After Five Years

Well, hello to you.....those who've been here before and any newcomers.  Right up front let me say this:  I am a Bible believing, born-again Christian and if you're not, this little blog of mine isn't here to whoop anyone about their unbelief (and I'd appreciate you not being cantankerous that I do believe). This little blog is about the journey in life I'm currently experiencing.  Mostly that means I'm writing about my front-line adventures with cancer, which I refer to as 'my monster'.  So, let's get on with the journey!

The archives of my journey go back to 2009, for newcomers it may be helpful to start there as it will give you information you might need or find of use, plus it will reveal a bit of myself to you.

Before I begin what's going on I ask you to be patient for a few more moments.

The remainder of whatever entries I add to this blog are dedicated to the woman who was my near-daily go-to person as I battled my monster in 2009, 2010-2011 and again in 2013. She prayed with and for me she let me cry and sometimes cried with me, at the times I started to whine or balk at what was happening she lovingly scolded me. Mostly, she simply showered me with love....a mother's love for her hurting child and a mother's joy for God's healing that child.

Thank you, God, for blessing my life with Dorothy ('Dee') Ann.  I miss her being here but am overjoyed that since August 21, 2018 she's with You!

And now a condensed recap:

Initially diagnosed July 29, 2009 with Stage 4B cervical cancer, declared in remission December 28, 2009

Late November 2010 diagnosed Stage 1 cervical cancer, declared in remission late June 2011

March 2013 diagnosed Stage 2 cervical cancer, declared in remission August 2013

From November 2008 when we now know the monster began to grow so by the time I was actually diagnosed in 2009 I was already in physically critical condition.  The massive radiation treatments, internally and externally in 2009 truly, unwittingly, set the stage for the medical problems I've endured ever since that time. The hardcore chemo treatments of 2010 merely added to those issues, then in 2013, just as my team of specialists began to get things under some control I went through six weeks of radiation which killed the cancer but caused my interior extensive burns which nearly killed me.

Yes, the treatments effectively killed the monsters, but the treatments also made me a poster child for side-effects; what my body has been through(and I still daily cope with 'new normals') is simultaneously horrendous and miraculous of God's grace in my life.  Having been monster-free during the past 5 years has afforded me the opportunity to become physically healthier even though I still have serious medical issues to cope with.  These 5 years have been a blessing I am thankful for.......because the monster is back and within the next 2 weeks I'll be starting chemo....due the previous damages of treatments I'm not able to have radiation and at least at this time surgery is out of the question.

And so a new journey; I've even got a new oncologist (more about that in the next post) and in those 5 years God has revealed lots of fancy DNA Genomics now being utilized in monster riddance.

God help me to focus on Your truths instead of the trials. Help me to give thanks instead of giving in to fears.  Help me to choose joy instead of anger.  Help me to trust in Your power instead of my plan.  Help me to elevate Your name instead of my own.