Long Awaited Update...

First, let me apologize for taking so long to update. I will explain why after I tell you how Mom is doing today.

Great.. She is doing great. She is taking a little time to recover after the stem cell transplant but everyday is a little better. Her blood counts are taking their time rising, but they are rising. She went to the doctor this morning, half expecting to need a transfusion, but her hemoglobin, though low, was rising.. and that is great news. She started back on her Zometa IV today which will strengthen and repair some of the bone damage caused by the myeloma.

Her back is weak but that hasn't stopped her from resuming some of her old activities. She has been going to church, to the grocery store, to restaurants and more. Her hair is growing back beautifully. I think it is going to be thicker and darker than it was, and I'm thinking it is going to be straighter, too. Right now, it looks just like a very cute pixie cut.

Now, why did it take me so long to fill everyone in on all the good news....

Well, back when Mom went in for all her tests that would confirm how successful we knew the stem cell transplant was, we were expecting to hear the word "remission". We didn't.

Mom still has some myeloma cells.. that's the bad news. But the good news is those cells aren't causing any damage or reeking any havoc. I have to be honest and say that I focused on that bad news for a while and I didn't want to update the blog and have to say those cells were still there. That simply wasn't the plan. I guess I figured if I didn't write it, it wouldn't be real. It's not that I was in denial... it's just that I was being very selective about what reality I would accept.

I have watched Mom get stronger and more active and I began to realize that a few myeloma cells can't mess up God's plans.

And then the other day, God reminded me of a story in the Bible that, for some reason, seems appropriate to share here.

Numbers 13 tells the story of Moses sending men from each of the twelve tribes out to inspect the land of Canaan.

In much the same way, the Doctor sent x-ray technicians, phlebotomists, nurses and the like to inspect Mom.

In the Bible, the men came back with the old good news/bad news scenario... The good news: The land really is flowing with milk and honey.! The fruit is delicious! The cities are beautiful! The bad news: Ummm... well, there are some people that live there.. they look pretty scary.. pretty tough and really really big. There are giants in that land, so hey, this wilderness doesn't look so bad..

Kind of like when Mom got her test results.. The good news: Kidneys look great. Bones look great.. no new damage of any kind. The bad news: We still have some myeloma cells.. (Ok, to me, myeloma cells, though microscopic, are the equivalent of giants in the land.)

Just then Caleb and Joshua spoke up. They had seen the giants too, but they weren't afraid of them. They knew God was on their side and that He had promised to lead them.

The doctor spoke up. He had seen the myeloma cells, but he also saw how well Mom was doing. He told her those cells weren't going to keep her from feeling good. They might be there, but they weren't going to hurt her or cause problems.

Now the rest of the story unfolds like this.. Of the twelve spies who went into Canaan, 10 focused on the bad news. They were punished. They never got to go live in the land. The two that focused on God, Caleb and Joshua, inherited the land and God's promises.

I want to be like Caleb and Joshua. Mom and Dad already are. They are "strong and courageous" as God commanded Joshua to be. God could have caused Mom to be in remission. God could have healed Mom completely, (something the doctors can't do) but He didn't. And it's not because He was withholding it from us. It's because He is giving us an even more precious gift than healing, the gift of walking in Faith every day, living with courage every day, and EVERY DAY building a closer and stronger relationship with Him.

A few years ago I wrote an essay called "Daddy's Hug" that was published in a Chicken Soup book. The basic story was how I was jilted by some Romeo my freshman year of college. This heartbreaking event sent me home to my dad who made it all better with just a hug. It was a hug I will always remember, and it was a hug that would not have happened without that heartbreak.

Mom and Dad are walking in the perpetual hug of God right now. No wonder Mom looks so good. She is glowing, because she is leaning on her Saviour and His glory is shining through. And just like Caleb and Joshua did inherit the promises of God, despite the giants in the land.. I now know Mom will live a long, healthy life, inheriting her own promises from God, despite those teeny tiny cells.

God has a plan. And I now fully trust Him.

