Thursday, November 14, 2013

THE CONDITION IS REMISSION!

Yesterday I was involved in the best news I’ve had since learning we were going to be great-grandparents for the 32nd and 33rd time!


Our good friend, sister in Christ and "adopted" daughter and I had an appointment with her oncologist to learn the results of the scan she had Monday. Dr. Partridge came in with a smile on her face.....good sign. She sat and asked Margie a lot of questions about her general health.....a little unsettling. She checked out the computer and then checked it out again........getting a bit scary at this point. Then.......BOOM! Very casually, but with a huge smile she let us know that the tumor on Margie’s lung that once threatened her life was no more....gone.....nada! She did tell us there are three very, very small spots on the lung that were there at the beginning and she’ll keep a close track of them, but they could be anything. She explained that many people living in our area have spots on their lungs.
 

My question at that point was, "So can we say she is cancer free?"
 

Reply, "I like to use ‘in remission’ until she has been clear for five years and then use the term ‘cancer free’."
 

But, she told me I could use Cancer Free and that’s what we prefer!


 
Margie and Dr. Partridge soon after the announcement.
 


Talk about joyful!!!! Dr. Partridge was definitely joyful and smiling from ear to ear. We walked out into the office area and the girls behind the desk were waiting for the news. I thought both of them were going to shout! They hugged us both and gladly had their picture made with Margie. We just had to go back to the treatment room and share the good news with the girls who have been such a big part of our lives since early June. They too were beyond excited. The only down-side was learning that one of the girls who has journeyed with us through the good times and the bad times is no longer with the center. She has gone back to her first love......working in labor and delivery! Although we are proud for her, we were sad to know she wasn’t around.
 
 

 
These two girls from the office (along with others) have been with us every step of the way.  Once, when Margie was at her sickest, I began sniffing as I left her for a few minutes.  The girl on the left, Naomi saw me and asked what was wrong.  Of course I "lost it" and she was so sweet to take me in her arms and give me the biggest hug ever.
 
 
Two of the sweet nurses who administered chemo.  The other who was a huge help is the one who has moved.  I always knew this, but this journey has reinforced it:  Nurses are the most caring and loving people in the world.  Love these girls and all the others at the OHC in Lawrenceburg, Indiana.
 
 
 
As we walked......almost danced.....to the car we met a man wheeling his wife out to their car from treatment. We had never seen them before and I asked if she had just begun her treatment. She said this was her first day. As we talked, we found she has lung cancer and her treatment will be much like Margie’s. Margie took the time to talk with her, tell her a few things to expect and encouraged her to keep on keeping on. I truly believe we were put in the right place at the right time for this to happen. She is just beginning a long, hard journey, but she could see Margie and the results she has had and I believe that has given her hope.
 

To all of you who have made this journey with us......through your cards, your gifts, your deeds, your thoughts and your prayers I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I know Margie does as well. Her life, nor mine, will ever be the same because of the good that has come from this!
 

God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. He’s so good to me (us)!!!!



(I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures.  I won't make excuses as I really don't know the reason.  But they all show how happy everyone was to learn the good news!)


Saturday, November 9, 2013

Cancer

Some of you know that I publish our church bulletin and have been doing so for many years.  I rarely proof read them but let Doyal do the "honors."  Good writers always proof their own work first, so you ask me why I don't do the same.  Here's why.......when I first read my work I am convinced it is shallow, very few people will be interested or get any benefit from it and it wasn't worth the effort.  You ask again....Then why do you bother?  Several reasons come to mind.  There are some things of interest in our bulletins such as the prayer list, Bible questions, a few "thoughts to ponder" etc.  My article, however is mainly written because I love to write.  I love to get my thoughts on paper and I always pray at least someone will get something beneficial from them. 
 
 
Several years ago we had a family who worshiped and worked with us for many years.   He always encouraged me.  Even if he didn't comment on the bulletin we knew he read it because he didn't begin participating in the worship until he finished the bulletin.  I knew he was a Bible student and valued his input.  When they moved on I missed the assurance that not only was the bulletin being read but it had value to at least one person.
 
 
This brother in Christ is now a dean at one of our Christian Universities and occasionally he will send a short email or private message on Facebook mentioning something in the bulletin.
 
