#46 MEDICAL UPDATE FROM OCTOBER 26

Quick medical update:

For the past couple of weeks, I haven’t been feeling as well as before (extremely tired, headaches and just an overall feeling that I had something like the flu).  As I spoke to different doctors and other medical personnel, it has been suspected that it may be a medication issue. 

October 26th, 2017 trip to moffitt for mri and doctor visit:

The doctor came in after I had the scan and said all in all it's a pretty good scan. There are some things that could be new growth, but the doctor and the radiologist both think it is more likely to be marks from the radiation I had. To be sure, they want to keep an eye on it. I'll have another scan in a month. Seems the trouble I've had the last couple of weeks is related to some medication changes. Those changes are good and needed, but he said my body will have to dictate how those changes can happen.

update on optune:

Optune (the device I wear on my head) is going pretty well.  I still have some issues with it, but we’re working those out.  I get a grade when the company representative comes out to check on me and the device.  She downloads information from the machine to see if I’ve been using it correctly and for the required time.  When she came out this last time I didn’t get the grade I was hoping for.  Apparently, I haven’t been turning the machine off and on in the proper sequence (maybe a hurricane had something to do with that).  However, for an honor roll student (in high school) and the dean’s list (some during college), the grade was disappointing.  I intend to be her star student this next time.

a few thoughts from the week:

God is patiently working on me physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Something I keep hearing from doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. is “Be patient”. I am so glad God is much more patient with me than I am with myself or situations around me.

I all too oftenI feel I need to help God out when problems arise.  I mentioned in a previous post that sometimes problems arise and I have a choice panic/worry about it, or trust God to handle it.

So, I sat here this past week, pondering my trip to Moffitt Cancer Center for tests and appointments. Despite the fact that I know in my heart God has everything under control, I still found myself anxious over the day, especially considering how I’ve been feeling recently. Then God sends me a little gift such as an encouraging note or a text from a friend (to take my mind off where it had wondered). God could certainly say as I would, “We’ve been here before, Debbie. Haven’t I walked you through tough places in times past?” “Did I ever walk away and leave you to face the circumstance by yourself?” But instead He just reminds me again that He loves me and that though I may have my fears and doubts, He will remain patient with me and faithful. Again, we go back to my favorite song, which I have mentioned before, Great is thy faithfulness.

This all reminded me of a song I learned as a child, and a verse.

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.


Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. (James 5:7-8)

HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars 
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars 
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

 There really ought to be a sign upon my heart 
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part
But I'll be better just according to His plan
 Fashioned by the Master's loving hands

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars 
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

In the mirror of His word
 Reflections that I see
 Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
 Remember He's the potter, I'm the clay

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars 
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

He's still working on me
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars 
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be

'Cause He's still workin' on me

Now a while back in these blog entries (#39), I mentioned a goal I was aiming for - putting on my dog’s collar. Feeling ambitious after the pepper incident (read below, under Praises) and another small success the following day of catching with my left hand something that was falling. I tried again to put on her collar, but I guess we’re just not ready for that, YET. However, I did have something brought to my attention, again. PATIENCE. Sophie is a rescue dog. Her first few years of life were filled with abuse and she learned, unfortunately, that some humans can’t be trusted. So, for her to put up with me trying to fasten her collar for as long as I tried was pretty significant. Quite a display of patience.

Are you seeing a pattern for the week? Patience

I have said before that Sophie and I are therapy for each other.

praises:

I had another “because I can” moment this week.  If you have no idea what I’m talking about, refer to my previous post #45.  There are these little moments in which I find myself making small steps forward, then I look back and say to myself, “Boy, that took a long time.”  One was the other night at the table.  For the first time this year, I was able to use the pepper grinder, previously I hadn’t been able to hold it.  Now, I’ll be honest with you.  More pepper ended up on the table than in my plate.

Thank You, Lord, for being so patient with me, not giving up when I fail to learn the lesson or don’t have the faith I should. Another one of those moments came up today.  Dealing with insurance companies can be quite disturbing sometimes.  Again, came the opportunity to worry, get frustrated or trust Him to fix it.  Once again, He fixed it.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Medication adjustments.

Wisdom for future decisions.

Strength for family during this whole process while still helping me with my medical care and therapy.

The electronic stimulation device mentioned in my last blog – still waiting on insurance. . . 

#45 BECAUSE I CAN

This week I celebrated another birthday (Yes, with frozen yogurt). I am surrounded by a great group of friends and family who sent birthday greetings in so many different forms. There were greetings on Facebook, emails, text messages (SMS) phone calls and visits.  Some of those messages travelled all the way around the world, others across America.

