October 25, 2005, 3:29 am

Hi Guys,

How have you all been? Thank you SO MUCH for your prayers. Now I understand why I've been feel super hyper during these past two weeks. I tell you, my energy level amazed even me!!!!

I have so much to share with you but don't have time right now. I need to go for our office prayer meeting - we meet every Tuesday for an hour - then I go to the doc for chemo.

In brief, I saw my oncologist yesterday who is very pleased with everything so far. He sent me to the surgeon to see if its time for the lump to depart my body. I saw the surgeon today (continue praying for these men - especially that they will tap into God's strength and wisdom and not their own) who says he could do the surgery today but would like to wait for one more week because with one more chemo, the lump will shrink to the point where cosmetically (I thank God that they are looking to me, not just as a cancer patient, but also as a human being), you won't be able to tell that I've been through surgery except for a small scar where he will make the cut. Thing is, he has to cut out the tumour plus a margin of healthy cells just to be sure so the less he has to cut out, the better.

So today at noon I go for another chemo cocktail. To be honest I'm not really looking forward to it coz I feel so fine - so NORMAL. No nausea or weakness or anything like that!

I took some snaps so you can all be aquainted with her baldness Princess Doris - do you know I am a princess? And so are all you ladies who are kin to Jesus Christ. And of course all you guys are Princes in God's Kingdom. Isn't that awesome. So walk with your head held high and with all the dignity becoming of royalty but remember the reason you are royal is not of your doing but because of the blood of Jesus and your acceptance of His sacrifice for you.

So, I will talk to you again after my treatment today and send the snaps.

Later,
Princess Dee (sounds cool, huh!)

October 11, 2005, 2:51 pm

Hi everyone,

How are you all? I'm so busy telling you how I'm doing that I haven't asked about you all. Do write and give me your news so I don't feel like its a one sided conversation. Its also good for me to have someone else to pray for so updates please!

Friday was another REALLY hard day for me. I woke up, dressed, combed my hair....only to have 70% of what was left fall off. Horrors!!! And I needed to get to work!!!!!!!!!! So, I plonked on a wig I found somewhere which I'm not really crazy about but it does the job, and went off to work. When I got back home I asked Mutua to clean the rest off. That was hard, really hard. I was wondering why and think maybe coz besides the lump, its the first big sign that I have cancer (I still wake up sometimes hoping it was all a bad dream).

So, now I know what my bare head looks like. Those who have had the "pleasure" of seeing it say it doesn't look bad at all. For me, I guess coz it wasn't a choice and its a sign of not so good things, I can't stand it. In fact that first day I went out of my way to avoid looking in a mirror. But the Bible says I am fearfully (with MUCH care) and wonderfully (He said it is very good) made so I need to get His mind set and be proud of me as I am, hair or no hair.

The rest of the weekend was ish...as in, not good not bad. My main problem is no appetite and nausea which means I'm not eating much which means I'm getting kinda weak. Its definitely the after effects have taken a little longer this time. I'm taking carrot juice (mixed with other veggies) in the mornings. Thanks, Ndunge for the recipe for the magic smoothie. I'll definitely try it thisevening.

The other thing I need you guys to stand with me for is that tomorrow morning three of us from my office head for Lome. We leave for Accra by air, then travel the rest of the way by road. Please pray no undue delays especially at the Ghana/Togo border crossing, super strength for the entire trip, be able to find palatable stuff to eat. A big reason for me going is that I need to train one of the staff in Lome so I do need to go.I'll keep in touch or least Jane will update you as time goes. We leave Lome on 22nd.

October 11, 2005, 9:50 am

Just came from the doc. He's not too pleased with my white blood cell count. Says if I hadn't gotten the 3 injections it might have been at zero. He's given me antibiotics to take for the next 7 days just in case. I'll see him next on 24th after we return. He says the surgery will most likely be that same week.

God continues to amaze me at the caring He's surrounded me with, some from totally unexpected quarters, but I think thats a big sign of what He does when we open ourselves for Him to use in His vast vineyard. He could prompt us to pray for people we don't even know (like some of you are doing) but the thing is, to Him, we aren't divided into continents or whatever. We are just one big happy family and He wants us to think of ourselves like that THEN we'll be ready and willing to go and do whatever He tells us, wherever He tells us.

I'll talk to you from Lome.

Dee

October 6, 2005, 4:51 am

Hi guys,

I need to update you.

I had my blood work done yesterday morning. My white cell count had gone up to 2.95 (thanks for praying) which was juuuuust a little less than we wanted (should have been minimum 3). However, when I saw the doctor later on, he decided to proceed with the chemo and, in addition, give me some booster for my bone marrow. This comes in the form of an injection. I had my first one, into my stomach (it then goes into the bone marrow) this morning. Next one tomorrow and last one on Saturday. This should keep me going.

The lump is definitely shrinking and so we are just giving yesterdays chemo time to work then I go for surgery in the next two or three weeks. The date will be decided when I see the surgeon in two weeks time.

I feel okayish today, hence my being here, but I'm leaving for home in the next few minutes. Actually let me be honest, I'm kinda fatigued so going for a nap. I need to take things easy for a while especially coz food is definitely off my menu. One of the ladies at the clinic advised me to drink more than I've ever drank in my life ....the good stuff, that is! Fruit juices, veggies juices, water, porridge, soups, especially the days I can't eat so that I ensure I get the vitamins I need, rehydrate my body to avoid getting fatigued too early, get my skin to stay alive, and most important, wash out the poisons from chemo from my system.

As for my head, at the rate its shedding, I shall soon be a kipara ngoto BUT DONT ANY OF YOU DARE TO USE THAT NAME ON ME...OR ELSE!!!!!!!

Today I prayed that God would be the one to send encouragers my way, rather than me looking for them, and already three have come and spoken such words of encouragement and comfort. I still find it amazing how He answers prayer SO specifically.

I continue to thank God for you all.

Still walking in His power
Dee

p/s Just so you know, I won't be offended if any of you would rather not receive these updates. Just let me know and I will amend the list.