Guest Author: Deborah White, my sister

After Dianne's second stem cell transplant and a review of the tests taken after the transplant, many have questions about the results, the prognosis and the treatment plan.  As you will read, Dianne will be on a maintenance regime indefinitely, so she has decided to make this her last blog.  Any significant updates will be done by email from now on.

We decided to do this last blog in a Q and A interview.

Q: What are your recent test results?

A: My test results came back good and I feel great.  I still look weird though.  The lesions are healing and have low activity.  My doctor said I am in remission.

Q: What is your doctor saying about ongoing treatment?

A: He put me on a maintenance program of daily oral chemo, and once a month I go to get an infusion of chemo, steroids, and bone strengthener.  I will go back in 3 months to check for cancer growth. 

Q: What does the doctor say about your prognosis?

A: The data shows that someone with the risk factors I have typically go 3 to 5 years before more treatment is needed.  I take that with a grain of salt, as I know that my life is in God’s hands and he has plans to prosper me, not to harm me.  Plans to give me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Bottom line, whatever is God’s will, that is what I want.

Q: What have you learned through your cancer?

A: I am assured even more now that God is good and He always has my back.  I have peace in knowing that in all situations God has a plan for me and it is good.

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.  I will advise you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8)

Q: Is there anything you want to say to your blog readers?

A: Yes!  I have so much appreciation for the concern and compassion my blog readers have shown.  They have carried me through this cancer treatment every step of the way.  It has really made the treatment tolerable. I am grateful for the many cards and notes I received in support.  I am especially grateful for the prayers so many have offered up for me.  I am overwhelmed by their loving kindness.  May God bless them many times as they are a blessing to me.

Over the past year I have watched my sister weather a great storm, one that seems to have no end.  I have been encouraged by her belief that God's will is what she wants, praying for healing, all the while trusting in God's goodness wherever the path of this storm takes her.  As we pray for her, we also must have that same faith in God's goodness that His plan is what we want for her.  I am placing  her in the everlasting arms of Jesus' precious love.

My family!  Mom's 80th birthday celebration.

Debbie and me

Debbie and me soon after I was diagnosed                 My rock and love of my life!

                           

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig

June 13, 2017

I was in the hospital 15 days this transplant – 16 days for the first one.  By the grace of God I am home now.   My reaction to the chemo was different, not fun, but do-able.  I have been home 6 days now and I have so much more energy than I did at this time, last transplant.  The worst part of the last transplant was the seemingly never-ending fatigue! I think I will bounce back faster this time because of the way I feel now.  Thank you for your support of thoughts and prayers.  You all have helped me through this arduous journey and I can’t thank you enough.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Sunrise from my Penthouse view                                                 Karly teaches me some knitting tricks

Having an IV tube strapped to your wrist can make knitting tricky business!!

Greetings from the Penthouse

                                                                                                                                    May 25th, 2017  

   Greetings from the lovely North Western Hospital penthouse view!  I am here for my second stem cell transplant.  As before, I had the mega chemo yesterday and today my stem cells, that were collected last January, will be infused.  I feel great today and expect the transplant to go smoothly, God willing.  He is with me always and has blessed me with minimal side effects last time and I trust Him to get me through it again.  I am so very thankful for all of you!  I have felt so much love flowing out to me by your concern and compassion, cards, notes and especially your prayers on my behalf.  I am humbled by it and ask God to bless each one of you for me.

     I anticipate being in the hospital about 2 weeks and then camp out at home for a month or so before I venture out into the public.   I can have visitors though, if you want to stop by.  The plan is for mom to stay with me when I get home, along with Kriz and Kerstin who will be in and out with work.  Stephanie is coming too sometime around her traveling and working on her Professional growth points.  Karly is coming up Friday to spend the holiday weekend with me - can’t wait!!

    Thank you for reading my blog. I feel the love! 

Last Fling before treatment.  What an adventure!  Baker Murphy, friend and coworker took us up to cruise the Chicago skyline.  I had so much fun, he let me take control for a little while!!

Yes, we took Kriz with us.  

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Test Results

                                                                                                               April 25, 2017

Results of my latest testing show remission (meaning slowing of disease) with just a little activity in the area of my largest tumor.  It is very good news.  I will be scheduled for the second transplant in late May. I really would rather not have the second transplant but, after discussion with my oncologist, I am convinced it is the best course.  With available treatments as of today, there is no cure.  Having a second transplant will likely prolong the return of the disease to a point that needs to be treated again.  I figure it is a relatively short period of time, 2-3 months, of discomfort, and then I will be good to go!  At any rate, I know that my life is in God’s hands and I trust Him with every detail.  He knows best and God is always good!

Thank you for reading my blog.  I feel blessed that you take time to be concerned about me.  I truly appreciate you.

Easter at my mom's

Sometimes my wig looks better on Kriz! 

Birthday

                                                                                                                  March 28, 2017   
  

 It has been a very uneventful 6 weeks since my last posting, until my birthday that is.  I was released from the hospital on Valentines Day.  My mom arrived at our home even before we did and was busy changing linen and sanitizing everything so I would have a “germ free” environment for recovering.  Stephanie came the next morning and the two of them took care of everything as well as wait on me hand and foot.  It was a unique and wonderful time we had to spend together.   They pampered Kriz and me for two weeks until I was ready to take on my own responsibilities.

     The next 3+ weeks I still spent as a shut-in.  I was a little lonely, but mostly frustrated with fatigue, and feeling lethargic and depressed.  I felt worthless and not much fun to be around.  As embarrassing as this is to admit, I bare my soul to help you understand the huge impact the card shower had on me. 

     Evidently, my Uncle Everett in cahoots with my mom orchestrated a Birthday Card Shower for me.  I received a box in the mail from my mom and knew it was a birthday gift so in the evening, Kriz and I sat down to open my present.  I was surprised to find about million cards inside . . .  I’m not sure how many - I didn’t really count.  I was overwhelmed. We opened and read each one like the treasure it was.  At times it was hard to read through tear-filled eyes, then I would look at Kriz and would be crying too.  I felt so much love and healing power pouring out on me.  It was a boost I needed to get me out of my slump and have courage to face a second transplant.  I don’t know how to thank you all.  I think about the African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child” . . . and know that is me.  It takes a village to get me through cancer treatment.  I can’t thank you enough for being my village; I could not do it on my own!  I am amazed by your consistent support; you are teaching me so much about love and compassion.  Thank you for showering me, I am truly blessed.

      My next order of business is “re-staging” to determine the status of my cancer.  On April 7^th, I am scheduled for a MRI scan, PET/CT scan, bone survey (x-ray), bone marrow biopsy and blood work.  Two weeks later on the 21^st, I will meet with my doctor to review the results.  I expect we will schedule the second transplant at that time.  I will post my results after that meeting.  Until then, I am asking God to bless you all most abundantly as I have been blessed by you!