Promises Today

I just got home from my last radiation session at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. I was so elated whilst walking back to the car! I thanked the radiology team, put my earphones in and played “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble as my walking out music! Haha! I’m sooooo cheesy! “It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new life for meeeeeeee!” Woohoo! I then sat in the car and cried and laughed at the same time. I didn’t quite know how to feel, so I felt it all at the same time! As I was leaving the car park a family walking to their car waved me down, I’d left my Costa cup of tea on the roof of the car! Haha! What a silly sausage! I had the most amazing time of praise and worship in the car on the final drive home from the hospital. God has been so faithful to me and brought me through this rough season, I just had to lift his name in praise and thanks! It was awesome to drive, cry and sing! Woohoo! (I’m excited, can you tell??)

One song has been with me since the beginning of this journey and I haven’t shared with any of you yet, it’s called Get Back Up by TobyMac. Here is the video and here are the lyrics.

Hi everyone,

This is my first true “blog” entry! The others were just from emails and Facebook updates, but this one is off the cuff and straight into my new Promises Today blog.

I’ve been MEGA busy since setting this up on the 15th and 16th September and now. We have had OFSTED come to Purwell Primary (the school both my sons are going to, I’m a governor and IT person there too!) so that took a lot of my time and a LOAD of energy! I’ve also been continuing the long journey to and from Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge for my radiation treatment. The first couple of weeks were ok, but for a few days I have noticed that the skin in my armpit and also around the scar is beginning to burn quite badly. Ouch! I have 2 more blasts to endure and then treatment is OVER! Woop woop! I may find that the skin will continue to burn, but it should wear off soon. Imagine what it’s like when you get sunburn (well, I get sunburnt a LOT seeing as I’m a pasty white British blonde!) and it still feels like it’s burning after a couple of days, well, that’s radiation for you! Just a shame I won’t be getting a decent tan after this!!

Mum spent the week with us, driving me to and from Cambridge, cleaning and generally helping out! What an amazing woman! She gave up her holiday time to come and look after me. Wow. Love you so much Mummy!!

Right at the beginning of it all, my darling Mummy-in-law was praying for me and was reminded of this song, Hosanna. I hope you enjoy it. Keep fighting! He’s right there beside you!

Ok, here goes. I’m announcing the Promises Today website to the world!

This is my story. It was a long journey but now in 2011 I’m alive, well and loving life! Have a look at About Me to find out a bit more.

The best way to read the story is to start in January 2010 archive. Enjoy!

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Please feel free to contact me by email at hayley@geurtscass.com



Hayley

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I realised today that I’m overdoing it!

Hayley Geurts has finally come to her senses! Radiotherapy is starting to take it’s toll so I really have to SLOW down! Resting is such hard work for me!!
15 September 07:58

Hayley Geurts about to get blasted again. I think I’m about halfway now. Lord, I need your strength! I’m so tired!!
15 September 17:13

Hayley Geurts Doc said I looked tired, asked if I was drinking enough and resting. My response: “resting? What’s that?” Ok mebbe I need to listen now!
15 September 17:32

As if I’m not busy enough, I decided that a nice distraction from all the treatment would be a choir! Mum sent me a link for Rock Choir a while ago and in July I went for a taster session. It’s great fun! I met some lovely peeps and we started to learn Oh Happy Day from Sister Act 2, one of my fave songs ever! One of those songs that gives you goosebumps when it’s sung properly. We were learning some beautiful harmonies. I’m looking forward to more rehearsals and then a concert in November! Yippee!

Jan and Martin Spicer replied to one of my update emails a few months ago, inviting us to come stay with them anytime. Now normally I would write back and say, “aww thanks” but not take someone up on such an offer. Well, this one we did! We went away for the weekend from Friday 10th til Sunday 12th September. It was absolutely fabulous! They were SO welcoming, even though I hadn’t seen them in over 10 years and they had never met Djerk or the boys! The hospitality was amazing. They also had the added bonus of a swimming pool in their goooorgeous back garden. The boys had a whale of a time (Djerk included!) splashing around and swimming. I did have a swim and splash around too, but didn’t want to to tire myself out too much! I spent most of the time by the side of the pool on a lounger reading a book! The weather was breezy but sunny, except for the odd shower here and there. Their youngest daughter Emily had prayed specifically for good weather! Praise God!

