Thursday, December 29, 2011

I know it's been awhile since my last post....

...but there really has been nothing to report. All has been been going very well....so far so good!!

I had a routine follow up MRI on Tuesday, December, 27th. My doctor appointment this morning revealed the results.....ALL looks good and remains stable. This is truly a season for celebration!!!

My next appointment at Duke BTC is Monday, January 9th. I will hand deliver my MRI CD and narrative results and am anxious to see how they read the images. I don't want you to think I'm skeptical, but I always like to hear the Duke doctors concurrance as well! For me, it seems to be an additional comfort hearing their respected opinion. I will post after my appointment.

Believe it or not, our journey together is coming up on 26 months in early January. Your continued and unfailing prayers have carried me this far....please continue to hang with me and go the distance!!!

Everything I am has come from the goodness of GOD!

Peace and love to all,

+Sandy

Sunday, November 6, 2011

2 year Anniversary...November 4th!!

Lift up your voice and lay your burden down!

It's hard to believe that 2 years ago, my life was forever changed. Thank goodness that it was!! The diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumor has led me to find an inner strength that I never knew I had. With all of your faith and prayers, I was given the gift of faith to believe that God has other plans for my life. I'm learning that by living in trust and not in fear, God truly will not give anyone more than they can handle. If we lay our burdens down, HE will pick them up and carry them for us.

As we look forward to each new day and counting off another year of this healing journey, I ask you to please continue to keep me in your prayers, as I do for you. There is such promise for a new tomorrow and I am filled with gratitude every day I have the opportunity to wake up and experience it.

Today is the day you have made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Peace, hope and love,

+Sandy

Thursday, October 27, 2011

All Clear!!

The voice of truth says do not be afraid!

I visited my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Stroud on Wednesday, the 26th for a 6-month followup and to hear the results of Monday's MRI. Once again, NO CHANGE....ALL CLEAR!! Fabulous news...I must say!! We joked about the images showing there is nothing there, we laughed and I said "I already knew that...I wonder how long I can use the excuse of losing things in the black hole in my head!" A little comic relief goes a long way. ;-D Ha!

Up next...
I see my Medical Oncologist next week for a 2-month follow-up and then another MRI at the end of December. Back to Duke in January.

We will be reaching a milestone very soon...my 2-year anniversary of diagnosis. I am in awe of the way my life has been blessed with so much support and so, so many prayers. You have all lifted me up so that I am not afraid or worried about what may come next. I know there is a plan for my life and am very grateful for the opportunity everyday that I wake up to strive to live it to the best of my ability. Lucky me!!

Live simply.Speak kindly.Care deeply.Love generously. Leave the rest to GOD.

+Peace and love,
Sandy

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

23 Month Anniversary...

Be strong in the Lord, never give up hope.... God has his hand on you.

Well everyone, by the grace of God, we've made it 23 months, today!! Looking forward to the future and many more blessed days. Keep the faith and keep praying as we live toward our next milestone. My port will be removed this Friday.....yay! I will be in touch and post next week.

I will run and not grow weary....I thank God for each day!

Peace and love,
+Sandy

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Duke BTC Check up

"Cheers!" to a good life!!

The visit on Monday, 9/12 to my neuro-oncologist at the Duke Brain Tumor Center in North Carolina yielded great news! She agreed with my St. Louis oncologist that my MRI looks stable and unchanged from 2 months ago. Yippee!!

The routine continues....MRI in 2 months, send the CD to Duke for analysis. Two months after that, early January, another MRI. That one will be hand carried with me for my 4-month follow up. If all goes well in the next 4 months, I will 'graduate' to a 3 month MRI schedule and a 6 month follow up schedule with Duke.
She also consented for me to have my port removed!! I think that is a great sign that we are on the path to total healing! Needless to say, I walked out of there feeling so great and so, so blessed. Who can not help but believe that God is doing wonders in our lives, when we get such great news!

All of your prayers continue to carry me every day. It is such a fabulous feeling to know that your thoughtfulness and steadfast commitment to praying has brought me to 22-months of faith-filled healing and life! My cup of gratitude is over-flowing.

