Post # 8 – Grateful for the Journey

Hello Family & Friends,

Today I was thinking back on when this latest journey began for me, I must look at it as a journey or a season, gosh even an adventure of sorts. I have learned so much since the day I was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. Only to find out a few weeks later that it was actually stage four because the cancer had already moved to my bones.

 I have been so blessed by the Lord that I sometimes feel a little bit guilty as I remember all the suffering and pain that my mother had to endure with her cancer. And then if you compare her suffering with what the Savior must have endured for us – wow!! What we suffer is not even a drop in the bucket, in comparison, because He suffered all of the pains, infirmities, insecurities, uncertainties, doubts, discomforts, discouragement, hurts of every kind, and so much more – way beyond my comprehension.

 I am so very grateful that the Lord has had a hand in the furthering of medical technology in this and many other areas. All the new ways they have now to find out where the cancer is at in your body and the best ways to treat it, are so much more advanced than when my Mom went through her journey. Her breast cancer took one breast and five years later took her other one, then seven years later she had to have a complete hysterectomy. 

Then several years later she came to my home and told me that she wanted to go home. I found a way to get her and all the family back to where we had lived the longest growing up.When I was there I took her to the doctor and they told her that the cancer had moved to her bones. I had to admit her to the hospital so that she could receive treatments, back then you were admitted to the hospital for treatments – to receive chemo therapy.

Everything is so much nicer now, then when my Mom went through her treatments. I go to the cancer center in the next town to receive my chemo therapy treatments, when I am done I go back to work. There has really been no inconvenience or financial stress on my children to be there for me. When I first started at the cancer center they were good to take payments and to help me find the financial help I needed to receive the treatments I have needed to help arrest this cancer and allow me more time with my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

Had I not listened to my Heavenly Father when through the Holy Ghost when He made it known to me that we needed to move here all those years ago it would have been a whole lot harder on all of my children to be there and to be a good support system for me. All of this was learned and confirmed through the power of prayer and fasting. And this was a great example of how the Lord works in our lives for our good, we just need to be sure that we are listening. 

My Heavenly Father has been with me through every day and given me the strength that I needed, when I had none left. I don’t know how one would manage this type of a journey without Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in their lives. I know that I would not be able to do as well as I do with out their help each day. I also know that it is through the prayers and fasting of my friends and family that my Heavenly Father directs the strength to me through each of them.

In the beginning after I had my port put in, I thought that I would have to be off work for a few weeks, I was worried about not being able to work. What, with me being a single grandma- raising a 17 year old grand daughter, I needed to continue working. And like all of you, I have my bills that need to be paid as well. I was still paying off my orthopedic bills from hurting my left knee as I stepped out of a van one day, hurting the MCL -- very painful.

A port is put in  and they use a port because, as I understand it, the chemo would damage the smaller veins.  So, I guess the best way I can explain the port, is that it is tubes that are placed in through your neck and connected to a major artery next to your heart. it is also connected to a type of plug -- you know, a place for them to insert the needle into. It is like an IV that has a permanent place just under the skin I think. This makes it easier for the chemo nurses to administer the chemo to you for your treatments. 

And let me tell you, these nurses are amazing young ladies, they are all so loving and kind to each patient they serve. They know each of our names and the always ask us about our lives and our families. We’ve all become another little family as the patients and nurses visit with one another about their families and about their individual journeys. they always remember your name and ask about your well-being.

I guess in all my ramblings for today, I am just grateful each day for the journey. I am grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who loves me – no matter what! Who loved me so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son, to die for me – and for each of you. I am grateful for His Atonement and all the peace and happiness that it brings to my life, and for the opportunity to gain eternal life and live again with Them some day when my mortal life is done. 

I am grateful for each day that I am blessed with that I may spend with my family. And I really want to say Thank You to all of you – each of you that are a part of my life in one capacity or another, I love all of you and I am grateful to have you in my life!!!
In tomorrow's post I will talk about the next stage of my journey, Have a happy and blessed day:)