Day 3: Interferon

So I just got home from my third day of receiving Interferon (Intron A) via IV at the hospital to fight malignant melanoma cancer.  So far, the nights have been the worst part.  I've had skyrocketing fever, nausea, aches/pains (to the point where it hurts for my pajamas and socks to touch my skin), chills (I'm freezing and burning up at the same time), and having some kidney issues.  It hurts a lot, but I'm trying to keep in mind that it's just one day at a time and anything is possible with God.  

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26, NIV

We've been having problems with the peripheral IVs.  After the first night, I had tried to wash my hair, and when I came to get my treatment - the IV had bent so bad, it burned when they tried to inject the saline solution.  They took the IV out, and this is what it looked like:

Ouch.  (It's supposed to be straight, like a straw)  So they used a different one yesterday, and I was able to hang on to that one throughout last night although it kinked today.  The nurse took it out after treatment today so I can shower/bathe like a normal person tonight, then they'll put a new one in my right arm tomorrow.  We may do a pic-line, which would stay in the rest of the month, though I'm kind of nervous about it.  

I'm truly depending on God, and prayer.  Your prayers mean the world to me, so thank you so much.  Even when I'm down for the count and want to give up, to know people are praying for me really encourages me to keep going.  God is using you in my life!  

Mom made chicken soup for tonight, and I'm about to load up on my round of meds for the night and hope the fever will stay manageable, the pain will be minimal, and the nausea will be tolerable.  My oncologist stopped by today and was somewhat concerned about the kidney pain, and is running a test on my kidney functions.  He said the first few days are the worst, so I reallllllllllly hope he means that.  He's a great doctor, and if you feel compelled, you can pray for my doctors by name:

Dr. Jang - Oncologist

Dr. Venna - Oncological Dermatologist

Dr. Bijelic - Oncological Surgeon

Dr. Witsotsky - Rehabilitation Physician

Dr. Stanford - Primary Care

Dr. Lin - Neurologist

My nurse's name is also Christina, she's very sweet.  Please pray for her also, as she is the one administering my drugs each day and responsible for putting the IVs in my arm.  Today I took the IV stand for a walk through the chemo/immuno room, just to stretch my legs.  It's so weird wheeling that thing around, but it was nice to walk and to smile at the other patients who probably feel just as wiped out as I do.  I also made a friend yesterday.  To protect her identity, her name is Marla, and she was diagnosed while she was pregnant with stage 4 melanoma.  In fact, different to my journey, there was NO evidence of cancer in her lymph nodes, it traveled to her lungs through her blood stream and she went from stage 2 to stage 4 overnight back in October.  Her treatment is different than mine since she has three tumors on her lungs, but we have the same doctors.  We sat next to each other at treatment yesterday and I met her husband.  It was very encouraging, and I shared how God has really shepherded me through this process.  Here are two pics from today:

I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.....When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' - Matthew 25:36, 39-40, NIV

I'm just so grateful for those who have been willing to serve the Lord by caring for me, guarding me, praying for me, showing compassion, revealing God's kindness.... please know I draw nearer to the Lord because of you.  I know there are still rough days ahead, even tonight as the drugs set in.  On a more fun note, I ordered a travel sized set of checkers game to play with whoever happens to be with me at treatment as a fun way to pass the time.  It's the little things, right?!  I wish there was something I could do back for everyone, something big, but in the meanwhile, I'm so thankful for your patience and grace as you join me in weathering this storm.