Nikki has had a good week. (Our cousin Genevieve arrived from Australia this week to visit for 6 weeks - that always does wonders for the spirit!) Nikki had her regular 3-weekly dose of chemo last Thursday. She has been struggling with an irritating infection in her toenail for the last little while. Her oncologist recommended she had the GP cut it out so, on Friday, she went hobbling off to the GP to have a little "op" on her toenail which went well other than the awful experience of having a long needle jabbed directly into the infected nail bed (not dissimilar to torture I imagine).
On Tuesday, my dad's brother, Robin, came to visit from Worcester and we spent the most wonderful afternoon walking on the land where my dad and Uncle Robin grew up as little boys. Most of the old 15 hectare farm is now public open space. They were like 2 little boys walking around and finding the old well, the river, orchards and foundations of the many buildings that stood there in their time. They even managed to find their old tree house. Because the trees have grown a bit in 50 years, the tree house was much higher up than it used to be. Daniel still managed to get to it though but nobody else was quite as brave!
Nix has spent some good time with Gen this week and today, we spent the day with the extended family (on my mom's side) at Afton Grove, where all the 2nd cousins got to play together and the 1st cousins, aunts and uncles got to catch up. Lots of food, lots of chatting and (as always) LOTS of laughing!
Tomorrow is fisherman Dan's 6th birthday and the ONLY thing he wants to do for his birthday is go fishing (no party or fuss), so that is what he is doing. They will be heading out to the trout farm in Du Toit's Kloof for the day. Then coming home for pressies and cake at Afton in the afternoon. Yay!
This Tuesday, I will be going in for an operation myself (YIPPEE!!! ...Not). I have a benign tumour in my parotid (salivary) gland on the side of my face which I need to have removed. I found the tumour more than a year ago (the same week that Nix was diagnosed with cancer) and decided to follow a period of natural detox before going for surgery. I have been through the whole detox process and am now at the point where I feel it would be best to remove it (if God doesn't first! I'm still believing for that - first prize!). The op is a fairly intricate procedure as they will have to "peel" the tumour off the very delicate facial nerve. Soooo - I would really be thankful for your prayers in this regard. I will be in hospital for 1 or 2 nights and home to recover afterwards. Because I am not sick and the cut is on my face, I will be able to be quite mobile and return to "normal" life fairly soon and I should recover fairly quickly. I thank God that He is my peace and that I have Him and therefore have peace in all these things. He promises to be present in my life, to strengthen me, help me, hold and protect me. What more do I need than Him?
Psalm 145: 18 "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Hi All
Just a quick update - life has been so busy lately (end of year madness) and I have not had a minute to sit down and update the blog in about 2 weeks!
Nikki has been doing well, although she's been experiencing lots of headaches lately. She feels quite nauseous on the new oral chemotherapy. Being the funny person she is - she remarked the other day..."Oh guess what, I forgot to tell you the great news about this new drug....Hair loss is not a side effect!" Wonderful! - now that radiation has done away with her shiny locks, she happens to find herself on a drug that has no hair loss as one of it's main selling features!
Through the generosity of some of our wonderful friends in the Valley, Nikki has started horseriding again (her dream) at SARDA (the South African Riding for the Disabled Association) after much negotiation with her doctors. She seems to be fine apart from her ankle joints taking a bit of strain. She was walking around on their most "bomb proof" horse last Thursday and almost managed to fall off when something fell over in the corner of the field and the horse spooked. She zoned in on the neck strap and hung on with all her might. All she could think was "You CAN NOT fall". The bones in her neck are so brittle and weakened now after all the chemo into the bone that falling could have very serious consequences. But it just goes to show that it doesn't matter how "bomb proof" a horse is, it is still another animal with a mind, will and emotion all of it's own!
We celebrate both Adrian and our Mom's birthdays in the coming week (both on Thursday) and Daniel's at the end of the month. Then, Nikki and Adrian's 10th wedding anniversary is coming up on the 3rd December. Daniel, Megan and Sydney are doing their annual Nativity Play on Saturday morning which they have been practicing hard for and which they are so excited about. So it's go, go, go.
For anyone who would like to join the weekly prayer meeting at VCC for Nikki, the time has been changed to 5.30 am every Tuesday (so that more people can make it).
Just a quick update - life has been so busy lately (end of year madness) and I have not had a minute to sit down and update the blog in about 2 weeks!
Nikki has been doing well, although she's been experiencing lots of headaches lately. She feels quite nauseous on the new oral chemotherapy. Being the funny person she is - she remarked the other day..."Oh guess what, I forgot to tell you the great news about this new drug....Hair loss is not a side effect!" Wonderful! - now that radiation has done away with her shiny locks, she happens to find herself on a drug that has no hair loss as one of it's main selling features!
