Over the River and Through the Snowpocalypse

Yes, you heard right.  According to Portlanders, we are having a snowpocalypse.  Dramatic, I know.
This snowy reality does actually cause some difficulties in the Portland area. (In my Montanan opinion, this could be helped by actually using de-icing and the snow plows they have sitting someplace.)

I woke up wondering if the treatment center would be open, and if so, could I get to it on the icy roads, and then hoped that my blood counts were high enough to get treatment.  I was really hoping to get the second treatment, which is a strange feeling. Who hopes that ever!  Ha ha.
I got the call saying the center was going to open, so I got into the shower, and that's the moment my hair decided to begin falling out!

When I was a kid, I had a book called "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" and every so often when things aren't going well, and I want to be a little dramatic, I am reminded of this book and repeat Alexander's mantra.  Today felt a bit like that.  Mostly because of the hair though.

Today was a good day overall.  My friend Matt got up early and braved the roads in a 4-wheel drive to pick me up and take me to the doctor.  When we arrived, my friend Sherree was working at the center today and was my nurse, which was such a wonderful surprise and blessing!  I have an awesome, kind, fun, doctor, and the chemist mixing my chemo drugs is my cousin in law!
They are all gifts to me.

So far, I am not feeling too bad and I would like to ask if you could pray specifically:

• That I do not get nauseas
• My eyes and vision.  The drugs mess with my focus, and can be blurry.
• For no migraines and muscle pain
• Blood platelet levels to increase
• Stay healthy
• Sleep
• One of the drugs causes extreme mood swings.  Please pray this is lessened.
• One side-effect is that I turn bright-red and get hot.  Please pray this doesn't happen anymore!

Thank you so much for all your support!

With love~Shasta

Steve, me and Sherree

Surfacing from the fog

The last four days were much more difficult than I imagined. I knew I would not feel well, but I was not prepared for the magnitude of pain, fatigue, and other challenging side-effects of the chemo.

This morning was a breath of fresh air. I awoke feeling a little better, so I got up, went downstairs and started playing my ukulele.  I really only know a handful of chords, but the sound of it makes me feel happy and reminds me of warm sunshine, blue water, and loved ones.  I'm grateful for my Hawaiian friend who taught me to start playing.  It is a gift.

I also felt well enough to try some coffee.  This morning, my friend introduced me to Stumptown Coldbrew, which has a lower acidity level.  My pounding head thanks both of you!

In the midst of these difficult days, I am so thankful for all those who serve and love me so graciously.
You are a treasure to me.

Thank you for continuing to pray for me. I know that God hears and is present to us all.

Please pray specifically that God would have mercy on me, and lessen the severity of the side-effects I am experiencing.
Please also pray that I would be able to sleep at night.  I have only been able to sleep a few hours a night, and I know this does not help in fighting the battle well.

I am grateful for all your encouragement, and for being in this with me!
~Shasta


 **Here are the words of my favorite ukulele song, best sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
      http://www.huapala.org/ChristReligious/I_Ke_Alo_Iesu.html

A quick update on the first day of chemo.

Hi all, this is Shasta's friend Matt. She asked me to give you a quick update about today. She's not feeling up to it tonight, but you should hear from her soon.

The good news is no allergic reaction to this type of chemo. Chemo overall went smoothly, and the hospital staff are great.

Shasta felt pretty good for the first few hours after chemo, but is having trouble with nausea now. Her friend Christine is staying with her tonight, so that is good.

If you could be praying for an end to the nausea and a good night's sleep tonight, that would be great. Pray for no nausea, lots of energy and strength for tomorrow (emotional and physical). Thank you. Shasta is so thankful for all of you and said multiple times today how thankful she is for your texts, notes, kind words and actions toward her.

Thanks everyone.

-Matt

The trek begins

This Friday morning at 9:15am, I will begin my first chemo treatment.  I will be undergoing eight treatments total.  One every two weeks.

I am both looking forward to this day, and dreading it all the same.  I keep reminding myself that we are setting out to put to death the crazy, malicious cells gone wild in my body.  I am hopeful even though I know the journey will be full of peaks, valleys, and unexpected events.

Would you please pray for the following requests?

* That my body will tolerate the chemo medicines and that I would not be allergic to them

* That the chemo would not adversely affect my heart

* That my white blood cell count and iron levels would remain strong

* That I would remain healthy throughout the treatments

* That I would experience minimal negative side-effects (no nausea, nerve damage)

* That my port will stay placed well, work properly, and that I would remain infection-free

I am grateful that I am not embarking on this journey alone.  I know that my Creator is is leading the way, holding my hand, and that I have so many dear friends and family surrounding me.
With this entourage, I would go anywhere.

Thank you for your prayers!
~Shasta

All went well in surgery yesterday.

Me and Shannon before the surgery

They wheeled me back about 5:45 and put me under, and the next thing I knew they were waking me up. I'm told I was very chatty the first twenty minutes after surgery.

They put the port in my chest, and the doctors said all went well. I'm doing fine this morning, just sore and a little nauseous. I didn't have any adverse reactions to the anesthetics, which is really great news.

Thank you for your prayers!

And especially thanks to Shannon Emery, who took me to the hospital, and Amy Rozzelle, who stayed the night with me last night.

I'm trying to schedule my first chemo treatment, so I should know exactly when that will be soon. I'll be sure to let you know.

Today I have surgery to get a port put in

Today at 5 I'm having surgery to have a port put in.  This is necessary so I can start chemotherapy next week.

I'll be put under general anesthesia and likely a little out of it the rest of the evening, but I'll be sure to update you all tomorrow.

Would you please be praying for the following requests?

* That the port would be placed well and securely.

* That I wouldn't get sick or have an adverse reaction to the anesthetic.

* Wisdom for the surgeon in where to place the port (likely in my arm or chest).

Thank you so much. I am very thankful for you and your prayers.

~Shasta

First post: An Important Health Update

Hello my friends~

I know it has been awhile since my last ministry update, and I look forward to sharing with you all the things God has been doing recently. However, I would like to first tell you about a health challenge I am facing right now.  A little over a year ago, I found a small lump in my breast and got it checked out.  

At the time, the results came back as a benign tumor.  Over the year, it grew and about a month ago, after getting it checked again, the results showed that I have two invasive malignant tumors.  As you can imagine, this came as a shock to me, and I have been working to find good doctors and get testing done in order to move forward with treatment.

Cancer treatment next steps

I will begin chemotherapy treatment immediately next week.  I will be receiving 8 chemotherapy treatments over the next 4 months, followed by surgery to remove the tumors. 

I think that God has provided me with good doctors who are caring and competent, and I am incredibly thankful for that.  

I will have regular updates regarding my health and other things here on this site. You can subscribe in the right-hand column if you don't want to be checking back here. Or, you can join the Facebook group, which will import the content from this page.

I’ll be letting you know soon some ways you can help. I certainly need and appreciate your prayers and will need some financial help as well.                        

I am deeply grateful for you!

With love~  Shasta

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray with me for healing!

• That my body would be able to handle chemotherapy well, and that it will remove all cancer cells.

• That I would experience minimal side effects.  That I would stay healthy, have strength in my body, and be able to stay involved in normal life activities

• That I would not need a mastectomy

• That I would experience God’s presence and peace, and trust in His love for me