We entered as relative strangers and left as friends! Another way that God’s kingdom is just so amazing!! Thank you Lord for such a family. It was great to recharge the batteries before another week of radiotherapy. 🙂

From Facebook:

Hayley Geurts just had my first haircut! Ok granted, no scissors involved just clippers and they only took a couple of millimetres off, but it’s tidy now!
09 September at 17:33

Tamoxifen doesn’t seem to be causing me any adverse symptoms! Praise God!

Here’s a couple of Facebook updates:

Hayley Geurts is at hospital, waiting for first radiation blast. It’s all good. God was with me in the car as I sang praises to Him and He’s with me now.
02 September at 11:10

Hayley Geurts Armour of God – not much to cover our backside! We’re not supposed to be running from challenge but into the middle of it! @HollyWagnerLA
03 September at 21:51

Hayley Geurts had a fantastic time at Bethany CC! @JulianCAdams preach this morning was superb! What a wonderful family of God! Now lunch in St Albans.
05 September at 14:21

Hayley Geurts Radiation time! I am actually enjoying the drive to and fro, gives me time to listen to some great teaching on mp3 and time with my Father!
06 September at 16:40

Hayley Geurts is a beautiful warrior! Victory is certain but there are still battles to be fought. Tired from radiation, travel, work and life – but God!!
06 September at 23:09

Hayley Geurts just been sent some gorgeous flowers from Brian and Kim Darwood! Soooooo sweet!!
07 September at 13:50

Hayley Geurts Wow! God is good! Nuff said.
08 September at 14:50

Hayley Geurts is just so thankful for such amazing friends and family that I am surrounded by! You know who you are!!!
09 September at 10:55

Email to all:

Hello everyone,

Wow, what a summer! Full of friends, family, fun and food! We had a lovely time in Holland on a family holiday, but would have preferred to go for longer so that we could see more people and relax too! Together@Shuttleworth (regional church weekend away) was brilliant! I spent a lot of time working on site with Dad but still got to see some people and experience more of God! I’ve been having a bit of a “new-start” summer. Things are slowly coming to an end and yet things are starting too! Amazing! Change is good right? :o)

The next thing that is starting is my radiotherapy treatment. I will be heading off to Cambridge toady for an 11am appointment for my first blast of radiation. It will be every working day (weekends off) until the 22nd September. With my first cancer battle in 2005 I endured 5 weeks of radiotherapy and it was definitely hard going, but having been through chemo I don’t think it will be as tough as I remember. I felt relatively normal for a week or so, but then it started to build up and eventually I was just sooo tired! I think this time around may be quite similar. Please could you pray that I receive some more supernatural energy from my Creator and also that my skin is protected from the radiation. There is a chance that my skin will be burned during the process, but last time I wasn’t really affected in that way, so here’s praying that this time is the same!

Another thing starting today is Tamoxifen. I have been holding off with taking them until now as I wanted to experience a summer holiday without any side effects! I have been a little anxious about taking them, but my oncologist has assured me that the drug will reduce the risk of the cancer returning quite significantly, so here goes! First one today. I have to take it everyday for the next 5 years. Please pray that there are ZERO side-effects and that it does its job efficiently. :o)

Cancer has featured a lot recently in what I have been reading, seeing on telly/internet and hearing from people close to me and close to other people who are affected by it. As someone who has suffered through 2 types of cancer, one rare and the other common, it is so easy to be gripped by fear. Fear of which cancer will affect me or someone I love next. I just want to make a statement to you all. I believe in a God who heals. His purpose for our lives does NOT include sickness. Jesus came to give us life and in the Bible it states that “he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” That, my friends, is what I believe. I will NOT live in fear of cancer or any other sickness. I will live in the knowledge that my God is for me! I pray that you know this in your hearts and also experience His healing hand.

I love you all very much, thank you for your continuing support.

Hugs,
Hayley
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