My First Arizona Post

 Hi, Everyone!! Shawn and I flew down to Arizona this afternoon, and then checked into our accommodations; then had to find food and groceries and tell the persons resposible for my children that "all is well." 
It's 8:30pm already, and I am SPENT...but I am conscious of the fact that I said I'd blog much more frequently, so I thought I'd make a list of what I am offering from this blog as a starting point to my "FIRST DAY IN ARIZONA." 

• 1st - I will be trying to write every other day but do not know how the treatments will effect me and I will most likely miss more days than I'd want. 

• 2nd - I am trying to figure out how to post pics using this terrible wifi. Praise God it's so warm, I'll have to find a hip, outdoor coffee place ASAP.

• 3rd - I know my writing is a bit different now (you should see my handwriting!). I went through a period of great hopelessness and I feel like my tone reflects this. I would love to find "that wacky writer" again too (and with God's help, I will) 

• 4th - I'm going to post very little about our kids. They are well taken care of and I want them to stay safe while I'm not there. It was gut-wrenching to leave them for even a day. Gut wrenching.

• 5th - Please do not make plans to come to Denver if you'd like to see me personally. If I am accepted for treatment tomorrow, there is a good chance that I won't be home for 4 months or more. I will post this happy detail tomorrow. My boys WILL see me. I would worry, so I post that  😉 

• 6th - I had a very full day today (for ME). It is even really hard to type info right now. I could definitely not share this news a number of times a day. I love you. I'd love to be sitting in a room and laughing and remembering with you/or getting to know you authentically...but I will not be communicating too much except for giving info through this blog. Please don't be hurt or offended. ALL of my energy needs to go into my loving my family and staying alive.

More in a few days (or maybe tomorrow).

Jesus, I trust in You

"Uphill Battle"

 Happy Day After Thanksgiving!! 

We had a nice Thanksgiving with my brother's family, my sister-in-law's sister's family (they live here in Colorado) and my parents (who live down the street). 

It was pretty loud and crazy with NINE kids, so I didn't make it out too long. Shawn and everyone else did a great job of decorating for the evening. We think the boys watched their third Home Alone and they played about 5 hours of hide-and-go-seek. Naturally occurring social distancing.

In my last post, I mentioned that Shawn and I had been researching more alternative cancer therapies. It  is a long story and took a few weeks as we plowed through various doctors, cancer centers and locations. A quick amount of background...There are a number of places that offer a blend of alternative and standard chemotherapies. The most famous of these places are in Germany (where Farrah Fawcet got treatment). There are also some less famous (but successful) centers in Mexico. Only three (we think it's 3) states in the US allow these treatments - Nevada and Arizona were the 2 states where we focused our search since they are relatively close or convenient for us. I do want to mention that most of the work at these centers is not covered by insurance, which makes them pretty expensive. 

After Zoom interviews and some pretty crazy Divine Intervention, We decided to go with a cancer center in Scottsdale, Arizona: Envita 

One of the largest "signs" we received is that my best friend's sister (Sr Meg, a SOLT sister) had heard of the clinic because her best friend (Fr Mark, a SOLT Priest) is friends with one of the clinic's head oncologist/research doctors. Fr. Mark called this doctor and the doctor called us (we had already sent my paperwork) to review my case. 

The doctor said, "You definitely have an uphill battle,  but if we get right on your case, I think we can help." It was both discouraging (but we were starting to get that feeling ourselves) and hopeful. I brought up that "God will do what He wants" and the Doctor immediately said that "I find that people who can trust in God do better and even totally heal." Well, as readers from the beginning will know, the theme of this blog is basically "Jesus I trust in you." Even if I don't always totally feel it, I will push forward and believe.

Practically speaking, what does this all mean? For now, it means that Shawn and I will be flying down to Scottsdale on Nov 30 (yes, on Monday) and we will meet with the doctors on Dec 1. The next day, I will have a number of blood draws and some big testing. I will begin some immunotherapy treatments the next day. It also means I will be updating the blog nearly everyday so that people here in Denver as well as family and friends far away will know what is happening. My sister-in-law will spend the week here with our boys (see picture above). I am so grateful for her (and my brother). 

After this first week, we're not sure what will happen. Our patient advocate said not to make long term plans but they do offer daily care and I will live in Scottsdale for as long as treatment takes. I will keep you updated. 

Again, I hope you had a great Thanksgiving. While I am most thankful for my family (especially Shawn) I'm also thankful that it looks like there is a covid vaccine coming in quickly and I just can't wait for this stupid pandemic to be over.

Talk soon

Jesus, I trust in you.

A pretty boring update :)

 I have been getting a good number of texts and messages from so many wonderful people. That pretty much lets me know that a month is too long for an update on my cancer journey. (FYI, the phrase "cancer journey' strikes me as corny and vastly off-base for what it is...but ce la vie).

So, what is the update? 

Thank God it's pretty boring - or at least generally uneventful. 

First, I am currently on round 8 of the second line of my chemotherapy. I have had one scan and the next is planned for after the holidays. We might schedule it earlier, but I think my oncologist doesn't expect dramatically new results. She says it looks like the cancer is "holding steady" at this point- not better - not worse. I'm just happy to see 2021 in relatively good health. 

So, not a lot is new here. Shawn and I are looking into more alternative therapies to use along with the repurposed drugs I continue to take. I have dialed back on these drugs a bit so I will most likely be ramping up the repurposed drugs as well as looking into "new" things. 

Cancer is a complicated, expensive thing. 

As always, I am relying on prayers...the amazing, uncountable amount of prayers that have been promised. We cry every time someone says, "we're praying." Along with being an embarrassment (poop and conversation-wise), this cancer has been incredibly humbling as we learn to rely on others. 

We have been blessed by my brother and his family who are using their remote learning and work to come and live near us for the month of November. 

I think my next post will be all pictures. I need to take more as I can't find any new pictures to post. 

The kids are all well and all three are still in face-to-face school. It's looking like this might change, but it's been nice for them to have activity during the day.

We are still not sure what we'll be doing for Thanksgiving. 

We definitely don't know what the future holds. We are still trusting in Jesus and Mary and the prayers of friends and family. 

Even as it's boring, I will try to post more for faraway friends. 

Stay safe.