Month: August 2016

It has been a few weeks since we last updated you all.   I have missed the last couple of chemo treatments and my sister Jodi did a great job of filling in for me. 

Val is on #4 of #12 of her weekly treatments today. This latest chemo regimen has been much easier for Val to handle. Her tummy hasn’t been as upset and her anxiety challenges have not been an issue!  On the Friday of her treatments she is pretty tired but other than that things have been going smoothly. 

The kids are getting all set for school which starts this coming Monday.  Marching Band has been in full swing for several weeks with Sam and Kara starts fall soccer season right after Labor Day. It feels good to transition to fall activities and a new schedule. 
One thing that has really struck me during these treatment days is that cancer doesn’t discriminate. There is lots of waiting on treatment days in between the blood draws, nurse visit and then onto the actual infusion process. This provides me ample time to indulge in one of my favorite activities, “people watching”. 

As I observe all the other people doing their waiting as well, you see people from all genders, nationalities and ethnic groups. Young and old alike and it always seems so busy.

This disease has touched many lives and we are all related to each other through the struggle.  It is hard to contemplate and wrap my mind around.

As I was doing my devotions the other day I came across this thought that really resonated with me …..

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From Chuck Swindoll’s Daily Devotion. 

Have you noticed how suffering brings people together? Have you watched how people join forces to respond to disasters? Hardship forces us to grab hands with one another and pull up closer together. Suffering never ruined a nation! Hardship doesn’t fracture families. Affluence does! But not suffering. Not hardship. It pushes everybody to the same level with the same goal: survival. 

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Thank you to all of you who have grabbed hands with Val and our family as we walk this journey together. 

Marc

Wow does 3 weeks go by fast!  Above are just a few pictures of what has gone on the past 3 weeks and it has been a good sabbatical from treatment.

The first week after our last treatment we laid pretty low as Val was recovering from her last treatment from the first phase of chemo.  I was traveling that week and Val’s mom and dad came to stay while I was gone.  Unfortunately during a storm one of the trees in our yard decided it didn’t want to be up any longer.  It came down and squarely landed on my in-laws van totaling it in the process.  We sustained a little house damage but nothing too big that can’t be fixed.  You can get a feel for how large the tree was in the picture of Sam with the left over stump.

The second week we were without kids as Sam was off to Band Camp and Kara off to Grace Adventures for Horse Camp.  It was a good week for all of us as the kids both had great times at their respective camps along with Val and I getting a little time alone.  We had a nice week visiting with friends, going out to eat and just generally resting.

The third week was filled with a few more activities with one of those being a trip to Chicago for a concert to see Hillsong UNITED and Lauren Daigle at the United Center.  What a great concert and wonderful time of worship!

Today we start Phase 2 of chemo treatment.  For the next 12 weeks Val will get a chemo treatment every Friday.  This Phase 2 treatment is a different drug from the first phase and our understanding is that most people handle this phase better.  As part of this treatment cycle she will get a big dose of Benadryl which will most likely make her sleepy.  She will also get the same dose of steroid as from the first phase.  As you may remember, this steroid was the thing that caused her the most challenge with keeping her motor running and having trouble sleeping.  Now that she is getting this dose weekly instead of every other week, we are a little concerned about the side effect it may have on her.

So we are off onto the next phase of treatment!  We would ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer.  Specifically that Val has very little side effects from the steroid.  Thank you so much for the love and support!  We are so very encouraged by all of you standing with us!