Chemo

Bare with me as I just woke up and might have to end quickly because the kids wake up:-)

Last Thursday Rachel went in for her first round of ultra light Chemo. she had a 10% chance of getting sick from the treatment. Rachel prayed that God would be very clear if He did not want her to continue with the treatment but up until the chemo treatment everything seemed to go smoothly. Even when Rachel came home from the treatment everything seemed to be great and she felt fine. However, that night was a long night for Rachel because she did get very sick and that is when she knew that she was not to continue with the chemo treatments.

Rachel still has not recovered from that one dose of treatment and it feels like another setback. She was given a lot of medication leading up to the chemo and the chemo itself affected her body causing her to become constipated.

For most of us, constipation is not that serious but for Rachel it could mean another long hospital stay and another operation which she was determined not to have happen. Saturday night Rachel was in extreme pain from the constipation and should have gone to the hospital but refused to go because (as our family firmly agrees with) that going to the hospital would only cause another major setback in her recovery because they would just "help" her based on their knowledge of medicine and not a knowledge of nutrition and health. So, late at night, with Rob barred from the room, Mom and Dad helped Rachel become un-constipated.

I sit here writing as a mom and a women of a sister who has cancer... I cannot express to you how much love it had to have taken for my Mom and Dad to be willing to help my sister that way. The pain in their hearts that they must have been going through and the fear that they were causing their little girl pain. And "No" you could not even dream/nightmare of what they had to go through but my Mom and Dad are amazing. Rachel feels much better. All three of them have one interesting story to keep to themselves. We all have the sigh of relief that Rachel did not have to go to the hospital and we all have a Mighty God.

As for food...since chemo Rachel had been very nauseous and at times has thrown up. She only eats very basic things and has not been able to drink a lot of juice. frustration and fear fills my heart whenever I think about it but then I have to trust the Lord that He knows what is going on in Rachel's body.

Rachel is strong though in spirit! She continues to trust the Lord through all of this and does not complain. How can she remain so thankful and focused...I would love to get her here to write about it!! I know that it all focuses on the Lord. What does it teach me? When I see Rachel, I get a glimpse of Christ...because she is so focused on Him!! and, I am also convicted of my complaining spirit!!! I complain if I don't get enough sleep, enough to eat, enough time to myself, enough freedom... but I don't really hear any complaints coming from Rachel...How much have I already complained today? How much have you complained today? hmmm...gives me something to think about.

Prayer request:

1. For my Mom and Dad...their little girl has cancer

2. For Rachel...stay strong in body and spirit, is able to eat and drink more

3. for the boys that they will be drawn to the Lord more closely through all of this

4. for Rob that He will feel the prayers of everyone around him and draw strength from the Lord.

5. For everyone reading this blog...that they will see Christ in our family trying to live through faith while in emotional and physical pain.