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| Celebrating our 24th anniversary with our children! |
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Once again we celebrated "Giving Thanks"! God has blessed us in so many ways that we are amazed and overwhelmed when we try to count our blessings. Obviously the greatest visual one for everybody who knows us is that Elizabeth is still with us and in remission. We are seeing some long term side effects rear their ugly head, but they are what they are and we will deal with them together.
Elizabeth had her nine month post treatment check up, Nov. 22, 2011. Her lab (blood work) looks great! The new news is that her REFLEXES are finally coming back!!!! The nasty Vincristine (mean christine) is finally starting to leave her system. That chemo was a vicious one on her nervous system and caused a severe amount of bone pain. Once again......a blessing that we will graciously receive!
Basketball, basketball, basketball, what more can I say. Elizabeth tried out for the Mason Basketball team and made it!!! It has been the best thing for her self confidence and for her physically. She runs up and down the court just sucking air and is so fatigued when she gets home, but is so happy and thankful for this chance. She loves every minuet of practice, playing, and being a part of this team. Elizabeth has not played ball since seventh grade and was thinking that this was one sport that she would not make it back too. Yet again....another great blessing!!!
Thank you to everyone that supported our efforts to raise money this year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Our First annual Blazin With Love 5k run/walk and corn hole tournament was a gigantic success. Together raised over $32,000 and we're the number one fundraising team in the Tri-State area!!!!! We will be gearing up for the next 5k/corn hole soon. The event will be sometime in September 2012, so mark your calendars! You can follow us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Blazin-With-Love3/276684425682169
to get updates and see pictures from the event in Sept. We will also be working on a web page for next year and will keep you updated about that.
We are now 37 months away from that dreadful night that changed our lives as a family forever. We would never want anyone to go through the horrible times that come with cancer, but out of that nightmare has come so much good. Elizabeth has the best outlook on life and living. I believe it is only something you get from having to go through a life and death ordeal. I am so proud to do life with her. She teaches me new things about myself everyday and keeps me grounded as to what life is all about. As I stated earlier, long term side effects are rearing their ugly head, but so are wonderful gifts that God has given us through this journey. We are all growing as a family and finding new strength within ourselves that we never knew we possessed.
Please continue to pray for :
Continued remission for Elizabeth.
Her cold or whatever it is that she has to go away. Pray that it is not Mono and just some little cold.
For the Doctors, nurses, and staff that so lovingly take care of these children.
For Joel and Maya, that they remain GVH free and continue on in good health from their transplant.
For Jimmy. He has surgery to scope and stretch his esophagus Nov. 28, 2011, and to see if his disease is still under control.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
May God continue to bless all of you and keep you safe during this Holiday Season!
Blessings & joy,
Christine
