Dear Friends,

I’m back from Physical Therapy today, where I started with a lot of energy, and they worked me hard and I’m glad they did, and I’m also glad I’ve been sitting down for the last hour. PT has made a strong difference for me, helping me to keep moving when I haven’t really felt like it.

Thursday, February 1, was my 12th infusion (out of 12) at the clinic, followed as always by 44 hours on the small portable infusion pump that gives me an additional 110 milliliters of chemo. It pumps at 2.5 milliliters (that’s about half a teaspoon) per hour. It pumps in quite slowly. That process finished up Saturday morning, and we gave the pump back. So, over the next several months, I should begin to recover from chemotherapy.

They ran an experimental blood test on me, which looks for cancer DNA in a blood sample. They found none. It would be bad news if they had found some rogue cancer cells circulating through my system, and they did not. So that’s quite hopeful. But it actually means we don’t know. We don’t know there’s more cancer; we don’t know there’s no more cancer. It’s like if we inspect one corner of the living room and find it clean: we can’t conclude that every corner of the house is clean. Several friends have suggested that we should simply drain all my blood and test it all, but I feel like there would be side effects from that. I’ve got scans coming up later this month, and follow up appointments, and: we’ll see. We won’t know until we know. 

I continue to have problems with neuropathy and balance. The neuropathy affects my hands and feet, but it’s mostly centered on my fingers, making my finger tips feel cold and numb. Typing is challenging, because I can’t feel the tiny nubs on the home row of keys. I often look at the screen and discover I’ve typed a line of random letters. I haven’t been able to play guitar for the last few months, because I can’t feel accurately where my left hand is on the strings. It may get better on its own, as the chemicals slowly leach their way out of my body, but in the meantime I’ve got an appointment with the neuropathy clinic in a couple of weeks, to see what they can do.

I’ve had many near misses on falling. I don’t have a good sense of balance at all. We’re working on that in PT. The oncology doc said that it may be due to the neuropathy in my feet, making it hard for me to feel the floor. I’m doing my best never to try to stand or walk without something to hold on to. My walker has become a constant companion. Micaela drives me to all my appointments.

Thanks so much for your ongoing support and prayers, emails and letters. They always brighten my day. Many many blessings to you all.

In Jesus’ love –