Prayer…

It wasn’t until this morning that I realized just how much I pray. In the sermon at church this morning Pastor Thornton shared a story about how a woman he met asked him to pray for her when he returned to the church. He prayed right there with her. Get it?

Many people think that prayer is only done once or twice a day in a very meditative state. What I realized after hearing this story is that I pray dozens of times throughout the day. So many things happen during the course of my day that need prayer but it’s nearly impossible to write them all down and then spend an hour or two in the evening praying about it. Personally, I’ve found that saying very many short prayers throughout the day makes it easier on me. I’m just not regemented enough to do it any other way and not feel some degree of guilt. I guess my point is that my relationship with God has never been what I would consider a “traditional” approach to faith. I learn, go to church (lately) converse with God, pray, believe, doubt, sin and try to live a good life and am very thankful for the blessings I receive. I love being human. I couldn’t stand being perfect. Too much pressure. I dunno, just some rambling thoughts.

Checking In

Things are well here in Charleston. You may have heard that the Onc’s assistant called to inform me that I had a hematologic response. Well, as it turns out, I have had a molecular response. That’s very significant considering 3% or less of patients with CML on Gleevec get that response. This is a tremendous blessing and a testament that God hears and answers our prayers. You may be asking yourself, “what’s a molecular response?” Well, as I understand it, it means that the error that has been occuring in the DNA reproduction has been fixed. Fixed by the Gleevec. That doesn’t mean I can stop taking Gleevec. That just means that the drug is working. 

I have heard that there are a few people out there that have stopped taking Gleevec after getting a molecular response but I believe most onc’s like people to stay on the drug for at least two years before attempting to take someone off of it. I think it is mostly a personal decision but I haven’t looked into to it since this is so fresh. You have to imagine that I’ve thought about what it would be like to no longer take it. My gray hair would start coming back! I see where some of it has gone away but Kate says there’s some still lingering. I can’t see it! Ha ha!

Not much else is happening. Still winter hiking as much as possible and enjoying life.

 Chip