Amy's 'momentary trouble'

One more day! Tomorrow is Amy’s last day of radiation treatments, after tomorrow, she’ll have had 28 days of radiation aimed at killing or reducing the cancerous tumor on her pancreas. She has come to know the staff operating Linac 4 at the UW Hospital and while she wont miss the treatments, she will miss those kind, caring people. She brought a bag full of ‘Hugs’ & ‘Kisses’ (the Hershey variety) for them to share and attached a short note letting them know how much she has appreciated their care & kind words of support/encouragement. Today, I overheard one of the nurses tell Amy that she was impressed by her spirit because through the treatments, day by day, no matter if it was a good day or a bad one, she always had a smile. Yesterday, I heard her Radiological Oncologist tell her that she’s been an encouragement to him and that he has never seen a patient approach treatment with such tenacity as she has shown (and this from a man who is in his mid 50’s and as a veteran in his field, has seen patients at their best & worst). Going in for treatment day after day, Amy (and I) have come to recognize people as they too come for treatment of their cancer; the older lady in her 80’s who looks so frail, but smiled so big when Hope asked what her name was, the older couple who looked to be in their early 70’s and he pampered her with tenderness and the 34 year old mother of two boys who has been battling brain cancer since 2004, her face swollen from the treatments and the steroids, she was in a wheelchair because she had no strength to walk. Although we never did ask names or trade stories with most, they all came to Linac 4, all from different places, all from different backgrounds, all with a common thread & a battle to wage.

Dear Heavenly Father, I would ask that you shower blessings upon the nurses, technicians and doctors that have taken care of Amy through this phase of her treatment. I do not know how they can see these people, the pain they’re in and how sick they are without it affecting them in some way, they truly reflect your hand of mercy. I would ask that you grant them the strength and courage they need and to keep from becoming hardened and to abundantly bless them with kindness and love so that it might overflow into those under their care. I would pray too for the all of the others that Amy & I have seen that are dealing with cancer and their families as well. Please grant them strength to make it through, courage to face the difficult times and peace to know that you are with them.

One last reminder, tomorrow is PURPLE day. If you are so lead, please wear something purple in support for Amy’s last day of treatments. I am praying that we can realize support in excess of 400 people, but the only way we can tell is if you let us know. Please either enter a comment into the BLOG, or contact us by phone or email (for those of you who know). Thank you in advance!

This is Amy's story as seen and told by me - V