Final Day Of Chemo!

Today marks the last day of chemotherapy and Friday marks the final radiation treatment…for right now. To say our family is excited the treatment is over would be a huge understatement- we are ecstatic!

This last week has been difficult, as we were warned by others and the doctors, that Dad would be exhausted and possibly sick. There was no need fearing this last week because I kept reminding myself that some people are sick throughout the entire treatment- and thankfully Dad has not been. I have a daily devotional that I read every morning when I get to work as I’m making my coffee (I’m truly a creature of habit) and today I wanted to fall over when I read the devotional for that day:

“When you are plagued by a persistent problem- one that goes on and on- view it as a rich opportunity. An ongoing problem is like a tutor who is always by your side. The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable. In faith, thank Me for your problem. Ask Me to open your eyes and your heart to all that I am accomplishing through this difficulty. Once you have become grateful for a problem, it loses its power to drag you down. On the contrary, your thankful attitude will lift up into heavenly places with Me. From this perspective, your difficultly can been seen as a slight, temporary distress that is producing for you a transcendent Glory never to cease.”

What a powerful message- thankful for the bad. The Sunday following Dad’s seizure and diagnosis of the tumor Mom, Dad and I attended church. We usually only go if Dad is feeling up to it- sometimes he just does not feel like talking to a lot of people, which I respect and understand. Although he was feeling up to it this day, and on that day our pastor didn’t know we would be attending church, but he did know of our situation. We sat down in the back and the message was unbelievable-it was all about looking at the bright side. I remember his sermon so very well, as our Pastor held up a piece of paper and talked about every situation having two sides- and we should all look at the bright side. We took that message with us that extremely difficult week in the hospital, and we needed it even more when Dad came home from the hospital.

Mom is always telling us that we need to look at the bright side of everything and reassures me daily that it will all be ok. Prior to this experience I don’t know if I could ever say I witnessed “true love”, the type of love where you would do anything for someone- but now, as I watch Mom and Dad talk, I have. Their love for one another- the sacrifices they both make is truly unbelievable. Sometimes I just sit back and listen to their conversations- some filled with laughter, some filled with tears- but each and every conversation overflowing with love for one another.

We have 3 more days of radiation treatment. 3 days! I’m not looking forward to Friday because it’s the start of my vacation from work, or because it’s finally Friday- I’m looking forward to that day because I know the moment Dad finishes radiation I’m going to see the Lar smile that I’ve missed these last few weeks. And that to me, is the best early Christmas gift any person can ask for.