Hello Dear Friends,
This is Aubrey again…  One of these days Mama will update you all here on what she is gleaning through all this… She was going to last week but didn’t quite get to it. We continue to be overwhelmed by all you faithful ones who persistently bless us with your kindness. We are like dry plants in a hot greenhouse being watered and propped up by our heavenly Father through your prayers and notes and humbling generosity.
Mama had a little more pain and numbness last week and noticed that her symptoms were a little worse. On Saturday she slipped on the stairs and fell a little way, not a serious fall - she wasn’t hurt; but her feet were so numb she couldn’t feel the stairs. Dr. L. said that usually these symptoms aren’t this severe until the 8^th, 9^th or 10^th week so Mom must be one of those patients who are especially sensitive to Paclitaxel and may not be able to make it through all 12 treatments. Of course Mom wants to take as many treatments as possible to decrease the risk of recurring cancer as she possibly can without permanently damaging her nerves. This week Dr. L. gave us a drug to try (it is called Lyrica, a smaller dose of Gabopentin) that may prevent nerve damage in the future so Mom could have more treatments in the long run… but it also causes drowsiness. Actually, Mama took this drug during the first round of chemo to prevent nausea so she has a very natural aversion to it and doesn’t want to be tired and loopy again. J
So, that is what we’re working through right now. We would so appreciate prayers especially this week. If you could, would you pray that the drug doesn’t make Mom super tired and that it would work really well in preventing nerve damage so she lasts through more treatments.
As for the chemotherapy yesterday, we have many reasons to be thankful for God’s graciousness. We still pray every time for high enough white counts, that the nurses would choose a good strong vein for the IV and that the treatment would go smoothly; everything was much better this time… giving thanks to Him who knows just how much we can handle.  We were even blessed with hand massages, chocolate kisses, a love dinner and a delicious-smelling clean house when we got home! Many thanks to all!
Yesterday morning, Sam harvested his first deer and Ben had his braces taken off as well, two usually big celebrations at our house. All through these last few months, God in His mercy has kept life full and over brimming and though it is not all necessarily what we would have chosen, it is all good, reminding us that He is sovereign.
Mama and I finished the last section of Job while we were waiting yesterday. God’s incomprehensible goodness even in our ignorant helplessness brought tears to our eyes. Mama asked me to post this little part of Job’s answer from chapter 42: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know….” “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope.” Psalm 130:5

Mama, Garrison and I just returned home from treatment and Mama is doing well. Somebody shout and clap and praise the Lord; we are one-sixth done! And then next week ¼ done, the week after 1/3, 5/6 doesn’t sound very good but one half certainly does! We are like little kids counting down till Christmas. Garrison with his superior experience in reality just laughs and shakes his head. Oh, bother! J  You are not to suppose, however, that Garrison is not fond of humor! We enjoyed many good laughs over his “spot on” observations on mundane things mentioned at just the right moment. J
Since Mom didn’t have a reaction last week to the Paclitaxel or Herceptin, she got half doses of steroids and Benadryl, still enough to make her tired but hopefully not enough to give her thrush again. Mama did get another case of thrush last week from the steroids. Four times a day x ten days of swish and swallow “lemon joy”. Apparently, once you get it, it is hard to prevent no matter how many salt water washes you do.
We were especially thankful for “Mr. Incredible Vein Man” as Mom officially titled the oncology nurse who did her IV today. One nurse tried twice; she “rolled” one vein and “blew” the other and then called on the incredible vein man who explained all his techniques and did a superb job! Many thanks to those who know this job and do it so well and tenderly! It makes a huge difference.
We read the middle section of Job this week… “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock, with an iron pen and lead, forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (19:23-27) Our present skin will be destroyed, therefore we do not fear or take account of its temporary destruction. Our hope and confidence is in our Redeemer whom we shall see with our own eyes when we are made new. This we know, and put our hope in. Not that we aren’t good stewards of our present bodies. But when He should see fit to send suffering we rejoice in a firmer more blatant assurance of our complete reliance on Him, in the ways which we can’t always see or predict by which He will bring glory to His Name, and in a closer knowledge of Him who is our Protector and Provider, King and Redeemer. Oh, how I love my Mama, who takes care to encourage us even now!