Walking Through Winter

Greetings to our family and friends from a cold and blustery Pennsylvania. It seems like our winter just won't end. With the arrival of March we are hopeful that spring is just around the corner, despite the snow storms that have hit our area the last two weekends. This morning the sun broke through the clouds glistening on the newly fallen snow bringing a glorious brightness after a stretch of several gray and cloudy western Pennsylvania days. Thrilled by the sunshine, Grace and I eagerly headed out for a morning walk. Our walk in the 5 inches of newly fallen soon became more of a trudge, as with each step we would sink down below the crusty, icy layer into the depth of the snow and then with effort take our next step.

Our walk through the past few weeks has been one in which some days have felt like we were trudging through the snows of life as Kate has been dealing with the residuals of the cancer journey. These days have taken our energy and brought a stretch of grey clouds over our spirits. Kate has once again hit a fatigue wall and nausea has returned as the crusty, icy layer on top that makes each day an effort to get through. Kate, who bravely battles the weariness and stands strong in the face of the nausea, finally had to yield to taking some days off of school, because she simply did not have the energy or strength to trudge through another day. Discouragement has been threatening to cloud over our normally sunny days. This journey has truly created a special sensitivity to one another's needs, so that when one of us is hurting, or struggling we all share and feel the burden. Despite the clouds, God in his goodness and mercy has allowed the sun to break through the clouds and bright moments that have ministered to Kate's weary spirit. The winter weather has actually blessed has with few housebound "do nothing" evenings where we watched movies, enjoyed family time and the chance for some extra rest. A bright ray of sunshine for Kate was having her fitting for her prom dress and visiting and laughing with our wonderful friends at Mary's.

We have been consulting with Kate's doctor about the increase in nausea and fatigue and her decreased appetite. We have been in the process of weaning Kate off her steroid. This steroid has truly been the only medication that has successfully addressed the issue of nausea. Kate's system is very sensitive to the effects of the steroid and her symptoms may be in part due to the decrease of the steroid. Steroids suppress the immune system thus making it imperative that Kate take a prophylactic dose of an antibiotic each week to protect her from various strains of pneumonia. Unfortunately in Kate's case the antibiotic causes heaves and vomiting. While taking steroids she must also continue her anti-viral medication to protect against another case of shingles like she had last June. Prolonged use of the steroid is probably also a contributor to the muscle weakness in her legs. Thus, the goal is to get Kate off the steroid so she can be free of the other medications and annoying side effects. Because the last few weeks have been rough for Kate, she will probably have to go back to the second dose of steroid each day that we had cut out three weeks ago.
~Please ask for wisdom for the doctor as we continue to tweak Kate's medication in this process.
~Please ask that Father would reign down his mercy on Kate and bring complete healing and restoration to her body and spirit.
~While the issues that we are dealing with now seem minute in comparison to where we were last year, the ongoing nature of these latent effects of her treatment and medication are wearisome and oh, so tedious to deal with. After dealing with these things for such a long time, they begin to wear on you both physically and emotionally.
Kate wrestles with letting these nagging health issues get the best of her, as many we have met on the journey are in the heat of the treatment battle right now. Kate has complained so little along the way on this long journey. I have encouraged her be gentle with herself and understand that the discouragement is normal when you don't feel well for a prolonged period of time.

Track season has begun for Maggie the first practice was on a fluke 60 degree day between two cold fronts and snow storms. It was nice to be able to run outside rather that through the hallways of the high school. Of course as with all of life, Maggie is very enthusiastic about track. She went with her coach to a clinic several weeks back to work on learning hurdles. Mags is not overly confident in this new skill but with her determination and her ballet agility she will embrace the challenge of learning this new event.

And so we continue to run the race that is set before us with God's strength. The dreary days of winter are numbered. Spring is coming and with it the promise of new life and brighter days. The struggles are all part of the shaping process in our lives. It is through the trials that we learn perseverance and our faith increases so that we can by God's grace and mercy run the race He has set before us.