A Step Further

I just finished reading A Step Further, a book by Joni Eareckson Tada and Steve Estes. For those unfamiliar with it, Joni broke her neck in a diving accident when she was 17 and has been a quadriplegic (paralysed from neck down) and confined to a wheelchair for more than 35 years now. I remember reading her autobiography, Joni, as a young teen and being very impressed and touched.

In A Step Further, Joni shares her initial frustration and anger with God, the longing and search for physical healing and restoration and then the acceptance, learning to trust God in her condition. There are only 186 pages in the book, pretty easy reading but I took quite a long time - interrupted reading. Here's a short summary:

Part 1 autobiographical on the physical, emotional and spiritual struggle of of being quadriplegic;
Part 2 learning to trust God in the midst of suffering;
Part 3 reconciling the often conflicting advice, instruction, "teachings" that well-meaning Christians gave on healing;
Part 4 is called "When the Pieces Don't Fit" - Let God be God
Part 5 "When it all Fits Together" - Heaven

I found the sharing, insights and illustrations very helpful. Discussion on theological issues are put in simple everyday language - easy to read and digest. She also includes a list of other books on the topic. A highly recommended read. Joni's sharing made me think of heaven and long for the day when,

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelations 21:4

"Troublesome"

That's what the daily trip to hospital for radiation therapy is to the elderly lady I met at hospital yesterday. She's a feisty 77 year old and has been treated for stage 3 ovarian cancer by chemotherapy and now being treated for stage 1 breast cancer. She misses her thrice weekly shopping trips.

I guess the daily trip to the hospital is a bit "troublesome" but the potential benefits are great so I am counting my blessings. I am thankful to be able to drive myself to and from hospital daily. Many friends have offered to take me but I feel the 8.10am appointment is not so convenient for them. I usually am able to make it home by 9.30 am and have the rest of the day with the kids.

Last Monday, we even managed to go to the zoo together with our friends Aileen, Kenneth and their boys Andrew and Aaron. Unfortunately we were rained out by lunch time...

Side effects of radiation has been minimal so far, just slight "tanning" and dryness and sometimes itchiness around the site. Apart from that I still have tightness in the right arm and chest area due to scar tissues forming. I have to remember to do my exercises daily to stretch the tissues.

Long Overdue Update

Oh, it's been a long while since the last entry... Been busy, lazy... the usual excuses.

Now that my BSF year has ended, I have a little more time... to catch up with all the other things have been put on a holding pattern.

Last Wednesday I went to see Dr Karmen and she greeted me with, "Doris, you're as strong as a bull!" I'd had a blood test taken and bone density test done the day before. The results were excellent - strong bones, no sign of osteoporosis, blood count, haemoglobin levels were all good. The only thing was an elevated level of potassium - she asked me to cut down on eating vegetables and fruit! Hmm... didn't know that eating vegies could be bad for me.

I started Radiation Therapy last Monday, 3 Nov 08, at SGH. My cousin's good friend Dr Susan Loong is taking care of me there. I'll be receiving radiotherapy for 5 weeks (25 sessions). The treatment itself takes less than 10 minutes. But the whole exercise takes about 1 hour daily - including travelling time, changing into the gown, waiting for my turn, receiving the radiation, changing out of the gown and travelling home. Once a week I have to see Dr Susan so it will take longer on those days.

So far, the only side effect is slightly darker skin (like a tan) although I expect some more side effects as time goes by. My friend Grace S who herself underwent radiotherapy this year gave me 2 tubes of aloe vera gel to apply. It helps to keep the area cool.

As my cancer is receptive to hormones, I will be going on hormone therapy (to block the action of hormones in my body) for the next 5 years. I will be taking a drug called Femara (letrozole) and for this drug to work properly, I have to become post-menopausal. Sometime next month we plan for me to have an oopherectomy (removal of ovaries).

It's kind of scary as I've heard many stories about the process of menopause - the mood swings, hot flushes etc etc. I know God will give me sufficient grace to go through it... he's promised it in the Bible.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Cor 12:9