Greetings in His matchless Name!
Today was "R Day" (Radiation Day). I began a series of 5 high dose radiation treatments via CyberKnife (versus 43 treatments of traditional radiation over a period of two months, 5 days per week!!!) at Capital Health Oncology Center in Hopewell, NJ. The first treatment went well (the prelimiary visit two weeks ago was a nightmare). I am very tired. Due to my Tourette's Syndrome where I cannot control twitching of my body, they had to lightly sedate me so I would not move during the radiation. It has to be precise or they will fry non cancerous body parts. This and the radiation made me very lethargic. I (illegally) drove myself home since Shirley doesn't drive anymore. Then I slept for two hours!!! My next treatment will be in two days (Fri.) and then next Mon., Wed. and Fri. They say I may experience several side effects: from extreme bladder and or bowel symptoms, to impotence, fatigue and even a possible catheter..... :( Pray for none of the above. We had a minor car "accident" when Shirley's cane got lodged under the gas pedal and I reached down to remove it. I jerked the wheel and ended up jumping a small curb and slamming on the breaks. Shirley was sitting in the back and was thrown to the floor. A car stopped and a couple stopped to help me get her up. We were on our way to a Sun. thru Wed. Revival Meeting near Lake George, N.Y. (a five hour trip) when this happened. For the next several days Shirley was walking very crooked and very sloooooooow with her walker. She fell a total of 6 times in the next 3 days after the meeting. She is also havinng a hard time with her memory - especially the days of the week. The meeting went well in spite of all this. Pastor Jon Hawkins is the Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church there and said that he was pleased with the results. In fact he said they were the best he had experienced. (Probably trying to make me feel good. It worked! :) ) We praise the Lord for any positive and permanent results of any of our meetings. God is so good to this old preacher and his wife!!! Praise His wonderful and matchless Name! This Lord's Day we will be in Williamstown, NJ at the Open Bible Baptist Church where George Riddell, Jr. is the new pastor. We will stay overnight on Sun. and then drive early to Hopewell, NJ for my next Cyberknife treatment. I am on a very unique diet during these treatments, so eating out is interesting. We will be going to lunch on Sun. with Asst. Pastor Tim Halstead. Pray for this meeting if you receive this in time.
Sincerely in the Savior,
Pastor (e) Paul C. Fedena