Thank you so much for all of your prayers. Today I met with my oncologist this morning and again left the appointment peaceful. As of right now, it looks like I’ll begin chemo next Wednesday. However, this is a different recipe of chemo than the first time, and doesn’t include the steroids I took. So that was the first big praise to Jesus!! This chemo would be every four weeks and be given over two days back to back, and I’d probably receive 4 to 5 treatments. Currently I have these subcutaneous (close to the surface) spots in my back that are cancerous, believed to be caused by the lymphoma. We’re hoping that even after one treatment we’ll be able to tell a difference in the size of those spots, something to gauge if this recipe is effective. 

I know you may be thinking, why in the world is she so happy about this? Well, while chemo is never fun on any level, there are just some major blessings that I don’t have to deal with at this point, like taking steroids (which made me feel sick, so restless and not be able to sleep), I might not lose my hair completely like I did the last time, and I have four weeks in between treatments instead of three. 

The hope and prayer is that this treatment will put me back into remission and then we can address some other treatments, such as a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. But before you can deal with the bone marrow we need to get it healthy again. My oncologist is continuing to consult the team of doctors she normally consults to get their perspectives and opinions on my case, so I’ll let you know if anything changes. But if not, then I’ll begin this new treatment a week from today (Wed., Sept. 26). 

Pray for continued wisdom in each step. Pray that this chemo treatment would again be like a Pac-Man game chomping away at the yuck. Pray for me and my family as we prepare for the weeks and months ahead. Pray for protection over my body during upcoming weeks when my counts are low and am more susceptible to infections, especially during this upcoming flu season. Pray for my body and dealing with potential side effects from these drugs. Pray for all those who hear this story, that they would know that my God is greater and that He will become more famous through every step. 

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:1-5).

Thank you God, that Your Hope will not lead to disappointment! That’s huge right now when it felt like this whirlwind of disappointment swept through like a tornado uprooting the life I had in Austria. I still have no idea what God is up to or how this will play out. And yes, it’s extremely strange and full of mixed emotions to be back here right now, and I want to share more of that soon, but right now this jet-lagged girl can barely keep her eyes open and is heading to bed! Night!

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