Friday, March 17, 2023

Hey there! Some bit of good news :o)



Exactly a year ago today, I wrote this post. Within a month of that, I received my official diagnosis. What followed was a blur for me really...but back then, I just about shut down this blog and the store, believing the worst. With God's grace, things started happening quickly. The next few months saw us receiving all kinds of help from people from our community, online, and around the world -- help came in the form of money, gift cards, gas cards, hot meals, shop orders, emotional support, babysitting, cards and letters, care packages and gifts for my children, spiritual support and prayers. I have never been so humbled and blessed at the same time. I found myself having conversations with God, mostly thanking Him for giving me time and bringing me the help my family and I desperately needed to get us through a truly dark time.

Three weeks ago, I saw my oncologist. After 8 months, I was finished with active treatments and about to start on the long-term endocrine/hormone therapy. I also was there to find out the results of my last PET/CT scan done two weeks prior. As he read the results, my heart rejoiced and I held on to my husband's hand tight. I heard words like "clear", "no FDG uptake", and "unremarkable", and then finally, my oncologist said, "in remission." I couldn't believe it. Actually, I could -- because we have an awesome God who makes all things possible!

Nine and a half months ago, I sat in the same room with him telling me that the treatment he was putting me on is mainly to give me quality of life and make me comfortable for however long I have. I didn't believe I was going to live to see my daughters' birthdays (in August and December) and I started either throwing away, selling, or packing up my things; I didn't want to burden my husband with all the stuff I've accumulated. But Jesus is good and He is faithful, and His plan is always good.

My husband thinks my oncologist didn't mean to say that I'm in remission; that he probably meant to say "resolution" because he was reading the results for my bones -- where there are no lesions at all in my pelvis or other areas. And when you are a Stage IV or have metastatic breast cancer (MBC), there's no such thing as remission; instead it's NEAD -- no evidence of active disease. But it's all semantics, right? At the moment, there is no evidence of cancer in my body -- not in my bones and not in my tumor markers! If there is cancer, it's at a level that no test can detect.

The last 3 weeks have been the best weeks of my life (see photo collage), and it makes me so happy to give my little girls some semblance of normal life after nearly a year of disrupting their routine. While the active treatments (first chemo, surgery, second chemo, and radiation) I received have a host of side effects that I continue to experience and make it a challenge for me to get back to normal, I'm so filled with gratitude and hope for the future. In the last 3 weeks: we have gone out twice to eat; we have taken the girls on Wednesdays for Adventurers Club (our church's version of boy/girl scouts); I started painting again, something I thought I would not do again after I packed up my brushes and art supplies last year; I started helping out my husband more on homeschooling the girls; I took the girls to Hobby Lobby; and we were able to accept a social invite for the girls to play with baby goats! After a long time, we didn't have to plan our day around my treatment schedule.

My/our family's journey is not over. This time, the goal is to keep my NEAD status for as long as possible. It involves continued consults with my oncologist, taking my endocrine/hormone therapy medications, having monthly injections, and going for regular labs, tests, and procedures that doctors in my care team order. To those of you who have been following my journey and been praying for me/my family, I am asking that you continue to lift us up in prayer.

As for this blog and store -- the plan is to re-open in May...honestly, I have not thought too much or in detail about this because I have been focusing on making up for lost time and opportunities with my girls and husband -- time and opportunities I thought I wouldn't have a year ago. The store continues to be partially open, and purchases there continue to help us financially.

I meant to write a short post, but here ya go...some bit of good news from the Russ family :o) From my family to yours, we pray that you are well and blessed! Thank you for following our journey and supporting us through the years -- most especially in the last year!


With love,

22 comments:

  1. I am so happy for you that things are getting better. I was thinking of you a lot. Sending big crafty hugs from Europe xx

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  2. Great news and thanks for sharing - best of luck

    Kathyk

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  3. My heart is aching with joy for you. So lovely to see your smiles and I am so happy for you. Stay strong. You are an awesome woman and inspiration. HUGZ

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  4. Hi, Shery! I am so happy to read this update. I am crying tears of joy for you and your family. You will never know how many times I have prayed for you and your young family, and I will continue to do so. God is good! I talk to him daily. I am a firm believer in prayer, and I get attached to those I pray for. I am so very happy for you! Sending you wishes of continued improved health!

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  5. I JUST EXPLODED into a HUGE SMILE!!!! I am sooo happy for you and your family Shery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  6. I am so glad that you filled us in. I have been thinking about you frequently lately. Every time I see a stencil, or a project that used a stencil, or ........I wonder how you are doing. Thanks to God for the state of your health! That is amazing and wonderful!!! I hope that you will continue to fill us in when you feel like it. No pressure. I don't often read good news, so it is very welcome :)

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  7. I am so happy for you and your family, I have been following your progress and sending prayers. Yes, God is good!

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  8. Great news, glad things are getting better. I think of you a lot. Sending Hugs your way!

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  9. So glad to hear this good news! I will continue to pray for you and your family.

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  10. So happy for you and your family. Such great news.

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  11. Happy to see your post and your good news! Many good thoughts going your way, for you and for your family!

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  12. Such a wonderful post - I have been following your journey on Facebook, and am so thankful for your current status! My daughter also had a run in with breast cancer late last year, but it was caught early, thanks to a routine mammogram, and she opted for a single mastectomy. With lots of prayer, after the surgery she was given the all clear of no further active treatment other than hormone treatment for the next five years. and annual scans etc.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  13. I'm crying happy tears reading this post, Shery! Love seeing the happy pictures! Take your time--family is what matters. You've reminded us we never now how much time we have, so make each day count. Sending love & hugs, Greta

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  14. I am so glad for you, Shery. I wish you all the best. Hugs from Greece.

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  15. I am so glad to hear this good news! Enjoy each day with your family.

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  16. Fabulous news and
    so happy to hear of
    the new Hope for you!
    Carla from Arizona

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  17. Hey, Shery. I've been away from blog land for a while. I'm so pleased to read about what the Lord has done in your life. What a difference 1 year makes. I pray that you continue to thrive and I'm so happy for you and your family. [Bunny]

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  18. Hi Shery! What wonderful, joyous news for you & your family!! It makes my heart so happy for you. I will continue to pray for your continued, positive results. Hugs, Becca XOXO

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  19. Shery, I love the pictures of smiling faces!!! I pray for you often and I'm so very glad I came to your page to read such fantastic news of hope and health!! God is so very good! Continued prayers for you and your family.

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  20. What a blessing, Shery! I'll keep you in continuing daily prayers. So looking forward to having the challenges return. Hoping you are up to having that happen this month. :-D

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  21. I am super glad to hear this good news...sending a big hugxx

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