I’m in the good week of round 4. Oh, I love the good week! The nausea turns off (for the most part), many of the side effects of chemo “heal up”, and I have a break before the next round begins. This is the first time I’ve felt close to the end. For some reason, Round 4 still felt like the “middle”. Round 5 feels like it’s close to the end. I can see the light.
I am also beginning to feel the cumulative effects of the chemo. When the good week began over the weekend, the weather was perfect and I was ready to get out of the house! Gabe and I headed to the Raleigh Greenway behind the Art Museum on Friday for a date, and enjoyed a walk for miles. It felt great to be active. We had such a special time, we took Abby and Will the next day. They happily skipped ahead of us and enjoyed the “forest”, the caterpillars, the pedestrian bridge. It was magical. So magical that we stayed for hours, and made it back just in time for church at Summit Blue Ridge campus. That is the one highlight of every week. Regardless of good week / bad week, I never want to miss! It is truth and encouragement straight to our souls.
Sunday dawned equally beautiful, and I couldn’t resist heading back to the Greenway with the whole family (you’ll see all of us in the picture except for my Mom, who took the picture). We walked for miles once again, but with pushing strollers, it was much more strenuous than the days before.
Yesterday, I paid for it. The day was full of nausea (similar to chemo weeks), and I began to appreciate the cumulative effects of the chemo. My body revolted, and said “enough”. I listened (it’s hard not to!), and slept much more. Today has been good, but full of rest. I’ll try to strike a bit more of a balance in the days and weeks to come. Only rounds 5 and 6 to go.
I was discouraged yesterday. The body is not cooperating! I feel weaker and “sicker” than I ever have in my life. Today, God gave me a sweet revelation that was such a dose of hope. It was exactly what I needed to keep on walking through the marathon of treatment, as I’m quite early in the overall journey. It was this:
The CHEMO that is making me WELL is what is making me feel this way, not the CANCER.
It seems so obvious when I write it. I’ve known it in my head for months. But it dropped a little deeper in my soul this afternoon, and was the hope I needed to combat the fear that would love to creep in. God’s truth is precious. Fear is a liar, and is only crippling. It has no beneficial purposes.
Treasures Gleaned 
Your revelation reminds us all to look for God’s hand in all our experiences. Lots of prayers for you.
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Thank you, dear Dr. Weller. Please tell C her cards have meant so much to us.
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Fighting with you all the way, LA, on bended knees!! It is so good for us to hear the good and bad in your updates! We Praise God together with you in the good and dive in deeper in the bad!! You are so deeply loved by so many and literally, thousands upon thousands of people are praying for you and rooting you on little sister! Cancer sucks and our God Reigns!!
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Thank you, Brett! We are so grateful for you all fighting with us through prayer. There is nothing more powerful or more effective. We love you all!
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Hang in there LeighAnn. You have many many people praying that the chemo is doing it’s job. Only rounds 5 and 6 to go (easy for me to say …).
You truly amaze me with your positive attitude. God is holding you up.
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He is, Debbi! And He will continue to. I am truly seeing the light at the end (of this phase) now. It is feeling close to the end as May approaches.
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Praying for you and all those surrounding you with love. Inspired by your walk and faith. Hang in there!
Kay O’Brien
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Thank you, Kay! I appreciate it so much.
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I always love to see an update on your blog. I am thinking of you often (even though we’ve never met)…I feel so fortunate to get to know you through your blog. Each entry gives me much to think about. Your faith is so beautiful to me. I’m sorry for this cross in your life…my prayer is for God to sustain you….day by day….and for others to be your “Simon”…..
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Thank you, Kate! We appreciate your prayers, and you following along with us more than you can know. Prayer is so powerful. I am not sorry for this. God has used it greatly in our lives, and we know He will continue to.
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Another “treasure”, my Treasured One! Dad
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks Dad! You’re the best.
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Praying for “hope” and that our Father’s perfect love casts out fear and restores your strength. Our compound of missionary friends prayed together last night lifting you up Leigh Anne as well as Gabe, your families, and Abby, Nate, Will and Kai. – Scott & Tina
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Thank you both! And thank you for visiting us while you were in the States recently, Scott. The time with you was a gift to us, and such an encouragement.
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True to form Satan is trying to steal the joy of those special days spent with your family outside where we feel most alive and closest to God. As I tell my kids, “Punch him in the face.” 🙂 Keep going outside even if you are only up for sitting on a bench, listening to the birds, and marveling at God’s beauty, goodness, and imagination. And if you are up for a short walk, head this way and I’ll show you my new garden while we visit! Stay focused on how far you’ve come through this and know you are covered in prayer. Big hug, ~A
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Thank you, Alison! Such a great reminder. I’m alive outside!
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I agree with Brett. These updates focus us on how to pray for you and so many are! One day you’ll know the number of people you’ve impacted through you incredible attitude in the midst of a tragic diagnosis. We love you!
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I love you too, Sissie.
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