Merry Christmas!

It has been awhile since the last update.  Liz is doing fantastic!  
She is now down to seeing her Oncologist every three months.  She is 21 months off of treatment and still in remission.  We are so blessed and thankful for all of the support, out reach, and prayers over the past four years.  There is no way we can ever express or pay back our gratitude.
Liz is busy applying to colleges.  She has been accepted to UC, University of Tampa, and Akron.  We are traveling to Tampa, Jan 11-13, for a formal tour.  She also received an $11k "Dean Scholarship" for academics per year at Tampa!  She was so excited about this and we are very proud of her, however  I have
mixed emotions about her leaving.  All of her doctors are here, what if she gets sick again, what if she gets the flu, what if, what if, what if ???? Then on the other hand I want her to go and finally experience life.  She missed out on so much during her high school and I don't want to hold her back.  I sure am glad that I have these dilemma's to face :)


Jimmy continues on the "Elimination Diet" to figure out what he is allergic to and is causing the Eosinophilic Disease in his throat.  It is about an 18 month testing period.  We  know for sure he is allergic to egg and dairy just not sure what else.  It is a really hard diet to follow and very expensive, but necessary because the medicine was no longer working.  If I had unlimited resources, I would open a restaurant that was for people with severe food allergies.  We have no place that we can safely go out to eat, which was a family thing that we did with our kids every Sunday.  We would go down to UC, pick up Catherine and Jim, and then select a new place to go eat.  It was a great time to catch up on our college kids lives.  I guess we better be finding a new tradition.....
FYI for all who have participated in our Blazin run, we are moving it to October and it will be held at Kings Island.  We are excited about this new partnership and hope that the race will become much bigger.  This is what we had all hoped for from the beginning.  I will be updating our web page with more information as I get it so please continue to check the site:
  
www.blazinwithlove5k.wix.com/event

. Please pray for a cure and continued remission for Elizabeth
. The doctors, nurses, and staff that care for all of the cancer patients
. Pray for the Galley family.  Their 18 year old daughter was killed in a car accident 12-26-12.  To me, I cannot imagine anything more painful.  My prayers are with them.

We had a wonderful Christmas, even though Jimmy and I woke up with the "ugly flu".  We were all together and as long as you have that you have everything!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you have a safe and healthy New Year!

Blessings and prayers ~ Christine

My Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page

Life is beaUtiful :)

It has been awhile since the last update.  Liz is doing wonderful, PRAISE GOD!!!
We did have to have her ECHO and EKG redone two weeks ago and the results were "Beautiful" as Dr. Absalon said; thank you for praying with us for the best results possible.  We also had her eyes checked at Children's to look for any side effects of her radiation and chemo treatments and I am happy to say that the Ophthalmologist said her eyes were very healthy and did not show any signs of damage at this time.

Liz is busy being a senior.  She is filling out College applications, going to football games, running cross country, thinking about basketball season, and trying to figure out what she wants to be.  She is looking into Special Education which I think is wonderful.  Before she got sick she always wanted to be in the medical profession now she is unsure.  She said she had enough of hospitals and I guess I can't blame her.  I bet in the end, she will end of in the medical profession anyway.  It may be a second career, but she will be in it in some form.  Liz is looking mainly at UC and OSU.  My choice is UC of course and both Catherine and James attend UC and love it!

I want to thank everyone who came out to the 2nd Annual Blazin With Love 5k.  We had a great time and made a lot of money for research.  This is our big fundraiser for our Light the Night Team.  The Light The Night Walk for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society this year is Thur, Sept. 27, at the Mason Municipal Campus.  If you were unable to attend the race and would still love to be a part of the team you can go to:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/soh/mason12/christinelothrop

and join our team to walk with us that night.  If you would like to carry a balloon and receive a t-shirt, you can join the team  and become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help support the work of hundreds of the world's best and brightest researchers in their search for better therapies and cures for blood cancers.



Please continue to pray for Lizzy's health and that her cancer stays in remission.

For Jimmy as he, his doctor, and myself try to figure out what food/foods he is allergic to through the elimination of several food groups. Trying to cook without dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, nuts/tree nuts, fish and shell fish, it does present a few challenges.

