"voodoo doughnuts and gal pals"

It truly was a weekend of celebrating the good news from the latest scan - answered prayers and gratitude for healing. It's a small step, but a positive one and it was so wonderful to make the phone calls to family and friends this time. Dr. Karamlou had to repeat himself twice when he told me and mom the news :) I think I was so used to discouraging results that it took a moment to really register what he was telling us - all the tumors in the liver have shrunk, there are no new spots anywhere else and the lung and pancreas tumors have continued to stabilize. All three of us were grinning from ear to ear though as I left the office to go for chemo treatments. A great day!

Dr. Karamlou said to go and celebrate and I certainly did. Dear friends from Atlanta, Wyoming and Charlotte flew in for a long weekend and we kicked up our heels, Portland style. No trip to Portland is complete without a stop at Voodoo Doughnuts and we, along with many other Portlanders and visitors, joined the long line outside the shop on Saturday morning. If you're in town, I'll be sure to take you there and if you're truly adventurous, we can also go to Velveteria, the largest black velvet painting museum in the world (as far as we know :) And yes, we went there too. Who can miss the opportunity to see such a wide array of dogs playing poker or the requisite Elvis paintings?

I'll continue with this current chemo protocol for 3 more cycles (about 6-7 weeks) and then we'll do another scan. Side effects were a little stronger this time, but overall, I feel good and am still teaching full time. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week and we've already finished the first quarter of the school year.

There is so much to be thankful for, not just with the holiday approaching but in the blessings of every day. I'm deeply grateful for so much and thank God for His healing and continued provision for me. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday, surrounded by the people you care most about. We are all so blessed, aren't we?

Love and hugs and heartfelt thanks,

Susan

The climb

I have been reflecting about Sue's great news yesterday and feel it's been a long time since we had something to celebrate when the words "scan results" come from the mouths of Sue's medical team. Well, as I'm reflecting upon Sue's positive results, a song from a young 16 yr old plays in my head as it does around our home these days. Powerful words from one of my daughter's favorite singers: Miley Cyrus.

The song is "The Climb" and can't help but think of Sue during this cancer journey. I have played the words in my head over and over today and would like to share the words with you.

Thank you Sue for showing a younger brother that prayer, belief, strength, hope, inspires me beyond words. I picture you dancing at my daughters weddings and holding their babies one day, eating garlic fries cheering the Giants and walking the finish line with me. These are my dreams and yesterday's news kept those dreams alive.
By the way, I speak for many many others when I say "you inspire me"


The Climb
I can almost see it, that dream i'm dreamin but, there's a voice inside my head sayin, you'll never reach it. every step im takin every move i make feels lost with no direction, my faith is shakin, but i, i gotta keep tryin i gotta keep my head held high

there's always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle and sometimes im gonna have to lose it aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb

the struggles im facing the chances im taking sometimes might knock me down but no im not breaking i may not know it but these are the moments that im gonna remember most yeah just gotta keep goin and i i got be strong gotta keep on pushin on cuz

theres always gonna be another mountain im always gonna wanna make it move always gonna be an uphill battle sometimes im gonna have to lose aint about how fast i get there aint about whats waitin on the other side its the climb x2

keep on movin keep climbin keep the faith babe its all about its all about the climb keep the faith keep your faith

Whoa oh oh oh

Quick update...answered prayers

Just received a phone call with Sue's scan results and for the first time since the lung tumor shrunk back in the spring, we have GOOD news. Dr. Karamlou greeted Sue and Mom this morning with "we have good news, the chemo is working and all nodules in the liver are shrinking, no new growth anywhere else and the lung and pancreas are still stabilized.

Sue will follow with a blog update this weekend, but right now she is celebrating and praising God.

A big answer to all of prayers!

Matt

An Anniversary

October 30th was a day of reflection and thanks for me as I "celebrated" the one year anniversary of the original lung cancer diagnosis. In some ways it is hard to believe a year has passed already and, in other ways, the year has gone so quickly that I can't believe it really is one year. And you all know what a year it has been, the ups and downs of all the tests and diagnoses, beginning chemo and radiation treatment, the pulmonary embolism scare and everything in between. I've spent many of the last days really reflecting on this cancer journey and it still comes back to what I've said from the very start......God has a purpose and a plan for me, He is beside me every step of the way and though I don't have a clear idea or understanding as to why we're on this journey, I am so grateful for all the blessings along the way. It would take pages to tell you all about all the wonderful people and blessings that have come my way in this past year.....just recently I received cards and packages from my "chemoangels" - an organization I have never heard of that lends encouragement and support to cancer patients. These women are as far away as Oklahoma and Virginia and I really don't know how they found me (they're keeping that a secret, I guess) but it has been wonderful.

I guess I am now a veteran of sorts in this cancer battle. Last week when I went for chemo, there was a woman about my age and her husband sitting in the lobby. I checked in and sat, waiting for the nurse to call me back. The woman asked in a hesitant voice how long I had been having chemo so I shared a bit of my story with her. Turns out this was her first chemo treatment and she was quite apprehensive about the whole thing. Everyone has a different experience and I'm hopeful hers will be as easy as mine has been, in terms of side effects, and I was so glad to be able to talk with her and her husband and offer some positive information. I remember as clear as day the first time I went for chemo and radiation - the unknown can be pretty darn scary.

Some of my best medicine is, and continues to be, teaching and all my wonderful kiddos. My desk is littered with candy they've brought me from their Halloween stash (guess my repeated hints about loving all that Halloween stuff paid off :) and last Friday when they wore costumes to school was just too darn cute. It was a fun day.....my costume was as corny as they all have been in years past. If you look closely at the picture, you may be able to tell I have coins (quarters) glued to my shirt, am holding a hammer and a block of cheese. Wait for it, wait for it......I was a "quarter pounder with cheese".

The next CT scan is scheduled for Monday, November 9th, in the morning and I see Dr. Karamlou on Weds., the 11th, for results. This will determine whether I stay on the current chemo protocol or if we have to pull another bunny out of the hat. I am praying hard for good results and I know you are too. Thank you. Oh, and another huge praise - I no longer have to be on oxygen! I've been off the "leash" for almost three weeks now and am doing just fine. God has been so good and kept me so protected.

Fall here in Portland has been absolutely spectacular and the trees truly must rival the east coast for color and variety. Even though raking all the leaves isn't that much fun, I have really enjoyed the fall season and am looking forward to the holidays. I feel like I'll blink and it will be Thanksgiving already.

Time to go and watch the Phillies-Yankees game and root for those Phillies. I love the World Series but am always a bit let down when it is over because then I have to wait until February for spring training. And I plan to be around for that!

Love and hugs and deep heartfelt thanks to all of you,
Susan