Not only is the grass growing...

but Mom's hair is growing too! If you look closely you can see all her new growth coming in. She is feeling good these days and right now is looking forward to getting her port removed. She will be going in tomorrow morning.. If she no longer needs fluids or blood, chances are great that she won't have to wear that port anymore. We are also hoping she gets the results of all her tests last week. We know by looking at her that the stem cell transplant did it's job... we are just anxious for the doctor to say it too. I will update as soon as we get the results.

And now for something completely different

Another update, but this time the update is on Dad.

He had surgery today to repair a hernia. Mark is with him, while Mike and I are home with Mom. She is feeling better, but probably not up to waiting in a waiting room.. but then does any one feel up to waiting in a waiting room.

Dad is now out of surgery and in recovery. He did very well.. and apparently so did the surgeon. Not only did he repair daddy's hernia, but he also discovered a stranded gall stone, hanging around long after daddy's gall bladder removal years ago.

The gall stone was removed, the hernia was repaired, and all is well. Thanks for you prayers.

Edited to let everyone know that daddy is home and resting comfortably.. ok, comfortably might be a bit of a stretch.. but he is as comfortable as one could be after surgery.

Also stay tuned for updates on my mom.. her 100th day (from the stem cell transplant) is coming up next week. We will celebrate with x-rays and a bone marrow biopsy. I'll give all the details very soon!

The Grass is Growing

I just wanted to post a quick update so everyone could see how much the "grass has grown" around here...

• Mom can finally taste food again


• And it tastes good!


• We even went out to eat the other day.


• She told me that she feels like things are working right again.


• And to prove that, she went to her weekly doctor visit and all her numbers were good. She didn't need blood, platelets, fluids.. Her body was making everything she needed.

And all this is just in time around here. Daddy is going to have surgery on Wednesday to repair a hernia, so the roles will be a little reversed . Mom will be the caregiver .. (Actually, Megan, Mark, Mike and I be hanging around quite a bit too)

So, Mom's getting better.. Daddy's going to be better.. yep.. the grass is growing around here.. because it's being watered with all your prayers. Keep praying because the grass is sure pretty.

Shout out to the Dad

Just wanted to take a second here to say Happy Father's Day to my dad. He is doing an amazing job of caring for Mom. I can see my Heavenly Father reflected in everything my Dad does... and I just wanted him to know that I noticed.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

How has your life changed?

I was visiting with Mom and Dad today and we were talking about how Mom has been fighting this cancer for a year now. (Although she wasn't officially diagnosed until July, she did go to the emergency room on June 1st, 2007 for pain that we would eventually find out was caused by the Myeloma.)

Last July, Mom was sicker than I have ever seen her, before or since. She is fighting with grace and strength. When she begins to feel better, will she feel like her old self? I think not. I think that she can't come through a battle like this unchanged. All of those around her are changed too. We all have a strength that we weren't aware of before. We all are much more generous with the "I Love You's". And most importantly, because God says He is with the Broken Hearted, we have all experienced God's love in a new and different way than ever before. And that alone changes you. It can't not change you.

I dare you to watch this video of some people showing how God has changed them. Then I dare you to leave a comment saying how God has changed you. I triple dog dare you.



My mom's cardboard testimony could be...

Cancer Patient
(flip)
Victorious Survivor


Mine would say

Fearfully depending on other people
(flip)
Faithfully knowing God will meet ALL my needs.

What would yours say?

The grass is still growing but we got a weed

Remember the other day when I wrote how waiting for Mom to start to feel better was a bit like grass growing. Well, the grass is growing and mom is feeling a little better every day, but I think we might have grown a weed...

Mom has had a persistant cough since... well, since she got her stem cells. In the last few days the cough passed persistant and began down right annoying. We haven't been terribly worried since a cough can be a side effect of her chemo, but we have been watching it closely. Yesterday morning, Daddy could tell that Mom just wasn't feeling as well as she had been and her cough was getting worse. There were scheduled to go into the hospital just to have her iv lines flushed, but they weren't scheduled to see the doctor until Friday.

However, after Daddy checked Mom's temp and discovered she had fever, they immediately called the doctor who told them to come on down. A chest x-ray later, we discovered that mom was trying to develop pneumonia but they caught it in time. They gave her an antibiotic, as well as a shot to boost her white cell production . She is already feeling much better, and that weed is now under control.

We are just settling back to watch some more grass grow.