Home again!

Hello everyone,
I was discharged from the hospital yesterday (Friday), feeling better, with less pain, and a strict eating regimen (only pureed food). I will have chemo on Wednesday if all continues to go well and then I will see the gastroenterologist on Friday the 10th. She was out of the country this past week while I was in the hospital, so I am anxious to see what she says about what the GI problem was. Basically this week I rested, and enjoyed visits from many friends. I didn’t have an endoscopy because the GI doctor taking her place didn’t feel it was necessary. The CT scan from last Thursday showed a partial obstruction in the small bowel that has apparently cleared. When I know more, I will let you all know.

It was kind of confusing this week because while I had a GI problem, Dr. Berkowitz (the gyn-oncologist) was in charge. The residents do most of the rounds and are very new to patient bedside care – they are quick, sometimes abrupt and just young. I’m sure over time, they will learn that they are treating people and not diseases. Dr. Berlin came by a couple of times to explain what was going on as I was pretty much in the dark about who was in charge and who was deciding what treatment I was getting.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Because of the prayer I really experienced being at peace regarding all that has occurred in the past week. Today I was encouraged looking at the sparrows outside my window. There are verses in the gospel of Matthew and Luke about sparrows: Here are the verses from Luke 12:
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 But even the hairs of your head have all been numbered. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

I was particularly encouraged by the phrase “Do not be afraid” since it is hard these days to stay strong and courageous. Another verse that really encouraged me was a phrase from 1 John 4:18 –“there is no fear in love…..perfect love casts out fear...”

I am endeavoring these days to sink down into the perfect love of God.

Here is a hymn of comfort which I enjoyed today. Here is the link: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php?t=h&n=676&f=mid

1 All thy griefs by Him are ordered,
Needful is each one for thee;
All thy tears by Him are counted,
One too much there cannot be;
And if while they fall so quickly
Thou canst own His way is right,
Then each bitter tear of anguish
Precious is in Jesus' sight.

2 Far too well thy Savior loves thee
To allow thy life to be
One long, calm, unbroken summer—
One unruffled, stormless sea;
He would have thee fondly nestling
Closer to His loving breast,
He would have that day seem brighter
When alone is perfect rest.

Much love,
Joanne