ON MISSIONARIES: A PERSONAL VIEW (21)

Joice continues in her journal: 

Tuesday, June 11:

I started my mouth hygiene. I floss before I brush my teeth with a sensitive toothpaste, then rinse with baking soda and water. I also use fluoride in my teeth trays for ten minutes to thirty minutes. Then no eating or drinking and then I do some mask-tongue exercises to strengthen the throat muscles. They took 10 minutes and after that I went to the exercise room.

Thursday, June 13:

up early as we have an 8.30 appointment with Dr. Frank. We waited for him, but we knew he would not be on time. It was 10.30 before we saw him and there was nothing to report, of course, after only a few treatments. I asked a few questions for example: how did he decide on 33 treatments for me? He said that history shows this is the best. I also asked how he evaluated if the proton treatment is effective. He said there will be a follow up tests once the treatment is finished. I saw the dietitian who was not happy that I had lost 3 pounds. The goal for me is 1250 calories, 63 g of protein and 40 ounces of liquid daily.

In the next over 100 pages of her journal, Joice continues writing about her (and my) journey. Everyone is on a journey, but few can look back with clarity and integrity on what happened. Continuing with some of her notes:

Monday, June 17:

I had a new experience. I was given 2 light blankets and taken to room 55, passing many hallways and rooms. A younger nurse from the Philippines found a vein in my wrist very nicely and quickly. The main nurse connected the port to the hanging tube apparatus on my bed to a monitor. A small bag of steroids was the first to flow for 10 minutes, then the small bag for nausea. Then the long brown plastic bag of chemo was started, and it will take about 1 ½ hours. The total is about 3 hours. Another God thing happened when two students arrived, and we talked to them for so long that we forgot about the clock!

Thursday, June 20:

I met with Dr Frank, preceded by his assistant Megan, who has become my friend. She helped Margaret with my mask, and I could tell from their talk that they are both Christians.  Dr Frank seems pleased with my progress, as was Kathleen, the nutritionist. She doesn’t want me to lose weight. Karl and I played gin rummy in the evening and I won 5-3!

Monday, June 24:

I went to the 8^th floor of the hospital to get my pic line inserted because they have had so much trouble at the chemo blood center. Sent to Room 7 this time and another volunteer told me he and his wife are planning to visit Israel. I discussed some history and tried to drop some “seeds” but I’m not sure they were planted in fertile ground.

Tuesday, June 25.

Joice notes that we waited 3 hours to see her chemo doctor. She is aware that we are put in a room to wait, a psychological maneuver to make us feel better. The doctor finally arrived, claiming that he knew we had an appointment, which was at 12 o'clock. “He looked in my mouth, listened to my heart, washed his hands. We ask about the last chemo scheduled, and he said that we could forget it. No chemo was good news! The doctor finally arrived, claiming that he knew we had an appointment, which was at 12 o’clock. He looked in my mouth, listened to my heart, washed his hands. We ask about the last chemo scheduled, and he said that we could forget it. No chemo was indeed good news!”

Monday, July 1:

went to the proton center for scan with Margaret. She is a lovely Christian and interested in missions. After the scan we talked for almost an hour about spiritual things. It was a delightful time and she is special. I told her I will pray for her decision about missions in the future. Came home for lunch, then to the hospital for a for a pic line, and then infusion with an appointment at 3. The proton center called for us to come an hour early. We are always glad to go early.

Our niece Sally (Karl’s neice) and her husband Gary arrived from Virginia in early July to visit us and then my niece Wanda (my brother’s daughter) came later as well. They stayed at a nearby hotel, and we had delightful visits and thanked God to the joy and excitement it gave Joice to have visitors.  Our Waco family also visited on several occasions, staying overnight as well. We were very blessed!

Saturday, July 6:

Time for the Hardins to leave [for Ecuador]. Each one dragged a suitcase to the parking lot and van. Too soon they were on their way after hugs and goodbyes. Thank you, Lord, as watch over our family and fulfill your word through them. May they bring honor to your name. Amen.

Sunday, July 7:

today the Hardin’s [in Ecuador] are driven by their favorite driver to Shell. I bet the kids are yelling and excited! Kirk arrives in Dallas today. He arrived in Houston about 3 PM after taking the shuttle bus from the airport. Today I can’t taste much. 

Monday, July 8:

a long day ahead. We went to the ambulatory infusion center to have blood drawn. Asked for Joanne and shortly we had her again. She is an expert. Then to the pic line center. This time I have a man in his 40s who has been in MDA for 20 years but only drawing blood for one year. He was a Christian I believe, which came out of our conversation. We had decided to go to the infusion center two hours early in case we could get called in early.

Tuesday, July 9:

off to the hospital for a 10.40 appointment with Dr. B and did not have to wait long. Susan, Dr. B’s assistant, talked to us and was pleased with me. Noted that my tongue was stripped purple from the treatment. Dr. B leader inspected it thinking it was from eating blueberries. At home I scrubbed it with a toothbrush and got some removed.

Karl Franklin