Tackling Leukemia @ Sycamore High School

Sycamore High School will host Tackling Leukemia this Friday, 10-29-10, against the Mason Comets
in honor of Joel Brown, Liz Lothrop, and Leah Jordan.  Come out and enjoy a great game for a great cause.  All proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Shirts will be on sale for $12 at the game.

Down, Angry, and Scared ... but NOT out!

Joel visiting Liz two weeks ago when she was having a bad reaction to the chemo.  Both of them were on steroids .....  just guess how many bags of popcorn they ate?!?

We have just gotten horrible news.  Joel Brown, Lizzy's good friend and classmate, has relapsed.  We are in disbelief.  We have seen this "relapse" happen time and time again on the Oncology floor but never believed that it would happen to Joel or Liz.

Joel will go in this Friday for a bone morrow biopsy and be admitted for the Induction Phase.  This phase is to get Joel back into remission, it is a 29 day cycle.  Joel will take the same treatment route that Lizzy took.  He will go through Induction of 29 days, Consolidation of 58 days plus delays, Interim I of 58 days plus delays, Delayed 1 of 58 days plus delays, Interim 2 of 58 days plus delays, and Delayed 2 of 58 days plus delays.  Yes, you got it ... without delays it is another unfathomable 319 days of very intense chemo.  I'm sorry, but I am really having a hard time understanding why a child or any one for that matter has to endure this cancer trip once let alone twice. If anyone has the answer to that one, please help me out here.

Please keep Joel and his family in your prayers and wear Orange this Thursday for Joel.  It will be his last day of school for possible the rest of this school year.  He will need a lot of support, prayers, and love from his friends.

Prayers and blessings for the Brown's

Two Year Anniversary

Wow!  Today marks Elizabeth's two year anniversary from diagnoses, what a road we have traveled.

We could never have made it this far in the "cancer" journey without all of the prayers and support we have received from our family, friends, and even strangers. 

Our lives have taken on a "sea change" several different times during the course of two years. These transformations or marked events have been ones of sadness and joy.  We have lost ones that we came to know and love.  We have seen their struggles and they have seen our struggles.  We have seen into some of the darkest times of each families life.  But, with that being said we have grown in ways that are ineffable/indescribable.  We have been tested as a family, in our faith, and in our marriage.  It has not been an easy road and one that we certainly would have never chosen on our own to participate in. But it has been one that we would never exchange because of those experiences our individual growth and the growth our family has experienced.  

We have become closer and have realized what is important in life.  What use to stress me out now is not even a minor speed bump in the road anymore.  Life is much fuller and a lot less petty.  I wish everyone could have the liberating mind set that I have from things in life that just do not matter in the big picture.  My hope, wish, and prayer is that our family never forgets these lesson as time goes on.  To go through such a life changing ordeal and lose the valubale lessons that you gained would be a terrible loss.

After tomorrow, we are down to only four hard chemo treatments and of course her daily chemo.  When we received her protocol or treatment plan for the previous 2.5 years, I  never thought we would see the light at the end of that very long tunnel.  We are so close now that not only can we see it . . .  we can smell it. February can not come soon enough.  I never thought that I would wish time to go by quickly, after all it is a wonderful gift from God, but I am so ready for her and for all of us.  Please keep her in your prays and pray for minimal side effects from the Vincristine.  Last month was a real terror for her and the pain was just incredible.  The side effects of this chemo will hit seven days from tomorrow. Please remember her on that day and bring back "Orange Tuesday".  When you where this color on Tuesday you will be remembering her and all the ones that struggle with Leukemia.

This Friday is the Mason-vs-Sycamore Game at Sycamore.  The cause is "Tackle Leukemia" and the proceeds will go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.  The honored heros of the event are: Liz, Joel, and Leah!  Joel came in to meet Elizabeth when she was diagnosed and Liz went in to meet Leah when she was diagnose.  "Pay it Forward" as they say.  These three have a bond that others cannot understand and it is a beautiful thing to see.

Shirts are being sold through Sycamore High School.  They only ordered 400.  The Shirts are long sleeved and $12 each.   

Blessings and prayers,

Christine

Looking for Good Help!

Everyone is just splendid in the Lothrop household  Liz continues to be healed by God, through your prayers, and the wonderful doctors that God has so graciously put before us.

Jim is adjusting nicely to college life.  I never hear from him so I guess that is a good thing.  Randy keeps reminding me to open up my fingers and let go, not an easy task for a mother.  Jimmy has had his first round of mid-term exams.  He said it is a bit different than high school.  I do believe that I have said those exact words to him at some point in time but like most kids, he did not adhere to them. He wishes he would have now.  Live and learn, right?!?  He is doing well with his Eosinophilic disease too.  As long as he continues to stay on the steroids he seems to be doing well.

Here is where the title of this entry comes into play.  A few wonderful women and myself are looking for good strong men and women to help us put together a 5k walk/run race for  August 2011.  The money raised will go toward the Light the Night walk in Sept. and hopefully a few other avenues.  If you would be willing to help us in this endeavor please let me know.  I will be having a meeting at my house to brain storm and divide up into committees.  We are thinking of having it like a little festival with food, games, the run/walk, corn hole tournament, etc.etc.etc., so if you are interested in joining this fabulous team for a wonderful cause please let me know asap and come with some ideas!

Please continue to pray for:
Liz, that she keeps responding well to her treatment and she stays in remission.
Joel Brown, that he stays in remission and the immature cells in his spine are nothing.
Jim, for his Eosinophilic disease, that the steroids continue to help his condition.
That our faith in the Lord will always remain strong and continue to grow stronger.

May you feel the love of God as we have over the past 24 months; it is ineffable in all the ways that we have felt God's love, peace, strength, hope, and presents.

Blessings,
Christine