Day Three

Very early morning in downtown Seattle. The buildings rise up, mingling with the fog, and makes me marvel that I would actually find such beauty in the city. I have always been a country girl.

One of the USA's earlierst skyscrapers, one of the beautiful sights we saw on the way to the hospital. http://www.smithtower.com/History.html We have learned to not focus on the traffic, the people cutting in front of you, the road rage you see, and the concentrate on the beauty around you. This was my support team for the day, daughters Rebekah, Jana and my grandaughter, Brookie, or "Dr. Brookie" as she is sometimes known.

I had the IV in my hand, they were saving my "good" veins for blood draws later. The second picture shows the input of the radioactive glucose. I had to lay still for one hour in a quiet room to let the glucose spread into my body. I was covered in warm blankets, they lowered the lights and I listened to the Psalms on my Zune. They said that some people are really bothered by this time of having to sit still for an hour. I laughed to myself, because to a Mom, this was bliss. One INTERRUPTED hour with no phone calls, nobody knocking on the door, nobody calling my name. Ah, peace and quiet.

This was the lovely drink I was offered after my 12 hour fast. MMM, good?!?!? In fact, I had to drink one and a half of these doozies. It was the "contrast" I needed for the scan.

The scan machine, doesn't look so scary, does it? From my claustrophobic point of view, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Part of my secret to surviving the 40 minutes? I didn't open my eyes once I was on the table, again covered with warm blankets. I prayed and sang hymns in my mind. They were kind enough to tell me when I was halfway done and when I had five minutes to go.

The final step is more blood work on Friday and then the Waiting Game, the hardest part of it all. My husband, Scott, has simplified the process in this way -

There is a test,

There is a wait

And a result.

This will be the story of my life, since my type of cancer can never really be cured and can never really go into remission. You just live your life always waiting and watching. Every six or 12 months, you start the process all over again.

As we discussed the next step, THE WAITING, we talked about how this is like the Christian life. We have a test, or a trial, then a waiting as we work through it and then watch for the result. The best result we want to receive from the doctor is to be cancer-free. The best result we want to receive as a Christian is to be free from the sin that so easily besets us, and to be transformed to the beautiful image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In whatever stage of trial you are in, the test, the wait or the result, may you look to the Lord for help and strength in the journey. He has an infinite love for you.

Your name is written in the palms of His hands - they bear the marks of His love for you.

As I wait, I am seeking to be patient and trusting.

Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.