ALMOST HALF-WAY!! And "DNR"

Today is Day 47.  (47 days since the Stem Cell Transplant).  We are three days shy of being half-way to the much anticipated 100-day mark.

Here, have a picture of the new matching cancer hats Hanna made us!  JEEP green!  Very nice.


She actually finished them both before we left Mayo Clinic, but we just figured out that we never did show them off to you all.

Hanna is doing very well:

She has her energy back; no more fatigue.  She spends at least 30 minutes on the treadmill almost every day and keeps speeding it up more and more with time.

She hardly ever naps any more and sleeps well at night.

She has her appetite fully back.  No more pressuring her to consume her minimum of protein and calories.

No signs of toxic, explosive diarrhea or toxic vomit in one's hat.

We think there are tiny stubs of new hair starting to show up on her head.

She has started to regain feeling in her toes.  Huge miracle there as several doctors told her that may not ever come back and if it did, it would take at least a year.

And, HUGE BLESSING HERE, her latest blood tests, the results of which just came in today, indicate DNR for cancer cells in her blood.  We kind of guessed what DNR means, but wanted to verify.  So she called the Cancer Nurse in Post Falls.  No in this case, it does not mean "do not resuscitate", "did not report", "do not run", nor "do not return".  It means, "DID NOT REGISTER".  Which means if there were any cancer cells there in the blood, there were too few to even show up.

The blood test also had a huge warning stating that her immune system was totally insufficient.  We expected that and are continuing to isolate and follow protocol to protect her.  (i.e. no visitors except Grandkids and their parents.  No attending large events other than church.  Isolating from the public when we are out.  And lots of food cooking and cleaning protocols.)

She is on all sorts of prescriptions to help her body fight off diseases.  But she is not on any Chemotherapy for the time being.

So what is next?

We check in with the Cancer Doctor at Kootenai Cancer Clinic every two weeks to monitor the blood counts just to make sure everything is on track.

On day 100, we check in with the fine Medical Staff at Mayo Clinic for a complete set of exams and tests to see how things are going.  We have that scheduled for January 3rd.  We'll fly rather than drive this time.  Dr. Gertz will at that time recommend where we go next.  It is likely she will go on a small dosage of maintenance Chemo Drugs just to make sure and keep any surviving cancer cells at bay.  And we are hoping that he will relax the precautions with her immune system so we can get out more.  Typically at the 100-day mark the patient has regained 2/3rds of their immunity back.

Hanna is upbeat and positive.  She is planning a party for the two of us at the 50-day mark to celebrate half-way to 100!  Gonna be fun.

Thanks for the prayers and thoughts and messages and cards and flowers and offers for help.  They really mean a lot and do help so much.  We feel the love and the blessings.

Hanna has a tin full of the cards she is collecting.



And she is staying busy making Christmas presents using her new crocheting skill.  Frivvy stays by her side and protects and cares for her always.  And he says "hi" to you all.


Hanna's Two-Bits:

One of my favorite Bible verses is brief and direct: "For with God nothing shall be impossible."

We have felt the power of God working in our life as we have absorbed the news of the blood tests. What seemed impossible just a few short months ago is becoming a reality through the faith of hundreds who have prayed for us.

We are so blessed!

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