"OUR" FIRST TREATMENT

DEAR PRAYING PARTNERS & LOVED ONES,

NOTICE TODAY OUR TITLE SAYS; "OUR" FIRST TREATMENT.

I realize I was the ONLY patient at Cleveland Clinic today that was getting the actual treatment, BUT "OH DEAR PRECIOUS LORD" , YOU WERE THERE FIRST OF ALL, AND YOU HAD A HOST OF YOUR SAINTS IN THE "PRAYER RANKS" , PRAYING LIKE REAL WARRIORS.

HOW DO I KNOW? BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST DAYS I HAD IN A LONG TIME. I HAD RADIATION FIRST ( things were a little shakey, because of another dear patient in much trouble), so what do we do in situations like this? We pray for the other patient. Boy you Guys are good!!!!!!!!!!!(

Then I went to chemo once my radiation was over ( all the time accompanied by my lovely daughter, Yvonne). They put me in a Big Blue leather recliner. Started the IV's (which went on for hours, the chemo was included). My daughter got me a wonderful lunch, I ate and then sent her home (she was relunctant to go). My son-in-law took over when he got off at 3:30pm, he works at the clinic.

Once I ate lunch, you probably know what I did. You got it! I relaxed in that big chair with a nice blanket and I slept for hours. I was never neauseated, never any pain, JUST RELAXED.

Michael & Calvin ( youngest grandson that we picked up), brought me home and we had a wonderful "SPAGHETTI DINNER" together ( wish you all could have joined us).

I will not have chemo again until July 5th. However, I will be taking "CHEMO PILLS" at home. Pray that the medicine I have will control the neausea as good.
I will be having radiation five days a week, from Mon.-Fri. I will not e-mail everyday, and I will start calling for HELP as we need it.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR PARTNERING WITH US IN THIS VALLEY.

Oraletta (for us both) ISA. 43:1-3a

Radiation & Chemo therapy starts June 28th. (Wed)

Dear Loved Ones & Prayer Partners,
Let's ALL fasten our seat belts and get ready for the "BIG TAKE OFF" on Wed. (June 28th). We have waited together for this day since April 24th.
We will be flying at about 60,000 feet with "high intense heat" from radiation and knocking out the roots of this cancer, and the chemo will be coming behind and spraying any agents left. This will be a "tough war", but guess what???????????

WE KNOW THE CAPTAIN OF THE WAR, HIS NAME IS JESUS. He has everything under control and will be handling all the artillary and doing all the aiming. We will be fighting the war on our knees as HE
single handed wins for us. He will use the medical team as His backup and handy guys.

Okay! everyone let's go... Let's pray.
1. that I not get neauseated, and if so that the medicine prescribed will do its job.
2. that I eat enough to keep the weight up ( I never thought I'd have this problem).
3. for protection of the esophagus (tube where you swollow) from radiation rays.
4. for protection of my skin.
5. for white blood cell count to stay up.

there are others, but right now I can't think of them. Remember we don't need too many details, we might get overwhelmed and confused.

In Him,
Oraletta
"For the battle if not yours, but God's" (2Ch.20:15)

Radiation Therapy

This morning my Darling Daughter (Yvonne), and I arrived at the Cleveland Clinic main campus at 7:30am. We registered into the Radiation Dept. My name was called at 7:45am. She and I together were escorted to a room. We saw Dr. Videtic (Radiologist Oncologist), his assistant, and Nurses, and technicians.
We were throughly educated today on radiation therapy.
I will go back again on Monday for more of the same and some new.
On this Friday, June 23 I will go to Cleveland Clinic to see Dr. Raghavan (the chemo specialist).

I WILL START THERAPY ON WED. (June,28th.). I WILL HAVE BOTH RADIATION & CHEMO THERAPY.
YES, I WILL HAVE THEM BOTH AT THE SAME TIME.

The radiation will be apprx. 6 to 6 1/2 weeks (depending). It will be done Mon. thru Fri. at the Cleveland Clinic main campus. At the present time I do not need transportation, however I will ask as the need arrives.

As of today I do not have my schedule for chemo treatments as I have not seem Dr. Raghavan yet.

Well Loved One, I think that is enough info for now. We will appreciate your continued prayers for us. I must say the care at Cleveland Clinic for their cancer patients is excellent, and very complete.
In closing may I share my feelings with you.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Rom. 12:12)
May the Good Shepherd continue to watch over each and everyone of you.