Pray for all that are battling cancer. It is a horrible disease and one that just keeps rearing its ugly head. Everyday I hear of a new case or a relapse and everyday it brings me back to my knees.




May God bless all of you with health and happiness!




Blessings ~ Christine









  

Liz and Joel, HHI 2012!

Can you believe it is that time of the year again?!?

We are once again doing the 5k Blazin with <3 run/walk and cornhole tournament. It will be held September 1, 2012. you can go to our web page:

http://blazinwithlove5k.wix.com/event

(by the end of June) read about our three honored heroes, the event, register for the race/walk or cornhole, and volunteer. You can aslo like us on face book:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Blazin-With-Love3/276684425682169

If you can not participate in the event and would love to donate, you can do so on this page.

Liz is doing great! She is 1.5 years off treatment, back to basketball, played volleyball, and is now running cross country! It is so hard to believe that she has gone through what she has and is now doing so well. There are a few long term side effects that we are dealing with, but we have our girl and with the prayers from all of you and the grace of our Father she/we will continue on and watch each other grow old!

We have lost too many friends along the way. Friends that become family on A5. This is why we continue to raise funds. Liz has been invovled in many campaings, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Hoxworth Blood Center. Without LLS research and Hoxworth blood products, Liz would not be alive today.

We are thankful for so many things and we never take for granted her health. There is no cure, but with your help one day there will be! Last year you helped Team Blazin With <3 raise over $32,000 for research and we are hoping to do the same and more!

Many blessings ~

Christine

We Are Still Here :)

                                                    
I am sorry not to have posted since Nov. 2011.  I guess that is a good sign that Liz is still do GREAT!  


We took our long awaited trip to Hawaii at Christmas time, 2011.  This was the trip we were supposed to take the year (2008) Liz was diagnosed with Leukemia and our "new reality" began.  We had the time of our lives by celebrating Christ's birthday, Randy's parents 50th anniversary, and life! Maybe someday we will have the great blessing to return to Hawaii with our children and their spouses!

Liz had a fantastic experience on the Mason Basketball team.  The team won their GMC conference! Here is a picture of Liz cutting down the net.  Kayla McDowell, her friend and teammate, had to tell her how and what to do with the net.  She asked Kayla "Do you just drop the net (the part she cut) on the floor?"  Kayla responded with a laugh and said "No, you tie it on to your medal."  Liz took it all in stride and laughed at herself just like she always does.


Feb. 17, we celebrated her one year post treatment, YEA!!!!!!!!  I took her to Children's where they gave her seven different shots to re-immunize her, she is now up to date with her vaccines.  We also said goodbye to our fist Oncology Dr. we met that fateful morning at 4:30 am.  Dr. Jen has moved to Charlotte, NC with her family and will be working at a Children's hospital there.  I know that that hospital will soon realize just how blessed and lucky they are.   They are receiving one of Cincinnati Children's best doctors and we will truly miss her.

 Liz has her monthly check-ups that consists of blood work and a physical exam.  In Feb., her one year post treatment, Liz also had an EKG and an ECHO.  Her  ECHO came back with a low reading.  This means that there is a possibility that she could have some heart damage from the Doxorubicin Chemo that she received during certain stages of her treatment.  Dr. Absalon said that ECHO's can give false reads.  We will have a repeat ECHO in Aug. to see if it was a false read.  If it is not, she will be going on heart medication for the rest of her life.  Please pray, as we are, that the ECHO was just a false read and the repeat ECHO in Aug., comes back in the normal range.

We no longer live our lives by the second.  Sometimes it seems as though her diagnoses and treatment were years ago, but it only takes a second for that night to come rushing back with all of the horrific emotions and memories.  Unfortunately two weeks ago, Becca Kniskern, was diagnosed for the second time with Leukemia.  Becca, was diagnosed the same time as Liz in 2008 with ALL just like Lizzy.  The form of treatment that they had to go through can cause other forms of cancer.  Becca now has a form of AML (Leukemia).  You can follow her journey through her blog at: beccakniskern.blogspot.com.  Please join our family as we pray for her family, Trisha, Ethan, Lilly and Becca as she/they bravely fights this horrible battle again.

