Joys, Twinkles, & Glimmers

 Hello Friends & Family,

We have some appointments & dates coming up and continue to welcome your prayers!

TOMORROW . . . . I am cautiously returning to work. Yes, a little quick but I convinced my surgeon & his nurse assuring them I would abide by the rules. (NO LIFTING and resting when necessary!)

Friday the 1st . . . . Port Installed

Monday the 4th . . . . Chemo Begins

* A couple of weeks ago, curiosity got the best of me and I googled something I definitely should NOT have. I’ve only told a few people but sharing with you now in hopes that you will learn from my mistake! I stupidly googled “life expectancy after a stage 1b pancreas tumor removal/whipple”. After wallowing for a few I got myself together when God told me “You are NOT a statistic. You are not a percentage!” Family, Friends, neither are you! 

God is doing a NEW thing in me. Singing this in church this morning, God got a HOLD of me! I could either laugh & joyfully sing the words or get tender & emotional. Both of which are perfectly fine! But today, I was almost giddy!

For your listening!

This is me committing to read positive stories, praising God in the storms, surrounding myself with supportive, enlightening friends, and seeking JOY in the every day.

Join us in Prayer

~ reality back at work will go easy on me/another step to normalcy

~ the port procedure goes smoothly w/ little to no pain

~ that I remain HEALTHY to conquer each chemo treatment

~ the potential side effects will be minimal or nothing at all for me . . . . 

again, I’m not a percentage! I am most worried about the nausea & neuropathy

~ for my dear friends Neena, Logan, & Rebecca all strongly fighting breast cancer

~ for my uncle healing from double bypass surgery

Join us in Praise

~ fun mini outings this weekend

~ safe, quick Lynchburg trip

~ hugs from both of my boys . . . . young men!

~ Sunday lunch w/ Memaw

~ enjoying the deer, foxes, bunnies, & birds in our yard

~ morning sunshine, blue skies, and grass beneath my feet

~ Duanes protection & taking care of me

~ time w/ Duanes family 

~ laughter

~ daily mile walks

~ I have the BEST girlfriends

Make tassels for yourselves on the corners of your garments throughout the generations, and put a blue thread on the tassels of the corners. You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and obey them so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness. Numbers 15:38-39

Daily (sometimes hourly!) Surrendering and Looking for all the Glimmers!

Regina & Duane

Heal Me

 My Dear Family & Friends,

I’m thankful to say I’m feeling pretty well. I continue to be sore & sleepy but no real pain. Duane was able to return to work this week thanks to my dear friend Jill.  

Follow up with my surgeon went well and he is happy with my progress.

Duane and I met w/ my oncology team today and are quite overwhelmed to say the least but feel we are in great hands. I really liked my doctor. Her goal is “to heal me”! I also LOVED the social worker. 

We continue to PRAISE God, the tumor was completely removed with clear margins and 35 clear lymph nodes. My tumor is considered a stage 1b tumor. Because pancreatic cancers are tough and often recurrent, I will be on an every 2 week aggressive chemo treatment for the next 6 months. I will receive it day 1 in the treatment center and take home with me until day 3. I will probably have my port installed next week. The side effects are primarily nausea, exhaustion, and neuropathy. Some have no side effects and others have it pretty severe. 

Please join us in thanking God for 
   ~ the earliest possible detection
   ~ friends standing in the gap w/ prayers, meals, encouragement
   ~ feeling fairly decent from the surgery
   ~ my appetite is returning
   ~ HE is so so so GOOD
   ~ a slowing down season
   ~ Duane and I just keep getting closer!
   ~ HIS goal to HEAL ME

Please join us in prayer
   ~ MINIMAL side effects!!
   ~ complete healing
   ~ NO returns of any cancer . . . . Pancreatic tumors or matasticizing
   ~ I am fearful. I am scared. I am worried. I am also tough and ready to kick this season aside!
   ~ that I will continue to gain strength daily
   ~ my friends Neena, Rebecca, & Logan all fighting breast cancer

Wait for the Lord;
Be Strong & Take Heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

So much love,
Regina & Duane

Mercies are New Each Morning . . . . At HOME

 Our Dearest Loved Ones,

We got home yesterday early afternoon. It has been restful simply being home, on our couch, in our shower (FINALLY), in our bed, and with our normally rowdy & sweet, but currently calm & sweet Copper. 

The surgery ended up being 9 1/2 hours long due to some former pancreatitis clean up and the tumor being attached to a vein. 

We found out Tuesday that tumor is in fact cancerous. However, all of the margins and lymph nodes are clear. (For reference they took at least 35 lymph nodes!) We do not yet have next steps but when we do I will try my best to update with an email. 

We have totally felt your prayers carrying us and we couldn’t be more grateful. 

Until then, its rest, recovery, rebuild at home for a bit!

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end;

They are new every morning;

Great is your Faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, 

therefore I will hope in Him.

Lamentations 3:22-24

 

Much Love,

Regina & Duane