Last Week of Radiation

Nikki has completed the first of 2 weeks of intensive radiation on her brain. This coming week is the last of the radiation after which she will have reached the maximum lifetime dosage for radiation on her brain. SO, please join with us in praying that every ounce and milligram of cancerous tissue is obliterated in her brain with this last week of radiation. Also, please continue to agree that she will keep her hair which is looking so gorgeous and thick - it has grown back completely differently to the hair she had b.c. (before chemotherapy!) which was straight and fine. It is thick and has a slight curl to it and suits her beautifully.

She is struggling a bit with the after-effects of the previous round of radiation on the breast. The skin under her arm is literally black - it is so badly burned and it is very, very painful. The medical staff were a bit alarmed when she showed them what it looked like and have given her some dressings and ointment to apply. Please pray that this will heal and clear up quickly.

She is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING... (as we already know) but anyone who has had the privilege of accompanying her to her daily treatments will testify to this story. She has the most positive outlook of any person I know and carries with her the very strength, joy (the bible says "the joy of the Lord is our strength"!), love and peace of God and is a shining light wherever she goes. Here is just one example (one of many): Our wonderful pastor Mark and I drove her through to hospital for treatment on Thursday and when she entered the waiting area for radiation, she cheerfully greeted all the other patients and staff (as she does) and then sat down next to a gentleman whom she had been chatting to the day before. Within moments his wife (who has cancer and is undergoing radiation treatment) was in tears and clinging to Nix from her wheelchair. When I looked at this lady, I saw fear unlike anything I have ever seen in Nikki or my precious friend Sarah who walked the same road a few years ago (both know/knew peace beyond understanding in spite of their circumstances). It was like she was so desperate to know the peace that Nikki knows and was clinging to her as if her life depended on it. As Nikki began to encourage and pray for this fearful lady, I visibly witnessed the fear leave her and the peace of God flood her body as God ministered is incredible love to her through Nikki. It was amazing, miraculous. And I had the privilege of being part of it and seeing it for myself.

I loved this quote which I read in a book recently:

You do not have to sit outside in the dark.
If, however, you want to look at the stars,
you will find that darkness is required.
The stars neither require it nor demand it.

Anne Dillard