In about 36 hours, I will begin my first round of chemotherapy. The word chemotherapy is scary enough, but I’m not sure it communicates the full measure of what this lethal process entails. When I arrive at the hospital at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, I will be connected to bags of toxic chemicals via the rubber tube that resides semi-permanently near my collar bone with direct access into my carotid artery. These chemicals, which cannot even touch my skin without causing burns, will course through my body killing various cells. Hopefully more cancerous ones than healthy ones.
Over two days, I will be receiving three different chemotherapy drugs and twice as many other medicines to help control the side effects. Still, I will spend the next several days on high alert for such symptoms as nausea, lightheadedness, body aches, ringing in my ears, and numbness. Not to mention I will almost certainly lose all of my hair, have red urine for a few days, and develop ulcers in my mouth. In three weeks, just when I am feeling better from the surgery and this first round of chemotherapy, I will go back and do it all again.
This process might heal my body of cancer.
On Sunday afternoon, I spent about 20 minutes in a room full of elders from my church as well as several close friends. One of the elders dabbed his finger in a bottle of oil and made the sign of the cross on my forehead. Then, with their hands placed firmly on my shoulders, hands, and feet, the elders prayed beautiful words of healing and grace. I cried some, I felt lifted up, I received a great deal of courage. They prayed for my body and my soul. They prayed that I would resist the devil and the urge to doubt. They asked God to relieve my pain and to keep me safe from the side effects of chemo. Most of all, they told God how much they love me. They told me, too.
This process might also heal my body of cancer, but it will definitely bring healing to my soul.
Speaking of prayer, you kind of inspired me to start a new blog (oh my, yes, another one!). I guess I wanted a place to freely pray for you as often as I liked, where you could come and pray along if you want. I also realize that it is long overdue for me to consider the theme of prayer.
Love to you… LL.
Lord Jesus,
Hold Charity in your everlasting arms through this process of Chemotherapy. Give her wisdom as to the steps to take. Give her doctors wisdom as to how to proceed, bringing in the most effective methods around. But, Lord, I boldly ask for your healing. I know you are The Healer. I know that you cause all things to work for the good for those called according to Your purpose. Charity is called for your purpose.
In Jesus name, amen
God be with you, dear sister. Am praying….
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)
With you in prayer today, Charity.
Praying that the Lord will hold you and hold you up through the process.
Well, since I didn’t have a prayer beyond my desperate “Oh, please…” I asked for one. It’s too long for the comment box, so you can find it on Green Inventions Central. Are you sleeping now? I imagine it must be so. I even wish it for you. The solace of rest.
You’ve probably made it through the treatment for the day by the time I’m writing this…
Praying for you even now….
“For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-presed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”
Peace, Kim
Praying for you. Thank you for keeping us updated, please continue. Do not doubt, but hold fast to God’s promises. He loves you and is with you. He is right beside you, do not doubt.
Praying specifically that doubt would not have any hold on you.
Dianne
Thinking of you now. Uttering my usual prayer for you, “Oh, God, please…”
I’m showing up here in the wee hours of Thursday morning. You are my last thought as I lay down my head this evening… morning.
You are weak while HE is strong.
Your precious to me and to us all, Charity. We’re definitely praying; I’m praying every day. We’re with you as best we can be, and hopefully by God, better- in and through this.
Just stopped by this evening to let you know I’m thinking of you, and praying for you, on the eve of this big step. With love and sistership in Christ…
Dont forget the Chocolate. I have it on good authority that most people tolerate chocolate pretty well while going through Chemo. I hope it is the same for you.
Have a gourmet Ghiardelli piece, something not so good for your body, but ohh so good for the soul.
Hang in there. We pray along with your elders and friends that this will pass, that you will have peace, and all will be well with your soul!
Every day, every day, sweet Charity.
Maybe you’ve come across this already, but the graphic novel Cancer Vixen chronicles one cartoonist’s true story of breast cancer and journey through chemo. It’s very moving and funny at the same time, being appropriately lighthearted and seeing the amusing side of all the weirdness of chemo without trivializing the scariness of cancer.
Praying for the Lord’s shalom for you as you go through chemo.
I will try to avoid giving advice, but please indulge me just this once:
From one who craves the Word to another. Those verses in James 5 are linked with confession and forgiveness. And if I am reading them correctly, they suggest that this is a critical time for clearing your conscience. (Please understand that I am NOT accusing here.) James passes on to us a special revelation regarding matters of faith. And practically speaking, isn’t the act of confessing our sins a greater test of faith than the request for healing?
So far, we had corporate prayer for you twice this week, and you will continue to be in my personal prayers.
Hi Charity,
Just wanted to let you know that I will be lifting you in prayer also. I too went through chemo and radiation treatments, two major surgeries and a divorce after 29 years (not by choice) in 2003 and through it all the Lord was the strength that carried me through. He sustained me through it all.
And like you have have seen people healed through the treatments, supernaturally and some that passed on.
I have been cancer free for three years now and again through it all the Lord has been there.
Hill Country Thoughts was birthed out of all of this.
Thank you for being honest and open, for it will give strength to others, as well as encouragement, even as it gave encouragement to me.
I came to your site from Entertaining Angels.
Prayers and blessings from the Hill Country of Georgia!
Writing for the King,
Paul
http://coffeecupministry.us/hillcountrythoughts
Continuing to pray for you.
I agree with Chrstianne. Your faith is astounding.
Thanks so much for keeping us updated.
Wow. Your faith in this place continues to astound me. I continued to be challenged to wonder if I would have the same measure of faith, were I in your shoes. I’m not sure. But walking with you through this and hearing your progressing thoughts and feelings teaches me a lot, encourages me, and buffers me up so that, if I ever am faced with such an enormous challenge in life, perhaps your faith will have strengthened my own so that I’m ready for it.
Thank you for sharing what you will be experiencing in chemo. I had no idea of the process or the after-effects. How difficult a step.
Continuing to pray for you, friend.
The Lord bless you with his presence and comfort you with his word.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light about me be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day,for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:11-12
Grace and peace to you