Encouraging the Eatons

Throughout the seven months or so of my doing battle with cancer, my church family provided Dennis and me an amazing support system.  After my surgery there were meals brought in for us.  Aside from ones who signed up for designated days, there were others who would just stop by and drop off supper for us.  This happened not just after my surgery but also over the weeks that followed.

After my surgery, I could not drive for quite a few weeks.  Because of post-surgical draining, I had to go to the surgeon’s office initially twice a week – Monday and Thursday afternoons.  Gradually that dropped to once a week, then quickly down to no more times for that.  I had friends and in-laws offer to drive me to appointments.    

The few days in which I had preliminary testing before I began chemo, my friends Becky and/or Patty were my drivers.  Of course, after the tests were over, we’d head over to Perkins Restaurant to eat at least a muffin and drink coffee.  While sitting there, we would get caught up in talking and laughing, as well as kind of singing along with the “oldies” that were the restaurant music.  We did this the mornings I had a CT scan, the EKG, the bone density test, and the bone scan.  It was good for me to be able to be with friends and to have some good laughs.

When I got my chemo schedule, the Hospitality Committee at church once again came along side to be a help.  People could sign up for meals that would come the Wednesday after chemo.  I had drivers for my infusion appointments every other week over sixteen weeks.  Those who did that did not need to stay the hours I’d be there; but most chose to.  So, although I had my Kindle with me, as well as puzzle books, I rarely did much with those.  Instead, my companion for the day and I would chat and watch HGTV on the little tv in the infusion room where I was.  My most frequent driver was my friend and sister-in-law Patty.  We had some fun times in spite of the situation.  Probably mine was the only room there from which the med people could hear some laughing going on.  Two of my drivers were very curious about the needles and the tubes and the bags of drip that I would get hooked up to.  They would be right up on their feet, checking the process out – which was ok with me.  Others just sat and chatted.

When I first started chemo, I was still seeing the surgeon at least once a week.  So, there were ladies who signed up to drive me to these appointments as well.  These appointments did not take too much of a time commitment.

Tuesdays after chemo I would have to go back to the facility to get a neulasta shot.  I had drivers to take me there.  The Fridays of the following week I had blood draws.  I had drivers to take me for that as well.  Most times I felt fine, but my fear was that the time I would decide to cancel a driver, that might be the time I needed the driver.  Near the end of chemo, I had a time when I really needed that driver.  When my driver was my friend Wendy, we’d always go for coffee at some coffee shop, if I was feeling good.  I was.  That was a great way to break up the monotony of these trips.

Because chemo infusions can get thrown off because of low white blood cell counts and because I knew I would soon not have to make frequent visits to the surgeon, the Hospitality Committee ladies and I decided that the sign-up sheets would be done in increments.  The first one would cover the first four infusions (eight weeks).  The second would then replace that with the final four.

After chemo I had radiation therapy.  Radiation therapy is quick, but it goes on every weekday for about 33 times or so.  To me, that seemed like a lot to ask of the church people – rides every day.  So, this is what happened.  My sister-in-law Patty always took me on Mondays.  That is her day off work, and for several reasons, she liked the chance to get out of town for a bit.  (When she drove for these appointments, we tended to stop at Dunkin’ Donuts on the way home because I knew she liked the iced coffees.)  Ladies signed up for Wednesdays and Fridays.  I thought I could handle the other two days, although I had some of the ladies at church say to me that if I needed a ride to let them know.  I finally did that near the end of my radiation therapy because of the burns I was dealing with.  I could have driven myself, but having drivers was a BIG help. 

My final day of radiation therapy, my driver, Wendy, and I went on up to Homer to a coffee house and celebrated.

Why did I like the idea of the sign-up sheet?  In a crisis, people will offer to help.  They want to help.  I did not have to make the decision very often of asking someone myself if she could assist me.  Ladies had volunteered.  I did not have to wonder who would not mind spending hours on a Monday with me for chemo.  Ladies volunteered.  How easy is that?  Also with the sign-up sheets, people knew what could be done, rather than guessing.  It really was great.

I often commented to some of my drivers of how blessed I felt by this support the church was providing.  Do we make a mistake in not sharing our needs with our church family?  I know there are those who take advantage of the goodness of people; but why do we hold back?  We give Christian brothers and sisters the opportunity to help us out and be blessed by doing so. 

“Encouraging the Eatons” was a blessed experience for Dennis and me.  I think that it was a blessed experience for all of those who volunteered.  This was a long time to be doing this, and yet we never lacked for a volunteer.

Galatians tells us that we are to do good to those who are in the household of faith.  I know that I will be even better about volunteering as opportunities arise in the future.