Well, it’s been 4 weeks since my last journal and since I was disconnected from round #1 of my third time with chemo in battle #8 of my now 33 month long journey with stage 4 metastatic synovial sarcoma. The first two weeks after that disconnect were a bit rough as my blood markers dropped, I was anemic for several days, a bit nauseous with less appetite, lost my hair again, and was quite tired overall. But the last two weeks have been quite good in recovery and now I am once again ready for round #2 beginning tomorrow. This new round also follows an improved PET scan from April 26th and a couple of echocardiograms which despite nearly a 20% drop in my EF%, have still allowed my oncologists to prescribe this next regimen of ifosfomide.
Going through chemotherapy at home in Long Beach has been so much more enjoyable than when we lived in Houston two years ago. In the past few weeks we were thrilled to welcome the Cheatham’s from Phoenix, the Hutton’s from Dallas, and for one of my good weeks, Kathy and Sheldon Waeger from Tulsa. Sheldon even shaved his head prior to coming to be in solidarity with me….how cool is that? My chemotherapy also did not prevent us from enjoying other wonderful get togethers for dinners, Angel games, LA Kings Stanley Cup Playoff games, the Convene Chair bi-annual ICS meetings, or even my ability to roast my long time friend, Randy Gordon, former CEO of the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. And even though the effects of chemo are cumulative, I am praying God will continue to grant me the strength to live my life to the fullest during this next round to come, also.
Thank you all, as always, for your continuing positive thoughts and prayers for Sheri and me. I must add that I sadly lost two fellow Convene Chairs to cancer in the past 30 days and also we have added three dear friends to our prayer list in that same time, all with some form of cancer. The bottom line is that cancer sucks, but with Jesus at the helm, His Word our armor and strength, His daily presence of mercy and grace giving us peace and hope, and His Body (you all) encouraging and inspiring us, we know that whether healing or heaven awaits, “it will be good”.
1 Peter 5:10 - “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
