Highs and Lows of the Season
Spring is in full bloom here in northern Indiana. There is a haze of bright green everywhere, a welcome change from the grey of winter. Another welcome change is the warmer temperatures. The highs over the last few weeks have been in the upper 70s and 80s. But the frustrating reality of this season is that those highs don’t last long. It can feel like summer one day and like winter the next. Yesterday the high was 79, but on Monday we had a freeze warning with lows barely reaching 30 degrees.
These swings in temperature are illustrative of what life has been like for Gwen and me lately. It’s been a season of highs and lows, with there being more lows than highs of late.
April started on a high note. Easter celebrations brought not only the reminder that Jesus rose from the dead and is seated on His throne, it also brought the joy of being with our kids and grandkids.
After church, everyone came over to our house for lunch. It was great to sit around the table together amid all the stories and laughter.
Following that was the traditional Easter egg hunt in our backyard. Even our nearly 21-year-old granddaughter and her 18-year-old sister participated! The sunny day ended on a high.
Easter 2026. Front row L-R: Kate (Jen’s), Megan (Jen’s), Madison (Jeff’s), Nolan (Jeff’s); Back row L-R: Dave, Jen, Tim, Jeff, Samantha, Gwen, Karri, Jim
However, a cloud was on the horizon. I found that the food that day didn’t taste quite as good and that I couldn’t eat much. Within 48 hours, I had completely lost my appetite. The very smell of food made me nauseous.
Accompanying this was an overwhelming fatigue. I went to bed early and still took multiple naps during the day. After two weeks of eating very little, I was getting weaker and weaker.
We didn’t know what was going on and were quite concerned. It was easy to believe the worst. “The cancer is advancing. It’s going to be like this from now on.” We call it “hanging black crepe,” an expression of pessimism and doom.
Fortunately, I had an appointment with my oncologist scheduled this past Tuesday. We reported the symptoms I’d been experiencing, and he told us that while they could be a sign of worsening cancer, it was more likely that they were side effects of the secondary immunotherapy drug I’d been on since February. These side effects were the reason they only give a patient four doses of the drug, and that day I would get my fourth—and last—dose.
Once I was hooked up to my infusion line, Gwen googled the side effects of Yervoy (the drug involved), and we learned that the symptoms I was experiencing were “very common.”
While that news has allayed our concerns a bit, I’ve still been feeling lousy these past days. I don’t know how long these side effects will last (if that’s what this is). Meanwhile, I have another PET scan scheduled on May 7. And Gwen is becoming an expert at making high-protein smoothies.
As with the swings of weather, my emotions often swing from hope and optimism to discouragement and pessimism. I’m trying to encourage myself with the words, “You’ll get through this.”
The same God who has proven Himself faithful in the natural world is more than competent to be faithful in my personal world. And you know what? He will prove Himself faithful in yours.
Trust in Him. Look to Him. Lean on Him.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Here’s how you can pray for us in the coming days:
PRAY for Dave to regain his appetite and strength.
Dave has a PET scan on May 7 with a follow-up appointment with the oncologist on May 12. PRAY that we get a clear picture of what is going on in Dave’s body so we can proceed with the best treatment plan.
PRAY for complete healing in Jesus’ name.