Tom & Brenda's Family Journal

Tom had his treatment this week without any problems.  His blood numbers had not moved from the previous week which was good news.  He now has 7 treatments left.  We are cautiously looking toward the end of chemo.  There will be celebrating when we are done. The last post I made was about the 'waiting room' that we feel we are in now.  Our lives have been put on hold while he goes through his treatment.  At each week of chemo he receives a blood test that determines if he is healthy enough to receive treatment.  Each time he receives his treatment, he is one step closer to being done.  But waiting or postponing treatment is discouraging. Some of our family attends Ada Bible Church near here.  I often watch the services during the week.  The Bible teaching is an encouragement to me.  This week's sermon is part of a series called Choosing Joy Under Pressure.  I have been watching with great interest. Jeff Manion's sermon...

My current projects The waiting room-Tom and I have been spending a great deal of time sitting in waiting rooms.  This morning at chemo we were waiting for his blood test.  That's the first step once  you get to Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion .  When they called his name, they said that they had called him before and he didn't respond.  That was be the worst.  To have missed your call. At chemo you are seen by different people, so it isn't unusual to sit in the waiting room three different times during your visit.  Waiting room-Blood test;-waiting room- medical check-up; waiting room-chemo room (infusion room) and then you are finally cleared for chemo.  I'm thankful for the care that Tom is getting.  Every week there is no chemo until everyone agrees that he is healthy enough for a treatment.  We always breathe a sigh of relief when they say, "OK, we are set to go."  There have been two times when that didn't happen and it is ...