Christmas Miracles

I had a two-month follow-up MRI on Thursday after my radiosurgery. The doctor called on Friday and issued an "all clear" diagnosis. We're not out of the woods, but there is cause for celebration and a great Christmas holiday!

Thanks for all your prayers and support.
  Sarah

Night Out with Family - Michael W Smith at Powell Hall with the St Louis Symphony

Judy Peckham, John Gray, John me, Debbie Gray at Powell Hall. "W" was awesome!

November Update

Here is my November update. Hope you like my wig :-0

I have just recently started my new bi-monthly treatments. It gave us a break so we could get away. Now we're home and looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday with the kids.

John and I went to Houston to visit Ellie, and we all drove to San Antonio to support the Hock sisters walking in a cancer fund-raising  marathon. Here we are at the Alamo!

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society "Team-in-Training" Inspirational Dinner. Hock Family & friends group shot

Enjoying sangria margaritas on the Riverwalk

LU Homecoming and a Georgeous Day Out at MO Botanical Gardens

Christian and his parents at recent Lindenwood U homecoming parade.

John and I took advantage of the beautiful weather today to visit the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St Louis. We included a few snapshots of our big adventure. Best thing about weekday visits--no crowds. We started out with a visit to World's Fair Donuts. They were the perfect wholesome snack while sitting in the Japanese Garden. 


I'm feeling pretty good these days, although I still get pretty tired by afternoon. Tomorrow morning I will be having radiosurgery to attack another tumor location. And then later in the week I expect to have a "port" installed to make treatments easier. 


Thanks to all for your thoughts and prayers. Keep it up!  --Love, Sarah

MO Botanical Gardens - Main Entrance - Ridgeway Center

Excuse me, would you take our picture?

Mr Mouse enjoys the bird feeder in the Climatron

Tranquil fountain - Japanese Garden

My favorite spot

Feeding the fish - more, please

Duck spies lunch

Boxwood Garden

Chinese Garden

Chahuly Glass Sculptures

News for October 15,2010

This photo is of John, me, and my brother-in-law, John Gray at  recent wedding of our nephew Jeff Snodgrass and Melissa Krone. Since most of my hair is gone, I decided to wear the dreaded wig and a hat. What a fashion statement! We had a wonderful time.

Today we met with the Dr. and saw the "new " (after treatments) MRI, and were disappointed that the remaining part of the tumor had not decreased in size. So I will be scheduled for radio-surgery soon. It will only be a half day procedure, and I am sure more MRI's will follow and chemo pills five days every month to prevent more cancer cells growing. John and I both agreed that when this is over we will need a vacation!

Thanks to everyone! Treatments are done!

Wednesday was my last day of chemo and radiation, and I am so relieved! Thank you to everyone for driving me so John could get some work done, bringing us meals because I was to tired to cook,  all the wonderful supportive cards and e-mails and especially the prayers, I know they carried us through.The doctors have warned me it will be a while before I have my energy back so I will just see what I can do over the next few months. I think I have been very lucky, the side effects have been mild. I have a few appointments in October including a new MRI and we will take it from there. Until then I will be organizing stuff around the house, and making things I never had the time to make such as my chocolate zucchini bread and then walking it off!
Thanks to all!
Sarah

Turning 24 & Silk Scarves

Both kids were home for Labor day weekend . We celebrated Ellie's 24th birthday. with a  champagne cake with candles shaped like champagne bottles and we drank a little champagne with raspberries.

I have three more treatments, then I can take a break, then I will have a new MRI done in October. I'm feeling pretty good, so I tried my hand at dying silk scarves as thank you gifts.

This is a vat of silk scarves being dyed pink. 

This is a vat of silk scarves being dyed lavender for the walkers in the upcoming Lymphoma/Leukemia run  in San Antonio.

Day 28 - Good Friends Visit

Today three good friends visited from Columbia, Missouri Bunco Chicks 

(L-R: Kathy Welsh, me, Diane Dulle, Pat Sattizahn) 

They brought a fabulous lunch--homemade chicken salad, spinach salad, and cream cheese filled chocolate cupcakes :-)

We had a great time reminiscing of raising our kids together and catching up. I really appreciate them taking the time to cook and travel to St Louis to visit. It was so good to see them again.

To our

Friends who have become Family

and our

Family who have become Friends--

May you be blessed with the same

love and care you've given us

Mary Maude Daniels

TGIF! - Day 23/48

Meet two of my driving angels that take me to treatments occasionally. On my right is my neighbor Mary Ann Rudloff. On my left is my jolly sister-in-law Mary Snodgrass. I appreciate their time as well as everyone's prayers and dinners. The support means so much to John and I!

Day 21/48

After another fun art class at the Wellness Center

Day 16/48 - The beginning of the empty-nest chapter!

Christian packed and heading to Lindenwood University, St Charles MO

We are in a routine now of timing the pills and breakfast and head to the cancer center for radiation about 9:00. Most days we are home by 10:00. I try to do errands or chores in the morning, because by noon I am ready for an afternoon nap! The dogs, Kai & Dakota, love sleeping with me on the bed and stay very close. I found a quote that says it all:

Animals are such agreeable friends-

they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms

                                                                                                        --George Eliot

Day 10 of Treatment

We had a busy weekend celebrating my dear friend Aimee's 50th birthday at Ricardo's in Lafayette Square and welcomed another bride into the family at a bridal shower on Sunday afternoon! We have also been busy packing Christian's belongings for college as he leaves tomorrow (Wednesday) right after my morning treatment.
He has been a big help driving me around and doing errands with me, he will be missed!

I visited my neurosurgeon, Dr. Lu, today and he said I could drive, so of course I went to the grocery store! It is cooler now and I hope to walk more for exercise.

Making artist trading cards at the Wellness Community in Des Peres

Christian and I attended this class where we made "Trading cards for comfort and support "to give to cancer patients recieving chemotherapy. It's a great way for me to "pay it forward".

Having my mask made (pre-radiation treatment)

Locked in and ready to go!!

Getting my mask made

This is what I do every morning at 9:40

Day 5 of Radiation

We are keeping our appointments for radiation every morning and I'm staying busy making cards for friends and family. I plan to take craft classes and QiGong (chi-gong) at the Wellness Center which is a support network for people with cancer. It is a good resource. Thank you for all the prayers and dinners!

Sarah

Ellie's Journey

Ellie has moved to Texas and is setting up her new apartment with her roommate and everything is going well for her. The cat is adjusting and Ellie is excited to be living in Texas, these are picture of us a few minutes before Ellie made her departure to Texas!

P.S, notice in the second picture Kai's tongue

Rainbow

Here are some pics dad took this morning of a rainbow over our house

First Post!

Hey guys! So this is a blog designed to let family and friends keep updated about Sarah and her progress in her treatment. So for starters, she started her chemo on Wednesday and she is doing well.