Breast Cancer Awareness

Thought you might enjoy this video from an Oregon hospital. Celebrate breast cancer awareness! Get the word out. Have you had your mammogram?

Cancer Free - More Proof!

One long three hour series of tests today but results are - cancer free! PTL! Let the parties begin!

Rear Ended

I've been out of commission for a few days. While minding my own business someone rear-ended me Thursday. I really felt bad, she totally took the blame and she was getting married this weekend, so I can see how her mind was somewhere else!

I immediately had a headache and neck pain but went home and called my own doctor. When I finally got a call back they said I needed to go to urgent care or the emergency room due to needing a CAT Scan. I then called urgent care and they said they didn't have a CAT scan so I needed to go to emergency. Well after four hours at emergency and pain meds that just made me sick it was decided I had whiplash so I went home and am once again recuperating with Ken taking good care of me. No mac and cheese as yet.

I was ready to start goofing off! But this is just a short delay!! Hopefully it didn't stunt my hair growth!! My main concern was that it didn't delay getting my port out on Wednesday! But all is still on schedule. Life is great isn't it?!

Dallas

Ken had a media thing in Dallas last week and since it was kind of last minute and I have a good friend there he decided to drive and take me along.

He had a great event and good interviews and I had good shopping and visiting. Now I know what it's like to shop till you drop. Not quite back to normal but really working on it.

I did get an appointment to get my chemo port out and will be doing that next week. You'll hear some shouting when that happens. Will be real happy to have that out. Kind of like the final remnant of chemo, no more bruising, no more flushing it out, no more having it in there.... Thank you Jesus.

Arizona Was Hot, Hot, Hot! & Cancer Update or Non-Cancer Update!

Had a great time visiting with Melba and Dick but it was hot! Broke a record for the hottest ever on one of the days we were there, I think it was 107! We obviously stayed in pretty much most of the time. But the visiting was really nice and we enjoyed getting to be together.

Ken had a great time teaching his classes and he had great response. There were about 50 in attendance and many were published authors. He really enjoyed it.

In the airport on the way back I saw two couples that I knew. They of course didn't recognize me since on this trip I decided to start wearing my own hair! No more wig. It feels good but it's really, really short. My mother's comment when she first saw me was, "your wig looks really good." So you can probably imagine! And for some reason it's coming back white and gray! But not curly as sometimes happens.

CANCER UPDATE:

Cancer check-up yesterday 9/30 - all good. Doctor's comment: "the chemo did it's job." I'm cancer free! And the ports comin' out. I am just waiting for the surgeons office to call with an appointment date. Praise the Lord. Of course we know God did it - the Great Physician. Thank you Jesus...

Last Minute Fun

I am headed to Arizona to visit with my cuz Melba. You might remember that she came and spent a couple of weeks with me during my chemo.

Ken is speaking at a Writer's Conference in Phoenix and she lives in Scottsdale so I decided to fly out for a week on an Allegiant ticket and visit her. Ken will spend an extra couple of days over the weekend so it will be a little bit like a vacation during that time.

My cousins, Dick, her husband is special too, are the ones that sent Nurse Gurdy so she will be going home during this trip and then be put to work on the home front since my cousin fractured a vertebrae over the summer and is having problems with that. Nurse Gurdy to the rescue once again. She does a great job!

It's still hot in Arizona so we won't be doing a lot but it will be nice to visit and get away from the house for a few days.

I hate to admit but I have been in a bit of a slump. I guess getting over the treatments and back in the swing of things, well really not swinging much yet, but ready to swing and not feeling up to it. Some of the symptoms are hanging on and my hair is not growing fast enough! Do I sound ungrateful? I am working through it but this week should help. I am looking forward to getting out of the house and having a little push from my cousin. Look out Scottsdale!!

Treatments Are Over

Well today was a big day. Treatments are over and I am sleeping in tomorrow! Ken went with me so I have pictures to share.

Last Radiation Treatment

Headed to my last radiation treatment. Ken's going with me so you know there will be photos!! Last night we got carried away with his new Photo Booth with me hairless. Needless to say, you won't be seeing those!! Unless we get into another laughing spell like last night after that session!

One More Radiation Treatment

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the big day. The last radiation treatment! Yes! I think I'll sleep in on Friday just cause I can! No more daily trips to the treatment machine. I'm almost done, I'm almost done!

Last Week of Radiation Treatments

Only two treatments to go. Yippee! Can't wait to be on the other side of all of this. A treatment tomorrow and meet with the doctor, then another treatment on Thursday, then I am done for six weeks with the radiation side of things. The six week appointment will just be a recheck. Then I won't have to see them for another six months. Sounds good doesn't it?!

Not sure of my next steps as far as the chemo doctor and rechecks on that side. Should know something soon.

