October 25, 2012 9th Treatment

October 25, 2012 9^th Treatment

We arrived home late yesterday evening from Leland’s 9^th treatment.  The trip went smoothly;  there was roadside snow over the passes and on the peaks. The autumn leaves are still lovely especially against  dark clouds shot through with sunshine and rainbows.  It makes us wonder what we will be driving through next week!

The treatments are still going well, the blood work is stable and his weight was up another 4 pounds-yes! His hair is thinning noticeably, and he slept only 3 hours last night, which seems to be becoming a pattern for the night after treatment.  We went for a 2 mile walk today, which made him tired, but he recovered well after a rest. 

We are getting aquainted with more of the patients at the clinic each week.  Every one of them is a story of courage and perseverance, and dogged determination to find a better way.  Everyone with whom I have visited so far is a Stage IV Lung, Breast or Liver Cancer.  Most come with a spouse, adult child or friend, but some come alone.  Some look pretty healthy, and some are very very sick.  One lady, with Stage IV Breast Cancer also has mets to the brain and bones. Her husband is there every week, and very attentive to her;  interfacing with the doctors and nurses when she is unable.  She is very sweet and friendly even as sick as she is.  Another couple is dealing with his liver cancer, and doing some of the same treatments Leland is getting. His wife is struggling with his personality change as well as difficult changes in his appetite.  Another little lady with Stage IV lung cancer and mets to the bones drove all the way there with her husband from Goldendale only to find out no treatment was possible for that day because she needed a blood transfusion first.  I was visiting with them when the nurse came and told her, and said she would help them arrange for blood testing here in Goldendale before making that long trip up again.

We are  at the point of praying for one another, strangers brought together by a common enemy and drawn together by a common hope. Each one deals with it in his or her own special way, some with faith, some with a fighting spirit mixed with faith, and some just fighting, refusing  to give up until they have no other choice.   The staff is wonderful, lots of  bright young friendly efficient professionals doing their best to make their patients as comfortable and healthy as possible. The Oncologists and Naturopathic Oncologists are fighting for their patients every day, applying their considerable skill to save lives and improve the quality of life for everyone under their care. We are grateful indeed to each of them and to God for bringing us to this place of hope.