A Season

It has been awhile since my last update and much has transpired. I will do my best to cover the most significant events. I left off asking for prayers that the second bile duct tube procedure would go well. This is when the Scripture, Romans 8:28 comes alive - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. When the doctors went in to put the second drain in they noticed that the first drain had become blocked. They unblocked it and put the second tube in. That was Monday, March 10th. By Tuesday, March 11th I began to notice that something wasn’t quite right. Of course I’d have pain from the procedure, but this was different. I was discharged from the hospital that afternoon. By the next morning I was back in the ER for weakness and pain. We had been tracking the drainage and it had nearly quadrupled the amount. I could not keep up with taking in enough liquids to equal out the liquids I was losing. Tests confirmed that I was dehydrated. They turned off the drains and I was told to take a combination of Tylenol and Motrin to deal with the pain. I went home that evening.

EXTREME PAIN

By the next day my pain had increased greatly. I ended up that night in another hospital ER. There they did a cat scan. It did not reveal anything significant. The pain could be associated with the tube coming in contact with nerves, my ribs or the movement of my diaphragm. This time when I was released I went home with a small prescription of oxicodone which helped alleviate the pain. The next day I had an appointment with my oncologist who was greatly concerned. She gave me a refillable prescription of the oxicodone and sent me to the urgent care at Sloan in New York that evening. Only, since it was the weekend, the team of doctors that would address my case would not be there. We left there at 1 am. Still, my pain had been addressed. That Monday I had an appointment with the Sloan surgeon. It was a lot of information and I felt overwhelmed but she did put in a request for my case to be reviewed by the IR team at Sloan.

PREPARING FOR TREATMENT (CHEMOTHERAPY)

I was scheduled to begin chemo that Friday, March 21st. I wondered how I’d be able to sit in the chair for the hours necessary. My nerves were a bit shot. I could feel anxiety trying to creep back in, but I kept holding onto the promises of God Who cannot lie.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.  Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God’s peace returned to me and I was able to go through the treatment. What’s quite amazing about this also is that in spite of my bile bags being turned off my bilirubin count came down to 2.4, allowing treatment to go forth.

GOD’S PRESENCE ALONG THE WAY

God’s Hand - God always shows up to remind us that He’s real, He’s here, He’s moving in the midst. One night I was on the phone with my friend, Tammy. She was praying for me. All of a sudden I felt a hand on my shoulder. My instinct was to jerk back, but then I realized that this wasn’t a human hand. I relaxed and listened to the prayer ever present of this hand from heaven on my shoulder. It stayed there throughout her prayer then faded away.

The Fence - On the morning of my treatment I decided to take the car ride with Elan and Sabrinia to drop her off at school. Sabrinia and I got to the car first. I sat up front. The fence was in front of me. As I looked at the wood grain I suddenly saw Jesus’s face etched out in the lines. It was Him, just His face, with His eyes closed and the crown of thorns upon His head.

I believe the messages from these are that He is present in my suffering. He suffered for me and in my suffering I will be drawn ever closer to Him if I will. I will. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

These are just two examples. There have been many in the way of prophecies, dreams, visions and Scriptures from as far back as two years ago, preparing me for such a time as this. So that I will trust Him and be able to get through with stronger faith and belief in my Savior.

TODAY

Today is Wednesday, March 26th. I’ve had no significant side effects thus far from Friday’s treatment. I’m grateful. I will have another treatment tomorrow, Thursday, March 27th and then go into Sloan, NY, on Monday, March 31st for testing to see if any or either of the bile bags can be removed.

PUZZLES

I love puzzles. My mother often had a puzzle out on our dining room table. She loved them. My interest in puzzles was reignited while working in the classroom. The teacher and assistants would have one going for the students and staff. It was a great break time activity. Since being out of work I started a puzzle. Once that was finished, I asked my husband to order another one with inspiring Scripture and scenery. One of the teachers I worked with sent me another with beautiful Scriptures. I find myself at peace while working on these. It takes my mind off my illness and I’m able to focus on finding those pieces while spending time with the Lord. I love puzzles.

PRAYER POINTS

• I will not have any significant side effects from the chemotherapy, but that it would be effective in killing the cancer cells.

• God will give the doctors wisdom in how to handle the bile bags, and that I will recover well from the out-patient procedure.

There has been such an outpouring of love from you all and many others and I am so thankful. Thank you for your prayers, your donations to our meal train, which has been invaluable, and the words of encouragement with Scriptures. They are priceless. God is good. He is the Creator of all life, everything seen and unseen. He sustains us. He loves us. He walks with us, talks with us. He’s amazing. He will get me through this, one day at a time. It’s a journey. It’s a good one. The best is yet to come!

In Christ our only Hope,

Carla