A Timely Prayer
Hello, friends. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve communicated with you, so I thought I’d bring you up to speed on what’s been happening with my treatment.
Over the past few weeks, we have continued to battle my white blood cell (WBC) counts. When I arrived on September 9th for my fourth round of chemo, my WBC numbers were low again. They sent me home to give my body another week to recover. But when I arrived this past Tuesday, I was informed that my numbers had NOT bounced back as expected.
This was concerning to my oncologist. But rather than send me home, and because my numbers were close to acceptable, he decided to reduce the dosage and go ahead with the treatment lest we lose any of the ground we’ve gained.
There is some risk with this because the chemo attacks WBC as well as cancer cells. Thus, starting with an already low WBC level and then killing what’s left makes me susceptible to infection and disease.
We will need to be really careful over the next several days. So, until those white cells have returned to normal, we’ll have to “shelter in.” Shades of COVID!
To keep this from being an ongoing problem, my oncologist also ordered a “growth factor” drug that is supposed to stimulate the bone marrow to grow more WBC. It’s given through a series of four shots that I will receive (one per day) after each round of chemo.
There are some side effects to all of this, namely, bone pain. I’m praying they will be minimal.
Overall, I am doing pretty well. I feel really crummy for the first 12 hours after treatment, but otherwise, the side effects aren’t too bad. I am grateful.
Every Moment Holy
A few weeks back a special friend gave me what has proven to be a wonderful gift. It was a book containing prayers that spoke directly to my situation. Titled Every Moment Holy (Volume 2 – Grief, Death, and Hope), it has offered some truly remarkable words to my current situation.
Here’s an excerpt that focused on “Prayer Before a Medical Treatment.” I found it to be so very timely. Even though you might not be facing what I am facing, see if it might have some application for you as well.
O Christ My Hope in Present Troubles,
Today I approach this treatment with a measure of trepidation and uncertainty, but I approach it also with the guarded hope that it will be effective, slowing or stemming the advance of the condition besetting me, perhaps even turning the tide of my dis-ease so that I might see whatever threatens me driven into retreat or even defeated…
Mitigate the pain and discomfort I might encounter today and in the days to come. Let this treatment be productive. Renew my body. Restore my health and vitality. I wish to live and love and serve and take delight in the good gifts of this life as long as I can.
But even as I ask these things, I understand that I will die one day, as will all who live and breathe. Even if today’s treatment is effective, buying me additional months or years of life, it does not change the narrative that I am mortal, that I will face decline and death, and that – most important of all – I am always and forever your child, held by You, known by You, loved by You.
And when at last I release all things at my dying – all things but my love of You and trust in You – I will be met there by Your grace, Your beauty, Your unveiled presence, and I know that I have lost nothing but have gained everything, and that for all time. So remind me today as I submit to this treatment – remind me each time I am tempted to fear or worry for myself or my family, or even tempted to self-pity – remind me that my future is already settled.
Whatever comes of this treatment will in no way diminish anything upon which my best hopes are fixed. In that great assurance give me courage, strength, and peace inexplicable, that I might bear Your presence and shine Your light of love…
It has now been two days since that treatment. In the immediate aftermath, I faced about twelve hours of discomfort. Later today, I’ll go have my pump removed and receive the first of the new injections.
Yet amid all of this, I found the words of this prayer to be so timely – especially this reminder: So remind me today as I submit to this treatment – remind me each time I am tempted to fear or worry for myself or my family, or even tempted to self-pity – remind me that my future is already settled.
My prayer is that no matter what trial or test you might be facing, you can rest in this as well. For this truth triumphs over everything!
Thank you so much for your ongoing support and prayers. To know that so many people are standing with us literally breathes peace into the hearts of Gwen and me.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Here’s how you can pray for us in the coming days:
PRAY that these shots are effective in growing new white blood cells for Dave so he will be able to continue his treatments without delay.
PRAY for minimal side effects and for the capacity to deal with them as they arise.
PRAY for protection for Dave during this period of reduced immunity.
Dave’s next chemo treatment is scheduled for Sept. 30. PRAY the prayer in this post for him in the coming days.