Last Chemo!

I'm so excited that TODAY is my last day of chemo! 

This is a milestone in my cancer treatment that I have been looking forward to since the beginning of treatment.  I started out in September with a two-drug treatment once every two week for 4 treatments (that took 8 weeks.). That treatment was pretty rough on my system, but not as bad as I anticipated.  I was VERY fatigued for 5-6 days afterward and just didn't feel right.  Thankfully any stomach side effects were very minimal.  My hair started falling out when the doctor told me it would. And so far through my entire treatment, my blood counts have been great and I've had no issues with infection from a compromised immune system. 

When that first treatment was finished, I started a second treatment, one-drug (different than the first two) once a week for 12 weeks. Today is #12 of 12!  This treatment has been much more tolerable. The biggest side effects really came from the Benadryl and steroids I had to have with the chemo the day of treatment.  These last 5 weeks have flown by especially fast.

Chemo is winding down and while I am excited to be done, the next step is radiation.  The medical oncologist will call today to make an appointment for me with the radiation oncologist and I'm told I'll get a consultation quickly to find out when radiation will start.  I'm told to expect that to be 5 days a week for 6 weeks. So my battle isn't finished, but the biggest, most difficult chapter will be finished today!

The kids are having a great school year! They all just brought home great report cards and (praise the Lord!) handed in their big science fair projects today.  All three have recently started playing basketball in the Upward program run by our church.  Braden auditioned for a play with a local production company and is excited that he is going to be a Narnia creature in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" in May.  Rehearsals start in a few weeks, so we'll find out more about his small role then. All three kids seem to be embracing this year and new experiences and friendships, but they are always thinking about home and look forward to returning to Haiti this summer, Lord willing.

I know I've been neglectful with updates on the blog.  For that I'm sorry.  I'm hopeful that many of you have kept up with my shorter updates on Facebook. Either way, I know so many have been praying for me and Rob and the kids. We have been blessed beyond measure during this  journey and have felt your prayers in abundance.  Thank you!

~ Becky