An Anchor in Glory

Thank you all so much for praying!
Mama’s “Echo” showed her heart is still strong. Before any chemotherapy her “ejection fraction” was 70% and now it is still strong at 67%! Pardon my lack of knowledge of medical terms. I think the ejection fraction is the rate at which blood is pumped through the right(?) side of the heart. Anyway, “it” is at 67! :o)
Her white count and Neutrophils were just below normal, which is exceptionally high for Mom! And God protected her from any negative allergic reaction to the chemotherapy drugs. I must confess we were all more or less nervous about Mom’s reaction to these new drugs. They seem a little more intricate and vital in the way they affect a person’s body. We are again reminded that God is our Protector and everything given to us is sifted through His hands. Even so, to my own chagrin, I think I’m still working on untwisting the knot in my stomach.
We were so blessed by visitors yesterday; filling us up with love and prayers. A good friend came just before the nurse administered the Paclitaxel and made us laugh so that Mama was amazed a few minutes later when she realized she hadn’t had a reaction. :o) So thankful for God’s gifts of encouragement and friendship.
Compared to the first treatments, this chemotherapy is a lot easier so far. We know it will gradually build up and that is when the side effects will manifest themselves. Right now, though, Mom is doing really well. She was groggy for a while from the Benadryl and then energetic from the steroids which made her silly and exhausted by turns yesterday. :o) Now she said she is just a tiny bit nauseated; of course nothing like the last time, though!
We are so grateful for you all, your thoughtfulness, generosity and prayers.
With Much Love, Goodnight!

For all those interested in homeopathic remedies:
Did you know Paclitaxel was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific Yew tree, Taxus brevifolia, and dissolved in polyoxyethylated castor oil?
Something I’m sure you always wanted to know. :o)