7 Weeks Post-Chemo

I am so grateful and amazed at how I am feeling right now.  I have very little to complain about--and I am not just saying that to feign a positive attitude or to be gracious.  I am really able to do all that needs to be done and for that I am so thankful.  At three weeks after my last chemo treatment, my white blood counts were at  1.9.  When I went in last week, they were up to 3.7 (normal is between 4 and 10).  It was so great to be able to clean my bathrooms myself--never thought I would be grateful to be able to clean toilets-but I am.  I went to the whole block of church last week and shed some tears over that little milestone.

My hair started showing signs of regrowth about a week and a half ago.  I have some fuzz/stubble growth now--my kids get so excited.  I asked Chad the other day "Are you jealous?"  He looked puzzled and asked "Why?"  I replied "Because my hair is growing back!"  

The Herceptin treatments that I get every 3 weeks affect me the day of (they make me a little nauseous and tired) but the next day I feel fine.  There is one other younger woman that I see getting infusions and I had the chance to sit by her Wednesday and talk to her.  I was excited to talk to someone who was obviously further down the path than I (she had hair) and someone who was at a similar stage in life.  She is a mother of 4 girls and is a couple years older than me.  In talking to her, I found out that she had completed the chemo treatment and one year of Herceptin, only to have the cancer come back 6 months later in the lymph nodes of her neck.  She said it was the lowest point of her life and that the doctor had to talk her into doing chemo again.  She did the chemo and now is getting a weekly dose of Herceptin (indefinitely) to stop the cancer from growing.  She probably could read the look of concern on my face and quickly added, "But there is so much hope for you!  You caught it at a stage 1.  I was at stage 3B."  I am sure my face said it all--sadness for her mixed with fear for my situation.   She said the Herceptin seems to be doing the job for now, but worries about it losing its effectiveness in the future.    It was yet another reminder that we have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but that all we can do is trust that God loves us and knows what's best for us--and it is He who is granting us our every breath.

We went on one family vacation this summer in our trailer to visit my sister, and we decided to take another one to celebrate the completion of the chemotherapy.  We initially wanted to go to Lake Powell but I wasn't quite up for camping on the beach, so we decided to go to Bear Lake.  We took the kids out of school and went up for the weekend.  Our kind neighbors let us stay in their lovely cabin, free of charge.  It was so generous of them and we are grateful to them.  The lake was so beautiful and we had a great time---Eden even learned to water ski!    

I remember back in April, looking forward to General Conference, because I knew that I would need the strength and help that comes from listening to a living prophet and apostles for the immediate road ahead.  I was to begin chemotherapy in a couple of weeks after conference.  Following conference I thought " I cannot wait until October conference!"  In addition to spiritual enlightenment, October General Conference symbolized the time when I would be through with the treatments.  The long awaited October General Conference is almost here!  As I look back at the last six months, I am eternally grateful for the many "green lights" we hit along this road.  My family and I have felt the love and support of many prayers and acts of service.  We have felt and experienced the love that Heavenly Father has for his children and have felt the Savior's love and His strengthening and enabling power!