August 25 will, for me, mark the end of the 24 week clinical
study of which I’ve been a part since March 10. I’ve been on two drugs for one
of the tumors, Herceptin by infusion and Tykerb orally, and in three weeks I
can stop taking the oral medication! I’m very happy about this because that
drug has been the one causing some uncomfortable side effects, primarily very
dry skin and gastrointestinal issues (to put it mildly). ;-) I will continue
with the Herceptin by infusion (chemotherapy) when I recover from surgery, as well as drugs to combat the estrogen-fed tumor (although they will have removed the tumors with the breast, I still have to take these drugs for an unspecified length of time).
So, the time is approaching when I will have a left
mastectomy. I can’t say I’m very sorry to see that boob go – it’s clearly been
trying to kill me. I will also be having all the lymph nodes under my left arm
removed (I can’t quite pronounce what that procedure is called). At least one
was infected with cancer, so they’re taking all of them out. I think my body will
miss those little guys when they’re gone. Both procedures (mastectomy and lymph node thing) are scheduled for August 27.
After surgery and recovery I will restart the chemo and
begin radiation. Radiation will last for 6 or 7 weeks – I’ll let you know what
that’s like when I know. All I know is the purpose of the radiation is to kill
any cancer cells that could possibly remain in the tissue beneath my left
breast and left armpit and breastbone. Then, I will have to let my body heal
completely from radiation before even thinking about reconstruction. I’m
already thinking about reconstruction, anyway. Could be late winter (which in
the South is February). ;-)
So that’s the plan. Between now and August 27 there will be
many tests which we pray are all “within normal range”. That is a phrase I am
striving towards with all my might.
To distract me from what’s happening in my own body, I am
refocusing some energy on what is happening in Haiti. Some of you know I and my
church are connected with a ministry in Haiti called Reaching Haiti 4 Christ.
The focus of the ministry is Discipleship and Community Health. While those qualified in Biblical studies work with local Haitian pastors and ministry workers to further
their understanding of Holy Scripture, others in the ministry are focused on
the health of the community. We work specifically in one community outside of
Port-au-Prince called Turbe, and in another community way west in the northwest
corner of Haiti called Bombardopolis.
In Bombardopolis there are several smaller communities and
we work with - specifically Faligant and Bellvue. What a privilege. My church took a team of
four to that area the end of July and came back with fantastic news. A location
has been found for a well in Faligant! This community’s closest well is 3 miles
away and one can only walk to it. For most of the children of that community
their days are spent first in school and then the afternoon is spent hauling
water from the well to their homes. Hardly any time for play, which is so
crucial to the healthy development of any child. The new well will be dug on
the property of the ministry which means 1) the equipment for the functioning
of the well will be protected from thievery, 2) the well itself will be open to
anyone in the community free of charge. The ultimate result is healthier community!
All that is needed for this dream of clean water to become a
reality is funding. Of the $16K+ needed, $5K has already been raised, which
leaves around $11K to raise. Please consider contributing financially to make
this well a reality. Please visit the ministry’s website to donate and specify
it is for “the well in Faligant”. http://www.hope4haiti.net/sponsor.html
and click on the “Donate Now” text.
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