trying to work, Satan is there trying to tear things down. I have a friend who is need of prayer, because of the spiritual warfare that Satan has launched.

I know there are times when Keith and I feel the oppressive weight of Satan's power. It weighs us down to the point it is difficult to get back up. As Christians, we know all we have to do is ask God for help. The hard part seems to be letting go so that God is able to help. I can't speak for Keith, but I tend to have a harder time letting go and letting God. I am not usually someone who can hear God speak, but there has been the occasion that I have sensed God trying to tell me to let Him handle whatever is bothering me at the time. That is the point that I tend to get into trouble. I can let go of it for a little while, but I have trouble leaving it with God. How I long for the day that will be an easy task!

I know that at one time or another, all Christians will struggle with Satan and spiritual warfare. It is a given at least until the Rapture. I do think that it is important that we not be afraid to admit when we are being attacked and ask for prayer to see us through. God says he will not forsake us. We have to have faith that God is who he says he is!

Until next time!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Dancing in the rain

Keith is beginning to feel better after chemo on Monday. He still tires easily, and his appetite isn't completely back to normal. He did feel well enough to meet a friend for breakfast this morning. I think it was good for him to be able to do that.

I think we're doing okay. For the most part, we aren't focusing on what the lab tests in two weeks will say. Keith will have to go back in to have his counts checked on Tuesday. Keith's family is gathering in Georgia to celebrate his dad's 70th birthday. We can't go if Keith's counts are too low. I guess Tuesday will give us a small indication to what the following Monday will bring. I am reminding myself not to focus too much on it.

Inside the lab at the cancer clinic, there are little sayings posted. Keith saw one on Monday that seemed very appropriate, especially for us.

Life is not about waiting until the storm passes. It's learning to dance in the rain.

I think that sums up what we have tried to do during the last 12 1/2 years. If we waited for the storms to pass, we would have missed so much!

I hope that you too can learn to dance in the rain!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Another treatment...

We have had a very nice couple of weeks. Things have been somewhat calm, considering everything. Nick had an appointment in Birmingham last week. Everything seems to be settling down just a little bit. His oncologist has scheduled PET and CT scans for mid-August. If these scans yield good results, the doctor is willing to let us take a step back for a few months. We would dearly love for that to happen. We have certainly traveled to Birmingham more frequently that once a month during the last 12 1/2 years, but it does get monotonous.

Keith had another round of chemo today. He also had a checkup with the nurse practitioner (CRNP) who works with the oncologist. We were surprised by how low Keith's platelets had gotten. Since the beginning of June, Keith has been getting an additional shot to help with his platelet production. Keith has been feeling pretty good and not having any problems with bleeding. We were taken completely by surprise with today's news. Keith was able to receive treatment today, but the CRNP recommended more of the platelet shots as a preventative measure. Keith will be getting a platelet shot everyday for three days this week and repeat the series again in two weeks.

Hopefully, these additional shots will enable Keith's body to tolerate another chemo treatment in two weeks. I fear that we are approaching another stopping point. Keith's bone marrow is tired. He has endured so much and had so many drugs pumped into his body. It's not a surprise that this chemo is hitting him so hard. It is hard to accept when we know that this is one of Keith's last hopes of being cured with medicine.

Today has been a little discouraging. We won't really know much more until two weeks from today. In four weeks, we will meet with the doctor to discuss everything. Please continue praying for Keith and our whole family. We aren't ready to quit, but there may not be a choice one day soon.

Keith is feeling okay from the chemo today. He is tired, but that isn't unusual. From tomorrow on, each day should be better than the one before. It is quiet around our house tonight. The kids have gone to stay with Keith's parents for a couple of days. They love spending time at Nana and Pawpaw's house. I'm trying not to dwell on today.