Trending Upward

(Quick note: The main photo for this post is one of Dick and I at a baseball game you’ll read about. On my head is a hat/wig combination, which means the hair is attached to the hat. When it came time for the National Anthem at the game we attended, the announcer said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, would you please stand and remove your caps for the singing of our National Anthem”. Those surrounding us in section 113 would have been quite stunned if I had obeyed! There will come a time when my hat can be removed again . . . but this isn’t that time!) 🤣

If you’ve read my past blog posts, you’ve come across a term that has been a bit new to me – trending upward (also known as “trending higher”). In the medical world, I wasn’t really aware of what it meant and all of the implications, but I now understand on a personal level the significance of these words. And while much of their importance interlaces with my health journey over the past months, there are a few other ways God has opened my eyes to understanding this term. 

First, as a reminder . . . what this phrase means medically: In regards to levels in your blood, this is the hope that blood numbers will elevate.

And here’s where the hard part comes in. There is nothing you can do to raise numbers like white counts, platelets and hemoglobin. Believe me, I’ve asked. Multiple times! There is only one pathway to rely on if you want these measurables to land where they need to land: trust the Lord to raise them. On two different occasions I had my blood drawn and checked on a Tuesday with the hopes that certain levels would be acceptable to proceed with my chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday, and on these two particular days here was the basic conversation:

“Your white counts (or platelets) are very low. Come back in the morning and we will recheck them to see if they are trending upward. If so, we’ll proceed. If not, we may have to schedule a blood transfusion.”

“Okay, is there anything I can do to make them better? Something I could eat? Exercise? Get a good night’s rest?” 

“No, there’s really not. Just come back in the morning.” 

Both of those times I came back, had my blood drawn, and the levels had raised so that I was able to move forward. What made the difference if there was nothing I could do? Of course, it was the power of prayer. We asked the Lord to bring the levels to an appropriate place, and it was God who did what only He could do. It came down to recognizing that He alone had the power to accomplish this feat! The words apart from Him we can do nothing have never been more true! 

There’s something else that is hitting me with this two-word phrase. Stay with me here as I state the obvious. In order for medical numbers to need raising, they must be in a low place to begin with. In other words, if it is essential to trend higher, a person must have found themselves in a deficient position, right?  So, taking this term out of the medical realm, to trend upward means you are needy, you know you are at a bottom level, and you recognize the importance of going higher.

Hold that thought. 

This past week, we had four of our grandchildren come and visit us for several days while our daughter and son-in-love participated in a conference out of town. I’m officially 4+ weeks past my last chemo, and the timing of having them with us was perfect. We couldn’t wait for them to arrive – for lots of reasons. But mainly because we haven’t gotten to see them in person for the 6 months I’ve been sequestered at home healing from chemo and surgery. WAY too long! 

Though I’m in remission and working up to a more normal life, I’m definitely not there yet. It will continue to take time. But Dick and I had planned a few activities for our time together with our grands, culminating with the most challenging (by far) – a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park, which is literally 20 minutes from our house. 

I had done a ton of research to figure out which tour we would go on, taking into account: the ages of our grands (7-13), how much we would be able to see (Some tours involve more standing around, listening to the rangers, and asking questions. We wanted a tour that would allow us to explore as much of the cave as possible), and of course, the degree of difficulty. You can choose easy, moderate, or difficult. I scoped the website to try and land on an easy tour, but decided the Historic Tour, which was in the moderate category, would be best for the kiddos. It was to be 2 hours long, and would go deep into the cave. 

Dick and I bought the tickets, and I had it in my mind that IF we got to the park and I wasn’t feeling the best, I would just sit it out in the Visitor’s Center and Dick could take everyone on the tour. With that said, I really, really wanted to go into the cave!

We arrived at the park in plenty of time for our 10:30 a.m. tour, and I was feeling pretty good. 

At 10:25, our tour group was summoned over to Shelter A where our Ranger Guide proceeded to give us the do’s and don’ts we would need for our excursion. No flashlights, there are no bathrooms in the cave, don’t wander off from the group, etc. Then our guide seemed to get louder and more passionate as she began to expound on how taxing this particular tour would be. Specifically, she talked about the many stairs we would climb at the end and wow, she used every scary adjective she could think of which made me think we had chosen a tour with Bear Grylls and were about to climb Everest! My mind was going back and forth asking, “Should I do this?? Will I be able to? Is this going to be too much for my body to handle?” In that moment, all very valid questions. But in the end, I decided to go for it. 

