Forward

  Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them -- every day begin the task anew - By St Francis De Sales

Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out.

Patience is genius.

-   George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon

I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world
would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning,
understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.
-   Joseph Addison

The road to success leads through the valley of humility, and the path is up the ladder of patience and across the wide barren plains of perseverance. As yet, no short cut has been discovered.
--Joseph. J. Lamb

Patience is the ability to let your light shine after your fuse has blown
--Unknown 

³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.  Romans 5:3-5

On Monday, Feb 8th, I kept the oncology gyno(Dr. N) and oncology psychologist(Dr. K) appointments.  Dr. N is this darling petite woman and if I didn't know better I'd think she was really Dr. B in disguise.  As an aside, Dr. B's wife is also an oncology gyno who is finishing her residency with Dr. N.  Dr. N and hubby are expecting their first child in August and the joy of this pregnancy makes her eyes sparkle even more than usual!

She greeted me with several hugs and told me how carefully she's been following my medical trials and triumphs.  When she did the exam she was very gentle and let me know it is only a miracle from God that I am even alive and even more so that due to the radiation damages I do not need any of my 'plumbing re-routed'.  My Pap results will be back in a week and she will personally call me either way.

The womens' clinic is on one side of hospital campus and 3 blocks away is where the new cancer center is (it used to be in the same bldg) so I was going to get some exercise by walking over there.  It was a cold, wet-icy snow day and I was being careful walking.  As I was taking the last few steps out of the hospital parking lot I fell, hard, landing in the street. It was really overcast, I was wearing a dark olive green coat so it was difficult to see me and I nearly was struck by a couple of large vehicles.  Due to the icy slush I was in I couldn't get back up but blessedly 2 men helped me and it was so slippery even they were having a hard time not to fall.  One of the men I recognized as a manager in the admissions dept, he got a wheelchair and took me in to the ER to be checked out.  I let them give me a bag of ice for my knee but otherwise insisted I'd come back if I felt the need to do so.
I knew I'd end up with some dandy bruises, be stiff and sore but otherwise intact (which is exactly what happened, although I also pulled/twisted pelvic muscles on the right side, yeowza!)

The admissions dept called the cancer center and they sent a van over to pick me up (too bad I didn't know about that service before, as they'd have picked me up from the womens' clinic, sigh)

The session with Dr. K is the first time I'd spoken with a psychologist since the late 1970's; those long ago sessions completely altered my life for the better.  Those sessions gave me emotional, mental, spiritual and educational tools to build a healthier, more stable life; tools I've used for 32 years.  Back then my wellness goals were focused on mental and educational needs; right now my focus is on spiritual and physical wellness.  Frankly, as genuinely kind Dr. K is, I won't be seeing him for any more sessions, as he has nothing healing to offer me in either of those areas.  I have prayed about continuing with the anti-depressant and accept it as part of God's healing plans for me at this time.  As for 'therapy sessions' He has blessed me with wonderful therapists: Debby C., Nonna, Jody, David, Ted, Rick, Sabrina, Dwight, Ralph. Anna and second only to Jesus.......Mom.

To Judy, Gypsy, Donna, Debbie H., Bonnie, Spunda, Liz and all others your continued prayers, comments, cards and gifts mean more to me than words can express.  Thank you!

Oh, and after a slight battle with medicaid the oncology pharmacist at the center was able to get authorization for the oxycontin.  Finally, I've got a time release pain med that actually works and doesn't give me any side effects!  As a result I'm able to currently drop the 8 Percocets daily to just 2, yay!

And now I bid you all g'night.