I hold the Purple Heart Award. I received it today as I was leaving the Cancer Center after my 12th and final week’s chemotherapy session. As I was leaving the treatment center a nurse stopped me and with a big smile said she had to give me a hug. Another nurse also gave me a hug. Then another came up and asked if I had been given my “sheet”, to which I replied, “No,…my sheet?” She retrieved a white “certificate” which read,
“Purple Heart Award”
This is to certify that Jacqueline Wallace
has completed chemotherapy on this day, the 23rd of October, 2008.
It was signed on the back by several nurses.
This certificate bearing nurse also gave me a hug, and with big smiles they all wished me a wonderful time visiting my home (they all know I am set to fly home to West Virginia November 2 for a few weeks). I told them I was so thankful for each of them and just today had told someone how nice every nurse and the others working in the Cancer Center were. I hadn’t come across a grumpy one yet!
It is true. These ladies and the doctor I have and the others working there, are all the best, and I am thankful for the Lord’s care of me through them all these months.
I truthfully am glad to be done with the weekly sessions, though. It hadn’t come to grinding anxiousness to be done, if you know what I mean. I am just relieved it is over. Glad. God’s amazing peace continues to hold me in the realm of the “sane”!
I will have a month to recuperate. I fly to WV and will be in my own home with my hubby for 2 ½ weeks, visiting my friends and neighbors once again, enjoying my front porch (with all new posts and railings which Randy recently built and installed!) and savoring our lovely West Virginia scenes (even though I missed the fall colors). It will be 9 ½ months since I’ve been home.
Thank you for all your prayers for me to this point. God has been sustaining me. I have my times of frustration, such as when praying for healing from this cold which I have had for three weeks, yet I go back to God’s word, am encouraged and chastened in heart to remember to praise and thank God for his goodness to me. I have so much to be thankful for.
Though I have felt lazy mentally and physically, I have to try to find the balance I need, recognizing that physical and mental tiredness is part of this whole package of treatment. I guess I have to “give (myself) a break”, literally. I am looking forward to building up some measure of strength to start my walks again and getting other things accomplished. Of course, I will be resuming my Herceptin infusions (not considered chemotherapy) November 21, the day after I return from West Virginia, and will be starting radiation therapy sometime after that as well, which has as its major side-effect, (you guessed it! Tiredness!) Balance and perspective are very important!
Thanks again for praying for me. I will need it for some time to come! Prayer points:
+ Pray I get over this cold before I fly Sunday Nov.2 and that my plugged ear will not cause problems. Safety and strength for flying to and from WV.
+I have radiation next in the treatment regimen. Pray God allows me to forego the radiation. This would be a miracle since as far as I know they routinely do rad. after a lumpectomy. I really prefer not to do radiation with all the side effects.
+Healing of Monica's eye (daughter in law) who again had a freak eye poking accident and tore the cornea.
+Pray for Randy as he writes a book on missions and family involvement, as well as other books and articles.
'Til next time…
Jacque
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
You may have wondered if I was still out here. Yes, I am. A month has flown by since last I updated you on my progress. Good things have been going on over those days and I’ll catch you up a bit.
I have completed 9 of the 12 weekly chemo treatments of this second set of chemotherapy. I am now looking at 3 more weeks of infusions with two drugs and then on Friday, October 31, I start having just one drug infused every three weeks instead of every week (which will extend over the next 9 months). My blood test results continue to be in normal ranges. I have been strong although I haven’t been able to resume my morning walks like I was doing before, for various reasons. I would appreciate your prayers for me on that issue. Walking is the only exercise I can really get. It is healthy as long as I am able to do it, and I really enjoy it, too.
Tiredness is the major side effect of the chemo I am on now. A few other things are very minor and not a threat health wise to me, thank the Lord. I find as long as I don’t do much the days following chemo, I am usually back to “normal” by Monday. I am so very thankful to the Lord for all of this!
Now here is some exciting news: On November 2, after I start my “every three weeks” infusions, I get to fly back home to WV for almost three weeks! I haven’t been back home since I flew out here January 19. This is a gift from a friend and we are very grateful. I look forward to seeing lots of people and fussing around my house! Pray for my strength during those weeks (Nov 2-20). It will be very easy to overdo my activity level.
That is looking to the future. Now to look back over the past month. September 1 saw me driving north, winding my way higher and higher into the San Bernardino mountains to a Christian campground 45 minutes away for a personal spiritual retreat. I was able to do uninterrupted Bible study, meditating (thinking), and praying, in solitude, over the 48 hours I was there. God has been teaching me things in this life “parenthesis” and I am grateful for his presence and leading.
Over the past month I have developed more of a “schedule” to my weekly routine and am thankful I have the strength to pursue constructive activities which are helpful to others. Among other things, this has included resuming responsibilities with Mustard Seeds (since July), working remotely via computer and telephone. I am glad I can still be a part of the ministry even though so far away. I still tire easily some days, but overall I am doing well.
The last part of September, after another 5 week absence, Randy was able to fly out and spend two weeks here. He goes home again Wednesday, October 8. We had a couple days away and made that our birthday present to each other, since our birthdays fall 3 days apart the first of October. So our anniversary (this past June, 35 years) and birthdays were spent together even though we have had to spend months apart. Little blessings.
