No Treatment? Doctor Says Otherwise :)

^"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. "

Philippians 4:6-7

Just an update on my visit with my doctor yesterday.  My blood work looked really good!  All counts were up which was wonderful news to hear!  The infection seems to be gone!  Thank you Lord!!  My doctor was really pleased with how things were looking and that the infection had cleared.  I was still taking antibiotic so I was just expecting to go home after seeing the doctor.  When I was at the hospital they kept telling me that I would not have a treatment on Tuesady (21st) because I would still be taking the antibiotic.  However, I did get a treatment yesterday!!  Since the infection had cleared, my blood counts looked good, and I was near the end of my antibiotic, my doctor said she felt I was ready for a treatment and could handle it.  This is exactly why I have tried to train my brain to be ready for anything!!  Things can change so quickly!
Also, my doctor has changed my treatment schedule.  Since I was not handling the weekly treatments with my blood counts all over the place and having to miss treatments, my doctor decided to go back to her original plan of treatments every 3 weeks.  It will be a stronger dose with more recovery time.  I will take 2 steroid pills for 3 days and then I anticipate the fatigue to set in (hopefully no nausea!)  Going every 3 weeks will also allow me to take the Neulasta shot again which I responded well to during the first Phase of chemo treatments!  I give myself one shot the day after treatment (today).

I was basically down to 6 weeks of treatments left.  So I had the treatment yesterday and I will not go back until 3 weeks from now which should be February 11th.  (As long as I don't have any trouble in between.  Positive thoughts and prayers that everything will go well!!)
This also means that on February 11th when I go back.....wait for it.....drum roll......it will be my LAST CHEMO TREATMENT!!!  Yayyyyyyy!!!  Woohoo!!!  I am SO happy to be able to say that!!
I will be doing the Hallelujah Happy Dance!!!  (I already am a little!!)

I am taking one day at a time so I can not really say what will happen after chemo.  I know surgery will happen but I do not know what kind or when.  My doctor wants to make an appointment with the surgeon after my last treatment.  They had also told me that they wait at least a month after the last treatment to have the surgery in order to give my body time to recover.  I will keep you all posted as I learn more!  Also, I am pretty sure that after surgery I will have a month of radiation.  Remember how I said things change quickly!  All of this is tentative but reflects what I have been told so far.

Today I called the roommate that I had while in the hospital to see how she has been doing and to let her know that she has an Army of Prayer Warriors in all of you and will be supported through her journey as well.  She was so appreciative and so sweet!  She was doing well and will have her next treatment on January 30th and take her shot on the 31st.  The shot is what made her sick last time so praying she does well with the next one.  She was a little bummed because she has now lost her hair but we talked through that some.  While in the hospital she told me she planned to "rock that bald head" haha!!  But I think she has realized that it is easier said than done!!  I still don't rock the bald head and probably never will!  Haha!

I don't plan to wait 3 weeks to post more blogs.  I have some things I want to post about that are overdue so I will probably use this time to tell about them.

Thank you all once again for the support and prayers!  God is answering those prayers and may He be glorified through all of this!

God is SO Good!!  All The Time!

I also want to share one of my new favorite songs by David Crowder called "I am"!  The words perfectly match my feelings while going through this battle but also beyond that!  The link is below and I have also shared the lyrics.  What a great uplifting song!  Music can be so helpful in our worship for the Lord!

To hear the song, click on this link! It's Awesome!

"I Am"
(performed by Crowder)

[Verse 1:]
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace
Take me in with your arms spread wide
Take me in like an orphan child
Never let go, never leave my side.

[Chorus: (2X)]
I am,
Holding on to You.
I am,
Holding on to You.
In the middle of the storm,
I am Holding on,
I am!

[Verse 2:]
Love like this, Oh my God to find!
I am overwhelmed what a joy divine!
Love like this sets our hearts on fire!

