Infusion

I’ve been getting some infused iron over the last few weeks.

My iron has been low (as measured) for almost 20 years, but recently it has dropped even lower, which led to the infusion visits. Associated with this, I also got a referral to a hematologist. I saw him last week. He looked at my electronic medical record and wasn’t worried at all (that doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see me and run more tests). In fact, he said if I had a disease like blood cancer or internal bleeding, I would either have been treated or departed this life by now.

I wanted to share this information to get it over with so I can bring up the stuff I really want to write about. You see, I’ve never been to an infusion center or a cancer specialty practice before. I’ve had a good friend who died from cancer, but I wasn’t involved in his day-to-day care while he was fighting it.

The people who staff infusion centers and cancer specialty clinics are angel-like in their demeanor.  Every time I come in for an infusion, I get treated well, including being asked if I want something to eat or drink. In fact, right now, I’m reclining in a hospital bed (all the chair rooms were full, so I got bumped into a room with a bed) sipping coffee. Two different people also have asked if I would like a muffin. The infusion only takes about 1 ½ hours, including the placement and removal of the IV.

The same thing happened last week when I saw my new hematologist. The young lady who walked me to my appointment room asked me if she could get me something to eat or drink. She apologized that it might be 10 or 15 minutes before the doctor finished with his current patient and got to me.

This service would make me feel special, except I know they do it not for me but for their cancer patients who are having chemotherapy. I’ve never had chemotherapy, but I know the side effects are very unpleasant during a time when the person is experiencing pain and discomfort from the illness the chemotherapy is trying to treat. (My actual infusion just finished and I need to wait a half hour to make sure nothing bad happens, and I just got asked again if the nurse could bring me anything to drink or eat.)

I heard a doctor speak once who commented that everyone has cancer at some level because cancer just means a screw-up in cell regeneration. Usually, the body naturally gets rid of the errant cell or cells, and life goes on (there is a rule of thumb that every cell in your body is replaced about every 6 months). It is when those errant cells reproduce and cause problems with normal body functions that we refer to it as cancer, a disease to be treated.

Patrick just included in his sermon that he prayed to God to expand his empathy when he experienced the call to become a pastor. He said God worked on him and now he has empathy and loves all of us. God worked something similar on me without me even asking. I’m more empathetically connected to everyone else than I’ve ever been before. It’s embarrassing, actually.  I’m sitting here trying not to cry as I type this and think about all the other souls these nurses and support staff are caring for.   

 “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” - Romans 12:9-21 ESV

Turning your focus from yourself to God will bless you and increase your joy in so many ways, including making it easier to see where your brother or sister is hurting. I praise God that He made people with a heart and desire to care for the sick. He’s still working on me and I praise him for that, too.