Chemo. Round 1. Day 5.

Highs

• First Day of Spring

• A walk on the beach

• Time with Clara

Lows

• Bone pain

• Tummy issues

I woke up feeling almost normal today. I opted out of post-chemo steroids as I'm trying to minimize the use of pharmaceuticals as much as I can. I took anti-nausea meds Tuesday and Wednesday night because my oncologist insisted on it, but I didn't like the side effects of the Tuesday night dosage and opted for half that on Wednesday. Half dose wasn’t great, either, so even though I was supposed to take it last night, I decided not to. However, nausea has been minimal today. I find I get nauseous when I'm hungry, so snacks are my friend. 😂

I am experiencing some bone pain, so I got another B12 injection this morning, hoping that will mitigate it to some degree.

This week hasn't been bad, but I recognize there will be a cumulative effect so not expecting each time to be this smooth.

Thank you for caring and for praying. We'll see what the Lord has in store in the days ahead.

Chemo. Round 1. March 16, 2026.

4:40 am Wake up and start the day. This includes reading Scripture, writing in my journal, and having a cup of coffee.

5:20 am Do an easy workout while watching a 60 Minutes story about one of my favorite podcasters.

6:15 am Take a walk around the neighborhood and listen to the first half of a sermon.

6:45 I check my bags one last time to make sure we have everything, and Rick applies Lidocaine to the port site, per instructions.

7 am. Breakfast

7:20 am We leave for the Zimmer Cancer Center

7:40 am Port access and labs

8:15 am A quick appointment with Dr. Robinson to review labs. All is well.

8:40 Crystal, my awesome capper, arrived and got right to work educating me about what is ahead. Rick took photos and videos of us both.

9:09 am Pre-meds and cold-capping begin

10:32 am Taxol starts. Icing my hands and feet is far harder than icing my head, surprisingly.

1:00 Ethan visits

1:45 Carboplatin starts

2:17 Finished at Novant. Cold caps are changed every 25 minutes, so we change the cap before heading home.

3:00 pm Home, ready to cap for about 4.5 more hours

All in all, a good day, in spite of it all.

4:45 pm update. Clara is here, and the world is even brighter than it was 5 minutes ago.

“I’m confident as seasons change, His faithfulness remains.”

— Maverick City Music

Embracing a new routine. March 13, 2026

Because I am trying to minimize hair loss by utilizing Penguin Cold Caps - The Original Chemo Cold Cap during chemotherapy, today was my last opportunity for the foreseeable future to wash my hair under warm, running water and use styling products and heat to dry it, so I snapped a photo before getting into the shower. What will my hair look like in the weeks ahead?

Because of my experiences in Haiti, I don’t take warm running water for granted. But today was different. I appreciated the warm water running over my head in an entirely different way. Washing my hair was not a task for the morning. It was a luxury to savor.

Ironically, when I went to use the shampoo and conditioner I love so much, both bottles were nearly empty, and I had to shake them down to get enough of each product to adequately clean my hair.

Starting today I am not allowed to use styling products on my hair, but I was told I could add just a bit of nourishment to the ends, so I chose to use this oil that I have loved for many years. (This oil is the reason my hair is always shiny! I am going to miss being able to use it as usual.)

I am allowed to dry my hair with heat one last time today, but I have decided to let it air dry to see how manageable it will be as I adjust to the new normal.

Many things will be completely out of my control in the days ahead, but I’m hopeful that having this one option will give me something on which to focus my time and desire to “do something.”

If I keep my hair, that will be a win. If I don’t, well, that was what was expected anyway.

Countdown to Chemo. Stop #7

POV: Run a half marathon with a critical care nurse. That person will get you to the finish line. 5/5 recommend that medical professional be your own son.

The Myrtle Beach Half Marathon 2026 is in the books, and it was a great time.

The next stop on my Countdown to Chemo is tomorrow, and I can hardly wait.

It’s been two weeks

I am incredibly happy to share that this week I have “turned the corner” and am basically back to regular everyday life. I’m having to remind myself not to lift heavy objects, and I am trying to be intentional pacing myself so as not to overdo it. But my appetite is back, for most of the day my energy is back (cue an early bedtime), my abdomen is healing nicely, and I can concentrate on tasks (which means I am back to driving). I’ve even started back “running” - gingerly, carefully - since we do have the WDW Half Marathon in just over 2 weeks!

Thank you for all of your kind words, visits, and support during this time.