Please continue to pray for:

Joel and Maya as they continue on their way to a healthy life with healthy bone marrow growing inside their bones.

For Becca, that she wins this battle.

For Liz, that she remains in remission from this horrible disease.

For the patients, parents, and staff that are on A5.

For all who have lost their battle with cancer.

May God strengthen and bless your family as he has ours ~  Christine

Holy Reflexes!!!

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

Life the Past Seven Months!

First treatment free vacation!

Homecoming 2011

Elizabeth's beautiful quilt made from her many t-shirts!

Randy has been asking me to write an update for the blog for the past several months.  I don't think he realizes how hard this update is for me.  Our life is so different in just the past seven months than it has been in the past three years, October 25, 2011 will be three years. I can still see that evening as clear as if I were reliving it now. 


I go back and reread the posts, comments, and watch the videos and feel like it was just yesterday and then sometimes I look at a picture and feel it was a lifetime ago. Enjoy each day you have and don't get caught up in the "nothingness" of life.  I said in one of my posts that one of the real tragedies in the end would be to forget all the lessons learned on this journey.  Some days I find myself not living the lessons and getting caught up in that "nothingness".  I get pulled into the ugly current parts of everyday living.  I now have the perspective to pull myself back and live life in the moment that I didn't have before Lizzy's cancer journey, the way we should all live our lives.  We use to live minute by minute and I thought that was so difficult at the time.  I now see why it is important to live in the moment.  You don't have time to worry about the future.  God knows the future and he is the only one who needs to.  All we need to do is live for the moment, trust, love and take care of what God has given us and he will take care of the rest, he always has and always will!


So many wonderful things have happened in the past seven months.  The biggest being on Feb. 15, Liz ended her two and a half year treatment for ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia). March, we went on our first family vacation without medication or having to go to the Children's Hospital for blood draws and she had hair!   We had an "End of Treatment" party at our house in July.  She received the most beautiful quilt from her sports families and friends.  She is holding it in the above picture with the help of some of her friends.  It is on her bed as her bedspread!  We ended July out in Hilton Head with family and had a wonderful time.  August Liz tried out for the Mason Volleyball Team and made Varsity. She loves the game and loves her teammates!  We never thought that she would be able to return so quickly to the game, but she has!  I should have known that nothing would stop her.  She just beat the biggest opponent of her life .... CANCER!  Lizzy started school in Aug. and has been able to go to school everyday except once a month on her clinic visit day.  She also turned 17 on Aug. 25.  Lizzy is looking forward to trying out for basketball this fall.  I am excited about that too! I LOVE basketball!  She is still weaker and smaller than the girls she will be defending, if she makes the team, but with time, weight training, and practice, she will get stronger.  Liz has gained 40 pounds since Feb., mostly in the past three months.  Most people (girls) would freak out about gaining 40, but she ended her treatment at 105 pounds on a 5'11.5" frame.  She truly was looking like a cancer patient....NOT any more :)  Liz remains a great student and is having fun being a kid and living life agin!  On Sept. 3, we had our first annual Blazin With Love race!  Our team, with the help of many of you, made over $21,000 from the race for a total of $31,000.00 for research for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and best of all, Liz won her age division (well not really, she won the age group 20-25, Brittany, her best friend, won their age group)  Dr. Absalon, her oncologist, and family came out to the event to run. He said the best gift was when "I saw Liz running in the race with her big smile on her face".  We just LOVE our Dr. Absalon!


Liz remains in remission and for this we are so blessed and fortunate.  There are too many people still losing their battle to blood cancers.  Liz will live with the constant fear that it may resurface....this is where living in the moment is very helpful....We cannot worry about the future. We need to embrace the gift of today that God has given us.  Love each other like God loves us.  If I can hold on to this one simple lesson, I know that life will be so much richer.  I have a great group of friends that help me stay focused.  Life is a journey that has rough roller coasters and smooth roller coaster, we are now on a smooth roller coaster.  


Thank you for being faithful followers of Liz and her journey.  Giving generously of your time, prayers, and finances.  Without all of that we would not be where we are today.  As time goes on, I see even more clearly why all three are so important.


