I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with loved ones.  These are definitely strange times and 2020 will go down in the books as a very memorable season!

I would love to report that all my unpleasant symptoms from my last post are gone.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  Though the antibiotic took care of the infection, my cough and low iron continue to be a problem.  My wonderful oncology team at Intermountain Health Care has been uncovering every stone to try to pinpoint these issues.  I have had what feels like every possible lab and scan.  They have ruled out everything that my immunotherapy drug could be causing.  So, it remains a bit of a mystery.

Right now, I am trying a steroid inhaler twice daily, to decrease any inflammation that may be causing my cough.  I am also in the middle of a two dose IV iron infusion treatment.  I am praying that I will feel the results of those two remedies very soon.

When we learned in late December that the IV iron treatment would require a pre-authorization from the insurance company, we opted to move forward with our plans to spend Christmas with extended family in AZ, not being interested in waiting around for the insurance company.  Since my Mom passed away in March, we wanted to make some memories with my Dad on his first Christmas without her.

The time in Arizona was VERY therapeutic for me.  Taking naps on the back porch and breathing in the warm air worked wonders and my cough seemed to improve a little.  We were very thankful for a low-key Christmas  & New Years celebration and seeing loved ones.

Admittedly, these past few months have been pretty difficult.  I have had many moments of blessings and peace, but also some really difficult times.  But God continues to remind me of His goodness and His presence even when my circumstances are far from good. What a great reminder - because I'm HIS, anything I experience in this life pales in comparison with what I look forward to when I'm in the presence of Heavenly Father!  

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

~Romans 8:15-18 (New American Standard Bible 1995)

Appreciate you all joining us on this journey!

Praise God for:

• Great care from my oncology team and a smooth transition to my new hospital.
• So many (countless) words of encouragement, prayers and expressions of love from dear sweet people in my life.  You are all carrying me along when the bumps are rough.

Pray for:

• The cough to go away and for my energy to return.
• That my cough will not prevent me from sleeping at night.
• Supernatural wisdom and insight for my oncologist as he evaluates my condition and recommends treatment.
• God's continued peace and strength and my patient endurance.
• If it's God's will, that He would eradicate every cancer cell.
• I will have scans mid-February.  Pray that they would indicate that the immunotherapy has begun to work to kill the cancer.
• That God would be glorified in everything that is going on.