Tue, 4/28/15 Chem #6 and Tumor Marker Results
Hello Fabulous Friends and Family!!!
Hope you had a wonderful Monday! And are starting a fabulous Tuesday!
Yesterday was Chemo #6. I’m half-way through my 12 infusions. YAY! Truthfully, I’m getting tired of having cancer. Ready for it to be over, which is funny because I was reminded today by my Oncologist (who says I’m doing “remarkably well” by the way) that I will most likely have to do chemo again in the future. Bummer. Now, this was just a reality check because I asked him what “could happen”. God can heal at any time and I hope He does. But, this may be a lifelong journey. Hard to hear. But lifelong is better than no life, so I’ll take it!
Anyway, the last chemo week (#5) was rougher. Thursday after was pretty hard—that’s when the side-effects seem to be strongest. Thankfully, they start to dissipate on Friday. And each day after that gets better. Another YAY! Perspective matters:
BAD: Rapid weight loss GOOD: Love the new skinnier body.
BAD: Thinning hair GOOD: Dries super fast.
BAD: Slow hair growth GOOD: Don’t have to shave my legs so much. Or my beard!
BAD: Skin may darken GOOD: Excellent! No more blinding white legs.
BAD: No taste for wine GOOD: Great way to save a lot of money and calories.
BAD: Cravings for greasy chicken SKIN GOOD: Hmmm…I got nothing for this one.
Ok, enough with the boring stuff. Let’s move on to the good news: my CEA Tumor Marker dropped again. To 61! Yay! So, the chemo’s still working. Also, I’m no longer anemic so I don’t have to take the iron. Yay! Also, it’s getting sunnier and warmer in MN. SUPER YAY! Trust me. This is a super yay! for Minnesotans! Also, sunny and warm make me happy.
So, thought I’d better explain the randomness of the pictures above. The first one is the tumor markers results. Second, me trying to nap at chemo (impossible) so I go under the covers to block out all the stimulation I can. Doesn’t work well, but I do it anyway to freak out the nurses (just kidding!). The next is me at the start of this chemo—don’t l look super excited to do it!? Nope. And the last is of my “card wall” (they’re not even all up there yet!). This is all of you guys! If I printed off each text and email and Facebook message and post and Instagram and call and comment and food and gift, I could wall paper my whole house! Well, the food would be hard to wall paper. But if Lady Gaga can wear it, then I’m guessing it can be wall papered. Ask any mother of young kids. Bet they got some of that!
Anyway, you all are truly A-MAZ-ING!!! Thank you for your prayers and kind comments and encouraging words. It’s so wonderful to have such a great group of friends and family. God hears you. You’re really helping me and my family A LOT. Like I said in an earlier post, “Thank you!” is so lacking. So many of you are facing your own horrific trials, and have shared with me your past and present bouts with cancer and other mystery illnesses that just won’t go away. And you’re taking time to help me through mine. You’re ROCKSTARS!!!! Actually, you’re way better than that! My kids are at school so I can’t have them tell me the latest verbiage. So, I’ll use Scott’s, “You’re totally totes!” Or something like that. Wait. That’s what he uses to embarrass our girls in front of their friends. Anyway, it’s a compliment! You are TOTALLY TOTES! Have a truly wonderful week with lots of sunshine and answered prayers!
Comments (15)
Sarah, You inspire me! Love the updates, keeping you in our prayers. Rick and Debbie
So encouraging to hear and your totally tote yourself! See you soon as we head home Monday and should be in MN maybe Wednesday evening.
Sarah, Keep up the grand journey and in the future you will look back and remember how your family and friends supported, encouraged, and witnessed your wonderful win against cancer, and the great attitude you kept during this huge trial. You are blessed and you will make it, no matter what you must go through or how difficult it becomes. You deserve to be well and happy, and your husband and children deserve to have you with them for many years to come. Keep focused and your eyes on the prize because you will make it! Michael
So glad to hear the good news. So amazed to see your outlook on life. You are an inspiration!
Greasy chicken skin is its own reward. Yum.
You rock, girl!!! I love your grand, indomitable spirit!! There is a bonus to having the blood of "stiff-necked Israelites" in our background; it gives us amazing perseverance to fight trials!! Keep up the good work, Sarah!!! We love you!!! Paul and Darla :)
Awesome on the markers...and love the list! Greasy chicken skin should be listed on the GOOD side as well all by itself...mmmm
Hey Sarah! Those numbers look mighty good!! What a blessing! What an inspiration you are to us!!
Thank you for the updates, so very educational! So happy for the good news! God is loving!
Hey, Sarah, Keep it up!! You are always in our prayers here in Montana. Oh, spring is almost here, also. We are ready. Sincerely, Al and Tina PS...Give Scott a big hug for us... and make sure he gives you one back from us... ;-)
I am reminded of a scene from "Lord of the Rings" as Mr. Frodo and Sam Gamgee are on the mountain to finally toss off the ring. Mr. Frodo has carried the ring with strength, resolve, a fiery determination, with no other thought in mind other than victory. But at this point in the long journey, he has understandably grown weary. He is only human. The "weight" of the ring has increased with every step. Sam says to him: "I can't carry it (the ring) for you, but I can carry you!" Sarah -- your ability to carry this cancer with strength, resolve, a fiery determination, with only victory in mind is a life-inspiration to all of us. We dearly wish we could take this "ring" off of your neck and carry it for you. Unfortunately, we can't. As you too well know, the journey does not get easier as you go along. But you do have dozens of "Sams" who are with you every step, who can carry you in whatever ways you need, who will "lift you up" in prayer until this cancer is tossed into oblivion, and who count it a privilege to have you as a friend.
Such wonderful news! So glad you continue to improve -- even though you have some rough days. We continue to pray for you!!
Our dear Sarah, it is sooooo encouraging to see those tumor markers shrinking. Know that we continue to lift you up in prayers daily: for Divine intervention, for the impact this has on your family/girls to be one that draws them closer to God instead of affecting them in a harmful way, for the doctors to be led from Above, and for your spirit and wherewithal to be refreshed and renewed each day. Much love to ya, sweet sister.
Sarah, great to hear the good news. We are enjoying your updates and continue to pray for you, Scott and the girls.
TO MATTHEW FENCHEL: i have NEVER read ANYTHING SO BEAUTIFUL and SO TRUE, as to how we ALL feel about sweet Sarah! What a magnificent way, Matthew, to describe not only what Sarah is going through and how she's handling it, but how inspiring she IS to ALL of us. I've never met you, Matthew, but you're a spiritual brother and that's ALL I need to know...and your words not only UPLIFT and strengthen Sarah, I'm certain, but they also uplift and strengthen those of us who read them. What amazing encouragement and what a VALUABLE friend you are to our Sarah...we should all be so blessed!! I will remember your choice of words forever, in this life! TO SWEET SARAH: I love you and have shared my deepest feelings with you, via email, about all that you're going through. I will always hold you up in prayer, until your healing is complete and I'm filled with JOY each and everyday, just knowing you're doing SO WELL and that I have YOU as a CHERISHED friend! Your journey inspires me in SO many ways and gives me courage to face whatever comes my way. Knowing you, makes life more sweet, more precious and SO MUCH MORE FUN!!! I truly know what you mean about greasy chicken skin...what can be said really...it is what it is and you know what that means...IT'S FINGER LICKIN' GOOD!!!! Maybe all the good nutrients from the greasy chicken skin will renew your taste for fine wines...LOL!!!