I am a 'Believer'! Are you?

Peace and love,
+Sandy

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Latest MRI Update

Our GOD has given me the best gift....living each day to be a witness to his saving grace.

Had a routine MRI last Thursday. I haven't been worried about the results, because I know in my heart that I have been healed. Went to see my medical oncologist today, and he confirmed that all is well....the MRI indicates all is stable, no sign of any regrowth. The official narrative states "the reconstruction site remains unchanged!" My doctor went as far to say "I think you may just be the one to beat this cancer!" I said, "Of course I am....actually, I already have!" How about for fabulous news???

He asked how I've been feeling....told him I'm feeling great. He asked if I'm tired...I told him I'm a menopausal women....I don't sleep much! He asked about headaches....I told him I have them occasionally, no more often than anyone else does. I did tell him that I have been having this twitching going on in my left eye, wondering if this is a sign of anything. He said, "that wouldn't be a sign of the cancer. In the Chinese culture (you guessed it...he's Chinese), a twitch in the left eye is a sign of fortune!" My comment to that was, I will take all of the fortune I can get! So all-in-all....it was a great day of fabulous news!

I visit my Duke doctor on Monday, Sept.12th. I expect only good news there as well. If Dr. Desjardins says she doesn't see any treatment in the foreseeable future, I should be able to have my port removed. That would just make my day....again!

Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and support. This miracle we are witnessing is because of the undeniable power of prayer and God's healing hands. We have asked and we have received....how much more cool can that possibly be?

I do ask for your continued prayers as we move along in this journey of life. Please know that I pray for all of you as well, that God will bless you as he has blessed me.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

+Peace, gratitude and love,
Sandy

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Update....

What you are is God's gift to you; what you become is your gift to God.

I have been given the greatest gift....life!! I am feeling great, have no complaints and look forward to my next MRI which is the end of this month. I will keep you posted when I get the results in early September.

Keep praying!!

+Peace,
Sandy

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Nothing but Great News!!!

MRI on June 23rd....Stable!

Medical Oncologist visit on June 27th....Non-eventful!

Bloodwork results....Normal!

Loving Life....Priceless!!

Next MRI....Late August.
Next Medical Oncologist visit....September 1st.
Next Duke Brain Tumor Center visit....September 12th.

There is no small blessing in life!! God is sooooo Good!!

Peace,
+Sandy

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Just checking in...

I am so grateful for every prayer, every day!

I'm just checking in....
Next MRI is on June 23rd. Next Doctor visit is on June 27th. I will blog when I get the results.

I'm doing GREAT.....enough said!!! ;-D

+Sandy

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Duke BTC visit - 05/09/2011

Woohoo!!

I had a fantastic visit to the Duke University Brain Tumor Center (BTC) on Monday, May 9th!! I took the CD of my last MRI, which was from 4/20, for the Doctors to review. I received praising comments of "everything looks great", "all looks stable", "it looks a little better than the last MRI", and the real kicker comment....."you have a beautiful brain"!!!!! How much better news can a brain cancer survivor get??? What a great way to end a beautiful Mother's Day weekend with my daughter and son-in-law!!! Alison and I drove on 'Cloud 9' back to Fayetteville for me to catch my flight back to St. Louis.

Next up on my 'healing' agenda:


  • MRI end of June - send CD to Duke for their review

  • Medical Oncologist visit in STL on June 27th

  • MRI early September

  • Next Duke BTC visit - September 19th

As your prayers continue to flow, they continue to carry me to healing. There is no doubt in my mind that I am a testimony that prayer works and I am a living testimony that miracles DO happen. God is touching me to go out and touch others by giving me the opportunity to share my story. HE is definitely rewarding us for our faithfulness.


Forever GOD is faithful!


Peace,


Sandy

Friday, April 22, 2011

Latest MRI Results

My cross transforms my life anew!

My apologies that it's been a while since my last update, but your continued prayers have kept me on a track of healing and health.

If you recall, my last chemo treatment was on February 14th and following that I had a MRI on the 18th. My medical oncologist didn't want to see me for 2 months and we scheduled a MRI for prior to that upcoming visit. All was good, life was good, and thankful for being a 'chemotherapy graduate".

