Answered Prayer is Seaux Good!

For years, I have wanted to go to the New Orleans Jazz Festival.  It just so happened that the Jazz Fest was scheduled about a month after my treatments ended (although, I'm not so sure that was their intentional plan).  Seemed like a good way to unwind after a long few months.  Fortunately, my wonderful wife thought that this dream should come true for me.  Plus, we would get to get time with Jess' family as well.  So, the tickets were bought.

Well, I am currently writing this post after experiencing a wonderful day at the Jazz Festival.  We got to enjoy Better Than Ezra, The Neville Brothers, and the Dave Matthews Band.  They were all fantastic.  Why wouldn't they be?  I actually have a huge highlight apart from the music to share with you.

I love food from New Orleans.  Therefore, I have been praying for awhile that I would be healed enough to enjoy some tasty cuisine at the Festival.  As of yesterday, it still was very uncertain that this prayer would be answered as I hoped.  I decided to take a chance.

We found one of the food lines and I began to watch what people were eating.  I saw a pasta dish called Crawfish Monica that looked promising.  Well...we had a winner!!!  I was able to enjoy a great dish without it hurting me.  I tasted every bite and savored it.  I had a big sweet tea that felt so refreshing to swallow.  Then there was a bonus...I still felt good enough to truly enjoy a serving of White Chocolate Bread Pudding.  My prayer was more than answered and my expectations far exceeded. 

Another praise and blessing was an overcast day, so I did not have to worry about being sunburned (since the radiation has made this a much higher possibility for me).   It was also the longest Jess and I have been away from Anabell, and she was a little angel for her Nana and Papa.  We are extremely grateful for them taking great care of her (with the help of some of her great-grandparents as well).

As I am writing this post, my mouth is actually hurting right now, but today was definitely a big milestone in my healing.  Glory to God!

Pillbox Graduate...

I have another bit of great news today.  I have officially finished my last prescribed, required medication this morning.  So long, antibiotics.  I have had a lot of medications through all of this, and it is very nice to have graduated from my pillbox.  It feels good.

On a side note, while on our way to church this morning, I asked Jess to help me think of a good title for this post.  She did come up with "Pillbox Pusher," but not before the suggestion, "Droppin' the Drugs."  I laughed and told her that title was not going to work.  She understood.

Oh Flavor, Good to Have You Back

A few times, I have been asked, "What was one of the hardest things about treatments?"  Well, let's imagine you are asking me that question right now, and let me tell you.  Food, and not getting to enjoy it.  Many people going through cancer treatments experience nausea and lose their appetite.  For me, my appetite stayed pretty strong for the most part.  I can definitely tell you that I continued to see and smell food like I always had, but my taste buds went on vacation.  Also, because of my mouth sores, my menu has been extremely limited.  For a while, it was just peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and milk...all in liquid form.  Now, let's fast forward to today.

I have slowly been able to add more flavors to my list such as chocolate and strawberries.  I have been able to slowly add solid foods back to my diet such as scrambled eggs and some pasta dishes.  However, my taste buds had still not returned from their vacation.  Truth is, I could taste things, but mostly at the back of my mouth, and it was pretty faint.

But, then, I woke up this morning.  I went to the kitchen and found that Jess had made some cinnamon rolls.  I said, "I'm going to try one."  When the first bite hit my tongue, I noticed something delightfully different.  I thought, "I think that this tastes good, but I'm not sure."  I tried another bite and thought, "This IS good."  With a boost of confidence, Jess and I went to Applebee's with some friends.  I ordered the grilled tilapia and FINISHED IT!!!  While eating the tilapia, I noticed that it did NOT taste very good (probably needed some sauce or something).  However, this was FANTASTIC news.  I could taste it.

I am still not all the way back, and it is still difficult to eat solids.  But, today was a HUGE milestone and sign of progress.  I now have a full week until Jess and I go to the New Orleans Jazz Festival.  I am confident that I will be enjoying some good food that day.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!

The Incredible Edible (again) Egg

It's official...I ate solid food again.  Eggs were the last solid food I was eating during treatments, so I felt like I had recovered enough to go for it again.  I prepared three eggs (scrambled) with butter and shredded cheese, and about 45 minutes later I pumped a victory fist in the air.  Yes, it took me about 45 minutes to eat 3 eggs, but I ate them.

Recovery has definitely moved slower than I expected.  I am an optimistic person, so I had allowed myself pretty high hopes.  However, the recovery, in some ways, has been harder than the treatments.  One of my teammates in Bosnia (who is from Estonia) told me an Estonian phrase today:  "I got over the dog but cannot get over his tail!"  True words, Estonia.  I have had some new rashes show up on my neck that are really raw right now.  Then, over the past 2 days, I have been fighting with some epic allergies (or a minor cold).  Coughing and sneezing don't go well with a throat that is still sore and a tongue trying to still fend off sores.  Now, let me say that this paragraph is more of a chronicle of my experience than a complaint.  So, that's enough of that.

Yet God continues to be good to us.  Progress can be seen and people continue to love us well.  I am able to taste old flavors again without them burning my mouth.  I even lost a little bit of hair at the bottom of my hairline on the back of my neck.  Why is this good?  Gave me another valid reason to buzz my head again.  Feels so good.  And, again, the completion of solid food was a HUGE victory. 

Tomorrow...I think we'll try some mashed potatoes.

Done Deal

It is unbelievable how good God has been to me.  He has sustained me through this trial and continues to.  Although there is still some recovery to go, it sure feels good to know that it will no longer be interrupted by more treatments.  The doctor even said that I may begin to eat more normal again by the end of the week.  Wow, that would be nice.

My wife and I are very grateful that God led us to Southwest Cancer Center.  This group of people do a great job caring for their patients.  They even did a shaky face picture for me, too...

Now, I call that first-rate care.

I also want to thank all of you for your prayers.  Jess and I have felt God answering these prayers often.  Plus, we have felt loved immensely by so many people adding action to their prayers and taking care of us so well.  We love you all very much.

And then, a little shout out to my wife.  She is a champ!  I have embarrassed her enough and she has told me to stop, so we will leave it at that.

What now?  Well, I will continue to keep you posted as God continues to flesh out what He has wanted me to learn through all of this.  I would also love to keep you updated with the new blessings to come of getting to taste flavors again, eat solid food, and find energy to be Billy again.  So, feel free to stay tuned.

God is good, ALL the time!!!  Amen!