Radiation is Over!

I received this certificate and a Hawaiian Lia for my last day. I even got to ring the bell and shout Hooray!!

Today was my last day of radiation and I was relieved! It has not been the easiest phase of this, but we made it through. These are some of the wonderful ladies that take such great care of me during this process.

They have me all in my mask and ready for the radiation to begin. You cannot move your head at all with this lovely mask on. Talk about get me out of here!

CNS Phase

This week has not been my favorite of weeks, I started my CNS phase and it has been the roughest so far. I started on Monday with labs, radiation, lumbar poke with chemo in the spinal column, and then 3 different chemos in the I.V. and that was just Monday. Everyday I have gone into the hospital for radiation on the head to keep out the cancer cells from going into the brain. Thursday I had another lumbar poke with chemo in the spine called the triple threat. I don't much care for the triple threat, but if it keeps out the cancer from my spinal column, bring it on. The nurses and Dr. at the hospital are wonderful and I am so grateful to each and everyone of them for their great kindness and concern for me.
I have a much bigger testimony of the power of prayer and how it blesses my life. I find myself praying more and know that my father in heaven is there and listening to his daughter trying to comfort me. I sure don't know where I would be without the priesthood and the blessings that come from these brethren. The priesthood is everywhere! What a great feeling!
I am excited to go and watch my son play football tonight at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden. Then spend the weekend in Fielding. I am counting down the days to coming home and staying, and it feels like sometimes time stands still, but I am a fighter and I will be a survivor!

Sept. 20, 2010

Long day at the clinic but we made it through. Everything went good. Very exhausted!

Sept. 6, 2010

I am a slacker!! I have not felt like posting anything new.
On Friday I had the "Peg". I was very nervous for this chemo because alot can go wrong and they lay out all of the medication to help...Once your body has seen this chemo it builds antibodies and the next dose can be bad. Well...everything went good. I had a great visit from a friend, Brandi, and she gave me a star necklace for the first peg. One down and 14 more to go. I sure did not feel like a star after awhile, but have managed to stay up beat and try not to get to discouraged. I missed the great Owen Family Labor Day, but want all of you to know that next yr I will be there and many more memories will be made!
I have enjoyed having Jed with me. He takes good care of me. I know this is not easy for either of us, but we have gotten closer and will make it through. Love you Jed!!
Well the next dose of chemo isn't until the 13th of Sept so will post more then.

Aug 30, 2010

Today has been a full day already and its only 11:30 A.M.! I was taken down to Radiation bright and early this morning for the consultation and the fitting of this lovely helmet that I will get to wear each time that I come in for Radiation. The nurses and staff down there were so good to me and could see how nervous that I was to get then CT scan done, but it all went great!

Now I am receiving my first bag of blood and then number two dose of Etoposide (chemo) It hasn't been bad so far and I pray that it goes just as good today! They gave me a tentative date to come home to Fielding, about Oct.1 and I am looking forward to that date. I will probably get to come home for some visits now and again but still must remain close to the hospital for the next CNS period too. The CNS period consists of lumbar pokes with chemo in the spine, radiation, and more chemotherapy.

I am taking one day at a time and I am grateful for each day, I was a little sad this morning not being there for my boys first day of school, but want them to know that I am doing everything I can to be there next yr and the year after that! I love you boys so much! Hope that you had a great first day of school.

Aug 29, 2010

I have had my last dose of Ara C this morning. I have done well with it, now on to the Etoposide. I am not looking forward to this chemo, but will do my best. I am still able to eat and walk most of the day which is great and feel that my balance is coming back. I have some of the best Dr.'s and nurses around and thank them everyday for their great care. My mom and I have had a great time together, we watched Steel Magnolia's and had a good laugh. It's nice to have a good laugh in this tough situation.

I am grateful to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saint and know that I have many blessings from the members and many more. I am thankful for the priesthood and know that that is how I am getting through one day at a time. I love my family so much and appreciate all that they do for me in small and BIG ways.

I thank everyone for their prayers and would ask that you all continue to pray for me. I love you all and may God bless you all with the blessings that you stand in need of at this time. Hugs to all.

Catch-Up Aug. 28, 2010

I first need to apologize for being a slacker on the blog, when I went home to Fielding my computer there had a virus and went to the computer Dr. I don't have wireless at home so my laptop didn't work. So here goes the up date.

I was able to stay at home with my family for a week, and I needed that time with them. It did my spirits good to be able to be their mom and wife again. Plus I enjoyed the visits from great friends and family. I returned to the clinic to try again on Friday. Hip hip hooray, my counts were finally ready for the next round of chemo. Its funny that I was so excited to be healthy enough to get admitted to the hospital! Dr. Julie Ash said that this will be my last hospital stay unless I get a fever or sick. That was great news! Thank you for all the prayers, its nice to know so many people care.

Last night I had a great visitor, My cousin, Uncle Vances, Nancy. We talked for hours and I really enjoyed having her here.

Things are going great so far with the chemo and no complaints as of yet, hope that it will continue that way. Prayers are answered and the priesthood had great power. I have such a great testimony of them both.

A big thank you to my Aunt JaDeen and my son Colten for keeping me up dated on the Bear River game last night. Way to go Bears, and a big shout out to the awesome center for doing a marvelous job, so I hear! You rock Bracken!
A big hug to all.