 
The Lord knows when a person needs encouraging about one thing or another and it seems He sends that encouragement at just the right time.  I received such encouragement from my friend just the other day when I received the following:
 
 
I have meant to write you for a couple of days and I never do it when I am thinking about it, so I am doing it now. I wanted to compliment you for the Lawrenceburg bulletin article related to cancer. I think that is one of the most pertinent church bulletin articles I've ever read. I particularly think given the struggles people at Lawrenceburg are facing with cancer it was very useful.
 
 
Since it meant this much to him I thought maybe some of you might benefit from it as well.  It follows:
 
 
"CANCER

 
This article will begin with a "disclaimer." I am by no means a doctor, nurse or any part of the medical profession. As a mother of many children over the years however, I can detect a fever, a tummy ache, a broken bone (most of the time) and definitely an open wound! I have become more knowledgeable concerning medical issues, and especially cancer, during the past five and a half months. With this in mind I believe I have enough knowledge and experience to write this for you and me to ponder.
 

Cancer is not something any of us desire. It is no fun. The treatment can make one extremely sick and, at times, I am sure those being treated wonder if it might be better to accept the cancer than to go through the treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy take a toll on the body even though these treatments are also killing the cancer. Through aggressive treatment the white blood cells sometimes drop dangerously low. Also, blood transfusions, etc. must be administered in many cases. During all of this the patient needs to take in nutrition in order to build up the body. The hard, and sometimes seemingly impossible, part of this is that nothing tastes good. In fact, everything tastes awful and many things make one sick to the point of throwing up violently.
 
Is cancer a no-win situation? I think not! Our bodies are worth fighting for and especially when we use them to the glory of God.
 
I have learned many things during the past five and a half months. I have learned when things are depleted in the body they have to be replenished. The same is true with our spiritual bodies. There are times we are spiritually depleted and we need a "blood transfusion." This can come through encouragement from others, help in one way or another or by falling to our knees and handing all of our burdens over to God.
 
At other times we might not be completely depleted but in need of building our spiritual bodies back up. There are times we don’t’ want to "eat spiritual food." We are tired, depressed, discouraged, etc. but if we force ourselves to study God’s word, seek answers and accept what we find we can build ourselves up just as forcing our physical bodies to eat, even though we don’t feel like it. Perhaps the lessons we are learning from God’s word do not "taste" good. We don’t want to heed them and yet forcing ourselves will strengthen us spiritually.
 
Other great lessons I have learned are these:
 
1. Cancer brings people closer! I have gotten close to people I never knew....doctors, patients and especially nurses. But, in this particular case I have seen our little church family unite in ways I never dreamed of. This has truly been a blessing for many of us.
 
2. We should humble ourselves and learn to accept help graciously! We should not feel obligated to "pay back." Instead, a good idea would be to "pay it forward" in the future.
 
3. We should go into any situation with a smile on our faces (if at all possible) and a positive attitude. I have been told that one of the best ways to fight any health issue is with a positive attitude and I believe it.
 
4. We should share with those closest to us. If we are the one suffering find someone who will listen without being judgmental. Remember, "A burden shared is a burden halved."
 
5. We should be willing to listen to those who are suffering. Cry with them, laugh with them, hold them, love them!
 
And lastly.....I personally would like to thank our sweet sister, Margie for allowing me to make this journey with her. It has been one of the hardest journeys I have ever encountered. It has also been one of the most rewarding. I have experienced things I never imagined and met people with extreme courage and such upbeat attitudes. Thank you once again, my friend!"
 
 
This was inspired by  the influence our friend, Margie has had on all of our little Church Family here at Lawrenceburg.  You can read more about her in a precious post if you are interested. 
 
 
I would be remiss not to thank my dear friend for his continued encouragement.  Thank you, my friend!!!!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Growing Old Together and Still Learning

 
 
I’ve heard people say something about the disadvantages of growing old and others would reply, "But it beats the alternative." I think I have even responded in such a way. Recently I have pondered on that reply and come to the conclusion it isn’t true if you are prepared for the alternative. Just think.....for the obedient child of God the alternative to old age is spending eternity in Heaven with no aches and pains; no sorrows; no grief and every day with the Father! Nope, growing old doesn’t beat the alternative......but one can still enjoy growing old on this earth before being ushered into "the alternative."
 
