Urgent Prayers Needed

Although Gigi had her the last of her chemo/radiation treatment this past week she is extremely sick.  She cannot keep any food down and is vomiting blood at this point. 
 
Our friend is enduring the toughest part and she is asking for prayers - specifically for the healing of her esophagus. I know your prayers are precious to Gigi and her family.  Thank you so much and if I hear anything else, I will keep you posted.

Love,
Carmen

Finals Week!

So here I am! Final week!

Two more days of radiation! Four more days of chemo! 

It seems like everything is in slow motion. Even after I am finished, the after-effects from radiation linger for a couple weeks, so I won't be bouncing back real quickly. 

I picture myself in a race and everyone is on the sidelines cheering me on! 
"You can do it!", "You are almost there!", "You are doing well!" Even though it feels like I could lay down and quit! I am not a quitter! I will finish the race! But not without all of you! Thank you for your love and support!

Love,
Gigi

Deeper Still

I thought I might give an update.

I have just entered week 5 into my treatment. I am feeling the major effects of radiation!

Burning, nausea, not being able to keep food down, constant ache in my abdomen. Very weak and fatigued. I now have lost beyond the weight I started at. I am not telling all this to gain sympathy, I say it to be real and tell you the cold hard facts of cancer! If you have gone through treatment then you know what I am talking about. If you haven't pray you never do!

I watched the bible AD series and I thought about where Jesus asked His Father why He has forsaken Him! And Jesus is God! Sometimes it can feel that way. But the truth is, He hasn't forsaken me because the scriptures tell me He will never leave me nor forsake me! I can stand on that!

Pray me on to the end, church!

I am almost to the finish line!

I am deeper than my feet could ever wander!!!!

Glimmers of Light

Beginning week 3!

 

I have had a rough weekend and it's hard staying home and not being around people! I miss my church! But I have my Jesus!

I am starting to experience burning when I swallow. This will only get worse before it gets better! Time to take on the arsenal of meds!

All that said, I am beginning to see the light peeking through the end of the tunnel. Still have the hardest part to go, but I have no doubt the Lord will see me through! I will get there!

I had some questions answered last week which I have been putting off asking. So now I can be at peace with those!

My God is on the throne, He is in control, and I will continue to put my trust in Him!

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand.
 

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my savior.
I will call upon your name
Keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in your embrace

I am Yours and You are mine!

Faith, Fighting & Fatique

Well I have completed 2 weeks of chemo and radiation! I am fast approaching the half way mark! I am pretty fatigued and starting to lose my appetite again. I am also feeling some burning in my esophagus when I eat or drink.

I am going to be laying low for the next few weeks. I want to stay away from germs and to be honest not really up to a lot of company. I go up daily to Ohio State for treatment and by the time I get home I pretty much go to bed. Not too much to my life right now but surviving!

Please continue to pray because that is what sustains me! April 22 is my final radiation treatment so pray me to that day! It is not an easy road! I sometimes want to just crawl into my bed and go to sleep for awhile! But I have to fight! Please continue to fight with me! I won't give up and please don't give up on me!

I am reflecting on this coming week of Easter! Most important week for Christians apart from Christmas! Our faith rests on this one moment in time when Jesus bore our sin! He didn't give up and neither will I! I didn't ask for this disease, but I am learning more about my God through it! And myself as well.

A big shout out to Kara Puderbaugh for staying with me and keeping me company while my man was away! Love you girl! It was a good week!

Love,
Gigi

Back In The Battle

Day 1 down and behind me!

My blood counts were up more than expected! Thanks to all you prayer warriors! Weekend trip was a help for sure! My weight is good! I got the green light to go back into battle! I am so ready!

I went to the James for my chemo and was it ever a treat! We watched 2 movies and ate lunch! The staff is super friendly and very accommodating! My chemo nurse is going to be the same every time! So we will become good friends! She was very helpful!

So I got my BFF's back and their names are, 5-Fluorouacil and Oxaliplatin. While they may be my best buds, trust me, you don't want to be introduced to them. They are the kind of friends that if you have to know them, they are the best, but you really don't want to have to cross paths with them! Just saying.

Here is a pic of my radiation room:

Is it not the coolest? I did have a couple of back spasms because you lay on a flat table and they line you up perfectly with the beams. God got me through. You don't even know you are being radiated! It's over before you know it!

I saw a couple of books talking about cancer and info on treatment and prevention, you know what, I don't want to read any of that right now. Just want to count down the days and get through it! I may think on those things later.

I have decided that I will keep two of my wrist bands I get every time I go. It has my name, birthdate and medical number. I will keep the first, and the last.

Today I saw Marla my nurse that does my blood draw and accesses my port! I love her! She loves Jesus! She is a special part of this journey for me!

And so it begins! Thanks for the continuing support!

Love,
Gigi

On Hold

I have had a setback. Because of my white blood count being too low, my treatment is pushed back a week. I am going to rest and  do my best to recoup!

 

Please pray my count will come back up!