[Chorus: (2X)]

[Verse 3:]
This is my Resurrection Song
This is my Hallelujah Come
This is why to You I run
This is my Resurrection Song
This is my Hallelujah Come
This is why to You I run
There’s no space that His love can’t reach
There’s no place that we can’t find peace
There’s no end to Amazing Grace

Hospital Visit Instead of a Treatment

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30


I don't even know where to start!  The last couple of days have not been easy and I am thankful to be back home!  The bottom line is that I had an infection, was admitted to the hospital Tuesday (14th) for initial treatment of the infection, got to come home Wednesday (15th).  I did not have a chemo treatment because of this infection.  I will not have a treatment next Tuesday (21st) either because I will still be on an antibiotic. However I will still have an appointment with my oncologist next Tuesday!
During this time there were an abundance of answered prayers, many wonderful stories, and many blessings!!  If you want to know about the details of my stay, or about those wonderful stories and answered prayers...keep reading.  I have a lot to tell about!!   :)

The week since my last treatment:
My last treatment was on Tuesday, January 7th.  Since my white cell count was low that day I had to give myself a shot a day for the 5 days following the treatment.  All of that went fine and I actually felt pretty good on those days!  Sunday, January 12th was my last shot.  All was going good.  Monday morning I noticed my left breast (where the cancer is) had a little pinkness to it and I thought maybe I had just put pressure on it while sleeping or something.  That day, I was really more concerned about my dog who had been scratched in the eye by a cat and had to have surgery and stitches. (This happened in our own fenced in back yard. We don't have a cat. Not a fan of cats. Especially now!)  Anyway, by the evening, there was even more pinkness.  While trying to sleep that night it became very sore and sensitive to even my shirt brushing against it.  I had an appointment with my oncologist on Tuesday, Janueary 14th (the next morning) so I knew I could talk to her about it.  I was concerned because of how fast things changed.  My doctor thought it was an infection but couldn't know for sure until I had some antibiotic to see if these symptoms changed.  The unnerving part was wondering what it meant if the symptoms did not change with antibiotic.  My doctor wasn't able to give me a concrete answer about that concern.  (I never thought I would pray to have an infection, but that is what I started doing.)  Then she explained further that the antibiotic needed to be given through IV to go directly into my system so we could find out results quicker.  This meant being admitted to the hospital at Barnes-Jewish Cancer Center.

The medical details of my stay at the hospital:
They started my first dose of antibiotic at around 1:30 in the afternoon. (I thought it was going to be continuous through the IV but it wasn't).  It was going to take over an hour for the dosage to go through the IV so Mike left to get me some things I might need for the night.  The look on his face when he returned about an hour later was priceless.  I had had an allergic reaction to the antibiotic and I guess my face was RED...more than sunburnt red...like dark red paint red!  The nurse happened to come in not long after and said it is a common allergic reaction called "Red Man Syndrome"...go figure.  She stopped the IV and the redness went away within 30 minutes.  Sorry, don't have any pics!  Because of the reaction, it was debated on whether to continue doses every 12 hours or every 24 hours, but I would still get the same antibiotic.  As of 6 o'clock that night the decision was 24 hours which would have meant a longer stay in the hospital.  But by 7:30 that night the decision was back to 12 hours so my next dosage would start around 1:30 in the morning.  They made it so the antibiotic would be given slower and also with a saline solution (I think?) to dilute it a little in hopes of no other reaction, but, I still had a slight reaction with redness to my forehead.  Benedryl to the rescue.

I could save myself a lot of the roller coaster of emotions if I would just learn to not decide how I think things are going to go.  I had just determined in my mind that after 2 doses of a strong antibiotic through an IV meant I was going to see some major changes by the next day.  False. Wrong.  The doctor never said that! So why did I think it?  Because my oncologist said that antibiotic through the IV would give quicker results...translation by Karen Neal :  a couple of doses through the IV and this infection should be almost gone.   Oh my goodness I am my own worst enemy sometimes!!

By the next morning there was only slight improvement in the soreness and I really wasn't sure about changes in the pinkness even though the doctor had outlined it on my skin with an ink pen to be able to monitor any changes.  The doctor checked on me around 10 that morning and when she looked at everything, she saw progress!  Thank goodness!!   I had a great doctor there and she was SO patient with me because that is when I started asking more detailed questions (with tears flowing) and tried not to translate her answers into Karen Neal's language!!  I had questions about how soon I could expect to see more visible progress, how long before the pinkness would go away, why didn't we see drastic changes, how many more doses of antibiotic did they plan to give me, etc...so many questions!  I was just planning on getting my next dose around 1:30 that afternoon but at around noon the nurse told me I was going to get a pill form of an antibiotic soon and that I was going home later that day!!!  Woohoo!!  That was a great moment!  Every 6 hours I now take a pill form of an antibiotic for the next week.  I knew being in the hospital was what was needed but I do not like being away from my family and friends!  I was released around 3pm and home by about 5:30.

