Chemo Date

Well, here it is two weeks from Patti's last chemo treatment and I had the privilege of spending the day with her yesterday again for chemo. It really is a great way to spend our time together, seeing as we are confined to recliners in a treatment room for three hours! Honestly, these times have granted us opportunity for undistracted discussions and I know we are mutually encouraged from it. It has been a real joy to observe Patti throughout this process so far, to see her joy and delight remain in the Lord as she trust Him to provide for her every need!

As to an update on her...she presses on in the chemo treatments and yesterday there was a glimmer of improvement as her oncologist examined her and said that he is led to believe that the mass may be shrinking! It has yet to be confirmed by an ultrasound, which Patti will have next week, but his initial response was positive and encouraging. She has several more treatments to go, through the end of November. She will continue to go every two weeks. After her next treatment, the chemo will be altered a bit from one drug to a different one. She is eager to move to this next step, as there is a good possibility that the new drug will not be quite as nausea-inducing as the current "cocktail" is. Overall, Patti has handled the physical effects quite well, and is mostly affected by fatigue and nausea. Praise the Lord, she has not be affected much by discouragement and just views each day as an opportunity to glorify the Lord in these current circumstances. It has been a blessing to be around her these days and I always look forward to hearing how God is teaching her and graciously caring for her during this time. I know she is overwhelmed with gratitude for the ways God's people have provided for her needs, sought out ways to help her, and most importantly, have faithfully covered her in prayer! So I thank you on her behalf.

Walking through this time with Patti as well as many friendships God has sweetly blessed me with these days, has brought to mind the chorus to a wonderful song about friendship in the Lord (by the group Watermark). Here are a few lyrics from it that I would sing most willingly to my dear sister Patti:

'Cause you've been more than a friend to me
You fight off my enemies
'Cause you've spoken the Truth over my life
And you'll never know what it means to me
Just to know you've been on your knees for me
Oh, you have blessed my life
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah
More than you'll ever know, yeah, yeah, yeah

You had faith, when I had none
You prayed God would bring me a brand new song
When I didn't think I could find the strength to sing
And all the while I'm hoping that I'll
Do the kind of praying for you that you've done for me
And that's the way it ought to be...

ON THAT NOTE...I am then called to remember that Jesus Christ is my greatest FRIEND by the lyrics of another Watermark song:

Friend for life
Who took my pain
The cleansing flood
You remain
Wash over me
Till I can't be seen
Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Friend for life
I'll carry on
Through the power
Of this flood
Let it spill over, over
Till I can't be seen
Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Deep is the stain
Inside of me
But deeper the river
That washes me clean
I've been the one
Who cries in the night
But you've been
The friend of my life
Living Water swallow me
Deepest river wash me clean
Jesus, Savior more of thee
Jesus, more of thee
Come and ruin me with Your love
So no other is enough
Come and leave Your mark on me
Jesus, more of thee

Love you Patti, and may you be ever-filled with your Best Friend's love and care today and always!