One of the things that God has helped me to improve is the strength of my left leg.  Most people would look at this and think of it as small and insignificant.  However, I am learning to celebrate even the little things no matter how small they may be. Well, for about the last couple of weeks.  I have been able to step up steps with my left leg leading.  Since my surgery in January I have stepped up a step first with my right leg and then pulled the left up to meet it.  However, about a month ago, I noticed that my left leg was stepping up much higher than it had been. So, I took a chance to see if it would be possible to step up with my left leg first. and what do you know? It worked. So, for the first time in 9 months I was able to step up with my left leg first followed by the right.  Now, this is not to say that I'm running up and down steps.  Despite the fact that my nickname is Flash, there are still limits to what I can currently do. I'm thankful, however, there are no limits to what God can do and has done in my life.  So, now when I walk up to the door which has a small step, I will even take an extra step to get myself in position for my left foot to be the one to go first. and I will say to whoever is around me, and understands my new motto. “Because I can”.  Now that thought extends beyond my left side mobility and into more personal

matters like waiting for another MRI next week and day to day struggles in life.  Which reminded me of a verse and song I would like to share with you.  Whenever, you feel you just can’t go any further.  Remember:

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

His Strength Is Perfect

I can do all things

Through Christ who gives me strength

But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me

No great success to show

No glory on my own

Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He'll carry us when we can't carry on

Raised in His power, the weak become strong

His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

We can only know

The power that He holds

When we truly see how deep our weakness goes

His strength in us begins

Where ours comes to an end

He hears our humble cry and proves again

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He'll carry us when we can't carry on

Raised in His power, the weak become strong

His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGC9KT918Kk

praises:

• God has again provided more items that help make my daily life and lack of mobility easier.God has continued to help me reduce some more of my medication.  This is still an ongoing process and continues to be a rather rough road.God has helped me make more adjustments to Optune.
• Improvements in my mobility (though small and slow).  It’s a good, though frustrating lesson in patience.
• God’s continued grace, strength and provision.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Continued cleanup and restoration efforts around Sebring and Highlands County after the hurricane.
• Upcoming presidential elections in Kenya.
• Adjustments to Optune and medication changes.
• Wisdom for future decisions.
• Strength for family during this process while still helping me with my medical care and therapy.
• The electronic stimulation device mentioned in my last blog – still waiting on insurance.
• Next MRI & doctor visit – Oct 26 and the waiting that leads up to that day.

#44 YOUR NEXT CRISIS IS YOUR NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO TRUST OUR UNFAILING GOD

Yesterday, I was blessed by a chat with a friend from my college days. We travelled together on “Commissioned” (a travelling singing group). People are continually asking me what I need. The answer is always the same, ”Just keep praying.” Sure, there are always things that need to be done, errands to run, things around the house. However, one of the greatest things I need is people just being themselves, talking about things we’ve done together, good memories, funny stories. So that’s what we did. You know who you are. You made me remember a great time in my life and made me smile. To explain the humor of the conversation/memory would take forever and not make sense to anyone else. I have another friend in Kenya who has challenged me to a 2 1/2-mile walk for frozen yogurt. These are not the only ones. I just mention them because they are recent. While the walking challenge currently seems a bit out of reach right now, the challenge is a great reminder that our God is capable of anything and that life, His special gift to us each and every day is worth fighting for. So I have accepted the challenge and keep working toward that goal, thankful for each new step, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Recently, I was able to go up a step with my left leg leading, something I haven’t done since December. I also am starting to regain some sensation in my left hand. In August (please excuse me if this makes you sick to your stomach to read) I was getting out of the car, shut the door and started to walk away when I realized my hand wasn’t coming with me. I looked down and noticed that I had shut my thumb in the door. Well, today I am starting to get my thumbnail back and have been able to feel a lot more with that hand and do things I haven’t done since January.

“Commissioned”, pictured above and below, changed members during the two years I traveled with them.  So, this is not everyone with whom I shared this experience.  We also had the opportunity of taking a mission trip to Kenya and visited an orphanage while we were there.

Here is one of my favorite songs from our reperatoire.

Recorded by "Commissioned".

This week God used an issue that arose to teach me a lesson:

Your next crisis is your next opportunity to trust our unfailing God.  I won’t go into all the details as that would take a long time to explain.  However, I’ll just say that there was a potential for a large amount of money for which I could have been responsible.  Needless to say, the temptation to panic arose.  Then I was reminded that God has continually supplied my needs and more up to this point. Why would He suddenly stop now?  So, I had a choice: panic or trust. Of course, my humanity said panic, but God’s faithfulness said trust.  I am happy to report that He once again took care of it and all is well, or at least is on its way there.

praises:

God continues to amaze me with His grace and provision.

He has again provided more items that help make my daily life and lack of mobility easier.

He has continued to help me reduce some more of my medication.  That is still an ongoing process.

He has helped me make more adjustments to Optune.

He has helped with improvements in my mobility.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Continued cleanup and restoration efforts around Sebring and Highlands County after the hurricane.

Adjustments to Optune.

Wisdom for the future and strength (as I am extra tired right now due to a number of possible reasons: the recent hurricane, Optune, adjustments in medication, delayed effects of radiation from July).

Strength for family during this process while still helping me with my medical care and therapy.

Today I met a representative from a company who offers a device which could significantly improve my ability to walk.  The device works well on me and the next step is to submit it to my insurance company for approval.  Now their approval is not really expected.  However, God has worked through issues like this before and is certainly able do so again.

Next MRI & doctor visit – Oct 26