Maggie is continuing to improve from her latest bout of C-Diff. She started a course of Vancomycin last Monday night after our visit to the clinic with fever and other symptoms. By Thursday of last week, we thought she had turned the corner but Friday saw her, once again, battling symptoms. My theory for this temporary relapse is that it occurred at the point in her chemo cycle where her immune system began to tank (Day 8-9). We didn’t go to the clinic to confirm this with blood work but kept on with the Vancomycin and fluids. Maggie discovered she loves Gatorade Blue Frost, and I’m thankful because she stayed hydrated by drinking it. One of a few things that might have sent her to an admission at Batson is dehydration. She remained in bed all of the weekend and only started perking up yesterday. She lost weight and is still a little weak but much better physically and emotionally. She’s tough.

A family conference revealed a unanimous opinion – Maggie needs a little more time to recover before her next round of chemo. We are scheduled for a clinic visit with probable admission this Thursday morning. We’ll go to clinic but feel fairly confident of a delay – the exact length of which is to be determined in consultation with Dr. Collier. We feel hitting her weakened gut with Irinotecan too soon might cause another relapse into C-Diff. We are aware of the ever-present tension between attacking the cancer hard while we’re winning and caring for Maggie’s overall health and well-being. We’re praying for guidance and peace in choosing wisely.

Week before last we were at the top – praising God for improvement in scans. This past weekend we were in the depths – asking God for relief, mercy and the peace of His presence. When the full gamut of life’s emotions get compressed into a short span, we find ourselves longing for breathing space. We’re praying for sacred rest through Thanksgiving. I love the restoration promised in Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. What “rest” scripture speaks to you?

We’ll be in touch with an update after Thursday’s clinic visit. Thank you for keeping the prayers on our behalf continually rising to the throne.