The waiting and the blood pressure

“What makes us heroic? Confronting simultaneously
our supreme suffering and our supreme hope.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
I just read this quote in my grad class book. I was hit by the truth of it, not that I am even close to supreme suffering but I know what my supreme hope it. This is a perfect description of what Jesus did for us. Amazing.

I am waiting, the first chemo treatment was amazingly easy, and only left me slightly tired this last weekend. We did not have school on Friday and so I took a great long nap and we had an easy Saturday and Sunday which helped a lot. I have been back to work this week, and it feels good to have a "normal" week.

I went to my general doctor today to talk about my blood pressure and the meds I'm taking for that. Once again I was impressed with the quality of the care I received. I was listened to and given time to ask questions and process information and the doctor was a convincing partner in my care. God is being so good to me in this regard. I now have a slightly different medication, hopefully to help bring the blood pressure down some, and will check back with him in about a month. I know some of you were praying for my blood pressure and that appointment so - Thank you!

Thursday I go for a 5 week check up with the plastic surgeon and Friday I go back to the cancer center for blood work. They are looking to trace how well the chemo is working and how my body is handling it. If everything looks good then my next chemo treatment is March 15th. The schedule is once every three weeks, four times for the first "chemical cocktail" and then the same again for a second chemo drug, once every three weeks, four repeats. If I stay healthy and all goes well  I will be done in late July.

I am still praying about the option of radiation after the chemo, I need to learn some more and the radiation doctor wanted more details on the pathology report concerning the one involved lymph node.

Wow, lots of details. 

Again and still- the meals and cards that you all have provided mean so much to me. I am amazed and overwhelmed and as someone suggested today- humbled by your generosity and care for me. I am keeping all the cards, thinking that I will use them all to create a celebration party invitation list. :-)

Thank you - I need to think about another way to say that, those words seem inadequate to relate to the care you all have given me.

Peace,

Mary