Grounded

Treatment for G’s MDS began on October 5th.  Every morning at 10:00 we arrive at the hospital Infusion Center, and G receives three injections of Vidaza after icing the intended injection site.  The injections are given subcutaneously into fatty tissue.  The nurses wear a surgical mask, gown and thick gloves while handling the toxic chemo drug.  They rotate sites using the back of G’s arms and abdomen.  The sites turn red and hot within a few hours.

The chemo is playing havoc with G’s digestive system causing constipation.  He was embarrassed to discuss this with anyone except out of necessity.  Nurse Susie recommended MiraLAX.  G mixes a little of the tasteless powder into juice, and he’s good to go.  (No pun intended.)  Within a couple of hours the magical powder does its thing.  Problem solved.  Other than that and some soreness at the injection sites G is tolerating the Vidaza.

Today was the last day of his 7-day injections for this month, but G still has to report to the doctor’s office every Friday for a blood draw so his counts can be monitored.  We also have an October 23rd consultation with the bone marrow transplant center in Atlanta.

At first, we thought we could continue travel.  But moving will be complicated by the need to transfer care to other physicians, start the new patient process again, get insurance approval for drugs at each new physician’s office to continue treatment, etc.  We can no longer just choose a destination, pick a campsite and hit the road.  Plans to winter in Florida are on hold.

Slowly we have realized that we have been lassoed and tethered.  We’ve been grounded.  It’s as though the wheels have been stolen off our fifth-wheel.  The gypsy lifestyle that we’ve enjoyed has abruptly ended.  We no longer have the freedom to hitch-up whenever we like and take off on another adventure.  Our lives are now controlled by the need for constant medical attention in order to manage the G’s MDS.  Part of me wants to throw an immature temper tantrum as I view this as a negative.  The other half of me remembers that God orders our steps.

“A man’s steps are directed by the Lord.”
~ Proverbs 20:24

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” ~ Proverbs 16:9

 “I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” ~ Jeremiah 10:23

But we’re also grounded in a positive way.  As Believers in Christ, we are grounded in our faith because of the love of God.  By now, we know that resistance is futile when God “meddles” in our lives.  I know that the best things to do are: 1) Thank God for the situation because He knows all about it, 2) Trust Him while going through it and remember that He will never forsake us.  Over time I have discovered that following this formula leads to the path of peace and joy.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” ~ Ephesians 3:16-19