New Chemo, Still Able to Wink

On Friday, July 24, I got the chemo pump removed after my second chemo regimen.   The nurse, Jackie, was my angel.  She was so kind and caring.  She took my hands, and I felt of her love as if an angel were touching me.  Later on that night when it had been a hard night, I thought of her and her kindness.

After returning home that day, I experienced extreme abdominal pain and bloating.  I also had a lot of nausea and felt very tired.  Stephanie and Lee arrived here for a night on their way home from a Europe trip so at least I was able to enjoy a night with them even though I did not feel well. 

Since Friday, I have had some nausea, but the main problem has been the swelling and bloating in my lower abdomen.  I have also had a lot of fatigue.  However, I have been able to do yoga with Justin and walk some on the treadmill and lift a few weights.

 On Tuesday, July 28, I had another CT Scan of my abdomen.  It showed a little fluid in my upper abdomen and a moderate amount in my lower abdomen.  More significantly, it showed additional cancer growth in the abdomen.  With this new information, my oncologist is modifying my chemo treatments.  I will be receiving weekly treatments of Taxol and biweekly treatments of Ramucirumab.  I won’t be using the pump any more.

The CT Scan results are discouraging.  When I read through them, I became so discouraged.  I prayed and cried.  Although I did not receive a precise prompting, I was given an overwhelming feeling of peace and comfort.  With that, I was able to go forward without focusing exclusively on the scan results. 

I continue to appreciate everyone’s love and support.  The experience this past week reminded me of the song, “His Hands”.  The song depicts the Savior helping us through other people.  I feel the Savior’s love through so many people’s hands serving me.

In the photo below, we are enjoying the beautiful sunset.