Sharing the Journey

Yesterday we knocked off number seven of the twelve chemo treatments in this second half of the chemo journey. Joni continues to do well and we are grateful for your prayers. I went back and re-read a post I made the day before Joni began her first three months of chemo. I am posting it again with a positive report on both my bride and my God. Both have proved faithful. God has been faithful to her and Joni has remained faithful to Him. Here is that post written right before we started chemotherapy.

Regular readers of these humble ramblings know one thing for sure. My brain is not wired according to factory specs. So it was no surprise to me that some synapses randomly crossed and I couldn’t get a gospel song out of my mind that I had not heard in, oh, forty years. That is the curse of a mind that can’t remember a security ATM pin number but knows every word to the Mr. Ed theme song.

I suppose the trigger for digging this gospel tune out of my musty brain storage unit was thinking about the journey that Joni and I begin in earnest this Friday. Somehow that brought to mind a gospel song that was a favorite in my house growing up. I had a rather unusual spiritual environment as a youngster. My parents were not regular church goers but they loved southern gospel music. We would go to concerts in the big city of Columbus, Ohio featuring groups like the Blackwood Brothers, the Stamps, the Speer Family, the Happy Goodmans, and others. I had forgotten that little slice of family history until this song perniciously implanted in my brain. The song was called “I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now” and I can still remember the lyrics.

Well, I started out travelin’ for the Lord many years ago,
I’ve had a lot of heartache, I’ve met a lot of grief and woe.
But when I would stumble, then I would humble down,
And there I would say I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.

Well, I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now,
Gotta make it to heaven somehow,
Though the Devil tempt me & he tries to turn me around,
He’s offered everything that’s got a name,
All the wealth I want & the worldly fame,
If I could, still I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.

There’s nothing in the world that’ll ever take the place of God’s love.
Silver & gold couldn’t buy a mighty touch from above.
When my soul needs healin’ I begin to feelin’ His power,
I can say thank the Lord, I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.

If I could, still I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now

I write this one day before Joni begins chemotherapy for her breast cancer. We have talked about the journey ahead. We know it will be difficult. When we first found out about her cancer I quoted John Piper’s article called “Don’t Waste Your Cancer”. Here is an excerpt from that blog.

“It will not do to say that God only uses our cancer but does not design it. What God permits, he permits for a reason. And that reason is his design. If God foresees molecular developments becoming cancer, he can stop it or not. If he does not, he has a purpose. Since he is infinitely wise, it is right to call this purpose a design. Satan is real and causes many pleasures and pains. But he is not ultimate.”

We believe there is a reason for this journey we are on. We are praying that He will be glorified through this process. I would be less than honest if I said there is never a time when I wish the journey was easier or could be altered. I would have chosen to pass on the heartache, grief, and woe the song writer described above. There was a time when the wealth and fame were at the top rungs of my ladder of desire. But those heartaches, the grief, and the realization about what matters have molded me into who I am today. My journey toward being more like Jesus has a long way to go. Joni and I are ready for the next part of our journey together. We are, to be honest, a little frightened as we prepare to battle the giant. But we are steadfast in one thing. We wouldn’t take nothin’ for our journey now. We are going to make it somehow. And that somehow will involve the love of His people and a mighty touch from above…

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.Matt 11  NLT 

Post script: We are making it. We are grateful for what the journey has taught us. And we are grateful for each one of you who cares so much about us. Our fear is growing smaller as we see Him moving ahead of us and with us. God is good. All the time. Even in the bad times.

Many of you check in regularly to see how Joni is doing in her journey through the cancer valley. I am actually thrilled to tell you that I don’t have much to report. We are in that part of the marathon where you wonder why you ever started. It is long and the finish line still seems far away. But we know it is there. And we know we are closer with each day and each treatment. Tomorrow (thursday) we hit the midway point of this 12 week chemo series. Then we hit the backstretch of the chemo race, take a breath, and head to the radiation portion of this ridiculously difficult cancer triathalon.

We are really doing well, all things considered. Pray for Joni’s energy as she tackles the difficult challenge of the beginning of a new school year. She is helping coordinate many kids with special needs and concerns get properly situated. It is a big job when you have full energy. Pray that her spirit will stay refreshed with the knowledge that so many of you are praying for daily.

We cannot express our gratitude for the love and concern so many of you have demonstrated.

Joni uneventfully completed week number 5 of a 12 week chemo regimen. After her adverse reaction and near ER visit two weeks ago I instructed her that she was aging me and needed to stop these events. The last two weeks have been without incident. I wish we would have had this talk sooner.

