Milestones

I've reached another milestone: I am now finished with my last FEC treatment.  Hurray!  The nurses at the infusion center even sang me the coveted song (see earlier posts) and gave me a blanket and a certificate of completion.  It was awesome!  So now, as I experience each FEC symptom, I get to think, "This is the last time I have to do this!"

On to the next phase of treatment, which is surgery.  We met with the surgeon just a couple of days ago.  With cancer, there is simply no waiting if you want to beat it.  Even though the chemo treatments have reduced the tumor to practically nothing, and my body has responded so well, the cancer will come back with a vengeance if preventive measures aren't promptly taken, which is why surgery is necessary.  So, they've scheduled me as soon as they can: September 24th.  I'll be in the hospital for a couple of days, then with my parents for a couple of days before I'll be able to go home.

When I was first diagnosed, I was terrified of surgery.  It was a huge relief for me to find out that I'd get chemo first.  Now that I've experienced some of the more unpleasant effects of chemo, I find my fear of surgery has nearly disappeared.  I'm ready to take it on and get it over with.  I think I'll recover well.  So far, my body has responded impressively to treatments, and I trust that it will continue to do so.  The Lord has truly blessed me, and I see His hand in so many ways, helping me get through this.

I'm so grateful for all of the prayers everyone has sent up on my behalf!  I know they are answered, and I've felt their strength.  So, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.  They mean a lot to me and my family.

Summer's Final Fling

Where did the summer go?  Every August, as school starts again, we find ourselves contemplating this question.  But this summer, with all the chemo treatments, the summer seemed to evaporate faster than raindrops obliterated by the heat before they reach the ground.  We didn't even get to fill our summer with camping and cookouts, like we usually do.  So, to make up a little for a poor summer showing, we decided to take a little family vacation to Wyoming.

On the drive up, we were able to visit with some of Steve's family.  Then we spent the next day driving through the Grand Tetons.  The day was hazy, but we were still able to see the peaks.  The views were fantastic!

Some of the peaks.

Beautiful Jenny Lake and some beautiful girls.

An historic homestead cabin

According to the kids, the highlight of the trip was seeing two mooses (meese?) grazing along a river bank.

Two "meeses"

That night, we had dinner and a show at the Bar J.  The kids really enjoyed the music and jokes of the Wranglers.  What I liked best was hearing Megan giggle at the jokes.

Enjoying dutch-oven biscuits at the Bar J

Encouraging a stubborn mule

The next day, we headed south down Star Valley.  On the Internet, I'd found mention of a cool water geyser in Afton, so when we got there we decided to go on a little adventure.  We drove up a canyon for a ways, then found the trail head to Periodic Springs, as the geyser is known.

We hiked about half a mile to get to the spring on an easy well-maintained trail.  Unfortunately, my camera battery died on the hike, so I had to take photos with Steve's cell phone.  They turned out better than expected.

At the spring

I was expecting a geyser like you find in Yellowstone, shooting straight into the air; but it was more like white water rapids flowing out of the side of a mountain.  Every 15 minutes or so, the spring trickles to a stop, then starts up again about 15 minutes later.  It was neat to watch the white water start to appear on the rocks above, like magic.

The kids and Steve hiked up a steep trail and were right next to the spring when it started flowing again.  I watched from below, but wished I could have hiked up the trail with them.  Maybe next time. 

After that adventure, we headed for my parent's house and then on home the next day, so the kids could start school.  Our trip was short, but a lot of fun.  It was a good way to say goodbye to summer.

More Thoughts on Strength

A young friend of mine recently wrote a poem for me.  Reading it, I don't feel that I measure up to the strength that she attributes to me.  However, it is something I aspire to.  I hope that I can be strong in the face of this trial.  I have so many moments of weakness, times when I wish so desperately it would all just go away and never return.  But I continue to muddle through and keep a smile on my face as much as I can.  Hopefully, by the end of my ordeal, I can feel like I better deserve my kind young friend's words.

She gave me permission to post her poem here.  I hope it inspires all of us to be the best we can be!

Strength

We all think we’re strong

One way or another

Greater than everyone else

But sometimes

There is one who is

Stronger than the rest

With the strength to carry on

With faith and hope

They strive for the impossible

Giving all they can

They smile when they want to cry

And they lift others up as they go

Even when they’re hurt

They never stop

They won’t let themselves fall

They’ll stand up with an unknown

Strength

They’ll show something nameless

Something mysterious in this life

A power unreachable

For most

Even through the storm

They won’t shatter

They’ll just play in the rain

Making the best out of life

They’ll just laugh and smile

Knowing that tomorrow

Everything will be great

That their life was fulfilled

To the best it could

Have been

And that everything was

Worth it

In the end

Strength to Face the Future

I'm home again after another chemo treatment.  My nurse this time called one of the chemo meds "Red Devil."  The name is appropriate for more reasons than the color.  But at least now I only have 1 more round of FEC before I'm done with that nasty stuff.  :-D

That's the good news.  The bad news is: I found out Monday from my doctor that I have to continue getting the medicine Herceptin every three weeks until the first of April, 2013.  Luckily, Herceptin has very few side effects.  For example, I'll be able to grow back my hair during treatments (yay!). 

The news was a little disheartening, however.  As much as I like all the nurses in the infusion center, I was really looking forward to seeing the last of that place next time.  When you're done with chemo, the nurses sing a song to you to the tune of Happy Birthday: "Congratulations to you; your chemotherapy is through!"  I was hoping to soon be the recipient of that song, but now I'll have to wait several more months.

Speaking of endurance, I met another patient briefly who hands out candy to everyone whenever he has a treatment.  I thought that was great, that in the midst of his trial he still finds a way to brighten other people's day.  Then I read the back of his T-shirt as he walked away.  It said something like "incurable, but not defeated."  I was amazed that he could maintain such a cheerful and positive attitude.  It must take a lot of strength to face indefinite cancer treatments.  I don't think I could do it.  Talk about a marathon!

As for me, I have faith that I will see the end of cancer--hopefully around next April!  I'm counting down the days until the moment I can say: "I'm cured, and I'm a survivor!"