General Update

 

From Paul:

Cycle 5 of 24 (Continued)

We have had plenty of opportunities to explore how our approach works for managing the side effects of Doris’ treatment. We are recognizing a few patterns that help us adapt with her needs.

Walks are helping! With these morning walks we are also finding that if Doris moves her arms during the walk, her shoulder joint pain is decreased afterwards. That also comes with the consequence of increased exhaustion during the afternoon hours.

Side effects in a gastrointestinal way are still an issue, but there are stretches of time where Doris can rely on the comfort and confidence that she needs so we can enjoy time together. We are finding that attending the temple for initiatory fits in with the predictability of her needs. We also find that we can attend church at the 10:30 start time. However, her ability to sit for the entire sacrament meeting in the folding chairs is limited.

We will change things up a little for where we sit next week if Doris feels up to going and we will see how that works.

After trying stronger pain relief medication, Doris is finding sufficient relief from traditional off-the-shelf analgesics. Pain relief in the form of acetaminophen and ibuprofen is helping, but it does not relieve the pain entirely. Because her blood work is favorable, the small doses of ibuprofen are acceptable.

This is a long process and will take some time. It seems one of the lessons we are to learn is patience.

This afternoon as I was driving to the church to meet with our bishop for our annual meeting with him, I heard this song, which spoke to my heart about prayer.

A Child’s Prayer | Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square

 

From Doris:

This past week I have struggled to focus on my blessings instead of what I perceive to have lost.  This time a year ago we were rejoicing over receiving a mission call to Bristol, England.  Our future looked bright and exciting.  

Now, I struggle to find something to look forward to each day. I have no adventures planned.  My ability to plan for the future is being held hostage by cancer treatments. 

I am a person who loves to plan.  Without a plan, each day is much the same as the previous one. Life feels dreary and I tend to focus on what I have lost or what I can no longer do. Living life surrounded by lost dreams is a miserable existence and I do not choose to live that way. My daily plan has been simplified to include not feeling sorry for myself and finding a way to serve.

When I had to stop driving in my mid-forties, I went through a similar experience of grieving what I had lost.  It took me a while to accept my new normal and to stop feeling sorry for myself.  I am actively praying for Heavenly Father to heal my heart again and help me find joy in my new normal.