Good news! It took four weeks, but my numbers were back up today! i thought they might be, there were a few people said i looked good and healthy this week! One person even said i looked better than i have in the 20+ years that i have known them (which was kind of hard to believe, because i was so much thinner when we first met!! ) My medical team has told me to eat whatever i could, and as much as i wanted. That it would help my body when i had chemo. i was a little concerned that i would gain too much weight, but took them at their word, and ate whatever my body thought looked good. And i lost 4 pounds! God is GOOD!
It is really good the numbers are in the normal range, since my insurance has denied meds that would help me with the low Neutrophils (aka: Neutropenia, which also includes low white blood cells.). So the frequency and amounts of infusions will be constantly adjusted going forward. As my body has a history of responding in unique ways, i know that my team will be on top of the treatment and my reactions. And that it will still be enough to completely get rid of the tumor, without the WBC dropping too low. There is not a way to tell if my ANC is too low, except for blood tests, so i will make sure my temperature stays below 100.4, and continue to eat as much as i can.
The fact that i had an extra week without chemo was also a blessing at work. We had the Global Missions Health Conference at the 920 campus this past Thursday-Saturday, and i was able to work the full schedule! It was a great conference, and i was glad to be there!
At this time, my next appointment will be the Monday after Thanksgiving. We will know around Thursday-Friday this week how much, if any, SE i will still have. i am loving the timing of that too, since that means during Thanksgiving i should have my appetite back. A wonderful thing to look forward to, because my brother and niece Sara are great cooks, (even when they cook mine without onions!). YUM!!
This year i am thankful for family, friends, co-workers, and the support network God has brought into my life. i am thankful for my medical team, many that i also count as friends, and the passion they have for helping those with cancer, to live a life without cancer. And for those who only know my name, and still regularly lift me and my family up in prayer. Thank you Jesus!! i (we) are truly blessed!!
