The Best of News

This is one of the most exciting entries I have gotten to blog so far. I got the best of reports yesterday. My doctor is one of those "cut to the chase" kind of guys, which we appreciate. No use in building up the drama. He walks in quickly like Kramer, & sits down & says "I've got great news. You are responding excellent to the therapy. The scan showed 40-60% decrease in the size of the cancerous areas & lesions in the bones." HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!! SWEET JESUS!!!!! I felt like dancing. He said that as good as I look, my energy level, positive attitude, & minimal side effects, that he wasn't surprised with the results. Can I get an AMEN!! I've got all of you to thank for praying specifically for these things!! He also mentioned that we (me & my support system of prayer warriors) need to focus now more on my white blood cell count. It is worrying him that in the next cycle or two ( cycle=3 chemo treatments & 1 bone building medication), that my WBCs are not going rejuvenate like they should. They have been in a steady decline, & not recovering as well as they would like during my off week of chemo. There are strict guidelines with the clinical trial that could jeopardize me staying on the Avastin. This particular drug is the standard of care now with some types of lung cancer, but hasn't been approved by the FDA for metastatic breast cancer. Maybe six months down the road. Is there anybody out there that could coach me on lobbying for a speedier passing of this? Let me know.

Please, my friends, pray this week for my blood counts. I need to get my full dose of taxol this coming Monday. No more reduced doses from low counts. I received my flu shot Monday too. He did recommend staying well & out of crowds. The kiddos will have plenty of hand sanitizer dispersed. They will have OCD by the time I finish with these treatments..HA.

Also I would like to encourage you to be part of Relay for Life this spring. I think you can access it at relayforlife.org. They are trying to organize teams, so if you are looking for an office activity, please consider this. I'm humbled to have been asked to be one the honorees this year.

I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh: I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 9:16-18

This scripture just jumped out at me this morning. I praise God each night for the mercy & grace he bestows on us daily. He is a sovereign God. His word makes it so easy to love him & our Lord Jesus. I just feel so blessed by him, even though he has allowed this to happen to my body. It is there for a reason, and I refuse to question him why anymore.