🌀 Mood: Grounded, resilient, and quietly courageous.

Today marks a big checkpoint: I am officially halfway through the first phase of my chemotherapy journey.

My doctor mapped out 8 weeks of weekly treatments, and this week I completed week 4.

It feels both like time has moved slowly and like it’s flown by. Each week brings its own challenges — the appointments, the side effects, the fatigue — but it also brings progress. One treatment closer to the goal.

So far, I’ve experienced a great amount of fatigue. Looking back, I can’t believe I was going to work every day with my red blood cell count down at 5 (the normal range is 11–15). No wonder I felt so wiped out — it was unbelievably hard, and I was so tired, but I pushed through because I’m committed to my job. After a blood transfusion, my count came up to 8, and I felt a little bit better.

At this most recent chemo appointment, though, I learned my red blood cells have dropped again — I’m now at 7.6. My doctor explained that the chemo itself is causing the decline. In some ways, hearing that was actually reassuring. It confirmed why I’ve been feeling so drained, and it reminded me that my team is monitoring it closely.

Another side effect has been tingling in my hands and feet. I do not like this feeling at all. It tends to flare up in the days right after treatment, then ease by mid-week. On top of that, the most frustrating symptom so far has been brain fog — that sense of not being fully clear or sharp. It’s forced me to adjust my daily rhythms: pacing myself on treatment days, giving myself space for recovery, and being okay with moving slower than I’d like.

What’s helping most? Rest. Small meals. Short walks. Prayer. Encouragement from friends. Each of those has become a lifeline in its own way.

The plan is to finish 8 weeks and then reevaluate. At that point, my doctor will decide whether to continue weekly treatments or move to every other week. Knowing there’s a checkpoint ahead helps me focus on one step at a time, without getting overwhelmed by the bigger picture.

More than anything, I’m grateful that I’ve made it this far. I didn’t know what these first four weeks would hold — but now I can say: God has carried me through. I’m still standing. Still showing up. Still anchored in hope.

Please keep praying for improving blood counts, strength on treatment days, and wisdom for my care team as we look ahead to the next milestone.