His Grace Is Sufficient

Greetings, where do I even begin this blog--it's hard to know so I will go back one whole week and begin with a happy family celebration. Even though my blood counts and platelets were low from the last chemo treatment, Marvin and I were able to travel to South Georgia last Saturday to attend his mom's 91st birthday/family reunion. As always, we had a sweet time "catching-up" on all the family activities since we were together last year. His mom is doing amazingly well and we had a bitter-sweet reunion---you see, she had breast cancer 53 years ago!!! As soon as I arrived she gave me a big bear hug and we had a good cry together. What an encouragement she was to me.
Now, I will fast forward to the next week. On Wednesday afternoon I found myself in a special neutropenic room of the oncology floor at DeKalb Medical Hospital with very low platelets and white blood cells fighting an unknown infection. By Thursday night the fever was over 102 degrees and after many blood cultures and tests they still couldn't pin-point where the problem was coming from. I hit a low point that night and at around 10:30 I broke down in tears---that's when I knew His grace truly is sufficient. I started praying as never before , "Lord, the doctors are doing all they know to bring this infection under control and it doesn't seem to be doing much good. I know that only YOU can bring my fever down and I am holding on to the hem of your garment and trusting you to meet my need right now." Well, at 12:30 that night I woke from a short nap with my sheets and hospital gown wringing wet with sweat but a temperature below 100 degrees for the first time in three days and I knew I had nothing to fear. Prayers had been answered once again and God was in control.
On Friday afternoon they took me down for a CAT scan on my chest. The results were encouraging. The mass that is in my thorax was still there but, it had not changed since my last scan in January. I am sure when I recover from this latest "bend-in-the-road" I will need to have a biopsy taken to determine just what this could be. The doctors seem to think it is something suspicious of adenopathy. I could have had it all my life but until a pathology report is done, we won't know. Once again, all I can say is "His grace is sufficient".
After several more bags of antibiotics and sodium chloride the fever continued to drop and by Saturday morning the doctors released me. Marvin and I were able to come home. The diagnoses is "neutropenic" which means I have very little immune system right now. Until I have built up more platelets I have to be extra careful; no visitors yet, no cut or fresh flowers, no raw fruits or veggies because of possible bacteria contaminates . (I can live with that for a while). I know that when I am weak, He is strong. I will never cease to praise Him and thank Him for His love for me and, as I say to you every time I write but I mean with all my heart---thank you for your love and prayers as well. God has heard once more and we can only say....We praise and thank you Lord!
I love you guys,
Judy
2Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Updates: Keith Wood continues to recover and is doing as well as possible. He and Allyson still have a long road to recovery but your prayers are helping.
Sandra Byars, sadly is back in the hospital. They found a mass of unknown character on her liver. They did a biopsy on Wednesday and are awaiting results. We are praying that it is only a benign growth but she and Mark are in need of our prayers as never before.
Thanks Prayer Warriors!!

Feeling Better!

Just an update: Judy is feeling better this morning and her temperature is down to just under 100 degrees. She had a short spell last night when her temp went up to over 102 and she felt pretty bad, but they have pumped her full of antibiotics and sodium chloride, so she is on the mend. They decided not to do the cat scan because the headaches go away when the fever is down, so they are attributing the headache to the fever. They did a chest x-ray to rule out pneumonia or anything else, and it looked fine. So, hopefully between the antibiotics and the rest, she will heal quickly and be home by the weekend. They haven't given her a release time yet, but if the fever stays down and all of the blood work comes back in the normal range, then she can leave - maybe Friday or Saturday??

She thanks you again for your prayers and concern! We will update again soon!

Prayer Request

Just to let everyone know, Judy was admitted to the hospital this afternoon (Wednesday). She has been fighting a fever and a headache for the last few days, so the Dr. wants to try and build her immune system up and run some tests. We know that your prayers and support have pushed her through these last 6 months, so we ask that you keep her in your prayers for the next few days as she tries to build back her strength. They will be doing a CT scan at some point while she is there to make sure that the headache is nothing more than that. Please keep that in your prayers too!

