Five Months

We met with our new oncologist today, and learned that we have 20 weeks - five months - of chemo ahead. I was not expecting that. This amuses me, because for some reason I had three months stuck in my head, with chemo happening every three weeks.

Instead, for the first eight weeks it will be every two weeks. Then it will be 12 weeks of weekly treatment.

I kept repeating that last sentence in my head and out loud in the doctor's office.

"Weekly visits. For 12 weeks. I wasn't expecting 12 weeks. Or weekly visits. Twelve weeks?"

For the first week after my diagnosis, I was obsessively reading all about the type of cancer I have (triple negative - I found a pretty straight-forward article here). I read about the drugs I could expect, and that most chemo is delivered once every three weeks (I think I got the three-month duration out of la-la denial land). But due to the type of cancer, the oncologist said, she recommended an aggressive chemo treatment.

If we don't opt for a double mastectomy and additional chemo isn't needed, radiation will commence in June or July. That will be five days a week for six weeks. Woo mama!!!

And yet. I marvel at God's continued daily provision. I think bullets are in order:

• Although it's an aggressive cancer, wonderful news is that it's Stage 1.7 and has not spread. 
• So far, John's job is being incredibly understanding and supportive of us. 
• Beloved friends from Ketchikan - who weren't planning on moving to Anchorage a couple of years ago but are blessedly there now - have watched Kate and Belle when John has been needed in the more intense appointments.
• We got a quilt in the mail from a dear friend we met on Prince of Wales Island and now lives in the Deep South - it will join me in the coming weeks at chemo appointments. 
• Another Prince of Wales sister sent me body wash dubbed "Grace." And so many more people have emailed me that they are ready to lend their support or an ear any time I might need one.
• A wonderful neighbor has been caring for our dog when we have had to go to Anchorage the last couple of times - this last time, we came home to a happy dog and a large container of chili.
• Right before we left, another Seward peep brought over some delicious banana bread and a new chapeau for my soon-to-be baldie self.

On and on - the above-and-beyond way people are demonstrating their love and support to us in all shapes and sizes is giving me new ideas for how I can love up people in the future. And right now, when sometimes all I want to do is get into bed and pull a quilt over my head, it's providing us a deep well of encouragement from which to draw.

It's God's grace and I'm thankful for every drop.