Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Riverside - biochemo round 4 begins

Madeleine’s Blog 

August 21, 2012

So do not fear, for I am with you
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God
I will strengthen you and help you
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand
Isaiah 41:10


We're back at the hospital in Riverside for round 4. As you can tell from the adjacent picture (where Madeleine & her mom are sharing a hospital bed while she waits to be taken down for her central line surgery), Madeleine is not too excited to be back doing this again! But she has a good sense of humor - in fact, she got me laughing so hard while I was trying to take this picture that one of my shots was just of her legs! But seriously, coming back for chemo takes a lot of internal strength and courage. We laugh, but we also pray together for the strength to face the challenges that we know are ahead this week. And you won't see us posting pictures of those days - they are full of endurance, facing fears, and counting the days until she is back home again.

Madeleine with a stuffed animal gift from Dr. Gailani
Each visit also has its own set of encouragements. Yesterday,
shortly after we checked into our hospital room, a man and woman came over to greet us. They explained that their 33-year-old daughter was in a room down the hall and was also battling melanoma and was there for her first round of bio-chemo. They also explained that they had come to know of us through somehow stumbling upon Madeleine's blog on the internet, and that the blog had really helped and encouraged them as they were facing her diagnosis and considering doing bio-chemo. They invited Madeleine over to their daughter's room, and Madeleine was able to encourage her as they compared experiences and talked about the treatment. It is really amazing to realize that the things that Madeleine has gone through, and the encouragement she has found along the way, might also be an encouragement to others.

Thanks again to everyone for your prayers for Madeleine - we are praying that this treatment would be effective and that she would have courage and grace as she goes through this week.

5 comments:

Erika said...

I am a good friend of the Girl she got to meet yesterday - I had came across this blog when finding out her diagnosis and just looking things up on Google.I though it would be so cool if they could meet and encourage each other - since they are both so young - and when I heard she met her yesterday I got chills and my heart melted- God puts people in the same place at the same time for certain reasons- God is good. Madeleine seems like a very tough young lady like and I will be praying for her also- stray strong and positive Madeleine. Thank you for sharing !

Carol Taylor said...

Hi Madeleine! Zan contacted me through my own blog and told me about you. I added your blog to my They Dare to Care list http://letsgivethanks.blogspot.com/2012/01/they-dare-to-care.html

I'm stage 3b myself. Please find me at Melanoma Prayer Center on FB and connect with the online melanoma community if you haven't already. I'll be glad to plug you into a support group and connect you with other teens and young adults who are also fighting. Many prayers and blessings for you!

SuzyL. said...

Hi Madeleine,
I too am a stage 4 survivor from Danville. Not too far from you. I was treated in San Francisco at CPMC. I was on the Biochemo regimen along with high dose IL-2. It's not an easy treatment to say the least. If there is anything I can do to help, I am not far away. You look like you have a positive attitude and that really goes a long way. I think that helped in my fight. I had a year and a half or the treatment and I finished up in 2006. At the Melanoma Research Gala I met a 19 year old young lady and I can possibly have someone for you to meet. She is going through her treatment currently.

Hang in there and I am praying for you!

Rich McDonald said...

Hi Madeleine, I did biochemo in 2003 after receiving a stage 3c diagnosis and am healthy and NED today. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

www.hotelmelanoma.blogspot.com

Zan said...

Thanks you all for your comments and encouragement.
@Erika - it was really good to meet your friend - hope she is now home and recovering ok.
@Carol - thanks for that. I (Zan Danford) will try to find you on facebook.
@SuzyL - you are an inspiration!
@Rich - thanks for the prayers and the link.