A new chapter begins

Port placement was today

Chemo starts tomorrow – if bloodwork is completed

Todd will be w/ me Monday and Tuesday so I don’t need care yet – going to try and guage how needy, high maintenance I am J Based on today I just need a pillow!  Though I struggled to get the medicine container open – opposing force – tough!

Well – I am writing Monday evening and certainly forgot how much this sucker hurts!  Here are two pictures – the second is with the port in place and the needle still accessed so they do not have to re-stick me tomorrow –  sorry too tired to make this look beautiful  -- you get the idea!  I am thankful for all of you and wanted you to know I am ok!  Praises!

For those who do not know – a port is a tube that they run through a vein behind the collar bone and down into the heart.  This way the caustic nature of the chemo does not burn the veins when I have a treatment.  During the treatment today, I was awake – though groggy and I could feel them pressing the tube into place.  The top bandage is the one covering it going behind the collar bone – the center bandage – center window shows the port – all the tubing is for access tomorrow. 

I thought I was ok, but I laid down after lunch and fell asleep for 4 hours – slept right through my breakthrough medicine time- ugh!  It feels as though a very large man punched me full strength in the R shoulder where the port is.  I am sore!  So thankful for my pain killers!

Other things to be thankful for – I had a nurse who serves on the praise team for one of our local churches – who recognized me – at least by face and took very sweet care of me! 

That I could sleep

That they left the needle in (one less poke)

That is is almost bedtime so I can go back to sleep!

When I was being admitted, they give you a gown and warm blanket and ask all kinds of questions – so hard to focus and not be sad that I am doing this all again –

Kept saying “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” –

And I’ll continue to say it as the tape is way too tight – can’t straighten my neck upright- it’s taped forward a bit. 

Several verses that keep me going so I would not cry during this difficult time –

Thanks for praying for me!

John 11:40 Then Jesus said,

“did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

I am praying that I see his glory through him letting me stay here….

Ps 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever!

Thanks for checkin’ in!  Y’all are a blessing – carrying us through this tough time!