The Journey Continues

Thank you to everyone who joined us in August by doing something active to mark my one year anniversary of diagnosis.  We had a great time doing the 5K in South Weber.  Some of us ran and some of us walked, but we all finished and felt strong at the end.  A special thank you to the Carlson family who came out in full to support us.  You are a family of angels!

Later that day Loren and I went out to dinner for my birthday and I officially took off my Wendi's Fight Club bracelet.  I know my fight continues but having been in remission for a while and feeling pretty good, the time was right for me to take it off.  I really appreciate everyone who has a bracelet and wore it for me and my family. The fight was and continues to be one of the hardest of my life (right there with losing my brother) and I am so humbled to be a part of so many lives and to know of your love and support during this rough time.  

Our journey continues to be one filled with speed bumps on the way to full recovery.  We knew it would be and we


are weathering the bumps which have included 3 separate stays in the hospital for blood infections and one gall bladder surgery along with up days and down days.  Hopefully all that is behind us now (you only have one gall bladder! and my central line which we think was causing the blood infections is now gone).  The only down side is that instead of taking blood from the central line each week I get to be poked with a needle.  But, I would rather have that then go back to the hospital.  

Our three beautiful, talented, amazingly kind daughters.

Our non-cancer lives continue on as well with school starting, soccer games, homecoming dances and horse back riding lessons along with coaching a rec city volleyball team and redoing our kitchen, we are keeping busy and the mom taxi service is back in action!  I am ecstatic that I get to be a part of all the fun!

Join us in celebration!

This Saturday (the one year anniversary of my diagnosis), we as a family and a few friends will be participating in a 5K in South Weber.  I would like to invite you and your families to do something active and fun this weekend (we would suggest a 5K).  Enjoy the ability to do the activities you love.

I used to take it for granted that I could walk 3.1 miles with no problem.  I never have nor will I ever claim to be a runner but I could walk.  This week I walked 3 miles in preparation for our 5K and finished in tears because my body was finally able to do it.  I have been working up to 3 miles for several months and some days walking in and of itself is still difficult but I am grateful for the strength my body continues to gain.   

So, I will probably be the last one to finish the South Weber Country Fair Days 5K but I will finish.  Do something great this weekend and be happy!

Coming up on the 1 year mark

Not calling it an "anniversary" but we are coming up on the one year mark since Wendi was diagnosed with leukemia.  Last year at this time we were enjoying summer vacation and getting ready to celebrate Wendi's birthday.  Then the completely unexpected and difficult phone call from LDS Hospital that Wendi needed to drop everything and get checked in.  That was Saturday August 9 last year.  Wendi has done remarkably well since then.

As she posted in March she was declared in 100% remission and 100% of her blood is from her brother who generously acted as her blood marrow donor.  Since that time she has continued to get stronger and has stayed in good health.  We have had one or two small roadbumps along the way but very minor in the grand scheme of things.

As we are coming up on the one year mark of her fight we are going to celebrate how well she is doing by participating as a family in a 5K   #wendiwillwin

Thank you, thank you, thank you....miracles do happen

We met with a doctor today at LDS hospital and got the news we have been hoping and praying for.  I am in complete remission with no detectable evidence of disease!  The bone marrow biopsy showed no leukemia cells.  And one of the tests shows how much of my blood and marrow are my cells and how much are my donor's (by brother Scott's).  That test showed that 100% are Scott's!!!!  As was said in our meeting - the results don't get any better than this.  

Thank you so much for your prayers consistently said on my behalf.  Those prayers have been answered with the best results we could ask for.  Miracles have happened today through the power of prayer and through the power of priesthood blessings which have been given to me throughout this journey.  I am grateful to know that my Father in Heaven is aware of me and my family in the good times and the bad and that He is always there for me through prayer.

Thank you again for prayers and good wishes for me and my family.  I am extremely grateful to all of you.

#WendiWillWin

Slight Change in Plans

We had to switch my 100 day meeting  with the doctors to Wednesday afternoon so news will be posted on Thursday!

Thanks for all the prayers!

An Update

Everything has been going along swimmingly for us.  I go in once a week to the clinic at LDS hospital, which entails blood work (still taken from a central line so no poking involved), a visit with a PA with a quick check up, a visit with a doctor with another quick check up followed up with a chest x-ray since I am still on steroids.  At the end of the visit, the doctor usually just says, "Everthing looks good, see you next week."  Really the best words I can hear!

