Sorry that I booty slammed you? Seriously? This cracked me up so much that I had to scan it and post it. Can you tell Grace is FINALLY feeling better after ending chemo five months ago? People have been so considerate to ask how Grace is doing after chemo. We really appreciate all of the love and concern, so we wanted to keep you posted. One of my favorite quotes by Henry Kissinger says, "There can't be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full." In truth, emerging from the depths of Grace's fight with Cancer has felt almost as hard as living through it. I don't know if it's the constant worry that her Cancer could come back, the realization that we are utterly vunerable to any and every fraility of humanity, or just merely that we finally had a chance to sit back and breathe for a second. But, I will say this...the last five months has felt challenging. We have been trying to help Grace get back into school full time (which she has!) and prayed for her Platelet condition to clear up (which it has not, but is looking better), and have tried to readjust to "normal" life.
But, admist this we feel profoundly grateful that she is ok! Grace is just amazing, the way she gets through pain, fear, and hardship. Though the process of "feeling better" has been slow for her, it has been steady and for that we are thankful. Grace's platelets are still flagged as abnormally low, but they are steadily rising. The doctors have told us it may be something she lives with for her lifetime, but we have high hopes that as she regains strength, so will her platelets. Some of the chemotherapy drugs used to treat her Cancer are pretty toxic, so she has to have an Echocardiogram in April and some preemtive blood work, but if that all checks out, she will have surgery to remove her portacatheter in April. Once that is out, I think it will feel like closure and hopefully Grace will just get stronger and relish in every moment of her existence! So, she is well on her way to a full recovery! When that surgery is over, JR and I will prayerfully and thankfully take off our TEAM GRACE wristbands and tuck them away as a strangely fond memory of our encounter with Cancer.
5 comments:
I remember coming home from the hospital with baby Sadie and having a hard time taking off the bracelets they put around my wrists. I guess I was scared that once they came off that meant I wasn't in the hospital anymore and I didn't have the nurses to help me with this foreign yet wonderful little baby. This experience of mine seems so silly to me thinking of you and all that you've been through and what it must mean to take off your bands. A part of me understands why you might want to keep them on forever but the other realizes why you might feel the need to move on. Thanks for the update. Sadie still prays for her everyday.
I can't believe that April is finally here and that Grace will be getting her port out. I think of your family often and all that you have been through together; I have often wondered when the time would come that you would have a chance to breathe for a few moments, and I think having a few moments to reflect and attempt to process such an experience would be difficult. I wish your family well and hope each day gets better for all of you.
I love the note! So funny! Your life overwhelms me! You guys have handled it all so well and are still fighters now that it over! I am excited to hear when she gets that darn port out! Good luck Gracie!
To be quite honest, this was so beautiful it took me a couple of days to respond to this touching post. I am so happy for Gracie and I hope you know how important this blog is to those who love you, yet live so far away. Music for me is the languageof memory, and there are certain songs that will always remind me of Gracie and your lovely blog. We pray for her daily and I have been putting her name in at the temple, I hope the test goes well. We love you all, and if you will now excuse me--I am going to BOOTY SLAM my little hubby. Should we make bands that say booty slam? Please forgive me for not mailing some late bday presents that I have in my car--I promise they will come. Looking forward to a very special baptism in July.
I have thought about you guys so much this month as we only had to spend one night in the hospital after Caroline got her tonsils out. Only one night and it was hard. I just kept thinking of your brave and strong family and how many difficult things you have been through. I am so glad that Grace is well. Seeing Caroline recoup after surgery was hard and sad and again, I thought of you. Thank you for being strong, for sharing your experiences with others. It has blessed me and really put things in perspective.
I pray the upcoming events go smoothly for you guys.
xoxo
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