My roommate at the hospital:
I will never really be able to describe her accurately enough but she was a sweet women!  She was 44 and in the hospital because she got sick after her 1st chemo treatment.  She had been in the hospital since early Saturday morning around 1am.  Those are details that I think are important to know with other things I want to say about her.  She was very open about her situation so she would tell you more than that if you would meet her!!  I really believe that God orchestrates things and this is such an example!   The roommate she had previously was moved to a different room the morning I was admitted.  She and I think that that is because we were supposed to meet each other!  My thoughts go further than that.  I think that I was supposed to be her roommate so that she could be a part of the time I had with my visitors and my family.  I had two friends come see me Tuesday night and not only did they show me love, encouragement, and support but they showed my roommate the same.  As if they had been friends for years!  Wednesday morning my pastor and a deacon friend came to see me to also offer encouragement, scripture, and prayer.  My roommate was a part of some of the conversation with them and my pastor got a bit of time to speak with her!  This is God's work so perfectly orchestrated!  Later Wednesday I had two more friends come visit and offer encouragement and support for me and they also showed great love for my roommate.  They had brought with them a book of encouraging scripture along with a Chris Tomlin CD.  My friends were going to give those gifts to me but it did not take long into the visit for all of us to know that my roommate was the one who should get these gifts.
While we are both believers in Jesus Christ, my roommate and I live very different lives.  She is a believer who has moved away from her 'home' church and has not found a new church to go to.  She does not have near the support system that I have been so blessed with.  My stay at the hospital was approximately 28 hours.  During this time I had 6 visitors (with more scheduled if I would have stayed longer) and my husband there with me.  I also had FaceTime with both of my girls (which my roommate was a part of also!), so many text messages, and several phone calls.  During those 28 hours she did not have a single visitor of her own.  I know that she had a couple of visitors previously (the pastor from that 'home' church of hers drove 3 hours to see her!!) and I know that it doesn't mean anything against her family.  She has 2 grandbabies living in her home that her family needed to take care of and she did not want them around any sickness at a hospital.  I still just felt a little sad for her.  I had told friends that a visit was not necessary but now I see just how important they were....for me and for my roommate!


I am sorry to not post earlier with details and information.  I really did not have enough information and probably wouldn't have accurately given the information that I did have.

Thank you once again my Army of Prayer Warriors!!  Please continue the prayers and remember my roommate if you will!  Even though I didn't give her name, God will know who you are praying for!!

God is SO Good!!  All the Time!!

Treatment 6 Comes With Shots...

Today I was able to have Treatment #6!  Yay!!  Even though last week would have been treatment 5 and I did not get to have it, I am still referring to today as #6.  It is the 6th week and this way I can say I am at the halfway point of Phase 2!! (although I still might have to make up last week's treatment...we will wait and see!)

There was about a 30 minute window today when I didn't think I would be getting a treatment,,,again.  My white blood cell count is still down below the allowable limit to get a treatment.  However, my doctor approved the treatment and prescribed a shot that is similar to the Neulasta shot that I gave myself during the Phase 1 of chemo.  The difference is that I will be giving myself this shot every day for 5 days. (The Neulasta shot was 1 time every 2 weeks).  The shot is to help my body build up the white blood cell count.  Prayers needed that it works!!

I think I got some things mixed up last week too.  Last week I got a blood transfusion of just the red blood cells because that count was low.  I thought that was why I didn't get a treatment last week and that was incorrect.  Last week I didn't get a treatment because of how low the white blood cell count was.  I think my doctor was hoping that the white blood count level would go up by today but it didn't....it went down more.

I am happy that I was able to get a treatment today!  Also, my red blood cell count was good as well as the platelet count!  Now if I can just get those white cells to increase!

I have felt really good the last few days and am feeling good today too.  Not sure what the week will bring but I am taking it one day at a time and fully relying on God to give me strength!!