Through the generosity of some of our wonderful friends in the Valley, Nikki has started horseriding again (her dream) at SARDA (the South African Riding for the Disabled Association) after much negotiation with her doctors. She seems to be fine apart from her ankle joints taking a bit of strain. She was walking around on their most "bomb proof" horse last Thursday and almost managed to fall off when something fell over in the corner of the field and the horse spooked. She zoned in on the neck strap and hung on with all her might. All she could think was "You CAN NOT fall". The bones in her neck are so brittle and weakened now after all the chemo into the bone that falling could have very serious consequences. But it just goes to show that it doesn't matter how "bomb proof" a horse is, it is still another animal with a mind, will and emotion all of it's own!
We celebrate both Adrian and our Mom's birthdays in the coming week (both on Thursday) and Daniel's at the end of the month. Then, Nikki and Adrian's 10th wedding anniversary is coming up on the 3rd December. Daniel, Megan and Sydney are doing their annual Nativity Play on Saturday morning which they have been practicing hard for and which they are so excited about. So it's go, go, go.
For anyone who would like to join the weekly prayer meeting at VCC for Nikki, the time has been changed to 5.30 am every Tuesday (so that more people can make it).
Monday, November 1, 2010
Yesterday, in church, Nikki felt she needed to stand up and testify and to encourage the people to trust in God in every situation, no matter what things looked like.
Proverbs 3:5 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"
As she stood up to testify, all the lights and sound in the church went out (due to a general power failure) and blackness surrounded us. There are no windows for natural light in the main auditorium so you can imagine how dark it was. It was such a vivid and graphic picture of what our enemy, Satan, is attempting to do - to drive us into or to keep us in a place of darkness / blackness / depression and fear. He attempts to steal our faith and even our testimony of God's goodness in our lives by keeping us in a place of self pity. Nikki decided that the blackout would not deter her and that she would stand up and testify anyway. She shared frankly about her disease and prognosis and where her faith and trust is. It was powerful. Many people were touched by her testimony and she had the opportunity to pray with them and encourage them after she spoke. What a brave and courageous warrior she is! (Her name means "victory of the people" - apt)
It has been said that God uses times like these to test our faith in Him. How do we respond in times of difficulty - do we run to God or away from Him. Do we blame Him or do we trust Him. Where is our faith? Whom do we trust? What do we really beleive? Nikki and Adrian leave no doubt about what and whom they beleive and this belief has been the key to the grace and peace that has covered them through the last 3 years.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, a few weekends ago, Nix and Adrian were blessed with a weekend of pampering at the beautiful Bon Cap Wine Estate in Robertson. They were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people who own and manage the place. I thought that I would include a copy of the latest newsletter sent out from Bon Cap to their clients as they write lots about the sweet Boyds in the post. Nix helped them put together a banner for the newsletter - as she does so well. So here it is...
October 2010
A few weekends ago we were blessed to meet the most amazing family with strength of character and a positive attitude towards life.
They (and I am referring to them as it is not an individual battle but one faced by the entire family) have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past 2 and a half years.
What started as a condition diagnosed as Adult onset Still’s disease (an auto-immune disease and a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis) It turned out a year later that not only did she have the Arthritis condition, but that Nikki had a very rare type of ‘inflammatory’ breast cancer which was in the tissue and not contained in a lump, as cancer would usually present itself. After extensive tests, it was discovered that the cancer had already spread into her lymph, bone and liver - and that it could have been there for anything up to 2 years. Whether this was the cause of the Arthritis or not, remains unclear, all they know is they are fighting 2 different diseases; One that needs immune suppressants to control it effectively, while the other, needs the immune system boosted to fight the cancer effectively. So the Clash of drugs and decisions regarding which ones to take and which ones not to take remains their biggest challenge.
A few weeks before we met her, Nikki started having some unusual symptoms like visual disturbances, `severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, forgetting things and dropping things. So the doctors ordered a brain MRI. It was at this point that they received the next shock: the cancer had spread to her brain, where they found several inoperable tumors. The doctors suggested radiation treatment along with a course of steroids to ease the symptoms – she did both and has now completed the course.
She is determined to fight this awful disease, and is determined to come out stronger. What she tells the doctors is that her mother was healed miraculously of colon cancer when she was 39, and she trusts it will be the same for her - so they’ll have that to leave as a legend for their children… That …with God, they can beat this - and the Cancer doesn’t need to win.
They are very blessed in that they have the full support of friends and family rallying around them to help in any which way they can – and for this they are immensely grateful.
In a small effort of support, Bon Cap invited the family to spend two sun filled days on the farm. After recently discovering cancerous spots on the liver (which was clear at the beginning of the year) we believed that an all expenses covered trip for the family to spend some time with each other, celebrating life, and everything that it is meant to be, might be just what the doctor ordered. Clean country air, scrumptious meals, organic wine, decaffeinated coffee could do any individual some good in this fast paced, stressful world of ours and no one is more deserving then Nikki Boyd and her family.
