December 17, 2021

Good morning from the chemo chair and Happy Fri-Yay.

I am waiting for my blood results to come back to get started with my first Taxol infusion.  The prelim blood results are back but they want the finals to get started.  Since Taxol filters through the liver they want to make sure that my lab results are spot on before beginning.  But don’t worry about me, I have plenty to keep me busy like bringing you all with me on the journey of updating this blog. 

Praises lifting today that my favorite chemo nurse, Brandi, is my nurse today. She was not supposed to be but she switched with another nurse and is now my nurse. I will give you all a bit of advice, if you ever find yourself in my position make sure to ask for the person you want and the person who gets you.  I made sure to tell the PA again to today that going forward I want Brandi to be my nurse. Why you ask? Well because Brandi gets me!  

Let me show you what I mean.  I walk in today and I said “Hey Brandi, I have good news to share with you,” and she says, “ I saw.  I read your blog and saw that the tumor shrunk.  That’s great news.”  Then as I get myself settled to begin my infusions treatment today, Brandi came over to tell me that she was able to switch with another nurse to be my nurse today and she says, “First Taxol treatment today and we aren’t going to have any issues.”  I replied, “You’re right.  We aren’t going to have any issues today.”  See what I mean??  Brandi gets me. 

It’s all about the power of positive thinking  I may not have control of some things but I can control how I react to this situation and I’m choosing to look at this as positively as I can. I prayed this morning before coming to treatment and as I do often I gave gratitude to God for proving me with amazing doctors, and wonderful nurses such as Brandi to care for me and for the fact that we have insurance to provide me with this care. God is so good y’all!

This week I have some callouts for things I am thankful for. Here goes:

• I am thankful for all of you who have reached out to check on me, to tell me that you’ve been lifting me in prayer this week as I prepare for this treatment, and for my Hood Rat family who came on Wednesday to pray over me and with me as I prepared for today. 
• I am thankful for my co-worker who shared that she was prompted to go to church on Sunday and covered me in prayer because God prompted her to do so. I am thankful for being able to share some of the miracles that I’ve experienced since this whole thing started. 
• I am thankful that Tanner was able to come and spend the past 6 weeks with us. He was such a big help and was welcomed to the Hood just like I knew he would be. (Side note – Tanner is heading home today and we will miss him a lot. I know our dogs will miss him too.)
• I am thankful for acupuncture last night and the help that has given me as I move through each phase of this cancer journey.  (Thank you Michelle for telling me about Good Pint Acupuncture.)
• I am thankful for my wonderful husband, Mano, who has picked up the slack with anything I can’t do. You rock. 
• I am thankful for all my family and friends who are anchors in this walk. 

So many blessings despite the storms. Praise!

Before signing off, I have been able to start my Taxol. Yeah!  I will check in again copper the weekend to let you all know how I’ve handled everything. Thank you for lifting me up.  It means everything to me!!!  

Happy Fri-Yay!

Xo,

Tracy