December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas everyone.

As I was laying in bed last night I couldn't help but think about the Bible verse that says something in effect to "in all things, give Thanks (Praise)".  I just couldn't stop thinking about that have to share.

This blog will not be my typical "cancer" blog but please bear with me.

I was laying there and wondering how in the world I could give thanks for this year.   It has been pretty rough personally the past 7 months.

May 19, 2013 - A tornado hit Little Axe, OK and damaged my granddaughter's house (not bad but that was the start).

May 20, 2013 - A large tornado hit Moore, OK and practically destroyed it.   I didn't know anyone personally but it is near where my kids and grandkids live.

May 20, 2013 - My beloved aunt, Shirley Rush, made her final trip home, very unexpectedly.   What a terrible call to receive but also what a wonderful homegoing it had to be for her.   Reunited with the Lord and all her loved ones, especially the love of her life, O C Rush who had gone before her a couple of years before.

May 25, 2013 - We arrived in Oklahoma for my aunt's memorial and received the phone call that no one wants to receive.   My mother, Anna Majors, had made that same trip home.   Talk about a double whammy.  I fully believe that she just could not face life without her baby sister who had left her just 5 days before.  Of course, I am sure they had just a wonderful reunion in heaven.   And I am sure my 23 year old special needs granddaughter, Katie Horn, who had gone on 3 years ago was standing there in her healthy heavenly body waving her arms over her head and yelling, "Hi Gommie.   Come on it.   It is wonderful here". 

All in all a few tough days.  After laying these two wonderful women to rest beside their spouses we made the long trip back to Tennessee.

I thought this was the worst time of my life.   How could I praise the Lord in this?  Well, neither of them suffered.  My aunt was out with friends and excused herself to the powder room.  She did not come back.   No time for her to linger and suffer.    That was certainly a praise.

When I received the call about Mom, what could I say.   I had just talked to her a couple of days before and she sounded so strong and in control even after losing her baby sister.  Only 2 days later she was gone and did not suffer.   That's a praise.

Either of these ladies could have lingered and suffered for days, weeks or even years.  What a wonderful way to go home. 

Because I have had some physical problems with my collar bone for almost 2 years I had a flair up with it on the emergency trip home.   I did not have my motor home that we live in that is pretty perfect for me (high toilet and a high bed so very handicapped accessible for me, even have a 6x6 deck to make it easier to get in and out).  Since trip was unexpected we were not able to secure handicapped motel accommodations on the trip.  We stayed with family 2 nights but they are not set up for my special needs either.  So by the time I got back I was having a big flair up of the worse kind.

I went to physical therapy and my doctor.  They said since I had swollen lymph nodes that I needed to see a colon doctor.  After a colonoscopy that came back clear, nothing else was said about it so that's a big Praise.

But my physical therapist, Heather, was not satisfied.  She felt that I needed to see a specialist about the collar bone since it kept happening.  She found me a doctor, Dr. Edwin Spencer, Jr., in Knoxville and I was able to get in within the month.   That's a praise.

August 16,  2013 - Dr. Spencer diagnosed me with cancer!    What a dock in the teeth!   How can you praise the Lord with a diagnosis like that.    My first thought was that I was thankful that my mother was not here to have to hear that diagnosis.   Praise the Lord.  Of course, my next thought was "I want my mommy".  But the prevailing thought was that I was glad she did not have to go through with me.   She had cancer years ago and so did her sister.   They had suffered enough with going through it personally and had survived it for years.  

My doctor made me an appointment with an oncologist for 3 weeks.   I just couldn't wait that long.  I would have been a basket case.   So I got on the computer and found my own doctor who got me in for my first visit in 4 days.    PRAISE THE LORD.

After intensive tests, biopisies and CT scans, Dr. David Aljadir, at University of Tennessee, found I had not only one kind of cancer, but two.   Where's the praise in that?   Well, the biggest involvement of cancer is bone cancer called multiple myeloma.   But the surprise is that I also have lung cancer!   Where's the praise?

