GO IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NIV)

29 He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

Recovering from my cardiac device placement took the whole month of January 2024.  I was extremely fatigued and could not even do some basic life skills, having to ask my spiritual family to do things like vacuum my room and make my bed.  It was a very humbling experience, and they did a lot to meet my every need during that time. 

Then as I started feeling better in the month of February, I seemed to have endless energy which I had not felt since October of 2022.  I was excited and on fire for God, serving in so many ways and doing multiple things all within one day.  It felt good.  In fact, I had felt so good that I was so surprised to hear my oncologist, Dr. DeRidder, call me to tell me the disturbing results of my CT scans performed on February 29th.  She stated that the tumor had grown, and she was concerned that cancerous cells were present in the lymph nodes, so she had recommended that I follow up with my doctors in Johns Hopkins.

I still felt good and full of energy even with going up to Baltimore Maryland to see the doctors at Johns Hopkins.  So, I made the decision to increase the dosage of my Tagrisso to 80 mg and as the week went on, I started once again to feel more drained.  I also noted that I began having some of the other side effects, such are more frequent diarrhea and the skin splitting on my fingertips and toes.

It has been a little more than 4 weeks now since my visit with my doctors at Johns Hopkins and about 4 more weeks to go before I get the CT scans to see if the 80 mg of Tagrisso is shrinking the tumor as it had previously done.  My cardiologist is giving me another type of medication to help with my heart failure and I have another ECHO scheduled after my scans.  I continue to pray and ask for prayers for the 80 mg of Tagrisso to work on my tumor and not on my heart.

Overall, other than the fatigue and some occasional coughing at night, physically, I feel good and according to my oncology visit earlier this week, everything lab wise looks good as well. 

I know that there is no denying that physically we will all wither away one day, and our bodies will give out on us, but I know as well that despite the times that I have not been able to “do” for myself, God is always there with me.  The kind of strength and power that God provides is not at all what the world looks for and values.  God displays his power in so much more than our physical strength.  It is true that even young people become weary and tired and have so many limitations.  With God, everything is possible.  I can learn to be content as Paul did in whatever circumstances, even when having many needs or when having plenty.  I can learn God’s secret of being content in any and every circumstance, only because as it says in Philippians 4:13 (ESV): “13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

As always, to God be the glory.  Amen!

COMMENTS WHEN BLOG WAS FIRST POSTED ON CARING BRIDGE SITE:

Pam Cee: I am so glad you have a personal relationship with Jesus! How horrible for the others!

Vicki Sandiford: Hi Kim, I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling good and lab results are good even in the higher dose. So happy to be a part of your life and faith journey! Thank you for your recent call. God knew I needed it more than I did. You speak God's truth and bring life into the lives of others. I thank God for you and for the beautiful person you are and have become. Prayers and love. Vicki