"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." --Romans 8:37

(It’s Jeanie again –)

Deb was eager to buy some of the edible items suggested by so many of you, so we drove across town to the Trader Joe’s in Jenkintown.  (I kept looking for sterile concrete freeways, but had to settle for the amazing gold and yellow and red forests, meandering streams, and rolling hills . . . )  We filled our basket, then were joined by Deb’s friend Bonnie for a healthy and delicious lunch at Whole Foods before heading home mid-afternoon.

Will and Deb really like being together, so when someone else is here he’s able to carry on much of his pastoral work.   He’s been able to do some pre-marital counseling, visit several parishioners, and even rehearse with the choir for Sunday’s Saint Saens’ Cantata.  (Even though he’s a novice, they’re making him sing it in Latin just like everyone else.)

 Midday seems to be a low point for Deb, but an afternoon nap and good dinner perks her right up.  Her side effects are consistent with the information for the drugs she’s been given, but she’s learning ways to manage them.  It’s great to see her old self emerge as she takes a phone call re: her latest project – a line item in the state budget which provides funds to develop a course for superintendents and principals as they take their continuing education credits.  The process provides for enough flexibility that she can work from home sometimes, and go into the office at other times. 

 We’re planning on experiencing our first T’ai Chi class tomorrow morning at the Wellness Center (see yesterday’s post), and, if all goes well, we shall be rewarded by a visit to two of our friends, Lord and Taylor. . . 

Good evening from a new voice –

Nadine has graciously allowed me to be a guest contributor for a couple of days. I’ve  known Deb and Will since our Southern California days (mid-1970s).  I came in Tuesday morning, happily exchanging 80 degree days for the glorious colors of fall in Philadelphia.  

People have been amazingly generous.  Her basket of cards is an ongoing source of hope and encouragement.  Tomorrow we go to Whole Foods and stock up, courtesy of many of you.  And the dinners!  Will and I “prepare” dinner by going “shopping” in the refrigerator, and Deb is eating well.

Today we went to her support group in the Wellness Community, which meets in a beautiful old mansion (1762) (http://www.fairmountpark.org/RidgelandMansion.asp).  What a gift this group is!  She went in to the meeting this morning a bit down, but two hours later emerged laughing.  Rest assured that her natural gifts are still operative:  She is still caring deeply for others.  She found herself saying to another member, “Wow – that sounds like it’s really hard for you . . .”   She learned a new term that we’re trying to internalize:  “The new normal”.  It’s meant to describe the current reality – not necessarily a permanent condition, but whatever the current situation is.  For example, Deb’s old normal was breezing through a full workday, going to the gym, and maybe going shopping.  The “new normal” is walking around the block very slowly, sometimes stopping to rest. 

We then went to a shop called Material Culture -- 90,000 square feet of unique items from around the world -- which made for quite a long day.  

The Phillies game is on tonight, so Will’s excited.   He’s wearing his Phillies T-shirt and taking each Phillies out personally.   And once again, dinner was lovingly delivered.  I’m kinda likin’ it here. . . Jeanie

Hello...first, I apologize for not writing yesterday. I know you have all been praying and wondering how round 2 of the chemo is going. Mom's chemo bag was removed yesterday...during the first round Sunday evening was the time Mom crashed. When I talked to her earlier today she was feeling pretty sick even though she was able to go to church. Pray that these next few days are an easier transition and she keeps hydrated and is able to eat.

Mom is so appreciative of the books and CDs that people are sending. Most are arriving anonymously so she can't thank you each individually but wanted me to tell you that they are all very meaningful. Mom's friend Jeanie arrives from CA Tuesday morning to spend the week with Mom. That will give Dad an opportunity to spend more time with his congregation. The congregation is very supportive and Mom and Dad are so thankful for their loving kindness.

One of the difficult side effects is that the tips of Mom's fingers are tingling and numb and very sensitive to the cold. She is having a difficult time typing, and picking up a cold drink or even silverware sends an electric shock through her body. The doctors have warned her that as the weather gets colder she needs to keep her nose and mouth covered because breathing in cold air will cause that same shock.

The Penn infusion nurses that come to the house have been compassionate and caring. One even prayed with Mom that she would grow closer to the Lord amidst all these challenges.

