Cycle twelve unexpectedly delayed!

Adaptability: to adjust oneself readily to different conditions.

Today, we had a couple of lessons in adaptability.

Last night was our usual night before treatment.  Amanda was very nervous and anxious.  That carried over to this morning as well.  Even though it is her LAST chemo cycle, she still did not want to start.

We arrived early at the office and they were able to go ahead and check us in.  Amanda did great getting her port accessed. (As we sat there, I thought back to the days before the port and said another prayer of thanksgiving for her port!) While we waited for the results of her labs, she was started on fluids.

Dr. Harrod walked in and asked how Amanda had been feeling.  After sharing with her all she has been up to - field day, overnights at grandparents, staying up and active even though she tired easily, Dr. Harrod gave us the unexpected news - Amanda couldn't start chemo because her platelets are too low!  I was speechless.  That thought never entered my mind as a possibility.   Amanda was on cloud nine.  She was absolutely thrilled that she didn't have to start chemo.  Tom and I were seriously bummed.  We are both ready to start cycle twelve so we could call chemo done.   That was our first lesson in adaptability today.

While we were at the doctor's today, we learned that one of the Smith cousins is sick!  That means cousin camp this weekend is cancelled.  Now it was the kids turn to be bummed.  I thought it was so cool that we were starting cycle twelve celebrating with the Smith side, and we will wrap up cycle twelve with the Watson side at our annual lake trip.  So that was our second lesson in adaptability.

Thankfully, over the past year, the kids have become pretty good at learning to go with the flow and plans being changed.  We have often played this waiting game while her labs dipped then came back up to where they need to be.  Our next appointment will be on Wednesday to see if Amanda's platelets are high enough to start chemo.  As of now, if we are able to start next week, her MRI date will not change.

Amanda is feeling pretty good tonight, just low energy and weak.  That doesn't allow us to do too much unless she gets a burst of energy.  When and if that happens, we will take full advantage of it! Please pray that over the next five days her counts will come up enough to start chemo on Wednesday.

I have been reminded time and time again today that God's timing is perfect and this was not a surprise to Him.  So we will rest in that and trust His plan.  Yet another lesson in waiting....

Despite the delay, I think we will keep our party on here at the Watson house.  It has been a long road yet the finish line is in sight!

All four of us were there for the big start.  Everyone has to wear masks when her port is accessed. 

I have often asked myself just who is more spoiled - Amanda or Ginger? (It is a close call - Ginger is sleeping on the pillows!!)

Psalm 27:13-14

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

“If the Lord Jehovah makes us wait, let us do so with our whole hearts; for blessed are all they that wait for Him. He is worth waiting for. The waiting itself is beneficial to us: it tries faith, exercises patience, trains submission, and endears the blessing when it comes. The Lord’s people have always been a waiting people.”     – Charles Spurgeon