Hello everyone. Today I had treatment #4. So it was the 1st treatment of cycle 2. 4 down, 12 more to go. I received my second dose of immunotherapy and my 4th dose of the chemo therapies.

I had a minor setback last week. I ended up in the ER with a terrible headache. One of the things I have to do in my 3rd week of each cycle is receive 3 days of bone-marrow boosting injections to help my body make white blood cells in order to stay healthy enough to keep receiving treatment and avoid getting any infections. Unfortunately there are side effects associated with those. Usually its bone pain which they try to stay ahead of - but sometimes it can be general flu-like symptoms and occasionally headaches. The chemo also alters your hormones and usually induces menopause... which many of you ladies may relate - can cause headaches on its own. What's more, I switched from Zyrtec to Claritin as a regular anti-allergy med which can also cause headaches. So while they have no way of knowing which of these made me miserable (or maybe the perfect storm of all of them). Fortunately, after some IV pain meds and a bag of fluids I was on my way to feeling better. And I made it to Zoe's graduation the next day... WIN. And felt right as rain by Monday.

But lets not focus on the negatives. Here are some positives:
-The nurses are all SO great. Compassionate and confident. It's nice getting to know the oncology staff.
-The other patients and volunteers I have had the privilege of connecting with have been amazing. Some much worse off than me but still so positive and great to be around. Some nearing the end of their journeys and full of hope. Some there for very different reasons but still nice to be "in it" together.
-I was given permission from the nutritionist to lose weight if I want to. As long as it isn't because I am nauseous and not able to eat. I lost 10# this week. Cancer has been a great motivator to clean up my health body, mind, and soul. I am praying that somehow, miraculously, I come out the other side of this even healthier and stronger than I have gone in. I believe He can do that. I have long wanted to be able to take regular walks, have the consistency to watch calories and watch ingredients, and learn how to sit down and rest and breathe and not always do - do- do. Cancer is my opportunity for that so I am embracing it. 
-I am in a ministry training program and I have been able to stay consistent with it. Out current area of study is "soul care" and it has been so timely. I am leaning into the discipline of "solitude and silence". These are not natural to me but I figure if its being thrust upon me, the least I can do is welcome it.
-The meals provided, funds donated, gift cards sent all have been SUCH a blessing. So have all the prayers and messages and visits. Truly. They are getting me through. Where once I may have listened to the lie in my head that would say "people only tolerate you.. they don't ACTUALLY like you". I can no longer give that lie a second thought. I see and feel and hear your love and I am so so humbled and grateful. And I pray the Lord will allow me ample opportunity to pay it back and pay it forward.

Specific areas of prayer:
-energy to engage with kids as able and help them have a nice summer (not just on screens, lol)
-Anxiety at bay
-SHRINK the tumor to nothing! It is already WAY smaller, yay!
-Continued health with blood counts so I can avoid hospital and keep getting treatments on schedule
-Protection from the immunotherapy. While it is a miracle drug for cancer... it comes with serious potential effects on the endocrine system. Some people skate through withe no issues. Some people end up with no thyroid, weakened adrenals, or a compromised pancreas... or other things. I would absolutely love to be a skater.... prayers to that end would be great.