Seriously, we covet your prayers for continued strength. Joni really wants to stay on track and not miss a treatment. So far she has not had the numbness in the fingers and toes…that is a real blessing. Also pray that the Herceptin drug will not cause any damage to her heart. They are monitoring that closely as the only really bad side effect of that drug. Since Herceptin specifically targets the type of cancer Joni has we want to be able to finish out that cycle as well.

We are blessed to have so many friends, family, and even strangers who care enough to take Joni and our family before the throne of grace daily. We are grateful and humbled by that. 

Wednesday was treatment 4 of 12 in this chemotherapy round of Joni’s treatment. The changes in how the drugs were administered seemed to help and she did not experience the scary reaction of the week before.

This is a long journey. After the chemo we will have six weeks of radiation and then several more months of Herceptin. Pray for Joni’s energy and for the cumulative effects of the current chemo to be minimal.

Thanks for loving my wife by praying for her and for being her friend in the storm.

One of my favorite Saturday Night Live performers was Gildna Radner and my favorite character was Roseanne Roseannadanna. She would go on a long rant and finally Jane Curtain would get exasperated, interrupt, and ask her what that had to do with anything.

Roseanne would then utter her famous line.

“You know Jane, it just goes to show you. It’s always something!”

That is how Joni and I have often felt during this chemotherapy marathon. Yesterday we had a bit of a scare during her chemo as Joni developed a rapid heartbeat, elevated pulse, and dimished vision in one eye. They were ready to take her to the emergency room but her Oncologist was there to evaluate the situation. Because Dr.Juturi was there we were able to avoid the ER visit. Some adjustments have been made to avoid this happening in the future.

I was not able to be with Joni yesterday. But God is so good. When Joni was told there was some bad news she began to cry. Her friend Pam just bent over my bride and started praying boldly in front of the staff and other patients. That was a tremendous comfort to Joni and in just a few minutes she was better. Coincidence? I think not.

We feel the prayers of those who are walking with us. Thanks. And Pam…I owe you lunch and a big hug for taking care of my beloved yesterday.

Joni found out today that her PLT blood levels (related to clotting) had climbed to 2.2. What that means to us is that she can stop giving herself shots in the stomach each morning. So that is a gigantic YEA!

Thanks for your continued prayers. She is doing very well with this regimen of chemo. The only issue continues to be tiredness. The next infusion is Wednesday. She will be 25% through this round at that point. The mile markers are slowing slipping by and your encouragement and love help make the trip bearable.

Yesterday was Chemo Day and it went well. That was number 2 of 12 consecutive weeks that Joni will be getting this regimen of Taxol and Herceptin. The effects of these treatments are nothing like the last round. Joni primary problem is tiredness. Praise God that her port was clear and we could go back to that mode of infusion.

We do have one prayer request. We still need to get Joni’s blood clotting levels to the desired number. She tested at 1.6 and needs to get to 2 on the PLT test (I think that was it…I am overloaded with medical info in recent months).

I am praying that she can get there soon. She is still having to deal with the daily shots and it would be nice to get those behind us.

Blessings and joy in Him,

Dave

So far the impact of this regimen of chemotherapy has not been in the same league with the A/C treatments. Joni has experienced negligible side effects from her first infusion. The only issue so far has been tiredness. There are two prayer requests as we proceed.

1) That Joni’s infusion port will stay clear and available for the treatments.
2) One of the side effects over time of the Taxol drug is neuropathy. This is a numbness of the fingertips and toes. We are asking God that Joni will not experience this but we know (firsthand) that His grace is sufficient for all that comes down the road.

Thanks for praying. Love to all.

Dave

The website went down a week ago and we have been unable to keep you updated via this site. So much has happened that I decided to put this update in the form of an old movie serial.

Follow this link to get the update on the Adventures of Joni….

We are halfway through the chemo and the “red devil” drug is behind us. On July 19th Joni starts the second half of the chemo regimen. My analysis of the first half.

Chemo sucks…Joni rocks…God is great.

Joni handled the last of the A/C treatments pretty well. We even got to go to church together today for the first time in weeks. We are resting and getting our game plan together for the second half. The second half will consist of 12 weekly treatments along with the drug that has proven so effective against Joni’s cancer (It is called Herceptin)

Then we are looking at 6 weeks of radiation and then several more months of Herceptin. It’s a long journey. We are so grateful that so many of you are alongside us every step of the way. It makes the trip not seem quite so long.

Blessings,

Dave