Dear Family and Friends,
Thursday, Sept 6th is the beginning of the next phase of treatment for Shannon. It is probably the one we fear most because now we know from experience how debilitating the chemo can be – balance, coordination and muscle strength are robbed along with the ability to think clearly. When we entered into phase I we had no previous experience with chemo – that alone is a blessing. Even now the remnants of Vincristine and Danarubacine haunt us when we watch Shannon attempt to jog, fall when she looses her balance, and struggle just to place her feet moving in a heal to toe motion. Fear is manageable though with God’s grace. It is your prayers that help us open to his grace rather than open to the fear.
From Sept 6- 12 Shannon undergoes intense Chemotherapy, in preparation for the Bone Marrow Transplant, including full body radiation, both will induce multiple side effects, which could result in her placement into ICU or in the insertion of a temporary feeding tube. On Sept 13th Michael undergoes the Bone Marrow harvest and the same day Shannon receives it through a blood transfusion. Michael will experience some manageable pain for a few days and low energy for a month or so. Of course, Michael is our hero because he’s willing to step up to the plate and do whatever it takes to help Shannon.
A couple of weeks after the BMT Shannon will begin to experience symptoms of Graft vs. Host disease, which can be quite severe. In thinking about the side effects of the chemo and the GvsH disease it becomes easy to slip into anxious apprehension. There is a scene in The Passion of the Christ that has lodged in my head since we began this battle with cancer and comes to mind each time I feel myself slipping. Mary, at the foot of the cross, distraught, with a tear stained face, fiercely clenches sand and pebbles so that she is white-knuckled. Then in her grief and sorrow, she peers heavenward, her hands open, sand and pebbles fall through her fingers to the ground. She empties herself; is full of grace and the presence of God is with her. Emptying oneself to allow God in is an image that has helped me accept what I cannot change.
These pictures of Shannon resonate with images of what we can change – the effects of the chemo. After a weekend of the simple beauty of His creation, we are ready to move forward. Sincerely, we ask you to continue your prayers that we will Trust in God, and be open to his grace as Mary was.
God Bless,
Bonnie and Greg
Note from the blog editor:
I wanted to add one of my favorite scriptures here for Shannon and her family... Claudinne
Romans 5:1-5
We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we have received God's grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory. And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.
Thursday, Sept 6th is the beginning of the next phase of treatment for Shannon. It is probably the one we fear most because now we know from experience how debilitating the chemo can be – balance, coordination and muscle strength are robbed along with the ability to think clearly. When we entered into phase I we had no previous experience with chemo – that alone is a blessing. Even now the remnants of Vincristine and Danarubacine haunt us when we watch Shannon attempt to jog, fall when she looses her balance, and struggle just to place her feet moving in a heal to toe motion. Fear is manageable though with God’s grace. It is your prayers that help us open to his grace rather than open to the fear.
From Sept 6- 12 Shannon undergoes intense Chemotherapy, in preparation for the Bone Marrow Transplant, including full body radiation, both will induce multiple side effects, which could result in her placement into ICU or in the insertion of a temporary feeding tube. On Sept 13th Michael undergoes the Bone Marrow harvest and the same day Shannon receives it through a blood transfusion. Michael will experience some manageable pain for a few days and low energy for a month or so. Of course, Michael is our hero because he’s willing to step up to the plate and do whatever it takes to help Shannon.
A couple of weeks after the BMT Shannon will begin to experience symptoms of Graft vs. Host disease, which can be quite severe. In thinking about the side effects of the chemo and the GvsH disease it becomes easy to slip into anxious apprehension. There is a scene in The Passion of the Christ that has lodged in my head since we began this battle with cancer and comes to mind each time I feel myself slipping. Mary, at the foot of the cross, distraught, with a tear stained face, fiercely clenches sand and pebbles so that she is white-knuckled. Then in her grief and sorrow, she peers heavenward, her hands open, sand and pebbles fall through her fingers to the ground. She empties herself; is full of grace and the presence of God is with her. Emptying oneself to allow God in is an image that has helped me accept what I cannot change.
These pictures of Shannon resonate with images of what we can change – the effects of the chemo. After a weekend of the simple beauty of His creation, we are ready to move forward. Sincerely, we ask you to continue your prayers that we will Trust in God, and be open to his grace as Mary was.
God Bless,
Bonnie and Greg
Note from the blog editor:
I wanted to add one of my favorite scriptures here for Shannon and her family... Claudinne
Romans 5:1-5
We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through faith in Jesus we have received God's grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory. And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.
1 comment:
Hi Shannon:)
I just wanted to share something with you that my Mother use to say when things were difficult in her life...."and this too shall pass". I say this also when life is difficult and it seems to help. I hope it helps you too. Time is a healer and God is with you always.
Bless you and your family :)
Nanci
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