Through this time of physical distance between Randy and me, I have really felt for those in the military and other professions in which couples have to be separated for weeks or months at a time. It is difficult to maintain that close communication even though we have telephone and email. It is just not the same as being together and talking, sharing and praying together. Randy and I do a lot of that in our regular, ordinary day to day lives. So we miss it when we are apart. Please pray for us, and pray for those I mentioned, like military husbands and wives, who are separated for long periods of time.
Another point of update and interest. You will remember I asked prayer for the mother of a Mustard Seeds staff person, now former staffer but still part of the Mustard Seeds family, Emily Crawford. Her mom has a rare blood cancer and underwent chemotherapy. She seems to be feeling ok, without symptoms of the disease for the most part, but it is a long process for determining whether the chemo worked. There are other treatments, very unpleasant, which are being considered as well. Do continue to pray for wisdom and healing for Emily’s mom, Kay.
Currently Randy and I have sore throats and he has a cough. We thought these were allergies for both of us but now not sure. I have not been sick even with a sore throat in many months, thank God. With my weakened immune system I am more susceptible to illness yet God has so often graciously protected me. Now please pray for healing for both of us.
Thank you many times over for your prayers of faith for me, and Randy. Please don’t give up! One of the things God put his finger on in my life is the aspect of persistent praying. Jesus said we need to practice it, coming back over and over, not letting go of God. I have begun to pray for myself, especially for healing of the MG, more persistently. God is gracious and compassionate and hears the prayers of his children, unlike the unjust judge in Luke 18. Even he finally gave in to the persistent widow. How much more willing is our just and loving God to hear and answer our earnest prayers. There is more lack of faith on our side, unfounded as it is, than lack of desire to respond on our heavenly father’s side!
Jacque
I have completed 9 of the 12 weekly chemo treatments of this second set of chemotherapy. I am now looking at 3 more weeks of infusions with two drugs and then on Friday, October 31, I start having just one drug infused every three weeks instead of every week (which will extend over the next 9 months). My blood test results continue to be in normal ranges. I have been strong although I haven’t been able to resume my morning walks like I was doing before, for various reasons. I would appreciate your prayers for me on that issue. Walking is the only exercise I can really get. It is healthy as long as I am able to do it, and I really enjoy it, too.
Tiredness is the major side effect of the chemo I am on now. A few other things are very minor and not a threat health wise to me, thank the Lord. I find as long as I don’t do much the days following chemo, I am usually back to “normal” by Monday. I am so very thankful to the Lord for all of this!
Now here is some exciting news: On November 2, after I start my “every three weeks” infusions, I get to fly back home to WV for almost three weeks! I haven’t been back home since I flew out here January 19. This is a gift from a friend and we are very grateful. I look forward to seeing lots of people and fussing around my house! Pray for my strength during those weeks (Nov 2-20). It will be very easy to overdo my activity level.
That is looking to the future. Now to look back over the past month. September 1 saw me driving north, winding my way higher and higher into the San Bernardino mountains to a Christian campground 45 minutes away for a personal spiritual retreat. I was able to do uninterrupted Bible study, meditating (thinking), and praying, in solitude, over the 48 hours I was there. God has been teaching me things in this life “parenthesis” and I am grateful for his presence and leading.
Over the past month I have developed more of a “schedule” to my weekly routine and am thankful I have the strength to pursue constructive activities which are helpful to others. Among other things, this has included resuming responsibilities with Mustard Seeds (since July), working remotely via computer and telephone. I am glad I can still be a part of the ministry even though so far away. I still tire easily some days, but overall I am doing well.
The last part of September, after another 5 week absence, Randy was able to fly out and spend two weeks here. He goes home again Wednesday, October 8. We had a couple days away and made that our birthday present to each other, since our birthdays fall 3 days apart the first of October. So our anniversary (this past June, 35 years) and birthdays were spent together even though we have had to spend months apart. Little blessings.
Through this time of physical distance between Randy and me, I have really felt for those in the military and other professions in which couples have to be separated for weeks or months at a time. It is difficult to maintain that close communication even though we have telephone and email. It is just not the same as being together and talking, sharing and praying together. Randy and I do a lot of that in our regular, ordinary day to day lives. So we miss it when we are apart. Please pray for us, and pray for those I mentioned, like military husbands and wives, who are separated for long periods of time.
Another point of update and interest. You will remember I asked prayer for the mother of a Mustard Seeds staff person, now former staffer but still part of the Mustard Seeds family, Emily Crawford. Her mom has a rare blood cancer and underwent chemotherapy. She seems to be feeling ok, without symptoms of the disease for the most part, but it is a long process for determining whether the chemo worked. There are other treatments, very unpleasant, which are being considered as well. Do continue to pray for wisdom and healing for Emily’s mom, Kay.
Currently Randy and I have sore throats and he has a cough. We thought these were allergies for both of us but now not sure. I have not been sick even with a sore throat in many months, thank God. With my weakened immune system I am more susceptible to illness yet God has so often graciously protected me. Now please pray for healing for both of us.
Thank you many times over for your prayers of faith for me, and Randy. Please don’t give up! One of the things God put his finger on in my life is the aspect of persistent praying. Jesus said we need to practice it, coming back over and over, not letting go of God. I have begun to pray for myself, especially for healing of the MG, more persistently. God is gracious and compassionate and hears the prayers of his children, unlike the unjust judge in Luke 18. Even he finally gave in to the persistent widow. How much more willing is our just and loving God to hear and answer our earnest prayers. There is more lack of faith on our side, unfounded as it is, than lack of desire to respond on our heavenly father’s side!
Jacque
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