words can't describe how happy I am for these two sisters, my baby girls that Rachael got to come be a part of Cheyenne's grad night!!! :)
This WASN'T supposed to happen- God is still in the miracle business, and here is your proof!

Kidney removal surgery update....

All docs agree that because Rachael is responding SO AMAZINGLY WELL to her chemo med, they are going to hold off for 3 months on (kidney) surgery, re-scan and reassess her then.
Especially since it's looking more & more like she may not even have to have surgery on her spine AT ALL-. :)
God is SO good :-D

p.s. to clarify, she will definitely have the kidney removed at some point- to prevent recurrence- but not just yet. They want to give the med longer since it's doing such a FABULOUS job :)

WOW!!!!!! What a great day! She's allowed to walk around more now at home, she's allowed to travel BY CAR (no more ambulance, WOO HOO!)
And he'll see her again in two weeks to compare X-rays, she may be able to graduate to a soft brace!!! :-D
Rachael got to walk down the hall withOUT her brace today, pics are attached...
This means many things, including that she can go to Chey's graduation :-D
We're heading to Applebee's tonight to celebrate. Thank You, Jesus!
My Christ is conquering cancer right before our eyes! :-D

P.s. She looked at her "before pics" for the first time. It was a little bit overwhelming to see the tumors before treatment, but very encouraging to see how far she's come. Especially hearing the words "90% GONE!"
Hallelujah!!!!

PRAISES!!!

Glory & Praise be to Jehovah Rapha, God the Healer. Blessed Be His Holy Name!
The cancer has shrunk to the point where it is mostly contained only in the one kidney & surrounding lymph nodes!
They are now planning to remove that kidney & nodes, with an outside chance they'll be able to stabilize her spine during the same surgery!
All her docs are working together (as well as consulting with top surgeons around the country) and forming a specific plan of action.
We see her neurosurgeon next week- she may not even have to have her back repaired b/c the Zometa (other chemo) has healed most of the cancer in her bones!!!!!!
We go back to the general surgeon in two weeks to discuss the game plan.
GOD IS SO GOOD. We stand amazed in His presence.
- NONE of this would be possible without Him ♥

6 months today...

6 months ago today....

6 months ago, I couldn't fully comprehend the sheer terror of having my own child diagnosed with cancer.
I was also blissfully ignorant of the devastating effects -physical and emotional- of “chemo” and being bedridden for so long- especially on a 23 year-old vibrant woman, and the impact it would also have on me and the rest of our family.
I couldn't truly appreciate the challenges of what it means to be a full-time caregiver. How exhausting it is- emotionally even more than physically.
I couldn't have begun to fathom the way our lives would be drastically changed forever...

But God knew my terror, He wasn't ignorant of the challenges ahead, and He knows my weariness. None of this took Him by surprise.
In fact, He was already IN my tomorrow, waiting for me in my next day, working everything out according to His plan.

6 months later….

6 months later, I have more peace & confidence, than terror.
I am still learning how to manage the physical & emotional issues, but we have learned so much, and God has allowed us to stay ahead of the roadblocks more often than not.
I am so grateful to be my daughter's caregiver, and I couldn't imagine it any other way.
I look back on how much our lives have indeed changed, but I need to choose to see the good. Relationships have been restored- between friends & family. And most importantly, with God.
I am learning to no longer take things for granted. I value each and every day God gives us, and the people He has put on our path to walk this journey alongside us.

6 months later, as I glance back I see God all over this situation, all over US, giving us the strength and hope we need to fight one more day.
I see Him everywhere, and I feel Him closer than ever before.

So I choose to thank God for this opportunity, and I pray that He uses us in any way He sees fit.

I thank God for YOU prayer warriors, and your faithfulness. Prayer is powerful! We are 6 months closer to a victorious outcome, and we praise God for it!

Rachaelisms...

She walked up behind Adam holding her iPod, and Adam turned around like where in the world is that music coming from?
Without skipping a beat, she says,
"My brace plays music now. :)"

Monday we were talking about The Voice and a former contestant whose name is Charlotte Sometimes. Neither of us cared for her, so Rach renamed her Charlotte Never. Lol!

This morning Jasmine was cuddled up with her of course, and we were talking, I
said something to her from across the room, and so she says,
"what's that you said? I have cat butt in my ear."


We were talking about the Titanic being re-relased at the theaters and the specials to commemorate the 100 year anniversary, and she says, "Did you know there's Titanic 2? How does THAT work???"

Never a dull moment I tell ya!

Followups with neurosurgeon and oncologist....

Neurosurgeon visit 4/5:
We had xrays and a follow up with the neurosurgeon to check her spine, to make sure there's been no damage from her walking twice/day. Praise God she's allowed to continue her short distance walks and also she's allowed to shower!!!


Oncologist visit 4/9:
Her tumor marker is up, BUT they assure us that it is very typical for her specific tumor type to bounce around this way. It wasn't increased so much that it was cause for concern :)

We've been referred to an endocrinologist to monitor her hormones and start weaning her off of her steroid, PRAISE GOD!!!

Our next scans & MRI's aren't going to be until the first week of May. That will be a very important scan, because not only will we know if the new chemo is working, but we'll also know how close she is to having her spine cleared of enough tumor to go in and surgically repair her spine-to get her OUT of this bed!!!

this pic is of a cross given to Rachael by my cousin... awesome!