Del in Tassie

Del's still doing well!

Montana and Del having fun together!

This is a little late as Rob and I are traveling to Broome and we're in Darwin at the moment!

Before we left we went down to see Del and family before heading off.  I was so amazed at how well Del was.  She showered by herself, she came with us for an all day outing to Paynsville and she's up walking around (with a walker)!  Del is certainly living with cancer!  She hasn't needed a blood transfusion lately either.  She's on Dexamethasone, a steroid, and this has given her a "rounded" face.

Del enjoyed her trip to Tassie.  She flew down with a few mates and they hired a car and travelled around for 4 days!

We've thrown a challenge to Del, to come and visit us up in Broome!

Del's in hospital

In the past few months Del has been doing very well.  The doctor put her on Dexamethasone, a mild steriod and she put on 4 kilos.  Even her cancer markers were down. She went on a day trip to French Island with Simone and other friends.

Last week, she went to hospital for a CT scan.  They found more tumours through her body and they recommended radiation therapy for her lower back.  She's had the 5 treatments and is much more active and in less pain.

She's now wanting to visit Tasmania!  Elwyn and Helen are making plans to take her within the next few weeks. This will fulfill a life long dream she's always had! She'll fly across, but Elwyn and Helen will take their 4WD van so she can get around.

She's still witnessing to everyone, including the nursing staff and fellow patients.  She remains a huge inspiration to so many of us!  Keep it up Del!

She's still loves to receive text message of love and encouragement, but please understand if she can't always reply!

We greatly appreciates the many people praying for her.  The local Moe church members have just had a day of prayer and fasting for her.  

Witnessing!

While Del was in hospital for her second blood transfusion, she met a guy by the name of Bob who she was able to share her love for God. She was able to witness to God’s leading in her life and this had an impact on Bob. He was so touched by Del’s testimony that he has started coming to Moe SDA church again and has been there every week for the past month. Praise the Lord.

Another carer.

While staying at Highwood Health Retreat last year, Del met Simone, one of the carer’s and they quickly became good friends. Simone decided to help care for Del back at Delhuntie, and has been caring for her a couple of days a week since then. She’s been a real blessing to Del and she really enjoys her friendship too.

A new carer, Sheryl has started helping one day a week in addition to Simone. Sheryl has trained under Dr Agatha Thrash in the US and is quite experienced in natural therapy treatments. She is so blessed to have these two people helping.

A new niece or nephew?

Del is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her newest niece or nephew. This will be the second baby to her brother and sister-in-law, Daz and Neda Scale. Neda’s already over due so the wait shouldn’t be too much longer! If nothing has happened by Friday, she will be induced.

We’ve just returned from a few days down at Delhuntie and we were able to catch up with Del. I was surprised to see that she seemed better than when we last saw her at Christmas time. She has lost a little more weight since then, but she is much brighter, even teasing Elwyn and ripping him off! It was beautiful to watch. Her cancer count is only 20 points higher since Christmas.

Next day she had many spasms and was in a lot of pain and spent most of the day in bed. She has some good days and some not so good days! She has a lot of hot packs to help the spasms.

Her haemoglobin was checked and it was only 77 so she had another blood transfusion on Thursday at Warragul hospital. It seems the cancer is in the bone marrow and therefore not able to produce enough red blood cells. She finds it very painful to sit and spends most of her time lying down. Some days she’s able to walk around, even outside, but other days, she’s in bed all day.

A couple of weeks ago, she went on holidays from Delhuntie and spent a week with some of her friends under the care of Simone, her carer. They had lots of fun and enjoyed some girl time! While away, she had a couple of treatments in a hyperbaric chamber which really made her feel a lot better for a few days.

One evening, Del produced a bottle of sparkly as we celebrated her surviving 2 years in her fight with cancer, probably longer than most of us expected.

Del is still on about 25mgm of morphine twice a day. She also has some “break thru’s” or “top ups” when the pain gets too strong.

It was lovely to see a number of friends drop in and visit her and encourage her. Of course, it’s always good to make an appointment and make sure she’s available. Text messaging is also good, but she may not be able to respond personally.

Once again, we left inspired and very impressed at her strength and resilience, but yet, not knowing the future. It’s wonderful to know that God loves her and her future is in His hands.

Del appreciates all the love, encouragement and prayers! Please continue to pray for her and her parents, Elwyn and Helen, and all the family, as it’s hard on everyone.

Blood Transfusion

Del's haemoglobin was getting low (79) and she was getting tired. Last night she had a couple of units of blood to help build her strength. The transfusion took place at the local hospital in Traralgon.

She got back home early this week again after spending a few days at Highwood. She took the sermon there last Sabbath! How's that for strength!

Delwyn at the Scale Family Reunion over Christmas

Del being "chauffeured" around by her brother, Daz

Elwyn mada a special seat for her on the quad motor bike

Del was getting into the Spirit of Xmas

Del with her Mum and Dad

Del and the descendants of Norm Scale (her grandpa)