Updates From the Swing
Cancer is like living inside a pendulum.
Swinging hard. Back and forth between hope and despair, strength and weakness, peace and fear. One day feels manageable and the next, it’s outta control. One hour you’re laughing, the next you’re curled up in bed, crying uncontrollably.
It’s dizzying.
Cancer is in constant motion—a back and forth, up and down, spin. It’s not just the medicine, side effects, or the scans. It’s emotional whiplash. Our faith can feel rock-solid in the morning and threadbare by nightfall.
But even when everything swings wildly, there is One who does not move.
Yeshua.
Is he hanging on for dear life with us? Nope! He’s not. He’s the calming center. The still point. The one place the pendulum returns to, again and again.
When the fear rushes in like a flood, He whispers peace.
When we can't pray because we’re too tired or too heartbroken, He intercedes.
When the good days come, He’s the joy. When the bad days hit, He’s our comfort.
When the pendulum finally slows—because it always does—there He is.
Steady.
Gentle.
A Savior who doesn’t flinch when the fear is up in our face.
A Shepherd who walks through the valley, not around it.
A Healer who knows every cell in our body and every tear we pour out.
Holding everything together, including us. It doesn’t make the side effects vanish or the waiting any easier but it does mean we’re not swinging alone.
Today feels like the hard part of the arc—we were in the gut-wrenching, soul-weary high swing.
“Hold on,” He says. “You’re not being tossed around without purpose. You’re being drawn back to the One who never moves.”
Here are a few more honest updates because we know some of you are praying and loving us quietly from a distance. We’re so thankful for you.
The Physical
Treatment continues. Troy took a few days off from radiation because it was too much. He’s starting to lose his hair on his right temple, he’s developed blisters over his incision, and he’s feeling fatigued. All normal side effects. Some days, it hits like a truck. Others are moments of normal; potting plants and pulling weeds, doing Sudoku. He’s tired but is determined to finish well.
The Medical
He has radiation every day, usually first thing in the morning. He meets with his oncologist once a week to check in and see how he’s feeling. As of today, he has 12 days left! Everyone at the Cancer Center has been amazing. We have a favorite tech, but she’s been gone for a couple of weeks. She was there today and came running out to give me a giant hug and tell me she’s been praying for us. It’s such a comfort knowing the people caring for Troy, in fact, care.
The Emotional
This part’s been the hardest to explain. Some days we feel like we’re watching our life from the outside. Other days, we’re fully present and grateful for every second. The pendulum swings here too. But Jesus is faithful in every emotional space. When we can’t pray, we just whisper His name, and He meets us there every time.
The Spiritual
If I could tell you one thing about this journey, it’s this: Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He hasn’t turned away or grown quiet. If anything, we hear Him more clearly. Not always in words, but in presence. In a quiet that makes no earthly sense, especially now.
The pendulum will keep swinging, but we’re still here and He is still good.
You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” ~2 Chronicles 20:17
With each subsequent post, I’ll update you on our progress in meeting these needs. For transparency, you can click on each link, and it should take you directly to the source, where you can contribute online using his account number.
The total estimated goal we are trying to raise is $12,000.
This should cover all the items below with a small buffer for anything else that may arise, like additional supplements or increased IV care. I have not listed his ENT or Audiologist. Both are outside of St. Luke’s, and we’re not sure what insurance will cover for the appointment and earplugs, so this estimate can change.
If you’d rather donate through Venmo (@StephanieHdb) or PayPal at sheconsiders@gmail.com, I’ll send you a receipt for how your donation was used.
For now, we have decided against creating a GoFundMe. There is a transaction fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per donation and 5% for recurring donations, however, we may change our minds later.
We decided against the Bio Medical Center in Baja. After much prayer and research, this is not the center for Troy.
We’re looking into a different Integrative Oncology Center in Orange County, California.
Integrative Cancer Specialist—This Doctor is local to us and referred by our naturopath. $750 for first visit, individualized written protocol, and second visit.
IV Therapy. This is a priority! High-dose vitamin C helps keep his immune system strong while undergoing radiation, keeping the cancer away! The first visit to establish care is $450, with each dose being $199. There is a package of 10 treatments for $1791 that saves 10%. Ideally, he should go in twice a week. What’s not ideal is that we could stretch this out to once a week, every other week.
Troy’s Recovery List on Amazon. I made some updates for what our naturopath prescribed. Thank you to those who have already purchased items!
Anestesia Associates of Boise, Account # 8480598, $833.02
Canyon County Ambulance District, Run # 24-13902. $939.00
Boise Radiology Group, Account # BRG748704, $479.00
Natrupath for palliative care. ($237) Need Met. Thank you!
Rec Center Membership for muscle strength. Need Met. Thank you!
Vibration Table for Lymphatic Drainage & Circulation Need Met. Thank you!