June 14 Wednesday

Another encouraging end-of-the-day chat with Danielle today – she was sounding fairly upbeat and had a pretty good day.  The anti-nausea and pain drugs are doing their work, and she was doing her best job of increasing caloric intake.  She slept pretty well last night, and after waking early she had hoped to catch the sunrise over the city but the fog took over that plan.  It was nice to head over to the hematology ward for a while and hang out at the nurses’ station chatting with her coworkers.  She enjoyed a breakfast date with Laura down in the cafeteria, and intentionally spaced smaller, more frequent meals out during the day.  The dietician went over her intake over the last few days, and she needs to be taking in around 2000 calories to maintain proper nutrition for herself and Ava – she has a few more calories to go to get to that goal.  Increased input is also resulting in increased output, and that has been very encouraging.

Carina came for a visit today, as well as Dad and Mom for a little while with Martha.  They were able to hear Ava’s heartbeat again.  They will have an ultrasound next week to check up on her growth and to see how she is doing.  Babies have a way of taking the nutrients they need to grow from their mom, leaving it up to mom to gain those nutrients back. 

The rest of the staples from Danielle’s incision came out today, not without some stress for her.  The doctor was pretty happy with how it looks, but it’s understandable to be concerned about a large incision like that being now unsecured with a growing baby underneath.  She was quite hesitant to move or sneeze or walk around for a while afterwards, but these things still have to be done.  Danielle did get some work done today wheeling and dealing palm trees for her brother-in-law so she must be feeling a bit better. 

The most exciting news today is that there is a possibility that Danielle may be able to go home tomorrow!  There are a few things that have to get checked off first – caloric intake, wound care, pain management – but there is a good chance that she could be sleeping in her own bed tomorrow night (or at least in the fantastic electric recliner that a friend brought to their house today!). 

Walking with Martha 

Hugging goodbye

Devotions today came from Isaiah 40, focusing on resting and waiting in the Lord’s timing.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles;

They shall run and not be weary;

They shall walk and not faint

Isaiah 40:31

Danielle and Timothy have done a lot of waiting in the past days, weeks, and years.  Separately they waited many years before the Lord brought them together.  After marriage, they waited for the Lord to grant them a child, and then they waited some more, praying for another child until the Lord’s good timing.  More recently they have waited for test results, appointments, hospital beds, recovery, treatment plans.  Sometimes this waiting is patient, sometimes not so patient – we want answers and results right away and we are frustrated when we are asked to wait.  When the Lord calls us to wait, to rest in Him for all we need and to trust Him with His plans for us, it is through this time of waiting that the Lord promises to renew our strength and sustain us for whatever lies ahead. 

Prayer requests:

For positive reports on calorie intake, incision, and pain management tomorrow so that Danielle might be able to move back home

For peace and patience for whatever comes tomorrow

For complete healing from the cancer