30 August 2007

Stray Kitty

This poor kitty was living on and beside the road up to my house for several days. I never saw it, but my husband would see it on his way to work at 4:15 am, or in the evening. On Tuesday, he called me at 7 am to tell me that the kitten was still on the road and to leave for work early and capture it. I didn't see it, even though I went down and up and down the hill again that morning, and I still didn't see it on my way home from work. That evening, I went out again, and I said a little prayer--"Lord, if that kitty is still alive, and we're supposed to take care of it, please let me find it." Voila! Kitty was on the road and came right to me to be picked up.

Poor kitty had a huge horrible abscess on his little neck, but other wise didn't seem to be in too bad of shape, except for hunger. He cries all the time for attention, even when he's eating (which is hysterical.)

I got an appointment at the vet for last evening (Wednesday), and got the abscess flushed, his nails clipped, ear mites cleaned out of his ears, flea medicine, and worm medicine. He is still nameless, so on his vet records, he is "Stray Kitty." Everyone at the kitty doctor's office loved Stray Kitty--all he wants is to be cuddled.

He is quarantined in the basement garage until I could have him tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (he is negative, thank God), and be sure his parasites are cleaned up before he meets the other two cats. (We need another pet like we need holes in our heads . . . )

I've been calling him "Boo," but my daughter informed me by email from college that his name will NOT be "Boo"! We'll see.

18 August 2007

Nancy's last chemo tx

Praise God for giving me a friend like Nancy. Celebrate with us--her last chemo treatment was Friday!

16 August 2007

I got tattooed today!

No kidding--real ink inserted into my skin. Nothing pretty to look at (they are not in places I could show anyone, anyway)--just 4 little black dots to show the radiologist where to direct the beams.

This whole process has been very interesting; they made a mold for me to lie in for each treatment, so I am in the same position (those are the blue things hanging around the room in the photograph below.)

I begin the first of my 30 treatments next Monday, August 20th. The radiation oncology treatment room is really pretty--look at the light panels on the ceiling!

Thank you for your continued prayers. I have never felt during this whole long process that anyone had forgotten about me or neglected to pray--you are all such an inspiration and encouragement to me.

God bless!

14 August 2007

He leads me

My apologies for not attending to my blog for the past few weeks-many friends have contacted me out of concern. I just felt too bad (extreme fatigue was the worst symptom) from my last chemo treatment (notice I said LAST chemo treatment!) to do anything but work and go home and rest. Between feeling lousy and being really busy at work, I haven't had the time or the energy to devote to my blog.

I have started the planning process for my radation treatments (who knew there was a planning process!?). I have two more visits to radiation oncology this week, then I will begin my first of 30 radiation treatments next Monday. Possible side effects are burning of the skin, fatigue, scarring of the lung and reduced lung capacity, heart damage, and broken ribs (although they told me the last one is rare--they have only ever seen one person with a broken rib.) Given my track record with side effects (I have had side effects that are so rare that the nurses at Kittanning's oncology unit have never seen them until me), I would greatly appreciate prayer for protection . . .

I am feeling much better since this weekend, and am even riding my bike again! One of my favorite rides is along the Allegheny River through Manorville, Ford City, and Rosston. (The park bench pictured above is in Manorville across from the Methodist church.)

God has been, and will continue to be, faithful--praise His holy name.