I've always experienced some numbing and tingling symptoms, but for the last few weeks, the tingling, numbness and twinges here and there have become a 'bit more noticeable to me. From a brain cancer survivor perspective, you can imagine that every little symptom tends to cause some concern and wondering. Well, two months have passed, believe it or not, and I had a routine MRI on Wednesday, April 20th. All the while I lay in that tube, I pray for everyone on my prayer list (which includes all of you!) and it makes the time go much, much faster. I left the Pratt Cancer Center just feeling very nervous.

Well.....I visited Dr. Stroud, my radiation oncologist, on Thursday morning. He walks into the office and says, "Hi there! You look great, how are you doing?" I looked at him and said, "Thank you and YOU tell me how I'm doing!!" He smiled at me and said, "You're doing great, your MRI is stable!!" I said, "Oh my gosh!" I felt the tears well up, I jumped up from my chair, gave him a hug and said "That's is wonderful, you just made my day....this is fabulous news!! I was prepared to come in here and ask you to pray with me." He said, "It's stable, but we can still pray together! Why were you worried, don't doubt the power of prayer!"

Obviously I was more concerned about the results than I led on to anyone. We talked about the presenting of these symptoms, which is more likely than not the nerves trying to regenerate themselves causing some small seizure activity. I had alot of radiation 15 months ago, and there are long term effects that can happen from it. This is one of them. I will remain aware of any symptoms and we'll just go on from here. I will talk to the neuro-oncologist at Duke about this too. It is such a wonderful relief to know that there is no re-growth and that my head is 'stable'! :-b

Next up on my schedule is visiting Dr. Hu, my medical oncologist, on Monday, April 25th and then I go to Duke Brain Tumor Center for my follow-up on May 9th. (The best part of that trip is that I get to spend a couple of days with Alison and Isaac, since they live about an hour and half from Duke.) In my opinion, based on the outcome of Dr. Hu's visit, I would think it will be another 2 months between appointments. I also think that I won't need to go back to Duke for ~4 months.....but I guess we will see how accurate I am with that. I will update my blog with all of those results.

You all have been such a blessing in my life as your prayers continue to be a phenomenal source of strength to me. We are just a couple of weeks away from the 18-month mark of that life changing diagnosis. Look how our faith has grown....it's amazing as we stand together and give thanks to our awesome God!!

The rising of Jesus has given US ALL new life!

+Peace,
Sandy

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Touchbase...

Today is the day HE has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Happy day everyone!!! Not much to report...which is a good thing I suppose!!

I continue my journey everyday.....optimistically guarded...if that makes any sense. I had grown so accustomed to the 'support' of chemotherapy and it's destruction of the cancer cells. Not having that chemical 'support' anymore (it's been 6 weeks since my last treatment) can make a person feel somewhat vulnerable as every little ache, pain, twinge makes your mind unsettled. HOWEVER....I firmly and unconditionally believe that the 'artificial' support of chemotherapy is no comparison to the 'authentic' support of GOD in my life. HE is the source that has healed me.

Your prayer offerings and support bring all of us to the truth that GOD is awesome, compassionate and the center of all things. That through HIM, we are truly blessed and carried everyday. I am thankful that GOD has used me and given me the opportunity to reach out to others who are struggling with some sort of challenge in their life...it feels wonderful to be able to give back in some small way. If I have touched at least one person through my journey, GOD has made an impact!

I am feeling great. Life is good.

Where have you seen GOD today?

Peace,
Sandy

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Latest MRI Results

Never give up hope. God has done great things for me.

Had my oncologist appointment on Monday, 2/28. Blood counts look Good!...... MRI results look GOod!...... don't have to see him again for 2 months.....GOOd!......Feeling good.....GOOD!!!

I sent a CD of my MRI images down to Duke because, of course, they want to reveiw them as well. Got a phone call yesterday from them and they too say it looks "Stable".....GOOD!! My next appointment with them is May 9th!! We are now officially in "symptom monitor mode". My next MRI is scheduled for the end of April.