I think I'll ring the bell on Thursday as I walk out of there, finished with another round of treatments.

God is good and He is faithful.

Cancer Treatment Update

I have eleven radiation treatments to go and I will be finished - I hope. That is the plan. Many of you have asked about my diagnosis and so I am including it here - I was what is called S2A or stage 2 which is worse than stage 1 but better than stage 3! Or also Stage T2N0 ER- PR- HER eratic. In English: One of the two tumors was larger than 2 centimeters but there were no lymph nodes involved. Now you are completely confused, right?! That's OK, just know this, because of your prayers and His healing touch soon I will be done with all of this and life will go on - praise the Lord.

I will be excited to not be driving to Cox Cancer Center every day and getting back to real life. We are continually working on book projects and I am working on a women's book at this time hoping to involve some new women in the project.

Life is good...
Friends are great...
God is ever faithful.....

Home from General Council

We are home and had a great time. We saw lots of friends and we had a wonderful time seeing many of you who have been praying for us through this time. I returned home tired but it was well worth it.

Nahum 1:7 (New International Version)

The LORD is good,
a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in Him.

General Council in Orlando Here We Come

Getting ready to leave for General Council August 2. If you are going to be there, please stop by the Pentecostal Evangel booth, I will be there a lot of the time and would love to see you! Ken's making me work! Actually I love it because I get to see so many people and talk to so many. Looking forward to thanking so many of my prayer warriors in person. I do know that without you we couldn't have walked this valley the way we did. God was faithful and so were you.

Today we pack and get the final things ready for the booth and the website going live and you can check that out at www.onwardbooks.com.

I am also excited about being off from the radiation treatments for a week. I have started to burn a little so this week will give me a chance to heal and hopefully be enough time to get over that and not do it again! Three more weeks when I return and then hopefully a clean report of no cancer and no more doctors for a while! Of course I do know they will be in my future for a while but just not so often! I do have to say that everyone of my doctors and nurses and everyone handling my care have been extremely good to me, and the experience, if I can say, has been very positive in the way I've been treated.

Well we have come a long way together. And know this, "We can do all things through Christ that strengthens us." Have a great week, I plan to. Hope to see some of you in Orlando.

Third Week of Radiation

Starting in on my third week of radiation. Have to have blood work Monday also. Checking up on me to see if my counts are staying up. Getting a little tired but nothing like chemo. Still having the tingling in my feet and hands. Starting to have pain in my chest but hoping that doesn't get any worse, will be talking with the doctor on Wednesday regarding that, see what he has to say.

Looking forward to next week when we go to General Council in Orlando, Florida. Will be getting ready this week and fly out on Sunday. Ready to have a great time, seeing friends we haven't seen for a while (probably last Council, two years ago!), eating at good restaurants, goofing off, and not thinking about treatments!

Well praying you all have a great week and keep smiling...

Second Week of Radiation

Starting in on my second week of radiation. One down five to go. Compared to chemo this is a piece of cake!! Not chocolate but ... more later.

Not happy about still losing my eyebrows and eyelashes! Shouldn't this part be over!! I guess I'll go read a scripture about vanity!!

AG TV Interview

Check out Ken being interviewed by our General Superintendent Rev. George Wood.

First Radiation Treatment

OK now I've had my first real radiation. Went fine, no problems. Met with the doctor after, which I will do once a week. I am now on a roll...

First Day of Radiation - Almost!

First radiation day is over but no radiation! Today was a dry run! Just running me through for fittings, settings, and x-rays! One of my set-up tattoos didn't show so I had to have another one! Don't tell my mom! The real thing starts tomorrow.

Still Having Symptoms

I know you guys are ready for me to start writing some positive stuff! I am still feeling the effects of the treatments, having pain and nausea. I feel like they double doused me but I am sure it's just the amount of stuff input and will take some time to get it out put!! Looking forward to the good ole days. I go for radiation simulation on Monday and find out what that's going to entail. More blood work on Wednesday which I understand from talking to the doctor at my last chemo appointment (doesn't that sound good) that I will be having a lot of. Keeping my chin up and knowing God has that and me in His hands.

Last Day of Chemo Treatments

Nurse Gurty wanted to ring the bell!


I rang it for all it was worth!

Praise the Lord no more chemo treatments. Today was the last chemo treatment and I am thrilled. After months of chemo we are done. Yippee. No more poison going into my body. Now I just have to experience the effects of this treatment and get the junk out of my system which should take about a month but then it's over.

I start radiation in about six weeks, which won't be bad, just some fatigue and possible burns but nothing like the chemo. I will definitely be ready for next year!

Again thanks for all your prayer support and everything else you've done for us along this journey. We haven't taken it for granted. We love each and every one of you and really couldn't have done this without you. May God richly bless you for your willingly to come alongside us during this time. Thank you.