One Day at A Time

So I am on the week after and feeling back to my old self somewhat. I am eating better and actually not having much pain when I do. Praise God! I have decided to not work during this time so I will have time to take care of me. I have put on my Warrior Headdress and Shield, along with my bow and arrow! I will be in fight mode for the next few months so expect to see my tough girl side!
I have been experiencing some side effects but nothing too severe. The two days I had my pump I wasn't feeling the greatest, but I got through.
The Lord has created us with the will to fight and to live! I intend to utilize that will!
I hear interesting comments all the time and some make me smile as I am not sure what people expect out of a chemo patient. No harm, it's just teaching me cancer etiquette because I really was not aware of what to say and what not to say. We will learn together! I may write a book when this is all said and done.
I am so thankful for the love I feel from everyone! You have been so above and beyond what I can imagine or think! Thank you with all my heart. So for now I will enjoy each morning and each sunset and everything in between! All the little things that go unnoticed!
Funny how much your perspective can be altered by one word.....Cancer!

Love to you all!

Gigi

She Will Not Be Moved

The sun will soon be coming up on the horizon, and I have survived my first chemo treatment! Praise God! Such a long day for my daughter, my mom, and myself! We arrived at 11:30, left at 7 pm. My mom who is going to be 85 years young, is going through her second round of cancer with daughter number 2. How do you do that?
She learned at a young age how to survive! I believe God has had his hand on her all her life, as I believe He also holds me.
My daughter Jen, who also is a tough girl, brought her soft and gentle side along. She can hang in the hard times and I would be lost without her. I couldn't do this without any of my family! Right now they are my glue!
So the day consisted of back and forth trips up and down the floors, starting with blood draws. I have a port so anytime you access that , it has to be done with extreme care. My nurse was a Christian and she was wonderful! She got my day started off right!
I am thankful The Lord has gifted me with patience because I am learning you have to have a lot! I am not the only one going through this! It was a holiday week so they have crowded everyone into 4 days!
Then it was on to see my oncologist, who I really like and draw such encouragement from. I received very encouraging news again. The chemo I am on is not supposed to cause hair loss!!!
So if that holds out to be true, I will be one happy camper! Although it has other side effects which I started experiencing right away.
Then it was on to chemo. Quite a few people waiting their turn. I went back about 3:30. Nurses are super nice and very professional. They double check their work. My area where I will be receiving chemo, is a cozy private area with a tv and large window to look out. They offer me a meal which I accept. We settle in for the ride. The bags of liquid are hung and as that is being done my nurse is explaining to me procedures and side effects. This is so surreal! I am about to have a toxic substance filtered through my body! Each one is explained along with side effects. So it begins. Two hour procedure, then the last chemo bag is given, and then I am hooked up with a pump to take home with me. I am sent on my way.
I started experiencing side effects pretty much right away as one of the drugs they give you actually opens up your cells so that the chemo goes to work immediately! They don't mess around!
And so I begin!
I can't tell you how much your prayers and concern, meals, cards mean to me! The outpouring of love is mind blowing! I know that their are some of you who are doing some serious praying and staying at our Father's throne room constantly for me! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You represent the body of Christ well! This will forever change my life!
Here are some things to pray for!
My weight is stable - stays that way
I won't become sick
I can tolerate these drugs
Strength for my family
I can continue to eat and drink well
I will represent my Jesus well!
Sorry this is so long, I promise not to be so lengthy next time!
Love you all so much!

Gigi

One For The Money, Two For The Show...

So tomorrow is the big day! Ready to get this show on the road! I have peace! I am ready! I have a big God! 
Appreciate prayers for travel, and that all will go well, but mostly that I will reflect Jesus! Love you all for doing this with me!

Fear Not

I received my port yesterday and did pretty well. They didn't put me completely out so I was awake through the whole procedure. I couldn't see anything and the only pain I had was when they numbed the area. I know have a little device in my shoulder that everything will go through. No more I.V. and no more sticks for blood draws. I will only likely keep it a year maybe longer. My shoulder feels like somebody punched me really hard or for you hunters, a kickback from a shotgun. I am restricted for a couple weeks but other than that not too bad.

I was in the new building and got a first hand view of what they have to offer. It is something else. I am sure to experience a whole lot more. Everyone there is super nice and very helpful. They know their profession and perform with the upmost experience! I am in good hands! I am ready to get on with it.

