Hello, everyone. Treatment Update ~ Stomping Leukemia!

Hello and greetings to all! I am so thankful for your prayers, love, friendship, and support. I am thankful for you! I wanted to give you an update on all the great things that have been happening...and what will happen next in my treatment. God is so faithful in His love and presence, and in the promises in His Word. I continue to choose the Faith Path and not the Fear Path!

It has been such a blessing to have had the last 17 days at home to rest, recover, and be with family. As well, it has been a gift to be able to choose to partake in such activities as washing dishes, cooking, light housework and chores, walking in nature, spending time with family, having s'mores on the back deck...all activities missing from a hospital stay! Also, having extra time available to spend with the Lord in prayer and reading the Word has been wonderful.  Due to germ evasion, I have been avoiding crowds. I am so looking forward to the day soon when I can go back to church, the grocery store, and visit with more family and friends. I never thought I would miss walking into a grocery store or mall!

Ed, daughter Heather (7 1/2 months pregnant!) and son-in-love Austin have been so great in their care and support at home. It has been wonderful to be home with them. Son Matthew and wife Hallie and 4 littles are 5 minutes away and have been so supportive and caring as well. It is fun to be able to see them so often. In the next 2 weeks, daughter Harmony, husband David, and 6 littles will be driving across the country from Oklahoma in their move back to Keizer. It will be so wonderful to have them near!

This last week has brought more good news. The latest bone marrow biopsy shows the leukemia is in a continued state of remission, and blood levels are good. Because of this, we will proceed with a 2nd round of chemotherapy this next week.  March 1- March 6, I will receive chemo on 3 separate days as an inpatient/outpatient at OHSU. Treatment will be in the morning and evening on March 1, 3, and 5th at OHSU. The in-between times and days will be spent at the Ronald McDonald House (for out-of-town adult treatment patients) located at the Marriott/Residence Inn at RiverPlace, near OHSU. We are blessed to have such lovely accommodations for this week of treatment. 

Ed will be my primary caretaker for this week. He is so caring, organized, and intuitive and I am so thankful for him! He as well excels at germ control and reminding me of my part in that! Our children and my sisters will continue their love and support as this week progresses as well. The current plan is to return home on March 6 to continue rest and recovery of blood counts after treatment.  

At this time, the doctors are "debating" whether or not a stem cell transplant will be needed, based on future test results.  I remain encouraged, and optimistic at the future. I love claiming God's promise in Jeremiah 29:11: "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope."

Prayer requests would be: minimal side effects from chemotherapy, that the drugs will eradicate any remaining leukemic cells in the bone marrow and not harm any bodily systems or organs, that blood counts will return to normal in a timely fashion after treatment, that there will be no infections, and that this treatment will result in a complete and permanent remission. Amen!  Thank you for praying!

Romans 12:12 tells us to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." I love that.

Ephesians 6:10 encourages us this way:  "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Draw your strength from Him, that strength which His  boundless might provides." 

I appreciate YOU, and am praying for YOU! Thank your again for your prayers, love, and support. ~ Laura