It is hard to believe that we are only ELEVEN days away from Rebecca's Run! Thank you so much for ALL of the support that y'all have given towards this adventure! Earlier today I posted a picture to instagram showing Emily as she continues to train for the 1/2 marathon!
If you missed it here is the picture! Isn't she AMAZING??
Thank you so much for your prayers for my second iron treatment yesterday! I received so many lovely notes, emails, text messages, and phone calls and the love and support was SUCH a blessing to me. The nurse had a little bit of a difficult time getting the IV started so it took a few sticks (sometimes I just want to grab the needle and say: "let me do it for you"! *smiles*) but once she got it in we were good to go! While I felt extremely ill there were NO severe reactions and I am so grateful for ALL of your prayers for that! This was definitely an answer to prayer!! Today is a little bit better than the day after the last treatment so hopefully this is a sign that my body is slowly recognizing what iron is (*smiles*) and that it is needed for the body! I will have my blood drawn and meet with the hematologist at the end of October to see how many more infusions that I need or if this needs to be a weekly thing. A prayer request is for my heart and lungs as the treatments make my heart race (more than normal) and I am also extremely out of breath. While both of these are considered normal side effects I would covet prayers for both of these to stop.
I have an appointment on Thursday to meet with a general practitioner and am hoping that this will be a productive meeting. I am looking for a doctor who is a aware of Lymes but more than anything will be a doctor who could treat me if I develop strep throat or something "normal". Hahaha! You would think if you have approximately 23 doctors you wouldn't need another one! *smiles*
As Emily continues to train and I attend different doctors appointments and treatments that are necessary to continue before I head out to California our hearts our so thankful for all of your prayers, love, and financial support. This is an extremely difficult time financially and your support is truly a blessing from God. I read an article earlier today regarding the serious and realistic issues, worries, concerns, and heartbreak those with long-term and critically ill patients deal with due to the pressures and demands from money. I will be honest and say that I cried and nodded my head while I read the article. {If you are interested in the article you can click HERE.) Despite having excellent health insurance, a sweet savings account (at one point), and lovely close family members and friends who have given and given and given many of those resources ran dry as we traveled across the country last year (and some the year before that) looking for doctors and for all of the treatment expenses, health bills, needed supplements, necessary medications, etc. Today, between a co-pay at a doctors office, two prescriptions, two natural supplements, and another necessary alternative treatment I have spent approximately $200.00. And then just an hour ago I went to purchase just one of the necessary medications for the Cancer and Lymes and with insurance it "only" cost $130.00. Yes, you read that correctly. So I have spent a little over $300 in one day. Unfortunately this is not unusual. Every single penny that we have goes to help me get better. I recently heard someone say- "don't get sick unless you are rich" and it is a sad reality that many ill patients deal with. These are realistic issues that I encounter on a day to day basis and this doesn't touch the money that is needed for California.
As I contemplate that and also contemplate the necessity of what lies before me each day and I think to the coming weeks and months ahead I can get overwhelmed with fear. How will the Lord provide this time my mind wonders. What if the Lord forgets that I need Him to provide? What if He doesn't realize that there is not any money for the treatment I need? What if the money is not there? What if, what if, what if....
What if God provides like He ALWAYS does?
What if like those that have gone before us He shows up again like He ALWAYS does?
These thoughts crowded my mind as I was praying this morning. I was struck by the verse from Psalm 137:4: "How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?" Wow. A foreign land. This is exactly how I feel sometimes when I look at my life. I have mentioned this before but sometimes this world of Lymes, Cancer, doctor appointments, pain, and loss is a world that is foreign to me. This is a whole different language than I ever wanted to learn or know. How can I sing songs to the Lord in this land? Because the Lord NEVER leaves us. He ALWAYS answers when we cry to Him:
"The Lord appeared to us in a faraway place" (Jeremiah 31:3)
"The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty . He will take great delight in you; in His love He will ...rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17)
The Lord is in the midst of Lymes. He is in the midst of Cancer. He is in the midst of all of my financial concerns and fears. He has always provided and He will always continue to provide today. The Lord promises us that He will watch over our journey and He will always continue to provide for us so that we will never lack anything. (Deuteronomy 2:7)
Are you wondering if God will answer your "what if" question? Don't fear sweet friends. He will answer. He always does!
I am confident that the Lord is answering the prayer of financial need and concern through the different people who have donated during this process. Thank you so much for continuing to see the needs that I have right now and all of your support. We did want to let you know that we have had people experience some difficulties with Paypal so we have shut down the option to register for the race through Paypal and you can now only use the Go Fund Me Page. In addition to this you may have noticed that the treatment month has been switched from October till November. This is due to some financial reasons and also working around my doctors vacation schedule!
Thank you again for all of your support and love! Words can't express how grateful that I am!!Want to donate or register ($15) for Rebecca's Run? Simply click on the link on below!
1 comment
Praying for you girl!!!
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