I have been receiving so much encouragement from so many of you and I can tell you it is breathing life into me! I am blessed and thankful for it! I want to try to live as normal as I can, although is there such a thing? I know I am not the only one who has or will go through this, but I want to share my journey in the hopes that it will be an encouragement to someone. Either for the journey or spiritually. I have a God who can handle it all and wants to! He walks with me right through this, and if I become to weak and weary, He will pick me up and carry me! This I can rest in. I am memorizing a new verse:
Fear not, for I am with you ; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand. Isaiah 41:10

Action

So I am on my way to get my port and no doubt it will be a long day. It is becoming a reality. I will be starting my chemo treatments next week. I have been at a stand still for the last two weeks. Now that we have the plan, they have started moving fast.

I will be having chemo for 6 weeks, with a week off. Then I will start radiation and chemo for another 6 weeks. I will have 6 to 10 weeks of recovery and healing, then on to surgery. This type of cancer is best treated with chemo, radiation, and surgery. It makes the percentage of reoccurrence much lower.

After the first 6 weeks of chemo, they will do a pet scan to see how the tumor has responded. If it shrinks by 35% I will continue on with that drug, if not they will switch me over to the other drug that they use.

 

So we begin the journey. I have peace in My God! I have peace in my medical team! I have peace in my support! I will come out of this a changed person, but I pray it will be more like Jesus!

Please pray for:

Me to keep up my eating - high calories, high protein

Energy level

My prayer is the tumor will shrink 50% God can do more if He would like to!

I will tolerate the chemo well

I am not the only one at this time going through this kind of journey

My friend and sister in Christ Tara will start her chemo next week as well! Please pray for her to be strong and tolerate her treatment well. Peace for her and her family.

Jon and Amy Neimi. They have been given very encouraging news concerning his cancer. Pray that God will continue to do what He does the best. HEAL !!!

Above all our God will get the glory and praise for all things! These journeys will bring people to our Jesus!

Love you all.

Hills & Valleys

I know that some of you may be anxious to hear how my visit went yesterday, so I will try to communicate what is swirling around in my head.

While we all went up to Ohio State anticipating a game plan to be in place, several plan options were suggested to me. Clinical terms were used as well which brought the cold harsh reality of exactly what I am dealing with to me. I don't like clinical. I won't go into all the details of what I have been offered but the fact that I have options is to me a good thing. That means I can make the choice I feel will give me the best options to beat this! I also am not going to share my staging because I have already learned through several conversations that people who are not educated in this will react as though I will not win this battle. I absolutely do not need that reaction. I need prayers, encouragement, humor, love, hope, support. I don't want to hear any stories of how someone who has this type of cancer isn't beating it or didn't beat it. That does not help me. I know my biggest battle will be in my mind.

As of December 18,2014, my life changed in a major way. I have begun to make decisions that will affect the rest of my life. This is a interruption in my life that I did not see coming nor asked for. Nevertheless here it is. I have to deal with it and that I will. But not without Jesus being in the drivers seat, or will I be alone in this journey. I am blessed beyond measure to have the most supportive and loving family, friends, and the body of Christ, all who I know will help get me through this. I also have the utmost confidence in my medical team! For crying out loud, I have a tumor board who meet once a week and discuss my case! Lol. This will no doubt be one of the most life changing years for me. So once again I will hold onto My Father's hand and He will walk me through the valley! I will trust in Christ with all that is within me and I will praise Him for the trial! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

How you can pray:

 

That I will be able to continue to eat

That I will tolerate treatment

That treatment works

That those most involved in my care and support to remain strong

And

That this will point people to the one and only God - Jesus

That is the desire of my heart!

Love you all,

Gigi

Amazing, Abudant & Above All

Today I give all praise to my Father who hears the cries and prayers of His children! Who wants to give good gifts to them!

 

I have returned from my pet scan and ultrasound and once again have been given very encouraging news!

 

Pet scan is clean - no hot spots of cancer in the rest of my body.

The tumor is contained or localized meaning hasn't spread beyond the esophagus.

There are one, maybe two, lymph nodes involved

The tumor has gone through all the layers of the esophagus wall.

 

Now before all you internet searchers get shook up over that,

I for one am not moved by that because of all the other positive

results.

