Sunday, April 20, 2008
I haven’t written an update in a while due to my involvement with my son Aaron and his operation. He came home after his surgery to our house so that I could help him out with fixing his meals. He was released on Friday, April 11th.
The following Monday I went to Dr. Schwartz to have my blood levels checked only to discover that they were so low that he immediately admitted me in the hospital – again. My platelets had dropped to an all time low of 12,000 (100,000 is the normal low). Also my hemoglobin was at such a dangerous low that he said that I could hemorrhage internally. Fun huh? Little did he know that in the morning I had clippers and was out cutting my rose bushes! Talk about God’s angels surrounding us and protecting us.
However, when he said hemorrhage, I’ll admit I was a little scared with that statement. So into the hospital I went and what a beautiful view I got of the intercoastal. It’s amazing through this all how God throws beautiful things at you just to remind you that He’s with you all the way! I have truly fallen in love with Good Sam and would recommend it (if anyone has to go to a hospital). Every nurse I was graced with turned out to either go to Christ Fellowship or was a Christian. Again God surrounds us with His children.
I received a pint of platelets and three pints of red blood cells. It started at approximately 3:00 PM and did not end until 3:00 AM. I had the blessing of three great friends that came that evening. They brought me my new fun food a Steak and Shake burger with malt. (Yes, I’ve graduated from the grilled cheese sandwich). We shared a lot of love and laughs. I slept like a baby at peace that night.
At 7:30 AM Dr. Schwartz paid me a visit. He said that chemo had to be stopped as my body just couldn’t handle it anymore. I stood amazed as it was only days ago that Leo and I both felt that God was letting us know that I had enough chemo. Now here was Dr. Schwartz confirming what had already been revealed to us. We are now working on getting my blood levels back and my strength back as well.
This past Monday I went for another blood checkup with Dr. Schwartz. I had to have another platelet transfusion the next day as an outpatient at Good Sam. I also have to give myself Neupogen shots for this week to build up the white blood cells.
I see him again tomorrow and pray that my blood level continue to improve. My next step will be a PT scan to determine if there are any cancer cells present.
Reflections…..
That morning that I spent in the hospital I sat up on the side of my bed sipping coffee and watching the sun rise over the water. Tears flowed as I reflected God’s grace and great love for me. I started to think about all the changes in our lives over the past fifteen years. It all started on that weekend retreat that I crossed the bridge of reconciliation between the ways of the world and a personal relationship with God. It was that weekend that I asked Jesus Christ into my heart and declared Him as my Lord and Savior. It was that weekend that I came to understand the love that God has for me. That God would send His sinless son Jesus Christ to die a criminal death on the cross to pay the wages of sin, for me personally and all who declare Him Lord of their life.
It has been since that weekend that I continually experience the amazing grace and love of my God. He has given me strength and a peace that I did not know I had or that I could find within the depths of my soul as I face each day this past year coping with this journey of cancer.
It was fifteen years ago that this transformation started in my life. I can say that there is no way to describe the height, width or depth of the significance of this personal relationship with God. A God that is so big that He has created the universe placed every star in the sky and knows them by name. A God that cares about the smallest of details that He even provides the food and shelter for the birds, a God that even takes care of the littlest detail of providing me a hospital room with a magnificent water view to enjoy His creation of the sun rising this morning.
At some point every person reaches a moment in their life and asks themselves, “What on earth, have I been put on earth for”? Well if you do not know the answer to that question, then let me share with you that God longs to have a personal relationship with you. You have been uniquely created by God with specific gifts that He has chosen to give to you. This is not by accident nor has he given these gifts for your own personal indulgence, but given to fulfill the purpose He has planned for each of us.
As Leo says, God does not need to be chasing us around to say, you can have an abundant life that I have prepared for you today and all of eternity or you can remain lost on the face of the earth, chasing the successes of the world that will mean nothing on your expiration date. Have you ever seen a moving truck or U-Haul at a funeral? So it is your choice. DEAL ! or NO DEAL ! .
So, if you are feeling the nudge from the one who created you in your mother’s womb, the one who loves you unconditionally, don’t waste anymore time ignoring it. Seek Him now He’s waiting for you today, only He knows what tomorrow will bring.
Truly a transformed life and standing in Victory!
Candy
