I am grateful for the many people who are very caring and loving in their ongoing concern for me as I progress on my Multiple Myeloma journey. Your encouragement and prayers are foundational to my advancement as I undergo immunomonoclonal targeted therapy. It is true that I have not posted for quite some time. About six weeks ago I began to lose energy. My drug routine is the strongest one (known as the “quad” for the combination of four powerful drugs) used in treatment at this time. I have spent much time in bed or on the couch or recliner. I can sleep twelve hours through the night, get up and do a few activities and then lay on the couch and fall asleep for several hours and then sit and read and sleep some more. Early in the week the drug routine will enliven my mind but not my body. Some nights I simply cannot sleep, but my body is worn out—then, the drugs will cause my mind to almost shut down and my tired body takes over and I sleep for days. That is my weekly routine, not really changing from week to week. I did not want to report the same routine over and over again on this blog regarding my cancer journey. I thought I would be able to get out more but in reality, I have been more quarantined than ever, especially since the heat and sun do not coexist well with the drugs. I think up all kinds of activities to undertake, but my body says, “No!” I look good and feel good, except for the extreme fatigue. I have two weeks of treatment remaining and then my doctor and I will decide next steps. Everything depends on my “numbers.” Next week I will be undergoing extensive labs that will pinpoint my final numbers in detail as they dig deeply into calcium, renal, anemia and bone issues that Multiple Myeloma affects. My mid-treatment tests showed that all these numbers were heading in the right direction; God be praised!

Kathy has been an absolutely wonderful caregiver—more than I deserve! I never thought I would be so helpless and that she would need to step up to the degree to which she has. I’m still really good at seeing issues that need addressing—like every wall paint issue or items needing replacement in order to keep everything up to my undiminished exacting standards. My forward visioning gifts remain undiminished as well. I come up with all kinds of ideas for future improvements. Hence, I’ve found new friends in online ordering—buying gifts for Kathy, hiring folks to do household improvements, buying replacements for household improvements. Kathy has not cut me off, yet! She says when I am cooped up this long, I have this need to do something productive—probably true.

This brings me to the kitchen water line clog. Kathy rarely to never uses the garbage disposal, preferring to bury the food waste in the ground for environmental purposes and soil enrichment. She scolds me when I use it. So—the other day—she weakened her resolve and used it for asparagus! Yes, ASPARAGUS! Maybe celery is the only food item worse in terms of the ‘never’ put down a garbage disposal list. Of course the kitchen drain clogged. Nothing we had would budge it. I had no energy so a plumber it would be, until I thought, “What would our adult son or daughter do at their homes?… YouTube it, of course.” I did and it looked like a simple fix of disconnecting the drain pipes under the sink and removing the clog. A simple five minute fix. Kathy was gung-ho. And yes, it was as simple as that. Easy peasy! A five minute fix! I was so proud of her! Another present will be arriving in the mail. She says she doesn’t need presents; she is a caregiver out of love and expects nothing in return. I know that is true; however, this is one way I can say I notice with deep appreciation.

I use my iPods for music, especially on infusion days at the Conroe HCA Hospital Cancer Center. I listen to a variety of music and my phone music app catalogues my music and makes a list. I often fall asleep and wake to interesting music that my phone music app thinks I will like based on the music I have selected in the past. For instance, I have a long play list of Tejano music because I like Freddy Fender. As I perused my growing play list, I came upon a Bach song I had never heard before on the classics list. It is called “Come Sweet Death.” (I’m not thinking death is imminent for me because of the Multiple Myeloma, however, I also believe one should be ready at anytime for God’s homeward call.) “Come Sweet Death” is truly beautiful and I am surprised that I had never heard it before until my music app randomly picked it for me. The arrangement to which I listened is called “Bach Again.” It adds another verse at the end that is a repeat of Bach’s last verse, but sung in discordant notes that resolve in harmony at the very end. The words are “Come, sweet death; come, soothing rest; come and lead me homeward.” As I contemplated the added verse, I realized that it was completely true. Life is full of disharmony and the discordant notes sometimes play loudly. However, through Christ, the discordant notes of life are turned to complete harmony as we move toward heaven. For me, every day is a better day, regardless of the circumstances, because every day brings me closer to my/our eternity with Jesus. This YouTube link to “Come Sweet Death—Bach Again” is beautifully done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK1UO4AggUQ&list=RDMK1UO4AggUQ&start_radio=1

“Therefore, since, we are justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5: 1,3-5”

“For I am convinced that neither life nor death…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 37,38”

Praise Report: Other than fatigue, no other side effects to treatment. Kathy’s unfailing caregiver love.

Prayer Needs: Clear thinking as I meet with my doctors for next steps.