100 Days of Happy

 Day 100 - We Made It!! WAHOO! - June 17th

100 hundred days of happy: COMPLETE!  And we did not go out without a bang!  Several months ago my brother and sister-in-law asked me if we had plans for the evening of June 17th.  They wanted us to join them in going to a David Archuleta Concert that would be held in Layton, Utah. They knew how much I 'Idol'lized Davy, and were being so kind to include me in this wonderful outing.  Little did I know then, that this would be our 100 day mark.  There could not have been a better way to celebrate the 100th day of this journey! It was thrilling to say the least to be able to watch and hear this concert, he(Davy) is such a talented incredible young man, with such an incredible message to world. This was just the best way to end this journey with even a little more Happy!

I wanted to conclude this blog with the Dr.s report on the final results of tests that were done last week. I figured this would be a good ending for all those who have been so kind to follow along with me on this journey.

I am so pleased to announce that all visible tumors on my ribs and spine have disappeared.  The cancer did eat away at of one of my vertebra's so am actually 3/4 of an inch shorter than I used to be, all the more evidence that I've always been short a few cogs.  The pet scan showed there are no new lesions appearing, although it may be decades before the old lesions will disappear. The bone marrow biopsy showed only 1% abnormal cells, down from 15%. My blood tests showed that the kappa light chains that were very escalated before receiving treatments are now reading normal, although the lambda chains are below normal, something that they hope will equalize with a little more time.  All in all a very good response to treatment, which we are so happy for!

I have to admit when I was waiting to hear the results, there was a little (or big) part of me that so wanted to hear that this cancer was 100% eradicated. That the treatments had knocked it out of the ball park. So there was a little let down, when I heard there was still a little work to be done.  That being said, I will still be receiving the same maintenance therapy had all the numbers been perfect. Multiple Myeloma really isn't the same as other cancers and is more chronic in nature but treatments are highly effective. 

I am so grateful that things have gone so good, but more than that, I am thankful for multitude of blessings that have come to me because of this journey.  I never knew the magnitude of the love and care that could bless my life from so many beloved family members and wonderful friends, and even strangers! I have been cradled in love of my Heavenly Father and know he answers every prayer that is offered, in a way that will be the best for each of us!  

As I have contemplated this journey and it's results I have come to this conclusion:  Had I gotten the 100% numbers that I was hoping for, I might have felt much less compelled to be responsible for healthy life habits, which I do believe is the biggest component of a complete recovery. I know there are many improvements I could make in this area and have a long ways to go. Its very plain and simple; I'm just a work in progress, and I ain't done yet!  So I bid this blog good-bye for now, but hope you'll check back with me a year from now, for more happy news!