Radiation therapy started yesterday. I will go in every day for several weeks (probably 7 in all). They do a lot of measuring and marking (lines and crosses and now two tattoos, just dots) on my chest, X-rays and finally the actual “treatment” with radiation. I assume once they get all the preliminaries done it will take only 15 minutes per session they said it would take. I’d rather they be absolutely certain where those “rad rays” are going so if it takes a bit of time, that’s ok.

I had two sets of actual radiation treatment today. The first took 1 minute, the second 30 seconds. As I lay there and try to relax, I pray the radiologists get it absolutely right, that no tissue or organs or systems are damaged, that the side effects will be minimal. Please pray with me.

They have to irradiate the lymph nodes higher in the chest/neck area, ones they did not surgically remove. Pray with me that my lymph system is not damaged by this process.

And I would appreciate your prayers for healing from another sinus congestion/cold. It started the weekend before radiation started. The coughing tires me and the struggle to breathe when lying down disrupts my sleep, compounding the tiredness.

Other than that I’m doing fine! The weather’s beautiful and clear, which means you can see the mountains because no smog is obliterating the view. My favorite southern California time of year. (Several years ago, after recently moving to West Virginia, someone doing a survey asked me about the air pollution in WV. After having lived in S. Cali for a dozen years in the 1980’s, I almost laughed! In West Virginia I only “see the air” when a passing train belches smoke or there is “legitimate” fog!)

Thanks for caring, and praying. In this coming new year, I pray that you will prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Jacque