I will make every attempt tomorrow to add more photos to the blog so that you can see the faces of Grant, Deborah, Miles, Claire and me. It's been a long time--years even--since some of the readers of this blog have been physically with our family, which is why the spiritual and emotional connection we share is so important. We continue to covet your prayers around every bend in the road.

It's been a long day for Mom, but she received her second dose of chemo in the hospital and will continue her treatments at home like she did two weeks ago. Her friend Bonnie was able to go with her and was a great support.

Hello, everyone. Please be in prayer for Mom tonight that she will rest well and be prepared to face a 2nd round of chemo tomorrow morning. Today was again a positive one for Mom and Dad, who both attended support groups this morning. Mom also had an appointment with a doctor specializing in Chinese herbal medicine especially formulated for cancer patients and enjoyed an acupuncture treatment. I spoke with her just a few minutes ago while Dad was preoccupied by his Phillies and wished, as usual, that we were not separated by a long turnpike. I wish I could sit with her tomorrow and hold her hand, but I am thankful as always for the support of the community in Philadephia and believe with all my heart that the Lord will be by her side tomorrow as He has been every day.

I'm smiling as I type this because I have some positive news to share: Mom was able to go to work for a few hours yesterday and today and is feeling pretty strong right now. She and my dad will begin attending their respective support groups tomorrow morning, and Mom will be getting another acupuncture treatment before she begins another round of chemo on Thursday in an effort to be more pro-active and perhaps ward off some of the stronger side-effects she experienced last time. The chemo will begin at 11:30 on Thursday morning, so please be in prayer over the next two days. Continue to pray that the chemo will eat right through the cancer cells and that God will sustain Mom and give her the endurance she needs.

I thought I'd write just a quick update about the weekend. I was so glad just to be here with my mom. She is doing pretty well after five days on an IV of fluids and anti-nausea medicine. Her energy level is improving, and she was even able to attend church and then go out to lunch with my friend April and me. We encountered a challenge while trying to hook up Mom's IV yesterday. There were air bubbles in the line and Dad and I were quite the comical team as we tried to trouble-shoot. I know that I do not have a calling now or ever in the medical field, which makes me even more thankful that Mom has a great team of nurses assigned to her as well a friend and a neighbor who are nurses and can help as well. 

Personally, I was so thankful to run into old friends at the wedding April and I attended last night who expressed concern and support. A few have walked through cancer with their own family members, and it was very comforting to know that there are people who know how I feel. Although there were emotional moments at church this morning, we also felt supported there and appreciate every gesture and expression of support from the Leverington family. I am going to attempt this coming week to return specific e-mails from those of you who have written, but know that if you don't hear from me or from my mom and dad right away that we are so grateful that we are in your thoughts and prayers. 

Mom and Dad visited the Wellness Community today to sign up for support groups--Mom for a group comprised of fellow colon cancer patients and Dad for a group established for caretakers--and felt like it was a very positive experience. Mom felt stronger today which made all of us feel relieved. I can hardly wait to finish work tomorrow so that I can get on the road. I am hoping to make it to Philadelphia by about 8:00 tomorrow night and look forward to spending the weekend with my parents. I will continue to send updates throughout the weekend.

Mom continues to deal with the dehydration caused by her diarrhea. Although her brief visit to the hospital for IV fluids helped, her nurses are planning to bring an IV to the house for the next couple of days. Tomorrow morning Mom and Dad will meet with a group of ministers who will lay hands on Mom and pray for her healing.

Today was another rough day for Mom, but we are praying that she will start to feel better very soon. One of the problems seems to have been dehydration. This afternoon she and Dad went to Chestnut Hill Hospital so that Mom could get an IV of fluids for a couple of hours, which seems to have helped her. We are hopeful that tomorrow she will feel stronger and more rested.

Today continued to be a rough day for Mom. I'm a little bit angry tonight as I think about her enduring the side-effects of chemo and wish I could be there to comfort her, so I don't have much encouragement for those of you reading. All we can do is pray and, for tonight at least, that will have to be enough. Please pray specifically that she will be able to hold down liquids so that she doesn't become dehydrated.

If you are still wishing to do something tangible to help besides contacting Martha Lamb about making meals, you can continue to send Whole Foods or Trader Joe's gift cards. She said she would appreciate soup to eat. Mom is not allowed to have fresh flowers in the house right now-something to do with low white blood cells-so although they are beautiful we will have to wait on bringing her those.

