A lot has happened since I last posted an update.  Praise God, a lot of that has been good.  First, we did make it on our cruise after locking ourselves down and staying out of circulation.  It was lovely and the view from our balcony was stunning!  Sadly, the iron infusions hadn't taken effect, so I slept a lot, but we still enjoyed special time together.

My most recent scans showed that the upper body cancer is gone, so they are calling it in remission. Unfortunately, the cancer in my groin area continues to grow and has progressively increased my pain level significantly.  My oncology team really wants to reduce the tumor burden (and ideally the pain) from those groin lymph nodes.  So, I will be having surgery on Friday to remove the largest lymph nodes. I will be in the hospital for 1-2 days to make sure my pain is under control then recovering at home for 2-4 weeks.  Depending on the success of the surgery (whether she can remove one of the lymph nodes is questionable), I might have radiation and will follow up with a targeted therapy that will go after all the remaining lymph nodes in the groin area and anywhere else the sneaky melanoma has traveled.

One of the delights that brought me great joy recently was the return of our eldest from a 2-year term doing missions work for the Southern Baptist International Mission Board.  We sent him off just as Covid was shutting down the world and had planned to visit him part way through his term, but the borders never opened.  So, it was a long 2 years and a very sweet reunion.  

My family has been amazing to me.  C. R. and the kids always see to my every need, knowing that the iron deficiency and pain has sapped my energy (I spend most of the day on the couch). I am so very thankful for them.

It is difficult for me to stay focused on reading recently, so C. R. turned up his Audible account for me.  My first book was the story of Joni Eareckson Tada.  I had read it many years ago, but it was delightful to hear it read by her! Her life story and the trust she has in her Savior is an encouragement to all who hear-I highly recommend reading (or better yet listening to) her book.

Here is one of my favorite quotes by her:

“Suffering provides the gym equipment on which my faith can be exercised.”
― Joni Eareckson Tada, Suffering: Making Sense of Suffering

This perspective allows me to remember that one positive result of my suffering is the effect it can have on my faith, if I allow it.  I pray that my faith grows as Joni's has.

Thank you for walking our journey with us!

Praise God for:

• Pain relief medications
• Decent sleep at night
• Prayers, meals and encouragement from family and friends

Pray for:

• Effective surgery Friday
• Pain control after surgery
• For things like iron absorption and a good appetite to improve after surgery
• If it's God's will, that He would eradicate every cancer cell with my immunotherapy treatment.
• God to be glorified in everything that is going on.