Of Greatest Value
Once again a week has quickly gone past. It was a busy one for me, relative to the past 2 months. On Monday, I had both a massage and chiropractor appointments (he doesn't twist & snap you, but users a tool to get to the specific location)... The first since my surgery!
On Tuesday Night, we were excited to see the Northern Lights, here in Central Indiana! We were going out in freezing temps, but it was amazing! Joel took the picture above. They were not as bright to our eyes, but we could see it!! I kept thanking God, for His gift to enjoy beautiful and awe inspiring moments, and that He chose to share His beautiful creation! Even after we sinned and broke the full beauty! Heaven will be so much better!! I was also thinking, in my own little world, that I was thankful the pain wasn't so bad, and I could see some of it before it was too late at night... Though I heard it was more brilliant after I went to bed, but I'm still so thankful! I know it's rare here, and I also had a chance to see it in October 2024. Maybe someday I'll make it to Iceland and see it in all it's brilliance! If not, I'll wait for heaven.
I put 2 Corinthians 4:18 on the picture above...(So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal). There is much physical beauty in this world, but it doesn't even compare to the unseen world. The 2 verses before it says: "Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory." These verses have been an encouragement through this trial, and others in the past...
A friend gave me a book," I Am Strong, Finding God's Peace And Strength In Life's Darkest Moments" by John S. Dickerson. I'm not yet halfway through it, and I'd recommend it to anyone so far. We all face trials, some are similar, but never exactly alike, and yet, we can encourage each other in them. I have been encouraged by so many wonderful people, but the sweetest, and most meaningful, are from those who have struggled through a hard trial. The book has reminded me to also be specific in my prayers, and a bit deeper than just, "Lord, stop this pain!", to something more like, "Lord, please give me Your strength to get through this pain right now, no matter what that looks like. Help me to come out of this more understanding of others, and more like Jesus."
I hope that helps you all as well.
Back to my boring update. If you saw a recent update, I had started coughing again, and was told by my surgeon & Asthma and Allergy doctor, to go to my pulmonologist, who did my original biopsy. God worked a miracle in that he was "accidentally" scheduled to do my biopsy, and he was wonderful, skilled, &, explains things well. Because he is so good, I know it takes a long time to get in to see him. However, he tried to fit me in on a day I couldn't possibly go. The nurse then looked for cancelations or other offices and found one 2 days later, which was yesterday!
The appointment went well. My doctor was at the front desk when Joel and I walked up. He told the receptionist that his sister arrived and he would take us back. The first time we met, right before the biopsy, he said I was a similar age to his sister and he would give me advice like he would his sister. It's become a joke now that I'm his sister every time we see him.
He was ready and started by showing my CT scans before and after surgery, which showed that my lung was still not fully inflated (via the last CT on 10-15-25). He believes that is part of my getting out of breath easily... And by 6 months I should be feeling much better with my breathing. Full pain relief could be a few more months, to six months, or maybe even a year. It's unpredictable, and he isn't inflating my hopes. I am, however, seeing improvements, almost always achy, but less times of the shooting, sharper pain. I'm grateful for that! As far as the coughing, my maintenance inhaler should have helped me by now (10 days). He came up with some plans & I'm supposed to message him if all those things don't alleviate my cough. He also had me get some blood work done to check if my kidney & liver markers are improving since they were off right after surgery, which is common to be off. He is also looking to see if I have an abundance of white blood cells called eosinophils. That can be a sign of a type of asthma, if I understand correctly.
That about wraps up this week. I hope I'm not being too wordy. Joel and I never expected I'd still be doing updates this long! Take care, and have a great weekend!
