Chemo Finito…What’s Next?

As you know, my last chemo treatment was on December 28th! Below is the video of me ringing the bell and Matt’s surprise for me at the end!

So what’s next? Well this Thursday the 10th I have a surgery scheduled to remove the port that was needed for chemo. While surgery is always surgery, this one shouldn’t be a big deal. In fact, I’m kinda looking forward to it in a way…it’s like the exclamation point for finishing chemo!

After that, we begin radiation. I don’t have a starting date for it yet, but I’ll keep you posted, it will be towards the end of January. Radiation will be for 6 weeks, and it’s a daily treatment. It doesn’t come with near the side effects that chemo does, although they said that I’ll get quite tired towards the end. To which I said duh, I’m going to the doctor every day for 6 weeks! But I feel like we’ve made it through the hardest parts with surgery and chemo, and we’re on the downhill slope from here!

Once radiation is complete, that will be the END OF TREATMENT! From there, I’ll have some time to heal and then we’re looking at some more surgeries for the remainder of the year.

For now, my hair is growing back and while it’s only been a week, I’m already starting to notice small differences in feeling better and more like myself again!

Here are some prayer requests you can be lifting up as we start the next leg of this marathon;

1) Please pray protection against the side effects of radiation. There are long term side effects that I do not google, and instead I know that God has been part of this entire process and I trust that He can continue to protect my physical body just as He has up to this point. Please also pray in the short term that the radiation doesn’t have any negative consequences that can affect or delay the reconstruction process.

2) Pray for continued strength and perseverance for both Matt and I. This is a long journey, and now that chemo is over I am realizing just how emotionally exhausted I am. Going to the doctor every day for 6 weeks sounds pretty exhausting as well, so some supernatural help will be needed!

3) Pray for our eyes to continue to be open to God’s movement in our lives, and for opportunities to share Him with others. I’m not going through all this and not taking somebody to heaven with me!

4) As always, pray for complete healing and that we never see this battle again. I’m going for at least a 50 year survivor here!

And as always, thanks again for your continued prayers. I know it’s hard to remember when the battle continues on for so long, and we are so grateful for the help we receive from our friends and family!

Ring the Bell Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3Gu2ITJcYA

Surprise Video 1: https://youtu.be/Pp-SC6vCam

Surprise Video 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trrh17odzWA