Eight Days of Waiting

Only twelve days left until I get my PetScan results.  Karley and I will be flying to Atlanta on March 8th so she and I can visit with friends and family.  My scan is on the 11th and results on the 12th, but she's flying back on the 10th so she can make it back to school.  Plus, I don't take her to the hospital with me...

I look more forward to visiting friends and family (and eating at La Parrilla) than I do results (hence the title name).  Results are just not what I think of while I'm planning our trip.   Results will be what they will be, nothing changes that, so I don't dwell.

Since I last wrote, I joined an online lung cancer support community and met quite a few people with very inspiring stories and a few stage IV survivors!  Although I haven't found anyone my age on there, I did meet a woman whose husband was also diagnosed stage IV and he is only 34.  It's good to share stories and tips.  I feel like a Tarceva veteran now, even though I've only been taking it since the beginning of January, I've had the side effects.

The rash is getting better but I'm still losing some hair.  Now I'm not so sure it's all from the Gamma Knife.  I did read that a rare side effect of Tarceva is hair loss.   It's a small price to pay for it's benefit though.  I'm good with it.  Karley likes to tell everyone, "My mom has a big bald spot".  Kids are great! I'm so glad she loves to share everything!

I also don't have to regulate my eating schedule as much now since I finished some meds I had to take twice daily.  I can eat whenever I want (up until around 7:30 p.m.) now!  It's the little things :)

I've decided it best for me not to work until I get better.  Not because I don't want to work, but I get exhausted so easily when I try.  Saving my energy for Karley and housework is about all I can handle right now, or maybe all I want to try and handle right now.

Enough about me.  I have some prayer requests for those prayer warriors out there.

My dear friend Reggie, was recently diagnosed with a rare skull base tumor.  I know, we are a mess, what are the odds?  Hopefully he will be seeing my neurologist, Dr. Chandler at Piedmont, for treatment.  Dr. Chandler does amazing work.  Several doctors have suggested the Gamma Knife as treatment but possibly surgery.  Reggie needs our prayers very much right now.  He has been there for me since day one (along with Amanda, Brad, Mandy, Sam, Poppy, Stephen, John, Terri, my parents and lil sis who all have gone out of there way to be by my side).  He's even gone to appointments with me.  I love him very much and know the power of prayer and God's work can heal him successfully.

Additionally, please pray for Dylan Rosier and his family (Karley's cousin).  He has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is going through chemo.  He's going through a lot for a 4th grader.  He needs our prayers for strength and healing.

Finally, please continue praying for Tim Gravitt as he fights his own battle.

Thank you all for your continuous prayers and support for my family and me.  I still have complete faith that He can heal me.  I love all of you for following my story and keeping me in your thoughts.  Unless something drastic happens, my next post will probably be the day I get the PetScan results (March 12th).

In the meantime, words I live by:

Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."