Thank you for your prayers!

It seems that I always hear a song on the way to St.Louis that really speaks a message to me.  Today it was one that many of you have sent to me as encouragement.
It was Building 429, "We Won't Be Shaken".

Whatever will come our way
Through fire or pouring rain
We won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken

Whatever tomorrow brings
Together we'll rise and sing
That we won't be shaken
No we won't be shaken

We will trust in You
We will not be moved
We will trust in You
And we won't be shaken.


Such a great message!
God is Good!!  All the Time!!

Updates - Missed Treatment - Transfusion

Well a lot has happened since my last post on December 23, 2013 which was the date of treatment #4 for me.  Usually 2 days after a treatment I am the most tired and that time was no exception.  So Christmas day was a combination of feeling tired, feeling nauseous for the first time, and yet completely enjoying my family and opening gifts.  My girls got me a beautiful ring which I have posted a picture of at the end of this post.  I felt a little better each day after this.  I had a tingling feeling in my legs and arms that didn't seem to get better though.

On Tuesday, December 31st, (New Year's Eve) I had my next appointment for what was supposed to be treatment #5 but, what I had been anticipating was finally going to happen.  I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when.  My blood counts, specifically my red blood cell counts, were too low and I was not going to be able to get a treatment.  Instead, my doctor wanted me to have a blood transfusion because of how low the counts were. The Siteman Center has been so good to us and this day was no exception.  They made some pretty fast changes in plans and were able to arrange for me to have the transfusion that day so we didn't have to come back a different day.  We just had to go to their other location at the hospital.

So, what's it like to get a transfusion?  This was a first for me.  It really didn't seem much different than getting my usual chemo treatment.  They just hooked me up with an IV drip through my port, and I just sat there (slept a little!).  I had to get 2 units of blood.  One thing that I learned was that they can separate the different kinds of blood cells and give me just the red blood cells.  Interesting.  We are learning a lot as we go.  Another thing that I learned was that it takes a lot less time to give blood than to receive it.  Each unit of blood took about an hour and a half to go through the IV drip.   They also gave me Tylenol and Benedryl about 30 minutes before they could start the transfusion in case there was any kind of reaction or possible fever....neither happened thank goodness!  That night we got home by about 9:30 pm and just rested and watched the ball drop in New York.  I did stay up until midnight to wish my girls a Happy New Year!

The next day, New Year's Day, I was already feeling a difference in a good way!  I then realized just how low energy and tired I had been the previous week.  And...I was already feeling less of that tingling feeling in my legs and arms which is a very good thing!

Thursday started out good but by late afternoon I started feeling sick.  For the first time since everything has begun, I got sick.  Not to be too graphic....but I could have given the Pitch Perfect girl a run for her money as far as volume was concerned.  Sorry!!  Too far?  Haha!  (The bad thing is I had that thought while I was getting sick!).  Perhaps I have watched the movie too many times!  Anyway...back to being serious...at first I thought it might have been because of a migraine headache that had developed but now I think it was a bug of some kind.  The good news is it didn't last long.  I went to bed early, slept all night, and woke up feeling really good (which would have been yesterday).   So yesterday and today have been really good!!  Last night I even told Mike that I was feeling as close to 'normal' as I could and hadn't felt that way in a really long time.  Thank you blood transfusion!

I am hoping that each day continues to be better and better and that this coming Tuesday (7th) I am able to get a treatment.  I am also interested to see how all of my counts are by then.  I am not sure if the treatment I missed will be made up or just skipped altogether.  I think it will depend on how the rest of the scheduled treatments go...if I have to miss anymore, or get anymore transfusions.

As I said in my facebook post, I am really thankful for those who give blood.  It makes a difference and it definitely helped me!

Thank you again for all of the support and prayers!
I know that God is with me every second of every day!  He gives me strength!!

On our way to St. Louis on New Year's Eve, I heard a song by Kari Jobe that I absolutely love called "Steady My Heart" and I tweeted the following part of her song:
"I'm not gonna worry.  I know that You've got me right inside the palm of Your hand.  
You steady my heart!"
Little did I know just how much peace and steadiness He was going give me that day!
But God knew :)

God is so Good!!  All the Time!!

The ring from my beautiful girls!  :)