Please continue to pray for:
Liz to remain in remission. Every month when we go for blood work it is a bit nerve racking.
For the newly diagnosed, about 44,000 in 2011.
For those that will loose their battle, about 11,000 per year.
For the scientist and doctors that are trying to find a CURE for blood cancers.
For the patients and families on A5, for strength and hope.
Joel Brown, to continue to become stonger and healthier on his road to recovery.
Maya Collins, to overcome her nausea, come home from the hospital, and live life cancer free!


Blessings and God's grace ~
Christine

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Please click on the link for information about the Light The Night Walk tomorrow, September 15, at 5:30 pm.

If you were unable to make it to the race/cornhole event and still wish to donate to help fund reasearch, please click on the donate now button on the right side of the page after you open the link.

Blessings ~ Christine

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Please be a hero for Annie, Hannah, Joel, Liz, Maya, and all people needing blood products. Call the Mason Hoxworth today to donate blood this week, mention the code BWL and Hoxworth will credit $25 per donor to our team, Blazin With Love! Check the flyer below for times.

Four months out!

Liz had her monthly check-up today and things look good. Her counts have gone down a little but still in the normal range. I suppose ours do the same thing, it's just we do not have cancer or are not in remission from cancer. The doctor is not concerned, he said it is probably her body fighting a minor cold or allergies.
She is looking so healthy and strong, one would never know that she has been in a fight for her life. I am so proud of her and the way she has handled every situation she has been in since she was diagnosed.

Our race is up and running, no pun intended. We are so excited about it! Go to www.getmeregistered.com and look for Sept. 3, 2011 Blazin With <3 (love) and register. It is an evening race with cash prizes for the race and corn hole. Corn hole space is limited so if that is what you want to do, sign up quick! Come on out that Saturday evening and support five wonderful kids from the Mason School district that have blood cancers. If you are not running, we will also have the Blood Unit there from Hoxworth, to donate blood. Hoxworth is donating $10 per person to the race for people who donate that evening. They will also be doing Be The Match for the bone marrow. PLEASE, be a hero for someone. None of these kids would be here without blood products. Liz would not have made it through Saturday night without the blood products.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16

Please continue to pray for the researchers and doctors that are fighting to save these children and adults.
Pray for the patients on A5 and their families.
Pray for the ones that have been told right from the start that they cannot be saved.
Pray for Joel Brown. He is doing well and so close to the end of his BMT. Pray for him to stay germ free and healthy.
Continue you to pray for little Maya Collins, another Mason student. I believe she is around seven,she has AML.

Life is not always fun and easy but it is always a gift. Treasure the time you have been given.

May you be blessed beyond measure and love always ~ Christine

My Fundraising Page

My Fundraising Page:
http://pages.lightthenight.org/soh/ButlerCo11/christinelothrop

Wow, what a journey we have been on over the past 2.5 years. We could never have survived it without your support. Thank you for your financial generosity to our cause and helping us try to find a cure for blood cancers. Not only are you helping the thousands with blood cancer, you are also supporting various types of cancers. Some of the drugs and chemos that have come from your support have crossed over into other cancers and illnesses. You should be very proud of the good that you are doing.

Elizabeth is now in full remission and off of treatment. Her last chemo was February 15, 2011. She is still on bactrim and will be through August 2011. Her blood work that was done on April 11, 2011 showed her ANC (immune system) at 3750!!!!! If you remember, she was always neutropenic, under 500. She is gaining some weight back, her hair is growing and filling in, and she is back to school full time and playing volleyball. Lizzy's port, which is the area that all the visceral chemos were given, was removed on April 12, 2011, another milestone in this journey.

We are entering a "New Reality" and one that looks brighter! No longer will be be going to the ER in the middle of the night, no more chemo making her sick and putting her into remission at the same time, no more neutropenia and isolation, pills, needles (well still a few of those), seeing doctors 5 times a week, blood and platelet transfusions......you get my point.