In His Love,

Oraletta (for us both)

Final Diagnosis

Today Roosevelt & I arrived at the Cleveland Clinic as instructed at 5:00am ( we really arrived at 4:50am). We were checked in by the receptionist, then the nurses in Out Patient Surgery, and then we were notified that "my surgery had been bumped".
There was this dear patient in room 45 where my surgery was to be held that was having a "LUNG TRANSPLANT".
As I lay across the room waiting I COULD NOT HELP BUT PRAY FOR THIS DEAR PATIENT. The surgery had started in the middle of the night and did not end until about 10:30am or so. There were so many dedicated and tired medical team members working around that bed. So join me in praying that all will go well with that dear patient.

Now as for me. The diagnosis is final. I have non-small cell lung ca, stage 3. This I understand is the most common of lung cancers. I will rest this evening and tomorrow, and hope to hear from the doctors on Friday ( if not I will call the doctor).
Then we will see what the plan of treatment is.

So for now Dear Ones, I am okay from the procedure today, we have all that we need for now. I will go and rest. Please continue to pray. Now that we have a final diagnosis, let's pray for the proper treatment, and that it will not be to "harsh" on my body.

"YET THIS I CALL TO MIND AND THEREFORE I HAVE HOPE: BECAUSE OF THE LORD'S GREAT LOVE WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, FOR HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING; GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. I SAY TO MYSELF, " THE LORD IS MY PORTION; THEREFORE I WILL WAIT FOR HIM." (Lam.3:21-24)

Oraletta (for us both)

P.S. I was Bless today to have ALL OF MY FORMER CO-WORKERS care of me. We had a wonderful time reflectioning back on old times. I am sort a glad my surgery was delayed.

First visit with Thoracic Surgeon

Dear Friends
Truly it has been a while since I've visited with you. I've been very distracted with interior decorating in my home. I have this most precious friend who had this wonderful idea of "encouraging me" at this difficult time in my life.
She not only encouraged me with decorating my home ( we have more work to do), but she wore me & Roosevelt out. However, things look wonderful and we had lots of fun. I almost forgot about cancer.

Now for todays visit with Dr. Mason, the Thoracic Surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. He has scheduled me to have another biopsy on June 14th. (Wed.). This test will be done under general anesthesia. He will check the lypmhnodes and see how much involvment there is in the lymphnodes, and MAKE SURE that we are dealing with cancer in the lymphnodes ( the nodule on the right lung IS cancer), then the doctors can be SURE of the diagnosis, the stage of cancer, and how to treat the cancer. SO DEAR ONES, BE ENCOURAGED, we are almost at the end of the VERY IMPORTANT TESTING that is so important for the doctors to know how to treat the patient. They must know the extent of things, and this requires many various test.
THEY ARE NOT BY ANY CHANCE DRAGGING THEIR FEET. However, they are moving ahead with caution.

So let's pray that the biopsy ( called Mediastinoscopy) will go well, that the anesthesia will go well, and that my recovery will go well. Pray for my families calmness in all of this.

Now let us not grow weary or lose heart, but remember that "OUR GOD REIGNS", He is Sovereign over all". Let us lift up his Holy Name in our Prayers and give Thanksgiving to Him for His wonderful care to me ( and others in our Christian family).
Thanks for all the prayers, the wonderful cards & even tokens of gifts. You know my Times are in God's Hands (Ps.31:15), but my schedule is in the doctors hands at Cleveland Clinic.

May the Lord Bless & keep each and everyone of you.
In His Love
Oraletta ( and Roosevelt)

Oraletta's first visit to doctor since diagnosis

Dear Friends,
truly this adventure that I am on is teaching me patience. Today was my first visit to the doctor since I was told on May 15th. that I had lung ca.
So today I saw the head doctor of the lung ca department. He was very clear and honest when we talked and when he examined me.
His observation up to this point ( he has checked my records back to 2002 when I had the breast cancer) is that "HE IS NOT SURE OF MY DIAGNOSIS".
He is going to have more test done by the pathology lab, and I will call him on Wed. (6/7), and see what his decision is once the other test are done. He said he wants to be sure of my diagnosis before moving forward.

DEAR FRIENDS,
PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY THAT GOD WOULD GIVE THE DOCTOR'S CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY BODY.

In the mean time you know WHO WE CONTINUE TO LOOK TO. THAT'S RIGHT! OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. The doctors might be puzzled, but GOD KNOWS.

In the mean time we "Press On".

Loving each of you with the Love of the Lord Jesus,

Oraletta