Lancaster, PA & Dunkirk, MD

As I have dealt with cancer, I have not been one to give up doing everything I was doing before I got side-tracked.  Some things I have temporarily given up (like work).  Some things I have taken a more limited role in (like some church ministries). 

Dennis and I are on the Social Committee.  Someone else had thought it would be nice if we planned a church outing to Lancaster, PA, to see Jonah at Sight & Sound and dine at one of the area smorgasbords.  Somehow the job fell to me to organize.  Val had always done it before.

When we first talked about it, I was already doing chemo.  I really wanted to maybe be able to do Jonah and to eat out.  I said to Dennis that for me to be able to do this, we needed to head down to Lancaster the day before because I was not sure I could handle a four-hour drive down to be at Shady Maple at 1:00 for lunch so we could catch the 4:00 show.  So, we decided that was what we would do, and I made reservations at the motel we like to stay at, Best Western Revere in Paradise.  Then, I found out that my high school classmates in Maryland were thinking of having a gathering to celebrate our 40th  anniversary of graduating from Capitol Christian Academy, then in Washington, DC.  I asked them if they would consider having it July 28, since we'd be already down to Lancaster.  I knew that I would not be much help with things, but I thought that I would be able to manage that as well.  My classmates were more than willing to work with that date for my sake.
this; but it needed to be in July, as that was the time more church people were apt to go.  So, I got out the calendar and checked the date of what was to be my final infusion, if I stayed on schedule.  Since at the time I was on AC, not sure what the effects of taxol would be, I decided it would be wise to schedule the trip no sooner than July 27.  That would be the day for the group to see

As the date grew closer, I sometimes wondered if I was going to finish chemo on time. Having a reaction earlier this month added uncertainty,  Having those gut-wrenching coughing episodes made me wonder how I would be after that final chemo.  If I followed the pattern of the month, then I was due for trouble the dates we were to be in Lancaster.

Yeah -- finished chemo on time.  So, all the remained was how I would be later the following week.  I decided to be pro-active.  Since my gut-wrenching coughing had been controlled by allergy meds and musinex, I decided to start taking that the day before we were to leave for Lancaster.

So, how did God answer prayers?

• We got to Lancaster on Thursday, and met up with friends of ours for supper at Diennar's.  (I did not get the smorgasbord because I had not been doing all that much eating for weeks and wasn't sure it would be worth it to splurge on the buffet.)
• At the motel, I took it easy; Dennis met up with Brian for swimming.  Dennis went golfing at Willow Valley two mornings.
• Whenever I headed up to the main building, such as for breakfast, I took my time.
• We did our usual sneakers shopping in the morning.  I looked some, but I sat a lot. 
• Met up with our group at Shady Maple.  Dennis dropped me off at the front of the building so that I would not have to walk far.  I still had those issues with taking deep breaths and with the pesky cough.
• I actually ate the most that I have in months at the Shady Maple.  I did all right standing in line at some of the stations.  I was excited about how well I seemed to be doing.
• At Sight and Sound, we arrived early enough that we were able to park fairly close to the entrance, which was great since the parking attendants would not let Dennis drive up to the front to drop me off.  I sauntered into the building and found a spot where I could kind of sit.
• Our seating was in the balcony, and so I took the elevator.  I really believed that if I took my time, I would not have coughing and breathing issues.
• After the show, Dennis and I joined family for light fare at Friendly's -- not our idea of a great place to go, but we were out-voted.  All in all, I thought I did very well.  What was exciting to me was that I was not having the problems I had had throughout the month.  I could deal with a pesky cough but not that other stuff.
• Saturday later morning we left for southern Maryland.  I still was doing very well.  I really think that no one would have guessed that just the week before I had finished by 8th round of chemo that had spread over 16 weeks.
• We had a great time at the picnic.  We needed lessons in how to get the meat out of those Maryland Blue Crabs, for one thing.  I forget when the last time was that I had had that.  It wasn't something we had at home, but friends would have it and invite us over.  Good stuff.  Although I had traveled from Lancaster to Dunkirk, enjoyed time with old friends, and had not taken my usual break time, I did very well.
• Our trip back to NYS was well over 300 miles, but I did all right again.

I have to say that my being able to do all of this without being too worn out from it all can't be explained any other way than God's answering the prayers of many on my behalf.  Here it is just a few days later, and I am not feeling too bad.  Sure, I lack ambition to do anything much; but I am doing amazingly.