Healthy and back to financial planning...www.albertyfinancial.com

Please visit our new website at http://www.albertyfinancial.com/

The Final Blog: Cancer Free

With exception of the first blog, this is likely the most difficult blog I have written. It is so easy to blog the facts about upcoming doctors appointments and long term strategies. But it is very difficult to use a blog to return the love our family felt from our supporters during our year long journey. I only hope I can be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and community servant as a result of this experience in an effort to repay my gratitude. We will never forget the prayers, cards, calls and all around support from all of you.

The Woman at the Washington Zoo

The Woman at the Washington Zoo is a compilation of writings by Marjorie Williams. I was instructed by the dear friend who lent me the book to be sure to read section 3 a Cancer Memoir (she is actually known more for her writings on politics). Her thoughts and feelings were so similar to mine that it was a very strange experience to read....as if someone else, years earlier, were writing about me. If you are curious about what it must be like to go through this experience as a relatively young mother, read at your own risk....Marjorie Williams writes brilliantly and proves that all my crazy thoughts and fears are indeed common for those who have this experience. I've tried to blog my gratitude and the medical facts without leaking too much emotion, so I'm cheating and letting Marjorie Williams share the emotions for those who choose to read.

On a lighter note and back to the facts...we are headed to Nebraska next week to get my results. Everyone is optimistic that the news will be good. We should know by Tuesday evening and Mickey will likely send an email update. Rick Hall, if you are reading this, I have lost your contact information....so drop me an email at laurel@albertyfinancial.com when you have a chance :)

Official date...

We now have an appointment in NE for 6/10. I'm feeling great and operating at about 95% (maybe better than pre-cancer ;) ). My hair just started to grow again and it looks like it is going to be dark but only time will tell. I wanted to blog about how great I'm doing as a reminder that prayers work. Lately, there have been too many stories close to me that need special prayers. Fortunately, all of them appear to be defying the odds with prayer and the support of family and friends as the common thread! Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us and supporting us. We are grateful beyond words.

100 Day Countdown

I'm day 49 from transplant and day 100 is my follow up visit. Some of you know that I have been pretty negative about the follow up PET. Planning for worst case scenario is a bad habit of mine. However, yesterday my radiation oncologist projected a clean PET as has my local doctor. I think I'm finally accepting that I could really be cured! Please continue to pray as we are in the final stretch!!! (for those of you keeping up with my counts they were 2.7 yesterday and Dr. Heffner was so satisfied that he only wants to check my labs twice more before my trip back to NE....great news)

Home Sweet Home

I have been home for a week and it has been really wonderful! It is nice to have the family back together after 10 long weeks of being apart. The next step is to wait approximately 60 days to see if the transplant worked. In the meantime, they are checking my counts once a week to be sure they are coming up. Last WBC was 2.2 which is good for this stage of the transplant.

Thanks to Mary Ann for the PJs and to Katie for the Easter surprise for my last days in NE and to everyone's cards, emails and calls!

It is great to be home!

A Quickie Post....

WBC are 0.5 and that is considered finally in the realm of making WBCs. We are late on the production which has been worrisome. Also, I'm fighting a common infection which is keeping me out of the communication loop. No real ETA yet, but we are now starting to head back in the right direction. My email is still a major problem, so thanks for your patience!

Thanks to David for the doo rags (congratulations on the huge job!) Dana H. for the calming CD, Dana W. for the cool pics of the past, Helene for the sweet card and the great book, Pam P. for the awesome package from Alaska..super cool! Betty B. for the photos from the aquarium and for letting Walker crash grandparents day :) To Stephen for the special package of love from home and for being the family ROCK!!!! Thanks and lots of Love to all of you, Laurel