As we proceeded down a long pathway to the cave’s entrance, a lady in line in front of us fell down. Hmmm, not a good sign. But that probably made me even that much more cautious. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me became my mantra. 

Inside the cave, the path was wide enough for about 3 people. So our family walked the trail in two rows. In the front was Dick in the middle of our two younger grandsons, Bear and Beckham. And right behind them was me between our older grandson and granddaughter, Liam and Lanie. L and L linked arms with me for much of the expedition, and it definitely gave me more confidence walking down the dark pathways.

The tour was fascinating. And through the two hours in the more challenging moments, I continued to say aloud, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Hearing those words come out of my mouth really and truly helped me keep going. Step by step, I could feel the Lord buoying me with strength. At one point, Lanie, said, “You should say, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens Me-me’” (Mimi is my grandma name). Brilliant! So that’s what I continued with: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens Mimi . . . 😀

After making it through Fat Man’s Misery, Tall Man’s Misery, and crossing the Bottomless Pit (I’ll let you look those up), we had about 30 minutes left. Our group was instructed to be seated on benches down in the depths of the cave for one last history lesson. As we sat there, to the right you could see the path where we had come from. But to the left . . . oh my . . . the dreaded steps to leave the cave. And yes, there were MANY! (I think there were over 200). I tried not to think about our “Debbie Downer” Ranger, and instead began to quote Phil. 4:13 again. 

I’m proud to say I made it out of the cave in one piece, and only had to pull over onto a stair landing to rest once or twice. It was a moral and physical victory for sure! 

So what does a trip to Mammoth Cave have to do with this post? There’s something pretty symbolic to me about being at the bottom of a cave, knowing you don’t want to stay there, and then working hard to get out of it. Trending upward . . . yes, that’s a pretty accurate picture! 

The notion of fixing our gaze upward spills over into our culture. Keep your chin up! Look at the stars, not down at your feet! Rise up! Look up! The message is: You can do it! There’s hope! 

But this concept more importantly points us to God’s word, as we look to HIM to meet our needs:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord.”
(Psalm 121:1-2a)

“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock 
that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to
 tread upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

Back to the first point of this post . . . trending upward always leads us to the realization that God alone is our Source, Supply, Protector, and Sovereign. 

One last thought on a benefit of trending upward . . . 

When our gaze is set on the Lord, it encourages others to do the same. Through my journey, there have been numerous people who have cheered me on who are either currently fighting cancer or have won the battle. On dark and uncertain days, the camaraderie of other warriors has brought indescribable hope and inspiration! There is just something about being in the company of people who are walking or have walked a similar road. 

The last night our grandchildren were with us, we all went to a Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball game. It was a stunning evening and the perfect way to relax and enjoy hanging with our family.

The day we bought the tickets we realized that this particular evening’s theme was Cancer Awareness night. Coincidence? I think not. 😊 One of the promotions they had done ahead of time was to put the name of some of the cancer survivors in our area on the back of jerseys that the home team wore. Before the National Anthem was sung, they introduced the players, coaches, and staff and announced the person’s name on the jersey along with the specific cancer they represented. As I heard these names called out, my eyes filled with tears as I realized I’m a part of that group now! I’m also a survivor who celebrates victory over this disease! It was a meaningful, inspiring moment . . . probably to everyone in attendance, but definitely to me. 

(This is Lanie and I proudly wearing our cancer awareness ribbons).

So I will continue to trend upward. Trusting God for my physical health to be fully restored, as only He can do. And recognizing that whenever I find myself in a valley, which certainly will happen again in this life, I will lift my eyes and heart to the One who alone can guide me to a higher place. I hope you also know these words to be true today – “You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3)

I’m pressing on the upward way,
New heights I’m gaining every day
Still praying as I’m upward bound,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground” 

My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground

I want to live above the world,
Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled 
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground

Lord, lead me up the mountain side,
I dare not climb without my Guide
And, heaven gained, I’ll gaze around,
With grateful heart from higher ground 

Lord, lift me up and let me stand
By faith, on Heaven’s table land
A higher plane than I have found
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!