I had my 3rd Lupron injection on Monday at Zimmer Cancer Center with Dr. Robinson, and I will see Dr. Rossi at the Duke Cancer Center on Monday, December 29. I am hopeful we’ll be able to agree on a plan of action for 2026. I am going to remind her that I want to live, not simply be alive. I believe there’s a huge difference in those two things.

No, Baby Clara is not here yet, but every day brings us closer to her arrival, and we will be seeing her very soon!

This morning I read Luke 2:19, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” The question from Catching Whimsy asked, “With all the mysteries and unknowns in your life, what would it look like for you to treasure up in your heart the ambiguity God allows?”

I’ll be pondering that question in the days ahead.

Merry Christmas!

My 2nd Lupron injection - November 24, 2025

I have to admit that being back at the Zimmer Cancer Center here in Wilmington is a little surreal, and I also feel like I have come back home. I am thankful for the opportunity to receive care locally in coordination with Duke.

Yesterday I received my 2nd Lupron injection - 21 days after my 1st. Again, it was administered in my flank, this time switching the left side. Very little discomfort, just a pinch. No noticeable side effects so far. In fact, I ran 2 miles, then walked 3 this morning and felt great.

I appreciated the opportunity to see Dr. Robinson yesterday. He is so incredibly kind and caring. I felt seen and heard.

He allowed me to have blood tests yesterday that I requested, and, at my request, he has ordered those same blood tests for December 8 - two days before my surgery with Dr. Rossi and Dr. Zani.

Further, we scheduled my 3rd Lupron injection and next office visit with him for December, as well as a follow-up visit in January before the WDW Half Marathon (which I am still hoping to complete).

Tomorrow I’ll be two weeks out from my scheduled liver resection and debulking surgery at Duke.

Because relationships matter

3/13/2023

So, this morning God answered a very specific prayer in a very specific way. But it didn’t come without some tears and frustration first.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I value relationships. And this little comes down to that - relationships are important.

I was at Grinder’s with a friend, and the doctor's office called to change my surgery date from April 12 to April 5.   This created so many problems for me, and I was feeling like everything was out of control.  Multiple appointments would have to be rescheduled/multiple commitments shifted.  

So I sat down and typed out an email to my doctor.  He is on vacation April 10 - 15.  His office did not communicate well and get that on the calendar.  I wrote him and told him that I understood that he would be on vacation, but I told him all the ways this change was impacting me and my family - not the least of which being Steeve was planning to be here with me and he can't come April 5 because of Easter at his church on April 9.

(I had been praying for a few days that God would clearly show me if Dr Robinson was supposed to be my doctor through this)

So here's what happened.

Dr Robinson called me.  Again I told him how inconvenient April 5 was after all the planning that went into April 12.

So... Dr Robinson is actually going to come in to do my surgery while he's supposed to be on vacation because . . . he's just that kind of doctor.

After much discussion (including his offering to change his vacation plans completely and do it as promised originally on April 12) we settled on April 14 at 6 a.m.

This just confirms for me I want to keep my care with Dr Robinson and not transfer to UNC, though we both agreed I'll still see Dr Souper tomorrow - just for additional insight/advice.  

Relationships matter, and Dr Robinson knows me, and he obviously cares about me.

That was my answer to prayer.   God wants me to stay with Dr Robinson and hear his voice and trust him.  That is what God revealed to me today.

So many people are offering me advice right now, but I am going to settle my mind on the care of this incredibly compassionate and competent physician God has put right in front of me.

Also, Dr R gave me clearance to go to Haiti next week, as scheduled.   Could something happen medically?  Absolutely,  but he does not think the risk is great enough for me to cancel the trip.   That was good to hear one more time, too

A 2nd opinion

My meeting with Dr Soper in Chapel Hill was good.  He did not tell me anything I didn’t already suspect or know, but he laid it out well.

1. Surgery.   Look at the nodule at the back of the pelvis.

2. Genomic testing.

3. Taxol and Carboplatin - 6 cycles spaced 3 weeks apart.  May be able to travel to Haiti as long as I stay healthy enough

Notes:

Chemo will bring fatigue.  I’m going to need more rest than I think I will need.

Stay closer to home for treatment.  Dr Robinson knows what he’s doing.

Jeff Swanson reminded me of Psalm 107 last night.  It’s going to be a daily reading going forward.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble,

    and he saved them from their distress.