Counts on their way up!

It's been a few days, perhaps you would like to know where things are at.

Mom was at the hospital yesterday and her blood work shows that her WBC counts are on their way up! So Mom gets three days off and doesn't have to go back to the hospital until Friday. She will receive her final spinal lumbar puncture then.

Mom finished her second protocol of chemotherapy a few weeks ago, and now that her blood counts are on their way back up, she will likely be starting protocol three in a week or so. The doctor explained that this will be the regular pattern, the chemo will eliminate Mom's WBC's and the counts will drop. Once they come back up into normal ranges (a total of about two weeks) they will start the next protocol. Each protocol will be about a month long, but each one is different. They vary all the chemo that Mom receives so the leukemia doesn't have a chance to build resistance.

It's strange how things have settled into a sort of routine. Two months ago I would never have imagined that we would be where we are now. I look back every now and again to the first weekend when Mom was in the hospital and we didn't know what was going on, why she was so anemic. Then she received the diagnosis of leukemia and those first lines in her educational manual that said "now that you are one of us...." My first thought was NO! I don't want to be here, I don't want to join this club. But as we have walked this road I've realized that it is so much better to walk with others who have gone on before you, to be supported by medical staff, family and friends. Old and new alike, people who know what it's like to face cancer. Two of my friends have also recently had diagnosis of different kinds of cancer in their parents, and I find that I am able to relate to them better and understand what they must be going through because of my own experiences.

Mom was telling me about her time at the hospital yesterday. She was talking with her friend who drove her in and expressed to her how grateful she is for the journey she's walking. The conversation carried on, but a few minutes later her friend said, "I'm still processing what you just said!" It is remarkable how God gives us the strength for each path He takes us on. We have seen that so clearly on this journey. God has been so good. Mom is a rock of strength, even when she has tough days she still finds things to praise God for. Her relationship with Jesus has become all the more evident through this, so that she can praise God for leukemia! She is amazing, and God just shines through her.

Thank you for being here and walking with us.

Amy

refined silver

As I have been reading, this verse caught my heart: "And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them; I will say, 'they are My people' and they will say 'The LORD is my God'." Zechariah 13:9

Oh Lord ~ You ARE my God! Each time of walking through the fire, I see more and more of Your heart calling me to be yours. I just want to 'run the race with endurance' !

'Thank you' again for caring for us and walking this journey with us! May you walk with Light as you go through the fires in your own journey!

Lorna ~ The Leukemia Mamma!

Beauty in Vancouver

Today, the Spinal Lumbar Puncture was canceled as my blood count was too low and there is a risk of infection. So, I will continue to go in every second day to get blood work done and have the SPL in a few weeks. So, Rob and Amy who brought me in, walked me to where Rob had parked. Not far from this lovely gate with the beautiful sunshine and a pink dogwood tree!! Wow, we are just so blessed in Vancouver! Such loveliness everywhere!!
Thank you for praying!
~ the Leukemia Mamma

Osoyoos Lake 2006

Hello from the 'Leukemia Mamma'
Here is a happy memory from camping with my dear friends Lynn and Marina. They laughed as they watched me down by the shore crouching low with my tripod as dusk settled over the lake.
We do not always know what the morning will bring but we can count on His promises!!
"I will strengthen them in the Lord and in His name they will walk" declares the Lord.
Zechariah 10:12

What a promise! I need that for tomorrow as I have my (hopefully) last Spinal Lumbar Puncture. Thanks for your prayers. It means so much!
Lorna

2 days off

Leukemia Mamma
It has been wonderful to have two days off! Tomorrow I go in again just so they can do bloodwork and make sure me white count numbers are dropping. But, I am surprised at how well I feel!!
(Significant prayers, I am sure)!! I even did an hour of sorting shifting and cleaning in my "back room" today! I have had two naps since then though. But I have not needed to take anything for nausea or pain! Wow....
I have not yet gotten my "big camera" out. These are from before! But I offer roses to each of you
Praying Gods rich blessings to you! Lorna

Please sponsor me and help cure blood cancers

Please sponsor me and help cure blood cancers

Dear Friends,

Thank you for following with us on this journey.

Being in a family with cancer can make you feel helpless, and out of control.

At the same time we have received amazing support from so many people.

Today, I want to let you know that I have joined Team in Training to run a

Half Marathon this October and raise funds to find a cure, and to provide

support for those fighting blood cancers.

It gives me hope to be able to take action and give back.

I would be honored if you would consider supporting me

by visiting my team in Training website and making a donation.

Sincerely Jessica Lange

Family

The Spinal Lumbar Puncture went well on Tuesday. I had a wonderful Dr from India who has had much practice there as the population is so large.
Yesterday was restful and with my 'good for me' anti-nausea drug... I felt pretty good. Still stayed horizontal most of the day.

Here is my Angela Rosanna at the BMT out patient!
With her new haircut! She drove me in last friday and we had such a good visit! What a Darling Girl.

I am so blessed by my gentle loving husband, my Rob, and three fantastic daughters! I thought I would include the shot from May 17th, just before Rob buzzed off my remaining hair. I love his tender heart!
Wow, God is so good!

