Apologies

Recognize These?  Be glad if you don't!  Ha.



Keep Smiling Through It All...It takes lots less muscle to smile than to frown.

The Nurses At Work

My apologies to all of my blogger friends.  (All of you) * ld like to give you an update on what isd going on here but with the "chemically induced nejuropathy pains I'm having - it is most difficult to tyupe because of teh pain I am experience in my fingers.  It's a taski top type without hitting un-wanted keys as you can plainly sdee.  Horrible!  ☺  so I'm smiling anyway!!!!!!!!!!!!  Thank God I can do as well as I can and the doc says it will go away in time.

Last Treatment

Three of God's Angels
(Frances Durham,. Frances Brannen, Ruthie Crockett)
who worked and prayed with me from start to finish
Through the process of healing from cancer.
Thank you girls!

This crown was mine to indicate that I was "King For A Day" after completing 6 months of chemo-therapy. 
All I could think of was that if we win any crowns in life - we will cast them all at the feet of Jesus
For He IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
I know that it was His healing at work in my body which enabled me to pass through this
battle with cancer successfully.

This placard is displayed on the counter in the Treatment Room

Mother's Day 2012 and Chemo-Treatment #9

Me and my siblings with most spouses were together with Mom on Saturday
The day before Mother's Day.  I think she looks good at 91 years!

Our first-born daughter, "Frankie", giving her Mom flowers for Mother's Day

Our last-born daughter, Tabitha (aka: The Pet) sent this Beautiful "in-depth" card
with a gift card inside!

Our middle daughter, Ruthie (aka: The Favrite One) had taken me to the
Oncology Department for treatment #9.  She also went by Cap'n D's and brought
a complete fish dinner to our home on Sunday so Mom did not have to cook!

Our first-born child gave me this Tee-shirt to encourage me to "Crush Cancer"

After chemo-treatment #9, Frances had boiled eleven squirrels for me!
This is highly recommended treatment for cancer! By whom?
Me - Of course!  Only 4 more treatments to go!!!

Happy Easter!

I pray that all of you had a very Happy Easter.  Ours was blessed because we were able to go to church together with our first-born daughter (Frankie) and hear the special music presentation.  Our daughter sings in that choir but had surgery on her thyroid just a couple of weeks ago and was unable to participate this year.  I'm sure that was dis-appointing for Frankie but was a blessing for us as we were able to sit with her during the service.  Afterwards we all came to our house where we had a wonderful meal which had been prepared for us by a friend of our second-born daughter, Ruthie.  It was a blessed time of fellowship.

I have now passed through chemo treatment #7, which puts me "over the hump" of the 13 treatments that have been prescribed for me.  Thank God for the strength He is giving me as I go through this process.  One of the Easter songs really resonates in my being - "Because He Lives".  The chorus says, "Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He Lives, all fear is gone.  Because I know who holds the future, I now can face uncertain days, Because He Lives!"  Yes, just as He said to me in that un-forgettable dream, Jesus is healing me.

Be Blessed!

Iris in bloom by the carport!

Clymatis (Sp?) in bloom at the front porch

Roses starting to bloom!  It's too early?

More Roses

And More Roses

My Beautiful Frances

Up And Down!

Can you remember the first time you were ever on an elevator?  In their earlier years, most elevators, even in downtown hotels required an operator.  Someone getting into an elevator would say the number of the floor they desired to travel to, and the operator would announce when he/she had reached the floor.  In particular I remember one in Maison Blanche, a huge store in New Orleans in the early '50s.  That operator normally sat on a stool in the corner near the controls.  He went up one floor at a time, announcing, "2nd floor!"  "Door's closing!"  "3rd floor!"  Up and down.  All day every day.  I heard someone ask him, "How is your day going?"  He responded with, "Oh...up and down!"

That's my stock answer these days whenever anyone asks how I'm doing.  "Oh...Up and down!"  The ups and downs of my life are not determined by the elevator - or the "lift" as it is referred to in many European countries.  Mine is more determined by the chemo treatments I'm receiving for treatment of stage IV colon cancer.  I receive a "chemical cocktail" basically every other week in the treatment center for 3 to 5 hours; then a "chemo-pump" is attached and I return home wearing it for another 48 hours.  As more time elapses I "feel" better.  It's nice to be on the "up-side" of these chemo-lifts. 

Come to think of it, I remember reading one man's testimony after he accepted Christ as his Savior.  He said, "When I feel bad now, I feel better that I felt before, when I thought I was feeling Great!"  (or words to that effect.)  Honestly folks, it's a great feeling to know that one is in the hands of a faithful and all-wise God.  There is nothing quite like it.

Go ahead, make that decision today to "Try Jesus!  If you don't like Him the devil will always take you back!"

4th Chemo Treatment

On Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 I went into Memorial Hospital for my fourth chemo treatment.  I had a really bad week leading up to the treatment.  However, my lab work showed my blood-count to be better than it has been since my surgery.  I have just returned from another visit for only lab-work, and the blood work continues to climb.  I know that this has to be God at work, healing me, as he has promised to do.

I'm getting a Boost along the way!

Good friends supplied chicken soup and cornbread
This cornbread is just like I like it - thin and crispy!

I really surprised Frances for Valentine's day - with this Barbershop Quartet arriving at our home and singing three love songs for her.  She was overwhelmed to tears.  I have to confess I also shed a tear before they were through, but I was so proud of myself because I have never been able to surprise her so completely for anything (birthday, valentine's day, christmas or anything else) but on that day I did it.  I still feel somewhat smug.

Another thing that was part of this package was the large box of chocolates I managed to sneak into the house and set  up by  the kitchen counter so it was the first thing she saw when she came into the kitchen that morning.

Another visit from Frances' neice, bring food!  Yummmmm!

This cardinal came to visit me while I sat in the warm afternoon sunshine one day last week.

Beautiful buttercups clipped from our yard and brought into the house for me (with love) from Frances!  Spring is almost here folks!

Third Chemo Treatment

Jonquils are popping out in our yard.  Spring is Coming!

This is the pump that fits into the pouch and is attached to the surgical port under my left clavical.

I can hardly believe it! But here, just outside our front door the jonquils are already popping out. And I think that in just a few more weeks all this chemo treatment will  pass and I'll have new life also. Jehovah God is an awesome God!

Here is the belt pouch that holds the chemo-pump which I wear for two nights.

I decided to get a new haircut!

This is one of the scenes I passed on the way to Church last Sunday, January 29

Our Youth Group at the Tellico Plaina, TN Church of God Singing

For now, here's what happened: 

Yesterday morning, at 7:20a.m., my brother Wil joined me for the trip to Chattanooga Oncology center and stayed with me the during the lab-work, doctor visit and chemo treament. We started chemo at 9:45 and finished at 12:00p.m., at which time a "chemo-pump" was attached which I must wear until Friday. It's un-comfortable to wear - especially while trying to sleep - but not un-bearable.

Everything went smoothly. The doctor was pleased with the results of the blood work and feels we are making good progress.

I so appreciate your praying for me. May the Lord bless you in return. I'm convinced that your prayers are making a difference in the level of side-effects being felt. They have been very minimal to date.