This year the Light The Night event has changed venues, it will be at the Mason Municipal Building. The event has gotten too large for the walks previous location, this is a good thing! We would like to get a team picture before the evening events begin. I will let you know when and where later

Thank you and many blessings ~

Christine

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) funds lifesaving research that has contributed to major advances in the treatment of blood cancers and treatments for other types of cancer, such as chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. New targeted therapies that kill cancer cells without harming normal tissue are providing drugs and procedures that are improving quality of life.

In fact, in 2009 alone, LLS researchers were conducting more than 90 clinical trials, a critical step in the development of new treatments and cures that will help patients live better, longer lives.

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please make a donation to support my participation in the Light The Night Walk and help save lives. Be sure to check my Web site frequently to see my progress, and thanks for your support!

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Three months out!

Liz and Joel ...  just hangin at the Brown's;)

Elizabeth continues to do well. Her platelet count is finally above low normal range. Low normal range is 150k, she hit 160k!!!!!!!! We were questioning if she  acquired an intolerance to platelets. This can happen when you receive platelets all the time, like she did. Praise God for answering prayers.


Lizzy's immune system, ANC, is 2840. the normal range for an immune system is between 1800 - 8000. Her lymphs are still low at 22 and the normal range is 34-42. She will get there, it is just Her immune system is just a little baby ")


Lizzy's next check up is June 10. Please continue to pray for her body to continue to recover and for her to stay in remission. Remember, there have been wonderful strides made in the way of blood cancers but...there is still no cure; only long term survival. As a parent, this is not acceptable.


Jimmy's EE has gotten worse since the last scope. No changes have been made in his protocol and he will be re-scoped in three months. As far as his hips go....he has issues, but tries to work through them. He doesn't want to give up any summer time for recovery time. His body will tell us when the replacement will happen. Right now he has learned how over come some of the pain and discomfort. Please continue to pray for Jimmy and the challenges that lie ahead.


Catherine will be getting her tonsils out next month. Please pray that the surgery is successful and she has as little pain and discomfort as possible.


Joel continues to do well and is one day away from day 100. He/we are praying that he will be able to start school next year. After placing an EG tube, feeding tube, down his throat he is finally gaining weight!!!!

Ephesians 1:16 

I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,

Blessings and prayers  always ~ Christine

Quick up-date

Liz is doing fabulous and gaining strength everyday.  Her port was removed last Tuesday; the end of an era! She will be on bactrim through Aug. 3x a week, 2x daily, with monthly clinic visits and blood draws. The rate of remission fall-out drops significantly after five years.  You can imagine the anxiety we have once a month.  It sure beats the daily anxiety that we use to have.

Jimmy has his surgery Monday for his EE.  Dr. Putnum did not have to stretch his esophagus and did not see any yeast in his throat, this is a good thing!  We will hear sometime this week if how well he is doing with this disease and if there will be any change in his daily routine.

We are putting on our first Blazin With Love 5k on Sept. 3, at 5:30 p.m., as well as a corn hole tournament and the blood mobile will be there so you can give blood if you would like :)  If you are interested in helping with this wonderful event, which of course, all proceeds will be going to Blazin With Love for the Light The Night Walk, for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This is an update on Critter from his step mom, Michelle:  "Everyone please pray for critter he was just taken over to ICU. He is having problems from blood pressure, swelling, and he is out of it. They are putting him on a ventilator to do a procedure do to his blood pressure and sedation If you can just think of him before you go to sleep and when you wake up."




Please continue to pray for all the children on A5.  You watch children live and you watch children die on this floor.  These children become friends, good friends.  It is hard to watch your friends die. 




The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. (Psalm 27: 1, 3)


Blessings and prayers
Christine

Lizzy's celebration service!

Sendspace.com: Lothrup.zip / Audio Files

Time to Celebrate!

October 25, 2008 was the start of a two and a half year journey for Liz and her family, a journey that we have all joined through this blog, through prayer, and through our support. This weekend, we're celebrating that journey, and the end of Liz's treatment, with a time of music, stories and thanksgiving. The celebration begins at 10:45 a.m. this Sunday, April 3, 2011 at WellSpring Community Church, 7689 Bethany Road, Liberty Township, Ohio. Bring friends...wear orange...and show Liz, Randy, Christine, Cat and Jim one more time just how much we love them. Hope to see you there!