Wonderful Family Love and Support

September 18, 2015

On Wednesday, September 16, I completed the third week of my chemo regimen.  I will now have a week off.  It will be good to have a break.

The first week of the past regimen went well.  I was not as sick during the week following the first treatment.  In fact it was Labor Day weekend, and three of my sisters (Jessie, Kathleen and Tammy) and their husbands visited us for the weekend.  We spent most of the time at our Lake Anna house.  It was really fun being with them, and it was relaxing at the lake.  I could rest when I needed to.  We spent time eating, visiting and laughing.  I enjoyed watching the others do water sports, and we all enjoyed a nice boat ride.  I even took a ride on the jet ski.   Before we went to the lake, my sisters also helped me pick out some wigs.  We had so much fun as they tried on wigs as well.  I felt a lot of love and support from them.  My family is fabulous!  

The second and third weeks have been more difficult.  I have felt much sicker with headaches, body aches, nausea and stomach pain.  Overall, it has not been a lot of fun.  It was my daughter’s birthday (Stacey).  She and Stephanie, my other daughter, came to visit me on the weekend of September 11-13.  I felt pretty good on Friday, and we took a little bike ride around the Washington monuments.  It was a beautiful day, and we took a very relaxed pace.  It was very pleasant.  Unfortunately, on Saturday, I became very ill.  I had a severe headache and lots of nausea.  I spent nearly all day in bed.  I was very sad and disappointed because I had planned to take Stacey shopping for her birthday.  Sunday, I felt a little better, but not great.  I was pleased to be able to attend at least one hour of Church on Sunday.  I always enjoy seeing so many friends and feeling their love and support.   For the remainder of this week, I have not felt very well.  I haven’t had to stay in bed, but I continue with the pains described above.  Sleep has also been challenging.  

Even though I have not felt well, Heavenly Father and the Savior have blessed me.  For example, one day when I was feeling extremely sick and crying, I prayed asking whey I had to experience all this suffering.  In response, I was reminded of one of my favorite scriptures in John 14:27, which reads as follows: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  I am grateful for the peace that comes from Heavenly Father and the Savior.