It seems as though my life is falling back into place. I know GOD will carry me as I continue this journey, treatment free. Our prayers now turn to this cancer NOT returning. Can we be anymore grateful for the blessings we receive?
I THINK NOT!!

We have witnessed the healing power of GOD.
I will stay in touch.
Peace,

Sandy

Monday, February 21, 2011

Chemotherapy Graduate!!

Monday, February 14th was my last chemo treatment....I am a 'Chemotherapy Graduate' !!! Incredible to think that I have been on chemotherapy since early December 2009 and have finally completed this phase of my journey. Wow....and what a journey it has been, we have come so far.

I had a MRI on Friday, February 18th. As soon as I learn the results, I will share them with you. I have no doubt that the results will still show no progression of tumor.

GOD has rewarded me for my faithful response in facing and accepting his challenge. HE is our miracle worker and continues to carry all of us as we celebrate our victory!!! Thank you to all my steadfast prayer companions for traveling this journey with me.

Jesus turned around and when he saw her he said, "Daughter be encouraged! Your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed at that moment. Matthew 9:22

Many more blessings and peace to all,
Sandy

Monday, January 31, 2011

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Happy day everyone!!!...I am feeling great, walking tall and ready to face my next challenge. I saw my oncologist this morning....blood counts are good. My next and last chemotherapy treatment is scheduled on February 14th. A MRI will follow about 2 weeks after treatment and then another 2 months after that. We are fighting the good fight ya'll....I am forever grateful for all your prayers.

I came across this passage, (from my sister I think), that I would like to share. I really strive to live this everyday, it doesn't always happen, but this is my goal! ~

"The presence and power of God are with me and within me always. In God, I have the qualities and resources, the strength and courage to take charge of my thoughts and my life. I claim and realize the good in every situation. Blessed with the power to choose how I show up in life, I am confident and courageous every day."

I am sooooo blessed!!

Warmth and safety on this winter day,
~Sandy

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Visit to Duke - January 10th

I am a witness to the healing arms of our awesome God!!!

That's right!!!....Maybe I should rephrase that....we are ALL witnessing the tremendous power of prayer to our awesome God.

On Monday, January 10th, (my 51st birthday by the way!), I had my 3-month followup visit at Duke where I received the best birthday present ever...(besides the Kindle that Rick gave me!). The PET Scan results told the news....no cancer cells! How about that for a fabulous birthday present! Miracles happen, my friends. We are living proof that God answers our prayers.

Dr. Desjardin prescribes 2 more chemotherapy treatments...January and February. After my last treatment, she wants to see an MRI. I don't have to return to Duke for 4 months, which will be in early May and then we will be in 'symptom monitor' mode. She is very happy that I am doing so well and am so strong. Needless to say....she is also very happy that PET Scan showed 'all clear'.

My January treatment will be on Monday, the 17th. I'm looking forward to getting that over with.

I would not be this far without all of you who keep me in your daily prayers. It feels fabulous to know that I have so many friends that care about me. "Thank you" just doesn't seem to do justice to how grateful I am for all of you. God will carry us as we continue this journey.

Miracles happen....HE is not done with me yet!!

Peace and warmth,
Sandy

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Latest MRI results

Good things come to those who wait.....patiently.

The official results of my MRI last week are in.....no tumor! Here is an excerpt from the radiologist narrative report....."There is no change in the appearance of the post-operative brain. There is no significant mass effect or new lesion and again no change in the enhancement pattern. Ventricles are normal in and size and configuration." How about that to begin a new year?!?! We are certainly blessed y'all.

I had blood work and oncologist visit yesterday. My red blood cell count is slightly low from the Carboplatin. I am scheduled to have chemo on 1/17, so we will see if that happens based on my counts in two weeks.

I have a PET Scan and appointment with my doctor team at Duke on Monday, 1/10. Anxious to hear their take on everything since my visit in October. I will blog when I get back next week.

I hope that everyone experienced many blessings during the Christmas season. I was incredibly honored to spend quality time with my family. Let's pray the new year will bring continued blessings of good health, happiness and safety.

Heal the Past. Live the Present. Dream the Future.

+Peace,
Sandy