REMISSION!!!!

Thank you for all of your prayers.  They have been answered and I am officially in remission!  I cannot tell you how thankful I am for all of your love and support.  The relief I felt when Dr. Ashe gave me the thumbs up was amazing.  I felt like screaming and crying and laughing all at once!  We were ready for some good news and are now ready to move ahead with transplant.  The timeline for transplant will be solidified by the end of the week but the current plan is to go back into the hospital on the 17th for a stay of 4-6 weeks.  I am grateful that I have the best possible donor in my brother and look forward to the next steps.  My job for the next few weeks is to get stronger and put on some of the weight I have lost.  Not many women my age get to eat whatever they want, whenever they want in an effort to put on weight!  I will enjoy the challenge!

Thank you again for all of your support!  I feel it every day, especially on the days that aren't that smooth. Thank you!!!

more prayers, please

After my blood draws today, LDS Bone Marrow called and let me know that all my "numbers" are great.  White blood cells along with neutrophils are up - YEAH!!!!!  This also means that on Monday afternoon I will have another bone marrow biopsy.  This will tell if the last round of chemo was able to put the cancer into remission.  The results won't be in for a few days after the biopsy but if I could ask for your prayers specifically for remission, I would be grateful.  Remission means that we get to take a little easier path for transplant.  Not in remission simply means a different more difficult path.  I know that prayers are heard and answered.  I also know that this is all in the Lord's hands. Thank you for all of your continued support and love for me and my family.  We feel it daily and are grateful for all of you. 

4th LP done

I went on Monday for my 4th and final spinal tap.  Results were negative!!!!  Spinal fluid is clear and my marrow is beginning to make blood again.  Hoping for a bone marrow biopsy next week so we can evaluate and make plans for transplant.  Thank you for all of your prayers.  Now we need clean bone marrow!

3 down and 1 to go

On the 13th I went in for my 3rd lumbar puncture (LP) to check for leukemia cells and to also inject chemo.  This one came back clean - no blasts!  The docs want me to have 4 clean LPs to show that the cancer in the spinal fluid is in remission.  The next LP is scheduled for Monday the 20th.

I have had a lot of people asking me how long I get to stay home and what the plan is from here.  I don't have all the answers since we just go from one biopsy to the next.  Here is the plan as far as we know it.  I get to stay home while my numbers recover as long as I don't get sick.  Any sign of a fever or chills or numerous other symptoms and I am back in the hospital.  Once my bone marrow begins to make blood again we will schedule another biopsy.  This should be within about 2 weeks but no one can predict it.  Once the results from the biopsy are in then we will form another plan of action.  We are praying for remission (no blasts in the marrow) so that I can move directly to transplant. If we have not achieved remission there are other options to get me to transplant but we are just taking one step at a time.

I am thoroughly enjoying being at home and just listening to our girls laugh, giggle and occasionally argue.  It is nice to be in my own bed or recliner and eating my own food.  I am grateful for all of your prayers that have gotten me to this point.  Prayers are being answered as evidenced in the strength of my body to endure the chemo.  Thank you.

Just to make sure you all don't think I am invincible, I do have moments where it is all overwhelming.  One of those moments happened this week where I was just mad that I didn't have my old life, I can't drive myself places, and everything I eat tastes like cardboard.  Thankfully these moments pass and I am grateful to my mom and to a nurse, Liz, who were there for me.  I wish I could schedule these moments at my convenience but they have their own schedule.  Liz just whispered to me that I was okay right where I was at.  That being angry is normal and that I am just in the middle of this fight.  My mom hugged me and wiped away my tears and just rubbed my arm.  I am grateful to have such amazing people in my life and to remember that it is okay to be mad!

While I am at home I do go to McKay Dee hospital each morning to have my blood drawn to check the numbers and to receive platelets or red blood cells if needed.  It is a small price to pay - an hour or two - in order to be at home.  Today we did see a small spike in my numbers indicating that my bone marrow may be producing a little bit.  Tomorrow we will see if that was a fluke or if it really is back.


Also, my dear friend Heather Carlson began a page for us at posthope.org if you would like to follow there.  Thanks Heather!!!!

Well, that was unexpected....

Wednesday, October 8 I was able to call Loren at work and ask for him to pick me up from the hospital!  I love making that phone call!  We thought I might be home before the weekend but the early release was unexpected and wonderful.  The doctors told us we were "responsible" so they felt good letting my go home.

Prayers are being answered as my body is strenghtened after each round of chemo and I am able to come home to recuperate.  My immune system is not quite as high as the last time I came home so my actions are limited - but so much better than being at the hospital!

Thank you for all of your prayers....know that they are constantly answered on my behalf.  Love to all of you!!!!!

A Quick Update

Wow! What a difference a few days can make!  Once the chemo is done and my body has a chance to recover I am no longer sleeping 20+ hours a day and I feel almost human.  I am officially in nader (nadering), have nader - my friends who know Latin will have to correct me.  Basically my bone marrow is not producing cells - YEAH!!!!  Sounds strange but we don't want it making cancer cells and in order to do that we have to stop all production - thank heavens for transfusions!  I am still weak and don't have a ton of energy but feel confident that we are now on the upswing!  Thank you for all you have done to help me and my family thru this tough patch!  Sending love out from east 8 (LDS Hospital)


Here is my shameless plug:

If you are able, please donate blood!  I am a frequent flier at the withdrawal counter of the blood bank!