Good News!

Happy Easter! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend with loved ones, shared the joys of all the blessings and miracles Christ brings us, gave thanks for the Ressurection, and felt joy for the second chances we get through The Atonement. What complete love our Savior has for and shows us!

Last friday, we got the wonderful news that I AM IN REMISSION! What sweet words to hear! This means that the chemo was working correctly, and my body was cooperating. YEA!

Now I am entering the "consolidation" phase. I will do three more one-week rounds of chemo, but as an out-patient in the cancer clinic. These are lower doses, and I get 3 weeks inbetween each round to heal and gain my strength. During the 3 weeks of "rest", I will still be going into the clinic to give blood samples, and meeting with my doctors so they can monitor my immune system and other blood related concerns. They are also able to give medicines when my numbers start falling to hopefully boost my own marrow production so I won't have to have as many transfusions. Too cool.

So things are definitely on the recovery track, and I hope that I only have 3 more months of these treatments...then the next stage is "full remission"...where I hope to stay for a very long time! I start the first chemo round (well...first since I've been home...) this week, 3/24. My doctor suggested I keep ice in my mouth for the week I'm in treatment to reduce the mouth sores that were so...annoying...last time. I had a good friend suggest that idea while I was in the hospital; I'm determined to follow the advice this time! (Sorry I wasn't so obedient the first time...) I might even be going overboard, as I try to think of a way to suck on ice while sleeping! ;-)

I appreciate all your thoughts and prayers, and am grateful for your continued actions on mine and KC's behalf. I know God answers prayers and strengthens our faith through our trials. I have witnessed this over and over throughout my life, but especially in these last months. He never gives us anything we can't handle, and many angels found in friends and family have made this experience something we can definitely handle. Thank you for being a part of my growth and for enriching my life.
~Sarah

PS- Oh, I also hope all the eggs were found before the skunks had a chance to hunt them, and the chocolate was soothing to the digestion! Nothing better than a diet of hard-boiled eggs with seasonings of jellybeans and various shapes of chocolate! Just don't make a salad with the fake green plastic "grass"...Trust me on this. Love you all!