Thank you all for your love and faith and hope.

This day has been a struggle for Mom as she battles the side effects of chemo. She's been nauseous all day long and won't be able to attend the wedding tonight with everyone. She did want me to thank her sisters in Christ from Leverington who wrapped her in a prayer shawl this morning at church and prayed for God to heal and sustain her. What a beautiful, tangible expression of God's love and care even in the midst of a deep valley.

The nurse came today to unhook Mom from the chemo. Mom has experienced some nausea today and continues to be tired. Please pray for her during these next few days especially as the nurse warned that she might experience increased side effects.

The procedures to implant Mom's port and administer the first dose of chemo went smoothly yesterday. She came home after a long day at the hospital still with the chemo pack attached to her port and will wear it through Saturday, when the nurse comes to remove it. She was able to receive the chemo at the hospital in a private room with a computer, DVD player, etc. which helped to pass the time. Dad was with her there as well.

So far she feels extremely fatigued but isn't experiencing nausea and was able to accompany my dad, Deborah, Miles, and Claire to the Please Touch Children's Museam today for a little while. Grant will fly in tonight after work to join them.

Finally, a definitive plan is in place for Mom's treatment. Today the oncologist and surgeon concurred that her chemotherapy should start immediately, so tomorrow morning at 7:15 Mom will have a port put in and start chemo right afterwards. She will have chemo in the hospital for 4-5 hours and then come home with the IV for 48 hours. A nurse will then come to the house to remove it. She will have a week off and then return for another round following the same routine. They will complete 3 rounds of treatment and then scan Mom to see if the tumors are shrinking before proceeding with either more treatment or surgery. Even as I type this it all seems very overwhelming. I don't like being so far away from her, but I'm thankful that Grant, Deborah, and the kids are visiting this week, and of course Dad will be with her the entire time.

Last week in church my pastor was talking about different names for God and mentioned "Yaweh-Shalom," which means "The Lord is peace." Let's pray that Yaweh-Shalom will be very close to Mom tomorrow as she embarks on this daunting journey.

Below is a copy of the e-mail message that will be sent out (if it hasn't already) to the members and friends of Leverington Presbyterian Church (my parents' church). My mom's friend Martha is organizing these efforts, which I very much appreciate.

Dear Friends at Leverington,

Many of you have asked how we as a church community can assist Deb and Will at this time. After speaking to them both, I would like to set up a meal plan schedule that can start as early as this week for a period of at least one month. Deb is going to undergo intense treatments in the next few weeks. Deb's doctor has requested that during the treatments she stay on a bland, easily digestible diet such as chicken, seafood, rice, pasta, bread and potatoes, with very little vegetables. However, I'm sure Will would enjoy a few vegetables. If anyone is interested in bringing a meal to the McKinneys, please send an e-mail to me at mlamb4@verizon.net or call me at 215-482-0871 and I will begin a schedule.

If anyone would like to contribute financially, the Deacons are accepting donations. Will and Deb have already incurred some expenses and Deb is not currently working.

Thanks to everyone for their love and support for the McKinneys. It is a wonderful way for us to give back to them in a small way for all they've done for the Church for so many years.

Martha Lamb

Mom and Dad met with another surgeon today at University of Pennsylvania hospital. Unlike the other surgeons they met with, this one suggests chemo before surgery since Mom is still healthy and not weak and could better endure chemo now then after colon surgery. Mom and Dad both felt very comfortable with this surgeon and have decided that if the oncologists concur Mom will have a port put in on Thursday so that she can begin chemo. We don't have details yet as to how often she will receive it, but it's a good thing to have a plan in place. Please pray that the appointments this week go smoothly and we can stay on-track, and pray that this chemotherapy will shrink all the tumors so that surgery won't need to be so invasive later.

Mom and I have enjoyed a sunny afternoon of playing at the park with Miles. Mom wanted me to pass along a word of thanks for the anonymous gift-giver who left the mums at the house today. Dad returned home to find them and called to tell us. They are both very grateful for the loving gesture.

Mom arrived in Pittsburgh several hours ago, and after I picked her up from the airport we did a little shopping for my new apartment. She looks great and seems energetic to me. My apartment feels more like home now that she is here with me. On Saturday we will head to Grant's house to spend time with Miles and Claire while Grant and Deborah celebrate their 5th anniversary.