Well, the praise is that the lung cancer was caught very, very early and only because of the collarbone problem.   For those who have followed my blog you know that things have moved along quite quickly.  I have had treatment on the lung cancer and they think that it should be completely gone when I have my next CT scan on it in early February.  PRAISE THE LORD FOR THAT!!!

We came come to Oklahoma for treatment of the multiple myeloma.  This is where our family is.  PRAISE THE LORD that I am blessed with wonderful family and that most of them are here in the Oklahoma City area.  Lots of support at a time when we needed it. 

A beautiful daughter, Tammy Horn, and her family including her husband Mark, and a grown son, Mitch Horn, and his family, Stacy, Jordan, Trentyn and Ashlyn.   Daughter, Grandchildren and greatgrandchildren wonderful.  PRAISE THE LORD

A handsome son, Paul Clark, and his wife Amy.  A grown daughter, Mallory Clark, and her family Colby Cox, and children Jordyn and Karman.   Also a grown son, River, and an almost grown daughter Cassidy (a senior in high school this year).   My daughter-in-law Amy is so supportive since son Paul works away from home.  That's wonderful to have such support.   ANOTHER PRAISE!

Another son, Conley Clark, and his sweetheart April are only about an hour away.  I am so blessed.   ANOTHER PRAISE.

Finally, we have one more son and his family only about 3 hours away.   Robert Clark, our youngest), his wife Julie and their three sons.   One son is grown, Josh Slater and lives about 2 hours from here.  The two youngest boys are still in school, Glen Clark, is 13 and Tyler Clark is 11.  Another wonderful, supportive family even though they cannot always get away at the time they would like due to his work.  PRAISE THE LORD Again.

Three wonderful sons and a beautiful daughter.  
Also have brother, Gary Majors, and his wife Colleen, and their 3 grown children, Carrie Jones and husband Dave, and her son Zach; Rebecca and her daughter _____ and son Gary, Jr. and his sons Christian and  and sister, Stacy Turner, and her husband Ken and her children Chelsie, Canon, Caydon and  Katelyn all here close (within about 2 or 3 hours).   Well, Chelsie and her family have moved to Colorado for his work. They have three beautiful children.   But the rest are all within 2 or 3 hours of here.  Another Praise.

I also have a brother, Steve Majors, who lives in Ecuador.   A long way away but Skype makes his so close.   We are collaborating on a project of his so I talk with him almost every day.   That is more often than I did when he was in Nevada.   Another PRAISE.

OK.  So you see, I have much to be giving the Lord praise about.  Now for the update on this crazy disease.

I have now had 3 chemo treatments and no side effects.   My chemo is given in a shot, a simple injection into my arm or stomach.  A cycle is 21 days.   I receive 4 injections in two weeks, 4 days apart.  Then one week off with no treatments.   I take 40mg of steroids on days 1 thru 4 and days 8 thru 12.   That's it.  Cycle 1 will be complete when I see the doctor on January 2.   We will see how the cancer is responding to the treatment then.  Absolutely no side effects.   PRAISE the LORD.

I have been told to take Meletonin for sleep (prescribed by the doctor).   That was not the thing to do.   I have been out of it for three days and I only took the medicine 2 nights.   I was fuzzy headed, blurry eyed and had stopped up ears.  Totally not good.  But I have that medicine out of my system now and I feel great.    PRAISE THE LORD.

To each of you who have read my blog for the past few months I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a very prosperous new year.  We are spending Christmas Day with our daughter and the following day with our son Paul.   Don't know if we will see the other two because of their other family obligations. 

PRAISE THE LORD for all he has done for us this year.   It draws me closer to Him daily. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jesus.  Thank you for coming to earth as a baby to live among us as a man.  But most of all, thank you for dying for my sins.   Although I do not feel worthy, I am so glad that you consider me worth.

Jean