Right Now

“Right now, take a breath and hold it.”  Today was scan day.  This afternoon I had a CT scan of my chest and an MRI of my abdomen and liver.  “Official results” will be in early next week.

As I have walked this journey the past few years I have found “unofficial” markers that have given insight into how I am doing.

Walking Uphill

For example, the walk from church to our local coffee shop is uphill.  When I struggle to get uphill I know things are not going well.  Yesterday I walked uphill without stopping.  Now, I walked very slowly, deliberately, but I did not need to stop to catch my breath.  This is important because Monday was chemo treatment number nine.  Nine treatments in, and I can walk up “my hill” without stopping.  God is good!

Hold Your Breath

Scan days offer another chance to view one of my “unofficial” markers.  During the MRI I am asked to hold my breath on multiple occasions.  When first diagnosed I was unable to hold my breath the required amount of time.  Each time I was asked to “hold my breath” and be still I would be forced to exhale and take a breath after only a few seconds.

As today’s test progressed it was clear I was doing better.  Each time I heard, “Right now, take a breath and hold it” I was able to make it until I heard “Ok, now you can breathe.”

To be very, very, very clear.  The real test results will come in a few days from now.  What I am sharing with you now is purely anecdotal.  Anecdotal…but encouraging.

During today’s tests God revealed something to me. [Read more…]