Laura's Treatment Update- April 8

Hello, everyone! Thank you for your continued prayers, love and support. They are such a blessing, and I appreciate you so much! Your prayers are making a difference. Time for a little update. Ed and I have been in Portland at OHSU for inpatient and outpatient chemo this past week, and it has gone well. Have had 3-5 hour sessions twice a day on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. We head home tomorrow, the 9th.

It has gone well, and my body is tolerating it well. Ed and I have enjoyed resting and taking some short drives and walks between treatments. My dear Ed is a joy and blessing, a great help and companion during these days! (Well, actually, he is that ALL of the time, chemo or not!)

On March 29, our family had an important meeting with our oncologist, Dr. Gajewski, to learn about the future treatment plan. We were blessed that our children Harmony, Matthew, and Heather, could be there along with my sister Donna (a former oncology nurse.) We have been blessed to learn that the DNA characteristics of my particular AML (acute myeloid leukemia) are now more favorable than previously thought. Yay! This means that the plan will be 1 or 2 more rounds of chemo about 35 days apart- with NO transplant needed! We were told that my not needing a transplant is a "good thing!" If there was ever a relapse in the future, the transplant would occur...but I am not planning on ever needing it! I remain optimistic and encouraged and believe in His hand of protection, healing, and provision. I continue to sense His "peace beyond understanding," and that is such a comfort.

This journey down the Faith Path while battling this leukemia has been a blessing in so many ways. Growth in faith, precious time in God's Word, learning new truths, readjusting priorities, experiencing His faithfulness, comfort, strength, and peace have all been real and tangible blessings. I will continue to press on as we fight this battle and am looking forward in confidence to regaining my physical health in the months ahead! (Looking forward to some future 5Ks! Want to join us? 😎)

It is such a blessing to have our children and their families, and our extended family and friends near. Friends and family from afar are such blessings as well. As I write, we await the any-day birth of Heather and Austin's baby! So exciting!

I am praying for each of you. Thank you for your prayers, love, support, words of encouragement, and friendship! I am thankful for you.

Romans 12:12
"Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer."

Psalm 84:11; 100:5
"For the Lord God is a sun and shield," "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures for all generations."

Love, Laura