How’s She Doing? Round 3 (Almost 4!!)

Chemo #4 is on Monday. I can’t believe that this day is already so close. When life is lived while broken down into week cycles (chemo week, recovery week, “normal” week), it tends to move pretty quickly. I’ve been very impatient during the last two weeks since I now feel like the end is in sight. It occurred to me recently that I haven’t really left the Jackson-Metro area since November (with the exception of a trip to Eupora at Christmas) – I’m beyond ready to recover and feel like I’m off my leash!

Chemo #3 was very much the same as #2. I feel a little boring saying the same thing over and over and over, but it’s true. Fatigue and reflux during the first week. Taste changes during the second. Pretty much back to myself for week three. My reserve has probably lessened more than I realize, and I’m sure that what feels like normal now isn’t actually my true normal, but I really do feel good. My scalp looks like a baby bird and I rarely wear anything on my head while at home – I’m sure that I’ve scarred several of the neighborhood kids!

A little while ago, our Sunday School lesson was on Noah. I don’t remember what the intended focus of the lesson was because my heart fixated on one point. Noah and his family were safe on the boat. They were “held”. A storm like the world had never seen before was raging outside, but inside the boat, they were all safe. That’s how we’ve felt since November. We are being held.

The Lord was preparing us for this storm for years before it was on the horizon. We had no idea that so many of the joys and trials and trivial things in our history would prepare us for what we are dealing with now. This is not to mean that the cancer storm has been easy, but I have never felt so safe in my entire life. Does that make earthly sense? Not at all. Just like building an ark made Noah look foolish to the world, many times I feel like people think I’m foolish in a “bless her heart, she’s in denial” kind of way, but I keep this bald head held high and carry on.

As I close up today, please say a prayer for my friend “A”. Her own storm has strengthened. The Lord is guiding her and carrying her, and she will have her own beautiful story on the other side of her storm.

Love to you all,
Devin