Chemo Day 1

How cool is this? I'm in the chemo room getting my first treatment...in a cozy chair with my laptop and good wireless connection. Munching on salted nuts and drinking loads of water. With my parents visiting the last few weeks I haven't spent much time on-line so it's nice to be able to read e-mail, catch up on Facebook and maybe even start a blog to keep others posted on the latest.

Dennis and my mom came along -- definitely look like a newbie with my four bags and support team entourage! The others in the room are clearly veterans at this process.

Mom is knitting a cute "chemo cap" that I'll be wearing in a week or two along with the cute wig I'll pick up next week. She also brought lots of beautiful scarves that we experimented with - will definitely take some practice.

The nurse thought my port - my Power of God Port - has healed well since it was implanted last Tuesday. I received two pre-meds through it to help with anti-nausea and then got two different chemo drugs. The first (Adriamycin) is bright Blood of Jesus Red and the second (Cytoxan) is Cleansing Clear. The second one gave me a pretty instant headache but Tylenol took the edge off. Light meals and other meds to take today, then back tomorrow for 2 hours of saline solution and a shot that boosts my white blood cell production. This will be the routine for the next 16 weeks (every other week for treatments, times 8)...to save you the calendar check -- that's until early July, with a month and a half of radiation after that. Will be a long journey that may fly by...or not, only time and going through it will tell.

God brought me again this morning to Isaiah 61, reminding me that He has prepared me for such a time as this and will use this in mighty ways:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendor.

(Isaiah 61:1-3)

Blessings to you all and thank you for your on-going prayers.