My Thoughts - My Journey

In Matthew 5 we read that we are to be salt of the earth and light of the world. What does that mean for us in a practical way? Salt is a positive force. There are only a few of those in nature and light is another.  Example…if you do an experiment, you must factor in if the presence of salt and/or light are in or not because…by entering them into the equation…it changes the equation. We are salt and we are light, Jesus says.  When we walk into a room, things should change. When we enter the outside world around us…..things should change. If people seem different, act different around you….Good! They are supposed to because you, as salt and light, are to be a positive force in this world of darkness and evil.  Love one another and shine the light of Jesus.  Amen!

Often, especially in a sizable city, we are approached by homeless people or we come to an intersection off the interstate and there will be a person with a sign over-viewing their situation and will be in need of money. My preference is to give them food, or a food gift-card rather than cash; however, that is not always an option. So then, a decision has to be made. Do I not give because I am concerned if they will use the money in a manner I consider appropriate or will I give because it is an act of kindness and let Jesus sort out the rest? Several in Birmingham even have homeless dogs with them. It is so easy to look and judge….well, if they are really hungry and need money for shelter….why have a dog to feed and take care of? That dog might be their only friend and companion on this earth. That dog might be what makes them feel love and helps keep them sane in the middle of their chaos. We don’t know why they are where they are in life, but I bet there is a back stor

WOW....Yesterday morning my Medical Oncologist instructed me to stop taking the Xeloda immediately. My Hand-Foot Syndrome was so severe that the redness was starting to blister and the pain was very intense. I started having nerve sensations in my hands and feet and both were very sensitive to cold and heat. This is nothing new for me because I had an even much worse case when I was taking the intravenous chemo, Taxotere. It caused so many issues, I thought it might literally take my life. The Xeloda, like Taxotere is also making me so sleepy that I can barely hold my eyes open during the day. I will fall asleep in my chair and then wake-up and hour to three hours later.  It is crazy what chemo does to the body; however, we have to try to push through it because....at the same time....it is part of the means by which we hope to heal and rid our bodies of this horrible cancer.  Yesterday evening I started having severe stomach cramps....nothing like I have ever experienced short o

July 23, 2019 The oral chemo I am on for 6 months, Xeloda, is starting to build up in my system and results in my Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia (Hand-Foot Syndrome) getting worse. It is not yet near to what I experienced with the chemo, Taxotere. It has, however, become difficult to walk. With the red comes pain, swelling, and nerve sensitivity. I couldn’t close my hands when I first woke-up this morning. I am extremely sensitive to cold and heat as well.  I know in the scheme of my can cer journey, this might seem like a small hiccup; however, it is a little more important than that. This chemo only adds a 5% chance to the “odds” of my not having cancer again. That seems like a small number, but both my Medical Oncologist and my Radiation Oncologist have told me that the 5% could be exactly what I need to not have cancer return. Dr. Bondly, my Medical Oncologist, told me last week that if the HFS gets worse, she is going to have to cut my dosage because it could also cause other

MY STORY: Hair Renewal From Bald to Thick, Healthy Hair I have always had very thick and usually shoulder length to longer hair. When I was diagnosed with Bilateral Breast Cancer in September, 2018….I knew that was all about to change. I began chemo on October 9, 2018 and two weeks later my hair was thinning and falling out in clumps. I completed chemo treatments January 25, 2019. By now, I had been bald for several months. Now, it was time to start trying to get my hair to grow back and grow back quickly. However, there was a gap in time….as I was told by my Medical Oncologist, that the chemo would remain in my body for a few weeks to months. I knew then not to expect any new hair growth for at least a few weeks. I went into the hospital on March 5 th  to undergo Bilateral Mastectomy surgery. Therefore, I wasn’t able to lift my arms or even get in the shower for a couple of weeks. Here I was still bald and not able to do anything about it. I had started using Monat Hai

Prayer is crucial when it comes to making major life decisions. Sometimes the answer is immediate and clear; however, sometimes our prayers are met with silence. But, within that silence is the invitation to take a leap of faith. Like a parent teaching a child to be strong and confident, God lets go of our hand and lets us take a step that we feel we are taking all alone.  When we make decisions with the faith of a child, God's hand is only a heartbeat away. He never leaves us , but He wants us to live by faith and trust in Him...even when we don't feel His presence.  I have never felt His closeness to me any greater than I have over the past few months as I have walked my cancer journey. He stands beside me to help and heal...and He walks before me to guide my path. He has shared in my joys and He has led me to His pastures of peace and comfort when times have been a bit unsure and painful.  Prayer....the perfect gift from a loving Father. Amen! I am Yours!

I have completed my first two weeks of oral chemo and have went back to my Medical Oncologist on July 11th for my first check-up to see how I am handling the chemo.  I had a port issue the last time I had my check-up prior to beginning the Xeloda oral chemo. After it gave one vial of blood, it stopped working and would not give anymore blood. The night prior going to the doctor I had some pains in my port. They said that they would go with the one vial of blood for testing this time. My blood showed that I was low on Vitamin D again so Dr. Bondly gave me a prescription for Vitamin D....the same I had to take previously when taking intravenous chemo.  At my check-up last week, my port would flush fine, but would not produce a drop of blood. My nurse said that this occasionally happens and that I could have some dried blood that is blocking the flow. As long as the port will flush, it still can be used for chemo if I ever have to go down that route again. Praying that will nev