Bonfire on the Patio

Thank you to Amy who planned an event on the patio and got the chairs down, patio swept and umbrella up over the table!
Rob and I sat outside for a bit and roasted a smokie! Wow, saturday was our warmest day yet, so it was lovely!
Thank you Amy!!!

Lorna

Out walking with my iPhone!!

This is the Leukemia Mamma speaking!
I am finally able to get outside for little walks and though I cannot wander with my big camera and tripod... I do have my iPhone in my pocket....
This is Alice's front porch and the path to Heather's house.... so nice to have such beauty so close by! I am blessed!

Angela and Leah

Here are the two precious Gals who donated their hair for a wig for me!! The tall gal cut off their hair then styled it! Wow, what an amazing night!
So Fun!

Thank you All! and to Caroline for the photo!

Feeling Good!

Hello Friends!

I am glad to be able to tell you that Mom is feeling good. She's had two nice relaxing days at home visiting with friends. Yesterday I swept off the back patio, pulled out the patio chairs and wiped them down in preparation for a bonfire I had planned. Although the people I was expecting didn't come it was all ready for Mom and Rob to have a nice impromptu hot dog roast with some friends who came by-and I had marshmallows all ready to share! It was a beautiful evening.

Tomorrow Mom goes in for some heavy chemo and Tuesday she receives another spinal lumbar puncture so she anticipates feeling a bit more under the weather this week.

Amy

Thank you, Dear Friends for your incredible love and support!
You stand strong with us and we are grateful ~ the Leukemia Mamma !!

I have been much better on the new anti-nausea drugs and tuesday night actually felt "fantastic"!! Even with the Spinal Lumbar Puncture that day! I just stayed horizontal... I had my mind back! Had felt so confused, foggy and did not know what to do with myself for the 6 days last week. Well, it is a side effect of the drug - "anxiety" ! Praise God for options with meds!!!

"...true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks..."
John 4:23

What a joy to be 'sought after', by such a Good Father, whose lovingkindness is new every morning! Praying this same joy over each of you!

Lorna

Here is a beautiful 6 year Cancer Survivor named Clair, who I prayed for on her journey. Now she is supporting me, and others, not only in prayer, but also in this beautiful event.

Lorna
Relay for Life in Coquitlam was on Saturday. These luminary bags are dedicated to those who survived cancer or have passed away. Candles are lit within the bags and on the last lap of the relay, this light is the only light along the tracks. The bags complete the whole circle of the track. There were 1379 luminary bags to remind us people's past and present cancer struggle. The impact cannot be described. We are not alone and together we make a difference.
Lorna, you too have been going through treatments and the tiredness has been literally wearing on you. Your faith and beautiful family and friends are anchors for future treatments. You were also honored by having a luminary bag lit during the last lap. A wonderful day of hope
Making each day count
Claire

Sunday

Dear Friends, Thank you for your continued support and prayers.
These are our concerns at this time. Mom goes in for another lumbar puncture on Tuesday. Please pray that the Doctor who does the procedure will be proficient at this task and that the Lord would guide their hands. This week Mom will receive chemo on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Although she is on an Anti Nausea pills she is still experiencing mild nausea and finding that the drug is causing her to feel very tired and confused as her brain feels fuzzy and she has a hard time deciding what to do at all( which for Mom is quite out of character). As a result she feels that she spends most of the day sleeping.
She also wanted me to note that the chemo she is receiving is cyclophosphamide, ARA-C and once a week Methotrexate (bless those of you who understand what these are)!
The rest of us are continuing to move ahead and finding it strange how life does continue on. I almost forget how Mom used to look before she started chemo, and that made me a little sad. It is strange how something can be such a big part of your life but fall to the back burner of your mind for the sake of necessity. You can't let the cancer prevail your life, but you also can't help but acknowledge it's presence. Things are the same and things have changed. Yet Mom continues to be strong, faithful and loving.
Praise God that he is faithful and able to carry us in our time of need.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, would have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen Ephesians 3:17b-21

Jessica

Time for some more news

Hello Dear Friends,

It's been a few days, so perhaps you want to hear how Mom is doing.

As the last post stated, Mom did indeed start the next round of chemo on Tuesday. They've been giving her anti-nausea drugs before they start, but Mom still feels persistent low-grade nausea for most of the day. Sometimes she doesn't know what to eat or if she even wants to eat. Smells bother her too. Please pray that she will find things that she can handle that don't aggravate the nausea.

On the up side though, Mom's liver count seems to be slowly improving. The last few days showed counts that were dropping. (She didn't get the results from today's blood work though because she had a short day and got to go home early!)

Angela just stopped in briefly and it sounds like the bug that she had on the weekend (diarrhea and nausea) is similar to what Mom has been experiencing all afternoon. Angela was sick for about 2 days with diarrhea and is just starting to feel better now. Perhaps what Mom has been experiencing isn't chemo related after all.... Please pray that Mom gets over this bug quickly. She should be able to fight it off since her blood counts have been high. She will mention it at the hospital tomorrow.

Thanks for walking with us.

Amy