We both have our ups and downs. I have to take medication for high blood pressure, have diverticulosis, irritable bowel Syndrome and a few other old age problems. Doyal has VERY LITTLE wrong with him. He does have a nasty rash that the dermatologist is baffled with and treating aggressively. But.....hey.....we are able to travel; go to the nursing home and visit the "young people" there (several younger than either of us); teach bible classes; preach (Doyal...not me!); text, take pictures, Skype, email, and Facetime (me, not Doyal) and we both still get out of bed each morning, dress ourselves and get on with our day.
 
 
The last paragraph segues nicely into a conversation we had the other day. We were discussing which leg we put in our pants first. Now you might ask why in the world two people our ages, who had been married for 60 years, 7 months and 2 days do not know that answer. I can’t tell you why. I suppose we were waiting to get to those "important" issues later in our marriage and this seemed as good a time as any to find out.
 
 
Here’s our conclusion. I put the wrong leg in first! I put my right leg in first. I also put on my socks (right first) and then my shoes (right first of course.) Doyal does the opposite. He has in recent years found out a few other strange things about me. I must be a tad ambidextrous as I unscrew bottle caps with my left hand. I also pour the water in the coffee maker opposite from him. And, I shuffle and deal cards left handed. Now, before you think I’m the only odd one in this household let me tell you more.


 
I suppose Doyal was putting his left leg in his pants as far back as our honeymoon but I only realized it just the other day.



I have been nagging Doyal for years to get a hearing aid. I learned several years ago that I mumble, the television sound was going bad, others didn’t speak up, etc. Finally I got him to go for a free test. It was determined that it wasn’t me, or the television, or others....but it was his ears! They could fix that problem easily with hearing aids......$6,000 worth! I said, "Do it!" He said, "No way." I accused him of being vain until he explained, in his thinking, "I am in my 80's and probably won’t live long enough to get full use out of them." With his health I wouldn’t put it past him to get to 100 + (and if I’m still around to nag, hound and thoroughly enjoy him, that would be fine with me.)
 
 
Between one of our ladies at church and me we talked him into getting one hearing aid from off the internet like the ones she had and found beneficial. This was only $375 and IT WORKS. Well, that is a bit of an understatement! It only works WHEN he wears it. I was nagging him the other day about not wearing it and do you know what he said? Of course you don’t. But, I’m going to tell you. He said he was afraid he would lose it! I have a "stash" in my very own little savings account and assured him if he would wear it all the time and then lost it I would buy him another. Looking over there at him now I realize I won’t have to be concerned about digging into my stash any time soon.
 
 
And while I’m sharing our inner-most secrets I’ll share this. Here awhile back he had to have a front tooth removed. He had four choices: 1. Leave it as it is....snaggled toothed. 2. Get a flipper for $375. 3. Have a bridge put in for a couple of thousand. 4. Have a permanent tooth "spiked in" for about $5,000. Joy of all joys!!!!! He didn’t chose the first option! I pushed for the fourth option and his reasoning was this: "I am in my 80's and probably won’t live long enough to get my money’s worth out of it. And, besides that, we have two grandchildren in college and two to start soon and that would help them if they needed it." You are asking now....don’t tell me you aren’t.....if he wears the flipper. I am happy to say that rarely does he go anywhere that he doesn’t remember to put it in.....but here at the house he’s like the cover of the Mad Comic book! And often smiles at me and says, "Me worry?"

 
Here is where I wanted to post the cutest picture ever of Doyal smiling ear to ear with his tooth out.  The vanity kicked in though and he refused to let me post that for the world to see......who am I kidding.....the world?  Well, at least some of the most important people in my world (YOU) will be reading this.  And, if you aren't reading it, well you aren't. :)
 
 
This rambling was only to let you know that the longer you are married, the more you know about each other and the more fun you can have together.
 
 
April 4, 1953
(Edited, November 7, 2013 after reading Claudia's comment.....Thanks Claudia......Yep, this picture was NOT taken in 1953 but sometimes in the 70's when we just drove through the area.  Some of the kids think we look like artists, writers, or some sort of creative geniuses in this picture.  I'll take that.)
 
Proverbs 5:18
May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
NIV
 
 
March 31, 2013, Four days before being married 60 years.
 
 
 
My prayer is that we can go hand-in-hand into the gates of Heaven when the time comes.