Wednesday, July 7, 2021 1:00 PM

   Well, it starts tomorrow… Thursday July 8 begins my 5 days a week for 5 weeks of radiation therapy. I'll be relieved to get started and know what I'm in for, rather than wondering a little anxiously about it. I've certainly had a few friends share their experiences with radiation. Some who have had breast cancer and others cancer similar to mine. I'm pleased to hear that fatigue for each of these women, did not begin until the 4th week. I'm hoping for the same. My finish date should be Friday, August 13. Hah, 'FRIDAY 13'! That's a fun coincidence. That date has never got me worked up at all. 

  I'm told it will be 3 weeks following the last radiation treatment, that I begin another round of chemotherapy (same timetable as the last). So if all is on schedule, my last chemotherapy will be around Thanksgiving, and all those 'poisons' will do their work over the next 3 weeks. As you can see, I haven't given it much thought. Haha!

    So… our summer has been super blessed with two wonderful get-aways! Both totally restoring peace & relaxation. Just a while ago, we came in from a walk by the cranberry farms on the dyke by the river. Clouds & a breeze were such a beautiful break from the heat. Looking forward to more days the same.

   We're so happy to go back to Mass in our church. Yesterday was very special, as Fr. Ron anointed me following Mass. And today he shouted out as we stood outside "11:00 tomorrow!" I'm grateful for his love and devotion as our pastor. Now seeing people at church that we've not seen for a very long time, many excitedly come to me and say "You look so good!" or "You're so peaceful!" and what I most appreciate, "I'm praying for you every day!" And that is what moves me greatly. I am aware of their dedication to praying for me, as that is the community I'm so grateful to belong to. Even people that hardly know me. I think the joy they express is because the words 'cancer' and 'chemo' often give us images of people being & looking very sick. I'm happy to say that because there has been almost no nausea, and certainly no 'hugging the toilet', along with my rosy cheeks, I look & feel healthy for the most part.

   So, yes! 11:00 tomorrow begins a new routine down a road that I'm happy to get on with. In all, it will be a 10 month pilgrimage, with a few steep hills to climb, with the occasional dark but not too deep, valleys.

  I'm praying and offering this journey for your own steep hills & dark valleys, that you do not feel alone in your struggles. God loves you and so do I!  Take care! xoxoox