We have just been moving along with soccer practices, indoor games, planning an 80th birthday party for my in-laws (I am just helping - my fabulous brothers and sisters-in law are the driving force), etc.  I am absolutely enjoying being home.  Oh, I also got some eyelash extensions!  Never thought it would something I would do - had some great lashes before - but lost them along with the hair.  The lashes are actually attached to the lashes I had so they are still sparse and light (don't show up in a pic) but I love them!

Had a good time greeting my kids with my new wig last week as well.

Gotta love the dress up box!


The next big milestone for us will be the 100 day checkup.  I will go in on the 2nd to have a bunch of tests done including a bone marrow biopsy.  We will get the results on March 9th.  This will give a good indication about the leukemia and if it really is all gone and where we go from here.  This is one more time when I would appreciate any extra prayers you can say for me.  I know miracles have happened along the way because of your prayers.  Thank you.

What I have been up to - real life...

I never thought I would be so grateful for laundry and grocery shopping.  Now to be fair, I have never really minded laundry but grocery shopping/menu planning and I have a love/hate relationship...mostly hate.  But of late I go to the grocery store almost every day and I love making dinner.  I anticipate that at some point the novelty of this will wear off but for now, we are enjoying sitting down together and eating dinner and I mostly listen to our girls talk about their day.  I am enjoying and am grateful for the simple parts of life.

Other than that I can do whatever I feel up to each day.  That mostly entails running errand and attempting to put some new decor up in the house - it was really outdated.  I continue to heal and am being patient with the time frame.  I keep reminding myself that my body has been through alot over the past few months and it will take at least one year and maybe two to have the normal amount of energy.  I am however able to do what I want (mostly) as long as it doesn't involve crowds since my immune system is still in it's baby phase.  So no church on Sunday and no Costco on Saturday.  I do get out and walk each day or ride my bike on the trainer in the basement - my muscles are very weak due to muscle wasting that is a side effect of steroids I am taking. 

One of the funnest things was taking a hike with Loren below Snowbasin.  I catergorize it as a hike but it was probably more of a walk but we were outside in the sunshine and fresh air, walking on packed snow and just enjoying the great outdoors.  

I feel very lucky and blessed that I have felt so good since I have been home.  We have been healthy so far and the doctors have been pleased with the progress I have been making.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  We feel blessed to have such great friends.

Finally an update.....

Yes, I have been ignoring my blog for a while.  Sorry.  Here is the latest.  I was released from the hospital on Dec 30 (our 22nd anniversary) and it was the best anniversary present - ever!  Our entire family was just giddy.  I didn't count days this time but it was over 6 weeks - I was admitted on Nov.17 so you can do the math.  Some people have asked what we did for our anniversary and the answer is nothing.  We ate something at some point and then our family proceeded to sit and snuggle on the couch and watch some show that I don't recall.  The most important and memorable thing was just being home and holding our kids.  As I walked in the door, Callie met me with a huge hug as Emily and Elizabeth held a banner made by our good friend, Heather, that said Welcome Home Wendi.  I ran thru the banner with lots of cheers.  Then we knelt in family prayer to offer a prayer of thanks for being home and for the many blessings we have received during this time including all of the prayers, visits and messages of support we have received from all of you.  Then we danced to We Are the Champions!  My family are champions for how they have weathered this very unexpected storm in our lives.  They are amazing people.

Since then my time is gratefully filled doing "mom" stuff...making dinner, doing laundry, making appointments, and just being home for our girls to talk to.  We have a lot of catching up to do.  Thankfully I also have a small contingency of friends and family who fill the day with visits and errands - I can't be left alone for 100 days after transplant for fear an infection can come on suddenly and I become disoriented.  I consider them my army of angels.

My job is to eat and drink, manage all my meds (there are a ton!) and get stronger.  Most days this also includes a nap :)

I am able to do whatever activity I feel up for as long as there aren't any crowds involved.  So no going to church thru flu season which I do miss but the risk of getting sick is too great.  I still have the immune system of a baby.  All of those colds and sick days that add to your immune system as you grow I no longer have.  I will even have to get my childhood immunizations again!  So, I stay away from crowds and am  a fanatic about handwashing.

Future treatment....still waiting to taper down off some steroids and then a plan will be made.  I go back to LDS once a week to meet with the docs and to get a bunch of labs done so right now we just have a week to week plan which has been fine with me to just rest and gain strength back.

Yesterday we did take a field trip to a sledding hill in Midway which was fun and doable for me since they put you on a tow rope to get you up the hill!  Didn't think I would make it the full 2 hours but I did and then I slept really well that night.  I was just so grateful to be there and to be outside and with my family.  There will be more family dates in the future.

I will update as more info and planning happens but for now I am in recovery mode and loving every day!