No Chemo this week: Chemo next week

This is just a quick note to let you all know Michelle had to skip yesterday's scheduled Chemo treatment because her blood counts were too low. We're going to give her body a week to recover and check her counts again next Monday in advance of the scheduled Tuesday treatment. We are experiencing an odd mixture of disappointment and relief over this news. Disappointment because we want to keep the treatment moving, but relief because she doesn't have to endure the aftermath. In the end, though, it's all in God's hands, so we do our best to take it in stride.

Michelle has been feeling remarkably well the last several days: more energy, less pain, less nausea. She still gets fatigued easily, but her current state is a big improvement over how she felt before the first chemo treatment.

The cancer center decided it's time to give Michelle a port, a surgically implanted device that will reside just below the skin of her chest and provide easy, reliable access for IV medications and blood draws. (No more pokes!) The implantation is performed by a surgeon under general anesthesia. We have a consultation appointment scheduled for Friday, February 6.

The prayer meeting on Monday was full of praise songs, uplifting scripture readings, and positive energy. This week we placed Michelle on a portable massage table in the center of the room, laid on hands and prayed over her. We really appreciate everyone who was able to be present and all of you who prayed with us from afar. We've been hearing from more and more people who confirm that they have been praying with us every Monday evening 7:00 PM mountain time, and we dearly appreciate it. The healing wall of hope continues to grow.