Since the last post, there really is not too much to update at this point which is such a blessing!
Scott is now rocking the bald head. Thanks to Dom at Henchmen House for making him look like a total stud!
After radiation ended, Scott’s numbers had increased but then dropped back down. We got the call yesterday that he is no longer neutropenic which means the numbers are climbing up again, praise God! He has to have them high enough by 11/6/19 to start the next round of chemo treatments so that is currently our biggest prayer request. His next set of chemo cycles will consist of 5 days of oral chemo then 23 days off. 5 days on, 23 off, and repeat for 6 months. The dose will be 2.5x stronger than the dose he was taking these last 6 weeks. Basically, he will feel sicker during those 5 days and the 5 days following, but then he will feel better for the other 13 days of the cycle. While this is still less than awesome, it will at least give us some predictability as to when he should have good or bad days. Our prayer is that he can keep his numbers up high enough each month to get approval for the next cycle throughout the 6 months.
Right now, Scott is feeling really well! Quite possibly the best he’s felt since January when all of the symptoms first started. Seeing him have his energy come back and acting like himself again has been such a gift.
Looking forward, our good friends, Rob and Rachael, are taking us on a short get away trip to Myrtle Beach next week! We are beyond excited and grateful to have a mental break away from the chaos of appointments, labs, insurance, paperwork, etc. and just enjoy time with friends. Scott will start treatment just before we leave so we are praying that he will continue to feel well and have energy to fully enjoy the trip!
We have fully enjoyed this last month of no treatments and having the opportunity to just enjoy the beautiful fall weather. We have had a chance to slow down, spend more time in the Word, and reflect more on this journey. One evening, we were sitting at our back door watching an awesome thunderstorm roll in. I love thunderstorms. There is something almost calming about then, listening to the rain on the roof, seeing the sky light up with color, and hearing the rolling thunder. I love watching such uncontrollable chaos on such a grand scale. I started to think about how we put windows and walls and roofs between us and the storm in order to shelter ourselves from harm. This gives us the opportunity to actually enjoy the storm. What an awesome visual representation of my daily life. If I actively choose to shelter under God’s wings during life’s storms, I have the chance to think clearly while observing the storm through the window, rather than running frantically, trying to find shelter from the torrential downpour occurring around me. There is no point in me trying to worry a change into effect, stress a problem away, or question the ways of my Almighty God. I am called to simply rest in the shelter of His wings. I selfishly crave predictability because that falsely leads me to believe that I have control. I want to know what to expect so I can plan accordingly. But right now, our story does not lend us that relief. We are in a storm with unknown outcomes and unforeseen challenges ahead. But we are more certain than ever before that God is with us, and He knows the outcome. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save, He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you by His love.” We have already seen God’s hand at work in people’s lives around us which has encouraged us to pick up our cross and follow daily. Yes, we get tired physically, but spiritually we have never felt more alive. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. God's got this!!
