Chemo Cycle is Done!

a note from Kristen

Mom had her last chemo yesterday before our family Florida vacation arrives! This also marks her last chemo for her 9 week treatment cycle. Within the last 9 weeks she has had a total of 6 chemo treatments to try to reduce the cancer cells in her liver. Out of those 6 chemo treatments she was rushed to the ER only once for a high fever, felt sick with fever two other times, and the other three times had no fever and only experienced weakness and fatigue. She has lost almost no hair and maintained her weight. Her blood work results have continued to be exceptional after the first scare of high calcium. She has started noticing small changes in her body from the affects of her cancer, but nothing even close to serious yet. We're praying very hard that God allows her to stay with us for TWO years (only 15-20% of patients with her type of cancer live that long) instead of just 6-12 months. Please pray with us that she does! She is having a CT scan taken on July 16 to identify whether or not the chemo is having any affect. Please pray HARD that it is!!! We've made the decision that we do not want to know the results until after we get back from Florida. We want to take this trip with a clear minds free from worry.

Speaking of Florida, we have just over a week before our much anticipated vacation! As I mentioned once before, this will be our first family vacation in over 10 years! This is only possible because of all of YOU - the amazing friends and family who have supported us during this time. Not only is this an amazing Make a Wish for mom, but also a fantastic Birthday gift to her! Our last day in Florida will be on her birthday. :) If you need any extra gift ideas for Mom ;) ... she LOVES pasta salads right now. Her taste buds have changed drastically from cancer and chemo and her biggest craving is pasta salad - so crazy! In fact, she looks forward to chemo visits because the hospital cafeteria has pasta salad. Weird, right? Facebook message me if you want to help out with providing Pasta Salads. :)

We will definitely share photos of our trip with you guys so you can partake in the experience with us! Not only has our flights been taken care of, and a house on the water provided to us, but one of my co-workers donated a two night stay at the Saratoga Springs resort at Disney Parks! Her father had been a Disney fan and she felt that he was telling her to share Disney with us. Mom's grandchildren (my nieces) are going to flip out! We haven't given them many details of this upcoming vacation. They think our vacation consists of just staying at a hotel ... which to them means they get to swim every day. They have no idea there is a beach or Disney involved! <3

Thank you, Bickel/Flannery and Newport family for the special gifts!

(Saratoga Springs Resort)