Peace

Good Morning from Texas Children’s!

Today marks my first day of my journey here at the hospital. After getting my PICC line placed on Thursday, I spent my last night outside of the hospital and prepared to sign my Transplant consent forms to officially get admitted around 7:00 last night.

This is my first morning here in my official transplant room. Starting today through Thursday I will receive a combination of 5 chemotherapy drugs, multiple times a day. This will be the most intense grouping of chemo I have ever received. The side effects of these drugs can include nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, fevers, fatigue, hair loss, and some other minor symptoms. During this time my immune system will be extremely compromised. Everything here on the Bone Marrow floor is very specific and cautious when it comes to cleanliness and hygiene so that every patient is kept as safe as possible at all times. After the 6 days of chemo has finished I will be given my healthy stem cells, from my harvest, back on August 9th! So when is the big big day? AUGUST 9TH! Before then and after then my body will be in both prep mode and then recovery mode.

Though I know these next two weeks are probably going to be the hardest part about this process, I am trusting that everything will happen as it is supposed to. Please pray that my body responds to the chemo in an orderly manner and that I am able to properly respond to the transplant when my blood count and immune system are rebuilding themselves.

A few nights before traveling to Houston, I listened to a song by Hillsong Young & Free called P E A C E. Some of the lyrics are “I will stand tall on each promise you make…let the rest fade away. There’s a peace far beyond all understanding. May it ever set my heart at ease. Dare anxiety come, I remember that peace is a promise you keep. Peace is a promise you keep.” "You are peace to my restless soul...peace when my fear takes hold...peace to the anxious heart...peace when I lose control."
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I can honestly say that I am entering into this process with a presence of overwhelming peace. I know that this would not at all be possible without calling on the Lord in times of struggle and being vulnerable enough to ask for prayer in the areas of my concern. But in the moments of insane courage and extreme weakness, I have surrendered to his plan and his purpose. Since returning home from Ozark, every day when I wake up, I’ve repeated the phrase, “Lord your will and not my own.” May these words ever set your heart & my heart at ease. God has done the things he’s done and made the promise he’s made in order for us, his beloved children, to experience the joy of peace. Sometimes surrendering to His plan can be as simple as repeating seven words to yourself as you open your eyes each morning.

Am I scared? Am I confused? Am I nervous? The answer to all of these questions are without a doubt...YES! But in the end God is great, mighty, and loving. We praise and belong to a miracle working God. I will proclaim this message forever. 

Standing tall on each promise He makes.

August 9th, looking forward to ya.