Post #8: Weapons
May 19, 2026
Chemo Treatment #1
I packed up my supplies and arrived on the 10th floor of the UAB Women and Infants Center by 7:00 am sharp. Johnny and I came loaded with ice packs for my hands and feet, a backpack of cool capping supplies, a warm blanket, and some snacks. We are ready for battle using the medical world’s weapons of choice.
They accessed my port and started my premeds consisting of some steroids and several anti-nausea medications.
Thirty minutes later, they began the 3.5-hour drip of Paclitaxel (Taxol). For this medication, I need to keep my hands and feet packed in ice to ward of neuropathy. Taxol is also the culprit of my future hair loss and several other possible side effects. After that, it was a 30-minute drip of Carboplatin (Carbo). This is the drug that makes me hate the taste of my coffee for the next week. When I go home after this, there is another long list of drugs that will help me through any side-effects. I am not a big medicine person – I rarely take an Advil – so I try not to think about all of the “things” that are being put in my body to fight the bad cells. I am focusing my thoughts instead on protecting my good ones.
I learned today that I qualify for an immunotherapy trial if I choose to participate. Of course, I do. I’ll take all the help I can get for all the chances I can get. It starts next treatment adding another weapon called Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to the arsenal. Keytrudo has its own list of side effects. Since I have to have six treatments with the Keytruda, that pushes me to 7 total treatments. They tell me the first one was a “bonus” round.
I am also using food as a weapon. I met with the UAB nutritionist and have read countless articles on cancer-fighting food . . . and then there is always Instagram with its algorithms pointing me towards all sorts of products and solutions. After cleaning out my entire kitchen of all the things that are bad for me (in other words, all the things I love to eat), I am now stocked with berries and greens and beans and anything with extra fiber and protein.
Medications, nutrition, exercise, a positive attitude. I hear it all the time now. All are necessary components to fight this cancer, but there is more.
Russell and Kerry Black were at our house the other day, and Russell shared something very important with me, as he usually does. Russell is an old high school friend turned lifelong missionary. They have both been rocks in our lives for many years. Russell said that 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 is my tool box, my weapon cash for this experience. That verse says, “Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.” It was a strong reminder that my best weapon is PRAYER.
I have a special group of women that I know from Auburn who have quickly organized to cover me in a prayer chain every minute of my treatment today and all future treatment days. There are sixteen of them and only one lives in town with me. It has been years since I have seen some of them, but we are bonded together as sisters in Christ and their prayers for me are just so sweet. I think of them as I sit in that treatment chair and pray for them in return.
I cannot consider my weapons without reflecting on the armor of God. This passage in Ephesians is one of my favorite in the Bible. In the description of the armor below, every part is a defensive weapon with one exception; the only offensive weapon is the sword of the Spirit, the word of God. Paul tells us to pray in the Spirit on ALL occasions. We are to pray the promises of God as declared in scripture. THAT is our greatest weapon against anything that is not of the Lord.
“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18.
*Refer to Post #3: The Promises of God for some scripture to claim in prayer.
PRAYER
Yahweh, You are the great I Am! Thank you that you promise that no weapon formed against me shall prosper. Yet you give me the weapons both defensive and offensive that I need to stand against the strongholds of this world. You allow me to stand firm with Your gift of the truth of the Gospel that is my salvation. You give me the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God to stand upon in every minute of every day in every situation. Thank you for being my shield and protector and fighting my battles for me. You go before me. You carry me. You are Yahweh Nissi, my Banner of Victory. Amen
