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I’m combining my weekly (or monthly lately) Thinking, Playing and Reading post with some great news!
Let’s do the good news first! Last week Abbey called me while I was driving, crying and incoherent. I heard “Dr. Desai called me….” and nothing else. Of course my stomach dropped as that is her oncologist and I do what moms do everywhere-say “Calm down I can’t understand, what’s wrong?” and think the worst.
But it was THE BEST NEWS. She had a PET scan the week before, about 2 weeks after her 4th (and terrible) chemo session. I hadn’t expected news about that PET scan for another week, and we fully expected to hear that she needed four more chemo treatments.
The PET scan showed that the first four treatments were so effective she needed no more chemo! I kept saying, “Really, are you sure? What did she exactly? It’s all gone?” We were both crying with happiness and relief and just pent up tears from holding it all in during the last couple months.
She will have to have radiation-we have not met with the doctor yet for the protocol, so we don’t have specifics. I never had to have radiation with my treatment so I don’t know what to expect but we know it has to be better than her really tough chemo regimen. Right now she is in good spirits, thin and bald (but boy does she look gorgeous!) and traumatized but she is a toughie and knows how to take good care of herself as she processes it all. I will not lie-her body responded well to chemo in terms of the cancer being wiped out, but she reacted so so badly to it in every way. The nurses at one point (who all loved her in the treatment center) told me that she was as sick as anyone they’ve ever seen. She had just about every side effect and reaction to the drugs that they gave her to combat those side effects. She had to delay one treatment due to low counts and that would have continued to happen, had we not had this great news.
Thank you SO much for your notes, and gifts, and prayers. Really, Abbey has said to me on more than one occasion, “I get the nicest comments and messages from your readers Mom, like the nicest people every follow you.” And I agree! I hope you each know how much all that support has meant to both of us, and know that it will all be paid forward because we intend to use our experiences with cancer to help others enduring the same thing. That’s how the world works when it is good!
I can’t wait for this to be completely over for her and so she can get on with life, albeit a changed life for sure-that’s what cancer does, good and bad.
On to Thinking, Playing Reading:
THINKING:
I’ve been walking and listening to such a great informative podcast. I’ve learned so so much and can’t wait for my walk to learn to more. It’s called The Huberman Lab. If you’ve ever wanted to optimize your mental (so much information about anxiety and depression) and physical health this is a great podcast. It really gets behind the science and he’s just about the best professor in the way he explains things.
PLAYING:
A few of our favorites, most on sale!
READING:
A couple of our favorite Christmas books from our small collection:
Thank you again for all your support!
What a great post! I’m so happy for you both!
Oh my that is fantastic news! I’m so glad she is surrounded by her amazing mom and friends and good doctors. And your blog community too! We will continue to pray for her recovery. I suspect radiation will be much more tolerable. And you are so right about cancer changing people. Not because I have experienced it but I hear it in my friend’s voice every time she has a follow up appointment or hears about someone else with cancer.
Great news! So happy for Abby and you all.
Sending well wishes and love from Malaysia
Oh, Sarah, I am crying tears of gratitude and joy for you. I am so, so grateful to get this good news. Rejoicing with you!!
Thank you so much!
God bless her!!! Wonderful news. I’m so happy for you all.
Thank you!
That is GREAT news about Abbey! I don’t often comment on your blog, but just want you to know continued prayers are being sent your way.
Thank you!
Such great new about Abby! Have a wonderful day!
Thank you!
That is fantastic news! I am so happy she is doing better and on the mend. A very Merry Christmas to you all.
Such wonderful news about beautiful Abby! I’m so happy for her, you, and the rest of your family.
Oh such good news this morning! So happy for you and your daughter. Sending more healing prayers your way. Blessings, Joy and Peace this Christmas season.
What a relief!!
Sorry to hear how tough the chemo was for her, but so very happy for Abbey and your family!! Praying the radiation goes easier on her.
And I will check out that podcast-always looking for a good one.
Also, I had to smile at Snowmen at Night. I remember reading that one a lot when my girls were little! Cute illustrations!
I am so sorry for all you and your family have been going through. What an amazing Christmas present. She looks adorable in that hat and coat. Atleast it’s winter and she could wear them. I know first hand what Ohio winters look like. We just moved to Chattanooga last year and although I love it here, I still miss home! I was born and raised in the Youngstown/Warren area.
I hope y’all have a wonderful Christmas. God is so Good!!!
What wonderful news to welcome the Christmas season this year! I’m so happy for your sweet family. I’ve been following her and she has a great talent for writing and expressing herself just like her mom! Keeping you all in my prayers and wishing you a blessed Christmas.
So happy for you both. I did 4 weeks of radiation and had very little side effects. Mostly just keep your skin hydrated.
What wonderful news! Bless Abbey for being so sick!! What a relief to have that behind you! Sending all or love this holiday season and a prayer that God will continue to comfort and bless your family.
Praise God for Abbey’s good report! What a wonderful gift this time of year.
Bless both your ❤️‘S. I’ve been a reader since your youngest son was a baby. I feel very strongly that god is calling you both to write a book together. That’s just my thoughts. No pressure but you are incredibly gifted at writing. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
what delightful news! so happy for your family.
SUCH great news about Abbey!!! Will continue to send prayers her way (and yours!)
Oh Sarah, what wonderful news! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas with your family!
“That’s how the world works when it is good!” What a beautiful saying and so reflective of you, your family, and your blog. You have wonderful followers because you inspire and attract others with your goodness, honesty, and wisdom. Wishing you, Abbey, and your family a Blessed and Merry Christmas season and a New Year filled with love and joy!
What joyful news! What a relief to hear! Praying for you, Abbey and your sweet family. Your blog is light in the darkness. Truly. Thanks for sharing parts of your life with us. It’s a privilege. I lost my mom to cervical cancer and that was gut-wrenching. I can’t even imagine going through it myself…and then watching my daughter! And having my marriage break-up in between…
Putting one foot in front of other is all you can do and being there for your kids. I guess that is how you survive.
So glad to read the good news! I have been thinking and praying for you and your family. I have high hopes for you all and all the positives that seem to be coming from what might at first seem devastating and debilitating. Your stamina, your determination, and the positive outcomes that you have are such an inspiration.
Oh my gosh!! I came to your blog to check in on your baby and such GREAT news!!!! So happy for all of you. And so sorry she had such a rough time with her treatments
So happy to hear the great news! Merry Christmas!
Oh, what wonderful news! I am sorry it has been such a rough road for Abbey, but I am SO glad she doesn’t need more chemo! I’ve been reading your blog since before I had kids (oldest is 11!), and you and your beautiful family are an inspiration. Wishing you health, happiness, peace, and joy this Advent and Christmas, and may the new year bring you all the good things you so richly deserve.
Wonderful news! Praying for you and your beautiful family. Praying Abbey moves forward on to wellness.
Better days for all of you, so very much needed. Thank you for sharing your life with us, you are truly an inspiration. xo