Round 3 - Knocked Down Again

I want to pause for a moment to share how God really is in the smallest of details in our lives before I get into Round 3 - Knocked Down Again.

Before I started working with my current company I had been praying for a career with good benefits. I mainly was looking to get me and my two sons off of what is known as Obama Care. I lost two doctors that I loved when it went in to effect. It had some good benefits, but overall I had been spoiled in the past with a better more flexible option and this is what I was seeking again. It didn't even matter what it paid I just prayed for benefits. 

Well sometimes when you pray for specifics, God specifically answers. I found myself interviewing for a low, low, low paying job with amazing benefits that were almost free for me and the boys. Realizing I had said through prayer the money didn't matter, I just needed the best benefits possible I ended up accepting the job. One of my best career decisions ever. I knew the money would come once I proved my value to them.

I quickly realized that my immediate coworkers identified as non-Christians, but were some of the nicest, most giving and inviting people I have ever been around. This has only been proven more true with the diagnosis of cancer. I truly believe I came for the benefits, but now realize God may have even bigger things in store for me here. Everyone in this company, beyond my immediate coworkers have been very supportive and encouraging. God went above and beyond what I ever expected.

The support from my church family has been equally amazing, if not more amazing because of the spiritual bond in Christ. I've met people through the cancer support group, connected with old friends from Sunday School and made new ones as I have plugged in more and more. Shoot I even have "Girls Night" with three ladies from my Sunday School class. We usually go to dinner one night on my non-treatment week to take my mind off of things. They are very kind and precious.

The reason I say all of this, is when you go through a divorce you begin to think no one cares, remembers you, etc. Satan has a field day in your mind when you are in one of your darkest battles and I was giving him free reign in mine. It was a dark time for me, I have already shared how disconnected from my faith I was, but for six months I feel like I went from the bed to the couch and vice-versa. The only highlight was when the boys would come over, of course I put on a happy face for them, but about the time I would start feeling normal it would be time for them to go home. 

As God does sometimes He did a work in a mysterious way. It's not my story to tell, but one of my friends, best friend needed a place to stay temporarily, so I opened my apartment to him. Temporarily has now been over two years and now I consider this man to be one of my best friends. He has been there for me from day one, but even more so now. In fact, he has taken me to all, but one of my treatments. (I think he has an eye on a nurse) :-) Just Kidding. All of this has shown me that Satan lies of abandonment are not true, so many people have stepped up in so many ways I realize now how loved I am.

Well are you ready for Round 3? I promise to keep it short. I asked if we could do the infusion over a three hour period this time since two and a half almost worked. They agreed to try it. I have noticed the premeds are not bad, but at the beginning of the chemo drugs I start to feel a little off, but walking around seems to help. So after about ten minutes of them I will go to the restroom. I also will walk around shaking hands and kissing babies lol, because I love talking to people. 

This time as I was walking back from the restroom I stopped by the nurses station and talked for a while about how good the food looked they had delivered. Then I made my way over to a nurse in training and talked about how long she had been there and a little about her life. Then I spotted Mr. Perry and his wife, Ms. Beverly, so I walked over there to say hi to them. (He was the gentleman that prayed for me in treatment two). Anyway, we were cutting up and I was telling him how good he looked for his age, when the man in the pod across from them chimed in about how good he looked for his age. So it turned into a little mini-party.

Ms. Beverly was really excited because after this day she would only have two treatments left and she would be done. I spoke to them about coming to their church for a visit real soon. I noticed I was starting to get cold so I told them I would catch up with them later and even told the other handsome gentleman bye, lol. Which to be in his 80's I guess he did look young for his age and he definitely had his sense of humor intact.

As I made my way back to my pod, I noticed the guy in the pod next to me had a big ole juicy hamburger with an even bigger smile on his face. Loving to talk to people and cut up I looked at him and said, "Wow how did you smuggle that nice burger in?" He blamed his wife, so I looked at her and said, "Next time bring two, but mine with no onions." We laughed and started joking around. He had on Auburn gear and I had on a Bama hat, so we ribbed each other a little. They were really nice, we were speaking about his cancer and prognosis when all of a sudden I got hit with some major cold sensitivity. I mean it was like I stepped out in the nude in Alaska. I lost my footing, but was close enough to my chair to go into it.

The nurses came over and I explained I had what felt like a massive throbbing of pain in my skeletal system in my back, arm (right) and my throat. The pulsating was so bad I couldn't put my back down I was raising up. So they shut down the treatment with about an hour to go, put me under several warm blankets and as my body warmed the pain subsided. Then they started the treatment again. Shortly thereafter my new Auburn friend walked by and ribbed me about how an Auburn guy could've handled the pain lol. I quickly converted and said, "War Eagle." 

Shortly after that, my treatment was done. I was bummed because I felt like the three hour infusion went well. The issue was that I was up too much walking around. I promised the nurses during Round 4 I would only get up to use the restroom as I was determined to get through a treatment with no issues. They agreed that would be best. Round 4, I am coming for you.