Hi friends and family! I wanted to let you all know that I've decided to set a goal for myself - to participate in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 'Hike Yosemite' event on June 10. [...]

After several extra days of not hearing back from the doctor (ack! so stressful!), I finally got word that my scan came back negative and I'm now deemed in "complete remission." Can you believe it?!?![...]

Well...it's here. My post-treatment PET CT scan is tomorrow morning, exactly 6 weeks since I left the hospital from my final round of chemo. Feeling both apprehension and relief heading into tomorrow, the scan will let us know if the treatment has worked.[...]

Round 6 has begun! Thankfully there was a bed yesterday, so I got to the hospital late afternoon to get started on my final round of chemo. 

I have had a rough couple of weeks, but finally (as of the last two days) am feeling a bit stronger walking into this round. I know it's going to knock me down pretty hard again, but knowing it's the final one is helping already. [...]

I haven't posted an update in awhile and honestly it's because it's hard to know what to say at this point. The effects of chemo are cumulative and they have definitely caught up with me.[...]

Although the hospital was unbelievably full and I ended up starting round 5 of treatment 9 days late, I'm here and trudging along. I'm on bag 3 of 4 of my big chemo (EPOH) and then will finish up with a reduced Cytoxan dose (since I had such a hard time last cycle with mucusitis and mouth sores). This will happen on Saturday--then I get to go home that afternoon![...]

Chaos and Endless feel like the best words to describe this month of September.

As you know from my last post, I went into the hospital on Saturday, Sept 3rd to start round 4. The chemo regimen went as planned. Success. I finished in my typical 6 days, on Thursday, Sept 8. Round 4, done![...]

For anyone who's been in the hospital, you know the drill...it's all a game of hurry up and wait. We need you to come right now...you rush over...and then you wait, often for hours. I have definitely learned that lesson well in this experience. [...]

I’ve made it through three of my six planned chemo rounds and am so happy to be further from the beginning than the end. Each cycle has had its own crazy challenges, and now after three, I can see how the effects are cumulative.[...]

Finally! The very problematic port is out and Arielle is back to a "simple" PICC line for her chemotherapy treatments. This PICC should now stay in for the duration of her treatment (the previous 2 PICCs were removed as she wrapped up each previous round of chemo, because everyone expected to be able to use the port in the future) and will require some daily care and maintenance, but overall it's a much better choice for her considering the issues the port triggered.[...]