Chemo 101

Today is best described as Chemo 101. The Greg Notes version of today’s education? I’m about to get toxic doses of drugs designed to kill much of my body with the intent of stopping just short of killing me. Potential side effects? Just little things like Congestive Heart Failure, Peripheral Neuropathy, Thyroid issues, and the ever-looming chance of infection. I guess these risks are the price of admission to the next act. I’m all in.

I find it easier to be “all in” since crystalizing my priorities in life over the last week.  Prior to this whole adventure, priorities were not merely academic.  However, my recent experiences have served as a crucible for refining them.

Initially, I was admitted as Presumed Positive for COVID-19 and consequently ended up on the COVID-19 unit at the regional medical center near my home.  With the Rapid Response Team running down the hall one minute and bagging someone as they transported them to ICU 10 minutes later, my one and only priority was to see the next sunrise. Next on the list, see my family. Oddly enough, when the diagnosis of ALL came along last Friday, my priorities didn’t really need to change.

As my practice has been for years, the moments before dawn serves as a private sanctuary for me to organize my thoughts and prepare my mind for the day. This habit will be more beneficial here than at any other time in my life.  It is where I keep my sanity.

Thanks again to each of you for your continued prayers and support. And, thanks for the text messages and the comments on the blog posts.  I fully expect to have good days as well as days replete with challenges.

Today was a good day. I’ll take it!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” Eph. 6:10