Leaves swirled along the sidewalk as we stirred them up by our steps. Hand in hand, we crossed Dewdney Avenue and cut across the hospital parking lot to the main entrance.  I took a deep breath as the doors automatically parted for us to enter.  We had walking into the Allan Blair Cancer Clinic many times in the past 16 months but today seemed to be crucial somehow.
Our daughter joined us in the waiting room and we sat in soft upholstered chairs facing the television.  We chatted about random things.  Patients came and went as nurses with charts called out names.  Finally, Caylea's name was called and we waited while her weight and blood pressure were measured by the nurse, Cory.  Then we walked down the hall to room number 9.
Cory asked a few questions, especially about Caylea's trip to Europe.  As Caylea gave a brief answer, the nurse smiled and commented that Caylea looked happy.  She was genuinely glad for the experience Caylea had.
Then Cory left and promised that Dr. Iqbal would be in shortly.  We sat, waiting, gazing around the white room, not really noticing the posters or charts or equipment.  A quick rap on the door and the familiar bearded face greeted us.  The oncologist smiled as he shook all of our hands and sat on the examination table.
He asked how Caylea has been, how was her trip to Europe.  How are the side effects?  Caylea answered calmly and clearly.  I could see how her confidence had grown in dealing with a situation and a professional that used to be intimidating.
And then the question we had been dying to have answered: when would these treatments be over?
Dr. Iqbal looked down at his sheets of paper stapled neatly in the top left corner.  One more course of Interferon, he read.  He would prescribe one more cycle, which would take her into mid-October.  Although at Caylea's last appointment the doctor had said maybe she would be done by the end of September, he was recommending she finish the full 12 months.
Relief and disappointment crossed our daughter's face, reflecting our own emotions.  But one more month would go by quickly, we hoped, and then recovery.  He went to say he would order a CT scan for November and then have her come in for a follow up appointment in December.  If all was clear, he would be releasing Caylea back to her family doctor's care.  Yes, the end of this part of the journey was in sight!
Caylea waited for the next blood work requisition and her prescription.  She didn't really need us to wait with her so we said our good-bye.  She was planning to go shopping with her Auntie Karen, visiting from Alberta, right after the appointment, so we left her there.
Walking out through the lobby again, I felt such a sense of thankfulness and awareness of God's sustaining power.  How many times I had walked out those doors, to bring the car up and drive a shivering, shaking, pale girl back home after treatment!  Today, we exited the clinic and headed out the main doors, knowing we may only come back once more in December.
The sun felt warm but the September air had that fall chill.  A whole year ago we began the treatment regimen and God had seen us through.
THANK YOU, LORD!