Day 2 of Chemo

I am back home relaxing, today was a lot shorter about 8:30 til 1:00. Had another good day, Denise my nurse found a good vein and after skillfully getting through my tough skin the needle was in. Thank you to the team of nurses, Denise and Linda and the pharmacist Alan. You take really good care of us; I pray God would richly bless you.

Met a few more ladies WOW there are so many different stories, one of them is finished her chemo today (she was ecstatic) The other lady couldn’t get the chemo today because her blood count wasn’t high enough so she went home to wait….then there was a quiet, frail lady that just came in, got her treatment and left. Its so easy to let my mind wonder at all the “supposes” and if I go down that road it produces fear. But if I trust God like a little child, I can actually rejoice while I have all these “supposes” all around me.

Hebrews 13:5-6 says: “Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man (cancer) shall do unto me.”

There’s a stream of trouble across my path;
It is black and deep and wide.
Bitter the hour the future hath
When I cross its swelling tide
But I smile and sing and say:
“I will hope and trust always;
I’ll bear the sorrow that comes tomorrow,
But I’ll borrow none today.”

‘The eagle that soars in the upper air does not worry itself as to how it is to cross rivers.’

In my weakness He is STRONG.....

In His Hands,
Miriam

(: When I got in the car there were flowers on my seat. Thank-you hun. I love you!! :)

Day 1 of Chemo

I started my new “job” today :) Things went well. I had a really good night sleep and was up bright and early. We arrived at the hospital at 8:30 and finished at about 3:00. Nandor made it back to his other job to put in a few hours anyways. Thanks be to God and his employer that they are really good with letting him take whatever time he needs. After a whole slew of things they needed to tell us about the chemo I sat on my throne. (really comfortable lazy boy type chair) I got hooked up and meds flowed in for the next 4.5 hours. Its kind of boring but we chatted with each other, nurse, patients, watched a chemo video, yeah… and got an awesome foot massage.(this is great I keep being treated like a queen) Two songs I thought of today were How Great thou Art and When Peace Like a River…..Wow did you ever hear/sing those words? Yes, to my shame many times I just sang them without really thinking…But they are powerful.

I took these verses with me today: Isaiah 43:1-3

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you,…
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you,
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
I am the Lord your God!!!!

I'm glad I can write this update today, I figure when I feel good I’ll do it and when I don’t (will have those days too) I won’t.

Your prayers have been so appreciated, through them God blesses and encourages us. Wow what a deal, God is amazing!!!

In His Hands and for His Glory,
Love,
Miriam

Follow Up and New Diagnosis

Yesterday we went to Sudbury for a follow up with the surgeon and then my oncologist. I have healed well as far as the surgery is concerned. I had been concerned with ongoing bleeding but that has been a good thing, its my body cleaning itself. The pathology report was not as good. The tumors I had removed are a different cancer than they originally thought. It is an even more rare (1:million ) and a very aggressive type. The prognosis isn’t too good either.

Monday morning I will be starting chemo treatments for the next 3 months. 4 rounds of 3 weeks. Because of the rare type of cancer the doctors are just guessing/hoping this will work. The cocktail they will use doesn’t usually cause a lot of nausea, I will have numbness in fingers/toes (which I am used to with my MS) differences in tastes and will probably loose my hair. I have a prescription for a wig so I asked Nandor if he wants a blonde for a change. LOL Treatments will be done in North Bay so that will be nice and close to home. Nandor, Rebekah and my friend Tara will be transporting me as needed. The first week I go for 5 days, each day will be about 2 hours given intravenously. The next week I go Monday and the next week Monday again. Then the whole thing starts again.

We are still absorbing this news slowly, it doesn’t seem real yet. Yes, its scarry standing in front of all the unknowns….BUT I am more than confident that God is with me. I am His child…behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!! Every molecule in this universe down to every cell in my body is safely and totally in the control of His loving hand. There is no such thing as mistakes, bad luck etc., I am not a statistic or a number, I am on a mission to show off His glory and goodness!!! And He promised that whatever He calls us to, He will give us the strength and courage to fulfill.

This mornings devotional reading was just perfect. God even had that planned for today. My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives…LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID…
So this is where I stand this morning surrounded by His peace. Really its just unexplainable but REAL!!!!

Please keep praying that my family and I can keep trusting Him moment by moment and that things will go well Monday with my first treatment. Pray that the chemo will be effective and kill the cancer.

In His Hand,
Miriam

Please feel free to send this blog address on to anyone you think would be interested. I don’t have several of my extended family's email addresses but trust you guys can help me out with that. thanks

God Is So GOOD!!!

I am back at the computer now and am at a loss of words to express how I feel. Our Father has been so kind and gracious to us this past week. From His guiding hand, constant presence, to His people being His hands, His feet and His voice, my family and I are truly blessed. As He brings us through this trial I am more and more amazed that I have the privilege of being His Child!!!

..….Thus says the Lord, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine……Isaiah 43

Thank you so much for your emails, cards, calls etc and most of all your prayers. Continue praying that as He works in our lives His Kingdom would advance and His Will would be done.

In My Fathers Hands,
Miriam

…..Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone,
Because I know He holds the future……
Life is worth living JUST BECAUSE HE LIVES.

Update From Rebekah

Hey everyone,
Mom and dad made is home safely Friday night. The trip was kinda hard and she had a rough day yesterday. Today looks like it’s a bit better.
Thank you all and please continue to pray for her recovery; God bless,
Rebekah

Day After Surgery

Miriam is doing well. After a slow start ( she needed blood because
her haemoglobin was low) throughout the day she was taking longer and
longer walks. This evening she is off pain suppression only a Tylenol here and there.
She really enjoyed all your responses to the first report.
Thank you all and keep on praying. It truly works.
In our Father's hand,
Nandor

Surgery Went Well

We thank our Heavenly Father for his mercies that he showers on us all of our life but especially at these time of trials.

Miriam is recovering from the surgery that lasted about 2 hours.

I had an opportunity to talk with Dr Mazurka the surgeon.

He said that he was able to perform a hysterectomy and remove all visible disease without needing to go into any other tissues or organs. (PraiseGOD!)

Only after the examination of the removed tissues can he make recommendations for future treatments.

Please continue to pray for the staff as they are working on to control Miriam's pain, pray for speedy recovery, wisdom for the Dr as he makes future decisions, for me that I would be able to minister to and support her at this time and that we will go on bringing glory to God for his goodness and grace.

May God richly bless you all for your faithfulness.

In our Father's hand,
Nandor