Archives for March 2019

The Nose Knows

March 30, 2019 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Chemotherapy has many side effects. The past few weeks I have seen healing from one of the most annoying side effects I have experienced.

A Damaged Sniffer

Soon after I started my chemotherapy treatments in May of 2016, I lost my nose. One of the drugs that was part of my chemo cocktail caused the lining of my nose to bleed constantly. I would slowly get better during my off week, but as soon as treatment began again, my nose would be sore and raw. During my first long (six months) break from chemo my left nostril cleared up, and I had hopes for complete healing. Once we started my second round of chemo that hope soon disappeared. My nose was raw each morning and night. The lining would bleed, and it would form clots that would, in turn, cut the interior of my nose when I blew my nose.

Something to Live With

I talked with Dr. Saroha about it many times. He was compassionate, but it was just one of those side effects that came with the type of chemo I have been using. I had resigned myself to taking care of a raw, sore, bleeding nose for the rest of my life.

Healed!

Six months into this break from chemotherapy and suddenly my nose has cleared up! I do mean suddenly. One day it was a wreck, and by the end of the week, it was healthy. The healthy caught me by surprise. I had a routine that I used to keep my nostril clean and clear (I will spare you the details). I found myself sitting in my chair realizing I had not needed to follow my routine for three or four days. At that moment I realized the clotting had stopped and my nostril was healthy.

It may not seem like much to some…but this is huge for me. I had resigned myself to living with a damaged nose for the rest of my life. In the grand scheme of things, it is a small discomfort. A minor inconvenience for the joy of living life. I had made peace with the awkwardness of my nose, now to find out I was experiencing healing.

For the past few weeks I have been walking through life taking deep, unobstructed breaths through both nostrils…sometimes it is the small things. [Read more…]

The Reporter

March 15, 2019 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Thank you to Brian Bingaman of The Reporter for a great article on The Journey Continues.

The Reporter is a daily newspaper and web site serving the North Penn, Indian Valley and surrounding communities in Montgomery and Bucks counties, southeastern Pennsylvania.

Don’t go through cancer without ‘The Journey Continues’

#TJCdn

Ash Wednesday

March 5, 2019 By dnicewonger@gmail.com Leave a Comment

As we get ready to celebrate Ash Wednesday, I spent a few moments to make the ashes. It is one of my favorite jobs as a pastor.

Forty Days

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. It marks the beginning of forty days of fasting and prayer that lead up to Easter. Lent is a time for self-examination, and for discernment. A special season where we slow down and reflect on who God is, who we are, and our place in the world.

Part of what makes Lent so exciting is that it is a season leading to a celebration. We know that Easter is coming, a time to celebrate what Christ accomplished for us. Lent is a way of not letting that celebration sneak up on us. There are forty days for us to prepare ourselves, heart and mind, to celebrate the empty tomb.

Ashes

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this wonderful season. Ashes of burned palms from last spring’s Palm Sunday celebrations are placed in the sign of a cross on people’s foreheads as a symbol of repentance and a reminder of our own mortality. As we enter this forty-day season of Lent, we are reminded of Jesus’ forty-day fast in the desert.

My Privilege

My pot of ashes prepared for tomorrows service

As I burn the ashes each year, I spend time in prayer. I pray for those who will join us for the Ash Wednesday service. I pray for the people of First Baptist as they travel these next forty days, that they would be open to hearing clearly from Abba Father. I pray that in some small way we might connect with the journey of Jesus. I pray for all people, that this season may be on in which we are all reminded of the depth of God’s love for us.

If you are looking for an Ash Wednesday service:

Ash Wednesday service

7 pm

First Baptist Church of Kennett Square

415 West State St, Kennett Square, PA

Are you BLUE?

March 1, 2019 By dnicewonger@gmail.com 1 Comment

A Snowy Beginning

My oncologist appointment was an early one, 8:15 a.m. We awoke to find our driveway coated with one to three inches of snow. Last night Nancy and I had talked about possibly canceling the appointment. We were not going to learn anything new, we had seen the blood work and talked with Dr. Saroha about the scans.

Not one for missing time with Dr. Saroha I was up early and outside with the snow blower. I am going to stop here for a moment. I cleaned our driveway of snow using our snow blower! This is not something I would have been able to do a few months ago. Now the truth is I have paid a high price for that activity and have slept most of the day, but I did it! I am thankful for small victories.

A Good Report

My appointment went well. I am unremarkable when it comes to the cancer in my liver, this means nothing is growing. The scans did not reveal any spreading of the disease into other areas of my body. My bloodwork was all normal. The CEA was 2.0, which is even down a little. [Read more…]