Weary and Sore

This was a full day, the kind that Jesus injected himself into in John 10:10.

Streaming with Grace….

My morning with Cindy started in a very cool way. Dear friend, Ron Webber worked some magic to give us an exclusive live streaming feed on Cindy’s iPad of this morning’s Grace Chapel worship service. Pastor Doug patiently accommodated the tech team insisting he speak at the dreaded podium to improve the vocal clarity vs. his preferred wandering around the platform with his headset microphone. He admitted he felt like a caged animal to be anchored over there but he sucked it up and gave his usual sterling message anyway.

While streaming is not the same as being there, it was a good option for our situation.  I decided at the last minute to be with Cindy vs. at the service so that we could live out Jesus’ “two or three” criteria for being present with us. (See Matthew 18:20).  My thinking was that one with an iPad is not really the same as two. Thoughts?

Cindy Today….

The words for today are w-e-a-k, lacking energy, get-up and go, and  very weary. “Otherwise,” she stammered, “I feel O.K.” except for mouth sores that irritate eating, no appetite, and blunted taste.  

Combined, these two issues present definite challenges for Cindy maintaining her strength and stamina for this grueling stage of treatment.  She needs to eat and walk as much as she is able.

Amazingly, her the medical team is pleased with how she is doing. Their genetic results are favorable in that all the possible bad indicators are negative and all the good indicators are positive so Cindy hanging on through this “crap” phase is essential.

The oncology staff are tender, responsive, professional, caring, friendly and the docs are totally on her case pulling all the strings to head off issues as they develop.  She’s getting platelets today, a triple dose of potassium and stronger antibiotics to beat down a fever that has developed.

Dr. J. dropped in with a rather impressive-looking “windshield” mask over his face that he agreed to let me photograph although he’s not much a fan of social media so y’all need to be anti-social ‘cuz I included his picture in this post.  

He had two colleagues in tow to throw instructions over his shoulder at as he examined Cindy. They in turn were jotting his every word as they are responsible to executing his orders, like postponing a  CAT scan and bone biopsy another week.

“Too soon,” explained Dr. J.

Looking at Cindy and I, Dr. J. was emphatic that we get across that any potential visitor who even suspects they have a cold should STAY AWAY. Those who come need to be diligent about wearing a mask (box just outside her door), not touching Cindy and washing hands every time they enter the room (at sink in her room).

Visitors today were Cindy's cousin, Kristi (from Texas), her mom, Norma and Glenn who "attended" the steamed Grace Chapel service with her.

Body Doing…

One more thing. Keep the prayer and positive thoughts going strong. Visitors, please consider pray aloud with Cindy.  If you’re uncomfortable doing that, bring a favorite reflection to read to her, something that inspires you during tough times.  

Cindy’s body is “doing” and everything seems on track according to the plan being deployed.  But weakness and appetite suppression could take a toll so the only way we all can be Cindy’s strength is to get engaged at the spiritual realm. Just saying.

Even if you don’t believe in God or think prayer is hokey, you probably offer good thoughts or positive energy to people you know who are suffering. Personally, I think God is the source of all such goodness anyway so I think we are all playing on the same team when we engage the spiritual realm on behalf of each other.

Every life battle is waged at both physical and spiritual levels so I invite everyone in Cindy’s Village to engage both those realms for our girl.  Your strength lifts us up.

(The "worshiping man" photo is by Zac Durant on Unsplash; I took the other two)