Mon,
01 Nov 2004
The
Second Week
Hey
there......We're doing ok today. We are starting "Day
One of the Second Week of Chemo." Last week went
ok (not great by any stretch of the imagination) but
ok.
I figure if Jade doesn't seem like he's going to die
that night, then it's "ok". My brain always
seems to try to go to "all or nothing" and
it's a constant fight to keep it in the middle area
where there's a lot of shades of gray rather than
black and white. So, unless it's like living in hell
on earth or he's going to die tonite, well then, we're
ok.
Jade's energy levels aren't great. He tried to do
a few things this weekend (including going trick or
treating with Garrett and I) and he just gets so tired,
so fast. We were thinking this morning he's almost
done 100 days of chemo over the past 18 months. It's
hard to believe the amount of poison we've pumped
through his body. He is tired, but still fighting.
Jade was put on a different pain killer last week
and it helped. The pain killers aren't for pain but
to help slow his digestive system down to help control
the outrageous diarrhea brought on by the chemo. It
did work and helped a lot the last few days. We have
had a couple friends give Jade rides to chemo since
the new pain killer makes him a little light headed
and he doesn't trust himself driving. But that's been
fine and we've had a lot of kind offers to help with
rides.
Jade will get next week off and then do two weeks
of chemo and probably have CT scan the end of Nov.
I'm guessing it'll be Monday the 29th.
Jade and I have been talking about how compassionate
others have been towards us the past 18 months and
how many dear friends and family members we know are
having extremely difficult challenges right now. We
laugh that we must have the "bad luck plague"
since everyone we know is struggling with one thing
or another. It's so hard to watch others hurt. You
just ache for them and wish you could do something
to help. I ran across this thought earlier today and
was amazed at how applicable it was to our life:
"The Lord doesn't really need us to take care
of the poor [and needy]. He could take care of them
without our help if it were His purpose to do so.
. . No, the Lord doesn't really need us to take care
of the poor [and needy], but we need this experience;
for it is only through our learning how to take care
of each other that we develop within us the Christlike
love and disposition necessary to qualify us to return
to His presence." - Marion G. Romney
Without a doubt, we have been the recipients of that
Christlike love and service. Thank you for your help
and kindness. We hope to be able to return the acts
of kindness to you and others.
On a lighter note, I've attached a couple pictures
of Garrett from Halloween. He had a blast! I didn't
think he'd get trick or treating and wouldn't be that
interested but I underestimated my two year old. Gee,
knock on the door, say "Trick and Treat"
and they give you candy! Yeah, he caught onto that
concept pretty quick. We had a lot of fun passing
out candy too. Garrett thought every time kids came
to the door he got to take candy from our bowl and
put in his sack. I kept raiding his sack every 20
minutes so he didn't think he really got all that
candy!
Anyway, take care of yourself. Stay warm if you're
here in Utah. Hard to believe we were trick or treating
on Saturday and today (Monday) Garrett and I were
outback playing in the snow!
We'll keep you posted with how the week goes!
Love ya lots...............................Tanya and
co.