The family got the chance to celebrate Hannah’s seventh birthday while on Bon cap with a cake, happy birthday sing along by staff, balloons and a hearty Farm styled breakfast to start the day with – fit for any princess - before heading home, cake in tail, to supportive friends, family and sister at home.
To read more on the incredible walk Nikki has been going through please have a look at a blog site which was setup and is regularly updated by her (very special) sister, Eve. Here is the address if you are interested: http://nikkiboyd.blogspot.com
Nikki, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Please come and visit us again soon.
Bon Cap team.
Proverbs 3:5 says:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight"
As she stood up to testify, all the lights and sound in the church went out (due to a general power failure) and blackness surrounded us. There are no windows for natural light in the main auditorium so you can imagine how dark it was. It was such a vivid and graphic picture of what our enemy, Satan, is attempting to do - to drive us into or to keep us in a place of darkness / blackness / depression and fear. He attempts to steal our faith and even our testimony of God's goodness in our lives by keeping us in a place of self pity. Nikki decided that the blackout would not deter her and that she would stand up and testify anyway. She shared frankly about her disease and prognosis and where her faith and trust is. It was powerful. Many people were touched by her testimony and she had the opportunity to pray with them and encourage them after she spoke. What a brave and courageous warrior she is! (Her name means "victory of the people" - apt)
It has been said that God uses times like these to test our faith in Him. How do we respond in times of difficulty - do we run to God or away from Him. Do we blame Him or do we trust Him. Where is our faith? Whom do we trust? What do we really beleive? Nikki and Adrian leave no doubt about what and whom they beleive and this belief has been the key to the grace and peace that has covered them through the last 3 years.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, a few weekends ago, Nix and Adrian were blessed with a weekend of pampering at the beautiful Bon Cap Wine Estate in Robertson. They were blown away by the kindness and generosity of the people who own and manage the place. I thought that I would include a copy of the latest newsletter sent out from Bon Cap to their clients as they write lots about the sweet Boyds in the post. Nix helped them put together a banner for the newsletter - as she does so well. So here it is...
October 2010
A few weekends ago we were blessed to meet the most amazing family with strength of character and a positive attitude towards life.
They (and I am referring to them as it is not an individual battle but one faced by the entire family) have been on a rollercoaster ride over the past 2 and a half years.
What started as a condition diagnosed as Adult onset Still’s disease (an auto-immune disease and a type of Rheumatoid Arthritis) It turned out a year later that not only did she have the Arthritis condition, but that Nikki had a very rare type of ‘inflammatory’ breast cancer which was in the tissue and not contained in a lump, as cancer would usually present itself. After extensive tests, it was discovered that the cancer had already spread into her lymph, bone and liver - and that it could have been there for anything up to 2 years. Whether this was the cause of the Arthritis or not, remains unclear, all they know is they are fighting 2 different diseases; One that needs immune suppressants to control it effectively, while the other, needs the immune system boosted to fight the cancer effectively. So the Clash of drugs and decisions regarding which ones to take and which ones not to take remains their biggest challenge.
A few weeks before we met her, Nikki started having some unusual symptoms like visual disturbances, `severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, forgetting things and dropping things. So the doctors ordered a brain MRI. It was at this point that they received the next shock: the cancer had spread to her brain, where they found several inoperable tumors. The doctors suggested radiation treatment along with a course of steroids to ease the symptoms – she did both and has now completed the course.
She is determined to fight this awful disease, and is determined to come out stronger. What she tells the doctors is that her mother was healed miraculously of colon cancer when she was 39, and she trusts it will be the same for her - so they’ll have that to leave as a legend for their children… That …with God, they can beat this - and the Cancer doesn’t need to win.
They are very blessed in that they have the full support of friends and family rallying around them to help in any which way they can – and for this they are immensely grateful.
In a small effort of support, Bon Cap invited the family to spend two sun filled days on the farm. After recently discovering cancerous spots on the liver (which was clear at the beginning of the year) we believed that an all expenses covered trip for the family to spend some time with each other, celebrating life, and everything that it is meant to be, might be just what the doctor ordered. Clean country air, scrumptious meals, organic wine, decaffeinated coffee could do any individual some good in this fast paced, stressful world of ours and no one is more deserving then Nikki Boyd and her family.
The family got the chance to celebrate Hannah’s seventh birthday while on Bon cap with a cake, happy birthday sing along by staff, balloons and a hearty Farm styled breakfast to start the day with – fit for any princess - before heading home, cake in tail, to supportive friends, family and sister at home.
To read more on the incredible walk Nikki has been going through please have a look at a blog site which was setup and is regularly updated by her (very special) sister, Eve. Here is the address if you are interested: http://nikkiboyd.blogspot.com
Nikki, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Please come and visit us again soon.
Bon Cap team.
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