We were told before the transplant that that is an amazing milestone to get to and to see it come is such a miracle. They said at 1 year she had such a better chance of not having a bad reaction to the transplant (with graphs vs host). At 2 years the risk of the cancer coming back goes down substantially. At 5 years they say she's "cured." We look forward to each celebration ahead, but we are SO happy to celebrate this milestone with her!
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| Picture from the end of Summer at our family reunion, mom on the right with her 3 girls. On the left is mom's sister, Sue and her 2 girls. |
It still gives us a great feeling every time she goes in for a checkup (about once every 2 months or so) and gets results from her blood tests that everything looks great. Looking back on our journey through the sickness it almost seems like a bad dream that never really happened. We know it was very real, but it's good to see it as a faint memory rather than being in the midst of it. Mary feels well most of the time other than the small sicknesses/allergy problems that come and go. Her immune system is probably a little bit weaker since the cancer and treatments but it doesn't effect her on a daily basis. She still visits her mom about every other day in Ottawa. Grandma is always so happy to see her and Sue each day they visit.
Because God gave us this great miracle I'm blessed to live down the street from my mom as I raise my 16 month old daughter AND getting ready to welcome a new baby in April :) My mom is also expecting her 8th grandchild in June from my brother, Adam and his wife, Bre. She is and is going to be (even more) a busy grandma!
Thank you all for visiting our site to check in. We hope that your Christmas season is joyful and that Jesus is on the forefront of your mind. Thank God for sending His son Jesus to deliver us from our sins and for giving us hope through the trials of life.
Here's a music video that touched my heart. If your life has been impacted by cancer, you'll appreciate it...
Two years is awesome! God is great! Tim just celebrated his 5 year anniversary back in October. We no longer take things granted. We live each day to the fullest. Congratulations, Mary!
ReplyDeleteMy ex-husband is fighting CLL. I hope one day they will find a cure for all cancers.I am a also a breast cancer survivor & wrote a story called reflecting back.
ReplyDeleteReflecting Back
The day I turned 51 my life changed completely. I did not realize at the time I had a long rough road ahead of me.
Its what every woman fears. She has been told by her doctor that she has breast cancer. Something inside of me
stood up tall and made me realize that I have to fight to beat this disease.The first thing I was told is a mastectomy had to be performed
to save my life. I accepted that & again stood up tall. Once the mastectomy was done it took at least a month for the healing process.
You are given a prosthesis to wear & if you decide reconstruction it means more surgery. I had come this far so I thought why not.
This meant two more surgeries had to be performed on me by a plastic surgeon. It was painful to have a reduction & reconstruction at the same time, but I kept telling myself it will be worth it in the end. The oncologist that saved my life & the plastic surgeon who gave me my dignity back are my heroes. I cannot thank them them enough for what they did for me. Women who hear breast cancer think its a death sentence. I can tell you from my experience ------ No its not. It is very important that all women do breast self examinations starting at the age of 40. At the age of 50 you should also have a mammogram every year to detect breast cancer. I had no idea that I had breast cancer no lumps were felt by me. I had what you call the earliest form of breast cancer called Ductal Incarcinoma Insitu.
This type of cancer does not spread into the lymph nodes unless it is left unchecked by a doctor by a period of 3 to 5 yrs.
It has now been four years. I went for my yearly mammogram today & if it comes back negative I am released by my oncologist.
If it turns out to be breast cancer when the mammogram results come back, without a blink of an eye i will stand tall again & fight the fight with all the strength I have.to beat this disease. Two years ago I was sitting in my living room thinking about my experience & thought maybe I can share my knowledge with others. To this day I have helped hundreds on a site called Yahoo Answers and have gained respect from people who I have helped. I dont ask for credit I ask who I help to do what I did ---- help others . They need you more than you can imagine. Its a good therapy for yourself as well believe me I know..Im hoping with my story and all who reads it spread the word. This little story is dedicated to my brother who helped me every step of the way to fight this disease. Also Annie Sullivan who was the first people I helped with my knowledge of breast cancer who I am very happy to say she is doing well.
Spread The Word.
♥♥♥ Susie ♥♥♥
Mary ---- May God help you fight this horrible disease you are in my prayers.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/p480x480/430262_318811998171828_100001290924506_843454_1454454154_n.jpg
ReplyDeleteWent for my final oncologist appointment today. I no longer have to go back . She released me