Catching up on my health

For the past couple of months I've just been going along with my 3 week chemo treatment plan. But I've recently had more scans which is going to change things. The MRI on my brain showed continued growth of my main tumor which progressed from 16mm to 19mm in 3 months. The PET scan done 5 days ago showed "substantial progression of the metastatic [spreading] disease" which involves the liver, bones, left breast tumors and lymph nodes. The liver seems to have the most cancer involvement. The doctor has decided since the current chemo regimen doesn't seem to be holding the cancer in check, he is going to switch me to something different in the hope that this will be more effective. It's difficult to be hopeful since so far, nothing medically has seemed to help very much. We're still praying for a miracle.

It's easy to be discouraged and depressed with news like this, but as my sister, LuAnne pointed out - we have lots to be thankful for. The best thing is that I feel pretty good most of the time with no pain. This is the strange and frustrating part. How can I feel this fine and have so much wrong with me?

Some dear friends of ours loaned us their condominium at the beach for Valentine's Day weekend and I felt better that weekend than I have in months - possibily years! It's the first time Walt & I have been able to get away together for ages. We've got a great family who is surrounding me with love and friends who are dedicated to praying for my healing. Others have brought bread, sent cards of encouragement, called, visited, sent flowers and even knitted a prayer shawl! I couldn't ask for more. So in spite of the bad news, I will continue to trust that God has the best plan for me and I'll try to focus on all the good things to be thankful for in my life.