The Dr.'s have told her that they are admitting her to keep her away from people and to keep a watch on her, so she can't have visitors, but she can feel your presence through your prayers! We will keep you updated on her progress and we'll hopefully have a good report in the next few days.

Thanks!

I Pased The Test

Yes, I passed the blood test on Monday (by the skin of my teeth) so I didn't have to get the Neulasta injection that is so hard for me to recover from. They want me to come back in this Friday to check the white blood counts again. It can still drop (or it "can" continue to build) and they want to make sure the counts are good enough to get through the weekend without any problems. Please pray that I "pass the test" again on Friday. It's funny how some things effect your mind. When I entered the building on Monday and got on the elevator to take me to the 7th floor and the Cancer Center, I immediately began to feel nauseated even though I knew I was ONLY going for blood work and no chemo. I guess I will feel that way for a while when ever I have to go in but---I was rejoicing when I left the office to come home. God had once again heard and answered my prayer!! Thank you Jesus and thank you , all my prayer warriors.

After I left the Cancer Center, I went to Dr. Hardcastle's office. He took blood also to begin checking 'markers' which will tell him if anything "out of the ordinary" is going on in my body. More good news there, he confirmed that I would not need to have any radiation treatments. The next step is the CAT and PET scans in July. We will know more at that time how the chemo worked and also, hopefully, find out more about the mass in my thorax. I am praying and trusting God who made me and charts my path. Wherever he leads me I know He will care for me!

I will update again on Friday or early next week. Till then always remember-------
I love you guys!
Judy

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forget you. (How comforting is that??!!)

PS. Sandra Byars continues to recover at home.
Keith Wood (son-in-law Rev. Howard & Judy Mills) had surgery today to remove his spleen and pancreas--please continue to pray for he and his wife Allyson. Thanks!

A "DOUBLE BLESSING DAY"

Monday was a "double blessing day" for me. I received my 6th AND FINAL chemo treatment today and my doctor, because I don't have to build-up the blood so fast this treatment in preparation for any more chemo, has let me skip the Neulasta injection (the one that makes me feel so bad). Needless to say, I was jumping for joy as I walked down that long hallway away from that treatment room!! Next week I do have to go in for a blood check to see if , at that time, the blood is holding up without the shot. If it isn't I will have to take it after all. So, I guess that means a few more days at home, lots of rest, and staying out of crowds but I can do that. There are many things about those office visits that I will never miss but I will be forever grateful to the doctors and the staff there who took care of me and gave so much so that I could begin the road that will help me and many others become "cancer survivors"!

What comes next? On June 11th, I return to the Oncologist for blood work and then on that same day I go back to my surgeon, Dr. Hardcastle. Around the 10th of July, he wants to set up another Pet Scan and a Cat Scan to see how things look now that chemo is over and to take another look at that mass that is in my thorax to determine if I need a surgical biopsy taken at this time. We still don't know exactly what it is , we just know that it did not take the radiation like cancers do. If all looks good at that point, I will have one more surgery to remove the port that was put in for the treatments. It looks like I will be seeing both doctors for a long time. They will check for what they call "markers" which tell them if there is any signs of cancer" for the next five years starting with three month checks, then six and then once a year until that time is up. After the five years, they didn't say what would come next but I've learned whatever the future holds, one day at a time is always best. God already knows what my future holds and I will look to him. My heart is so full of praise and thanksgiving I hardly know where to begin to express my love to all of you and to the One who has carried me through these past 6 months!! Together we have reached this goal.


To God be the Glory. I am God's child-- as changes come I know that he will deliver me out of them. As I hold His hand He will led me safely through all things; and when I can not stand (and there were MANY of those days) He holds me in his arms. I know that He will shield me from suffering or He will give me unfailing strength to bear it. It has truly been a "journey", one that I will never forget and one that has only just begun. It is a journey that has taught me so many things, things that have changed my life forever. ( I will share more of that in a later blog.)

To all of you, "How do I even begin to express what my heart feels for each of you right now?" I know I couldn't begin to put that into words, but, God knows and I pray that He will show you and bless you in ways that I never could. And so I close by simply saying,

I FOREVER love you guys,
Judy

Psalms 116:1-2
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!
Sandra Byars is back home and seems to be doing well.