Personal Journey Entry # 42

With mixed emotions, we left Bear Pond this week to return to Exeter and get back to work behind the wheel of Bus #20. Reality tells me this is home, but I think Shay and I share the feeling of Maine being our home. We love the Pond and the closeness of our circle of friends, but we feel something magical in our Highlands home that will be our winter weekend getaway. The bottom line is we are back to New Hampshire during the week and then off to Central Maine for the weekends.

I may have taken on too much for the first week back. Tuesday afternoon was spent in a chemo infusion room with an appointment that lasted ten hours, with drive time. Thursday was a few hours to have the portable chemo pack removed, which was hooked to my side for three days. I was told last week that the month after radiation is the most uncomfortable. I have constant pain in my left arm from my shoulder to my fingertips. The neuropathy in my fingers is intense. I only need to look at a cold drink, and my fingers tremble. Anything cold to drink, and it feels like your tongue is being encased in dry ice. I wake up to a varying level of nausea, and every swallow is a challenge as my esophagus constricts as it heals. No treatment next week, so I am looking forward to feeling better. Hopefully, it is not wishful thinking.

This week, we had a disappointing setback with our Cancer Support Ministry. I was informed that EABC could not team with us. We can use their facility one Saturday a month, but they cannot help promote the group. There is no need to explain the reason; we must move in a different direction. We will need to utilize social media, word of mouth, and direct contact with clinics in the area. We will be fine, as Jenny and I still have God on our team, and he is guiding our decisions.

We are entering a period that will require patience and faith. I have two more chemo treatments, and then we will wait until possibly the first week in December before I can be scoped for the status of the tumor. We surrendered ourselves to God’s will in January; he has been by our side throughout this journey. 

That’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by and for your incredible support and prayer. I have no doubt we will hear that beautiful bell in December, and it is a group effort of great medical people, the best circle of friends in the world, and the power of prayer that will give us a glorious end to our battle. 

God bless and hold you in His arms. We love you all, Ray