Friday, September 11, 2015

The Gray Peach

Yesterday, a lady saw me from behind in a parking lot and said “Oooo! I love your pretty hair!” I didn’t expect someone to be talking to me, so I said, “Pardon me?” and turned around. She repeated herself, but when she saw me from the front, I think I detected her next thought. I believe it was something like, “Wait. That isn’t her hair at all, is it? Oh no! What do I do now?” I just smiled and thanked her . . . and I had to laugh at the thought that if she saw my real hair (I was wearing my red wig), well, my “pretty hair” would never have formed as a thought in her mind.

Yes, I do have hair. It’s about a half inch long (basically, peach fuzz), and it’s completely gray! Yep! I’m in my mid-40s and am completely gray. When we lived in Georgia before, Eric would sometimes lovingly refer to me as his “Georgia Peach.” He now refers to me (still lovingly . . . lucky for him) as “The Gray Peach.” But, at least hair is growing! I am VERY thankful for that.

Of course, I don’t know if I’ll get to keep it for very long. We are heading to MD Anderson in Houston on Sunday to get another opinion of my situation. While I won’t get an official recommendation from my Emory doctor as to whether we should do the stem cell transplant until the first week in October, we talked to my MUSC doctor, and he and Eric thought it best to get an opinion from “the best” in cancer treatment in addition to the Emory doctor’s opinion, just in case they may have different ideas. So, we have been told to expect to be at MDA for up to a week for all the testing they will want to do. I’m not looking forward to the long drive or the pokes, prods, and scans. However, November will mark 20 years that Eric and I have been married, so I’m just going to consider this our anniversary trip. Who needs a dream cruise to Alaska when we get to spend a romantic week visiting a cancer hospital, instead? :-) At least we will get to celebrate over some good Mexican food!

I ask you all to continue to pray for my family, for full healing for me, for the doctors to have wisdom in their recommendations, and for us to have wisdom about which recommendation to follow, in the event the doctors’ opinions vary.

In the meantime, I am in good spirits and am hopeful. When I first found out about the possibility of more and very intense treatments in my near future, and that if I didn’t do those treatments there is a good chance the cancer will return and if so, will likely be incurable, I was not mentally prepared. I sat around for days in disbelief and with a cloud of darkness hanging over me. But my wise and wonderful husband tearfully reminded me that no one is promised another day. So, as long as God gives me breath, I need to live like I’m still alive, not like I’m already dead.

That helped to knock me out of my funk, and I have been focusing the last couple of weeks once again on the gift that each day is. Especially, on this calendar day, when we all remember the terrible events that ended so many unsuspecting lives and forever changed the rest of ours, I am thankful for the gift of today! I pray we will each live like we are alive, whatever our circumstances. As long as we are alive, there is always hope! And once that life is over, if our hope has been in the One who breathes life and conquered death, there is STILL hope!

  • “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” Psalm 118:24
  • “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21
  • “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7


Hopeful for all of us!

“The Gray Peach”

3 comments:

  1. We are praying for you and all of your precious family ! Who could know just how strong you would be (in Christ) and how Amazing Eric would become !! I've always had a soft spot for 'the guy' but I'm so very Thankful he loves and cares for you so much and that his Faith is always in his actions for you, all of you !
    We will continue to pray as you have asked knowing , believing in our Lords Mercy and Grace !! You are so loved and ever an inspiration !! And you've been Beautiful all of your life, 'Grey Peach Fuzz' or long blond hair !!!
    Congratulations early on your Anniversary ! 😊
    LOVE YOU !!! ❤️❤️❤️

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  2. While in Houston you should go to Taste of Texas! Great steakhouse! Christian owned and operated. Great food and great people! :) Praying for you and Eric and the family!!!!

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  3. Thanks for sharing your journey, Donna. The real journey about how hard it is to face what you are all going through. As you struggle through the hard and share that, you are also sharing the faith and hope, too. It is encouraging because true faith doesn't gloss over the hard or make it seem easy. But there is faith even when it is hard. What true encouragement you are to think of every day as a gift. What wise words that none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, therefore we must be thankful for this moment, in whatever package it has come. I think and pray for you -- all four of you -- often. I will be praying especially for wisdom for this next leg of the journey and courage for all the tests you will need to endure as well. Love you friend, very dearly. Hugs to you & yours, Kathleen

    "And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." I Peter 5:10-11

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