Month 5 Complete Filled W/Challenges, Treatment Creativity, & Auntie Love.

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." ~Corrie Ten Boom

This week and next week will wrap up month five and the end of a seven-week protocol. This protocol has by far caused the most challenges thus far in so many ways.

As cycle two began I was recovering from the special med the week before, but reintroducing the IV antibiotics into my system. In addition to gearing up with the second half of the protocol, I had to juggle travels.

The second week of cycle two continued to induce sickness and exhaustion. The medication build up along with traveling added extra strain on my system. Do not get me wrong, I love people and family, but it’s a lot. I felt bad that one evening the meds were exceptionally brutal and my nieces woke up and went into their parents room. The next day, two of my nieces talked with my privately saying they were afraid I was going to die. They have such big hearts, but I hate to have frightened them.

This week for this protocol, apparently, I was supposed to take the medication the has intense physical effects on my body physically (as mentioned in previous post) but after speaking with the IV nurse, she decided I should discontinue that medication for now and talk with the Specialist at my next appointment. I happily complied. Because I didn’t have to take that medication, this week has been an “off” week. I always welcome an “off” week just for the sake of a break from the IV antibiotics. Recently mom commented about how my "off” week did not seem so “off." I think my body is trying to recover from the last two weeks as well as majorly detoxing, resulting in a good amount of exhaustion, a few odd health concerns, and a fair amount of nausea.

Nonetheless, with all the challenges this protocol has brought, there have also been many positives. One being the suturing of my central line. I really wish we had done that much earlier in treatment. I am still having skin irritation but nothing like before and the blistering is almost completely gone! This is huge for me. I am so very glad anchoring my line has brought some relief!

Furthermore, though each positive or joy comes with a constant state of struggle or hardship, there are so many joys pockets tucked here and there. I got to see all my siblings together under one roof for a wedding weekend. The wedding was beautiful, with quite a stunning bride and handsome groom. After the wedding night, my sister-in-law told the kiddos, “Auntie April will probably need to sleep in and rest a lot tomorrow.” Haha I did but again family together is a delight. I also had the opportunity to see all my nieces and nephews, doing the “Buzzin cousin” thing one afternoon at the beach. This completely filled my heart and brought to mind so many memories with my cousins.

On Monday my parents and I are traveling back to D.C. I will be addressing several things from this protocol and looking into month six moving forward. During this appointment I will also be trying a new IV medication, which I have been told is by far the most difficult of the medications.

Please be praying for me as we travel to and from the appointment, especially back home after the strong IV trial. (It would be great if I wasn't incredibly sick from the med while driving home.) Also, keep my in your prayers during the appointment to be well enough to address issues from this previous protocol.

They said it would get worse as the treatment progressed, which it is, but I am also continually hopeful.

In addition to hope, I am ever so grateful for so many things and so many people. Thankful for your support and love. I appreciate those who have leant a listening ear with real time conversations with me full of compassion, understanding, and encouragement. These things make a huge difference in my day, so thank you!

I also, want to give a shout out to my treatment buddy. I do not know how anyone makes it through this rigorous treatment without a friend who is walking the same road. I will always be so thankful for the blessing of my dear treatment buddy, Jamie Irick Leiper!