 

The cancer has not spread beyond its current location!

 

It is certain now that I will be going through chemo and

radiation therapy. The doctor today said they would shrink this tumor pretty quickly.

 

Everyone has a different response to this news and that's okay, but I am a sanguine and I am doing flip flops over this. So don't anyone bust my bubble because my God has given me a huge gift and took yet another boulder off my chest!

 

I am ready for the battle! My God is able! There may come a day when I might not be up for it, but not this day!

Can anyone guess where I got that from? hahaha

 

So, to all who have been praying, please don't stop! To all who have been encouraging myself or my family members, thank you, thank you, we have felt loved on!

 

For those who are taking the journey with us, buckle up and hang on because God is going to go amazingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or think, and you won't want to miss His glory! And He will and does receive it all!!!!

 

Much Love,

Gigi

Strong & Courageous

Today I will trust in the one true sovereign God for this battle! He equipped David to slay a giant! He parted the Red Sea! He hung the moon, the sun, and the stars! He is the one who calms the storms! He breathed life into man! He will never leave me nor forsake me! He provided the way back into His presence! He has called me to trust Him! Today I will place my trust in the only one who can deliver me! He is the Alpha, Omega, The Beginning and The End! In Jesus Christ I will put my trust!

************************************************************

I am asked quite frequently how I am feeling. Here is my encouragement to those who ask but really don't want to hear truth. First off sometimes I can't even answer that question because I either feel a million different things, or I don't feel anything because I am in self preservation mode. Sometimes I am trying to read people's expressions and wanting to answer according to what I see. But mostly, I will be answering with the real facts. You may or may not want to hear what I say, so if you are in category B please don't ask me how I feel. I don't mean to sound harsh, or rude, but if you ask me I am going to be real. I have cancer. No you cannot catch it from me. There may be some real rough places I will be going. If you have the courage to go with me, it will only bind us together. If you can't take the journey, know I love you and just would ask for your prayers!

Much Love,
Gigi

Annointing

How can I explain the overwhelming love I feel right now, at this time in my life, by the body of Christ!

My sisters and brothers in Christ came to my house and had a season of prayer and anointing over my life today. This is a Biblical act that the Bible tells us we can do if anyone is sick. They didn't hesitate to respond and they did so out of a genuine love for God and for me and my family! That is one of the ways God shows us His love for us! Through the body!

I will never be able to show my appreciation for those who came in my hour of need! It makes facing this road a lot lighter and secure! Just know that whatever giant you may be facing, God has it and wants to live on you through it!

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!

Consumed

Dear Loved Ones,

 

Please pray I can continue to eat. So far I can keep my food down, but it is very difficult at times. I have lost about 15 pounds in the last 2 1/2 months.

 

While at one point in time I was trying to drop a few pounds, I really can't afford to lose anymore, especially if I will have to do treatment! I do have an appetite, so that is good.

 

Thanks for letting me be real!

 

It's hard not to be consumed with this. I am trying to keep busy and my mind in scripture, but realistically somehow it always creeps back in. The waiting is the most difficult, and I have Psalm 46:10 in my face - on the wall of my living room! I now have 6 more days until the testing, and then another 4 days after that till I know the plan. Pray that the Lord will continue to keep my mind at rest! He has so far and I know that is what He wants for me! It is the unknown that looms over me that keeps me holding my breath at times. But it is all now to Jesus who has it all in His hands! That is my peace!

 

Gigi

A Brand New Thing

Happy New Year to all! I have awakened to a new day, a new year, and a new resolve!

The Lord has granted to me another day to bring praise and glory to Him! A good friend and brother in Christ just sent me a message and he said that a man he knew who had a journey with cancer said "cancer is not a gift- nobody wants it! But it's a responsibility! I have a responsibility to use my cancer as a tool to bring glory and honor to God!" I think I will take his perspective on!

What say you? You may not be battling cancer, but whatever your cross to bear, are you bringing glory to our King of Kings? That is my challenge to all my fellow believers! Love to you all!

Isaiah 43:19 is my message from God!
For I’m going to do a brand-new thing. See, I have already begun! Don’t you see it? I will make a road through the wilderness of the world for my people to go home, and create rivers for them in the desert!

P.S. My son sent me this little reminder, I wanted to share it with everyone: