My Mom and our whole family are rejoicing in God's faithfulness to us once again! His mercies are new each day! The radiologist at Presbyterian St. Lukes in Denver successfully drained 3 liters of fluid from her abdomen yesterday. It flowed freely after only one attempt which is truly an answer to specific prayer. Today she gets a CT scan, meets with her oncologist and will discuss next steps with her homeopathic physician about possible alternative treatment. We will keep you posted. Please continue to pray for discernment and wisdom as we proceed. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes! God hears our prayers!

Good news of God's faithfulness once again. After receiving a letter from my medical insurance company that they would not pay for the chemo drug that I have already received for two treatments because there is no research evidence that it is effective in my kind of cancer, I get the results of my most recent CT scan and it shows that the new lesion in my liver got smaller - from 26mm to 17! The doctors are appealing my case and will use these results to show that the drug is effective in my case. Please pray that they will resolve this matter. The scan results also said that there is no increase in the amount of fluid in my abdomen, nor is there any change in the number or size of the tumors that have been there. So no change is actually good. It's good news that the cancer has not spread to any other organs! In the meantime, the doctors contacted the insurance company that covers my prescriptions and they will cover my taking the same chemo drug orally, so I will begin taking that on Wednesday. We will have to work on the correct dosage as the body usually only absorbs about 40% compared to 100% when given intravenously. I hope and pray that I will respond positively to the oral drug as it will be so much easier to manage than going to get treatment every day for five days in a row as I have been doing. My homeopathic physician returned from a month in Germany where a team of doctors looked at my most recent scans, and he is optimistic that he can dissolve some of these tumors. We will meet to discuss what treatment options are available with him as well. There is no doubt in my mind that God hears our prayers. So many people continue to pray for me and I find great comfort in knowing that. Thank you.

One more "everyday for 5 days" chemo treatment done! Everything went well, though my red and my white blood cell counts are low. I will receive a shot today to build up my immune system a little - can't hurt and might help! I am scheduled for a CT scan on Nov. 8th to see how effective this drug (topotecan) has been. My best hope is that it has actually shrunk some of my tumors, and least is that it has not spread to any of my other organs and that the tumors have not gotten any bigger. This drug is also available in pill form to take orally; however, the insurance company has not authorized payment to receive it orally because there is not enough experimental evidence to support its effectiveness in my kind of cancer. You could be praying about that because I would find it much easier to swallow one pill a day than to have to drive up valley five days in a row to get poked and sit for a hour during the treatment. My oncologist says that it is much harder to get the exact dosage with a drug that is taken orally because the absorption rate varies greatly from one individual to another, but I'd still like to give it a try! God is always so faithful! I have had a normal amount of energy throughout a hectic week of having to stay late at school for parent-teacher conferences and trying to prepare our cars, house, and yard for the winter - just in time, too! We are experiencing a total "white-out" today, with snow falling steadily and accumulating everywhere - another example of God's bountiful provision! Please continue praying for us, as I know that Our Lord hears our prayers and answers them according to His will and purpose. Will keep you posted as I have new information to post. Sarah and Bob continue to be an unbelievable support to me. They are real troopers!

Just completed day four of five of my new chemo drug, Topotecan. This is the first time I have had to get chemo five days in a row, off two weeks, then five days again. It has definitely affected my lifestyle - have had to go in an hour earlier to school each day during treatment to make up for the hour early that I leave school in the afternoon in order to get to the Shaw Clinic in time to get finished before they close at 5 P.M. It has also necessitated finding someone to cover part of my last class each day - not really long enough to warrant getting a "sub", so different people have stepped in to help me out this week. I don't know that I can ask them to continue to do that. I'll have to make other arrangements. The good news is that so far my body has tolerated the drug well with no adverse side effects, for which I am truly grateful! The plan is to have another treatment followed by a CT scan a few weeks later to determine how effective this drug is. At that time we will assess what other options might be available. I would hope to schedule a consultation visit at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale or at MD Anderson in Houston in the near future to see what they recommend in trying to keep the cancer at bay, keep it from spreading, and maintain a long-term maintenance treatment that would afford me a normal lifestyle for as long as possible. I feel certain if there was a "magic bullet" to shrink the tumors dramatically, we would know about it.
I trust that I am getting very good care here, but it never hurts to get another opinion. Thank you for your prayers and continued support and interest in how I am doing. It means so much to all of us. You can pray for Bob's speedy recovery as well - he just had hernia surgery today but seems to be ahead of the curve again. Will keep you posted as new info worth sharing comes up.

After consulting with my oncologist on Thursday, he would like to try another chemo that has been successful with ovarian cancer patients rather than go back to the chemo I had been on previously for a year that was successful, but can have detrimental effects on the heart. So, we will probably begin that regimen on Monday, Sept. 27th. If it becomes necessary to go back to the old one, we would have to monitor the heart activity very closely. In the meantime, we will hold off draining the ascites until we see how well I do on this new drug. I forgot to have my doctor write it down for me, so I don't remember the name, not that you would even want to know! I feel well and do not notice any change in my level of energy or sleep pattern. I am in very little pain, except for the hernia in my navel, but I can certainly live with it. Please keep me in your prayers and I will keep you informed as I continue with my treatment.

My recent CT scan revealed bad news and good news. The bad news is that there is a new spot on my liver. The good news is that the multiple tumors in my abdominal cavity seem to be stable. My oncologist recommends that we drain the fluid in my belly as soon as possible and try to fix the hernia in my navel that is the size of a golf ball. I am waiting to hear if the procedures will be done here or at Presbyterian St.Luke's in Denver where I have had the procedure to drain the ascides done before. I am very disappointed that the cancer has been extremely agressive in the last few months, but we hope to stop it by returning to the old chemo regimen temporarily until we can come up with another one to try. Because the old chemo is hard on my heart, we will have to have a echocardiogram done before every treatment and monitor things very closely. In the big picture, every day that I have been given since I was sent home from the hospital last December to die has been a gift. I am so grateful for every day, the wonderful summer I had, and the great start to another school year! We will continue to treat my cancer as any other chronic disease by being proactive in every way - spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I'm not giving up, nor should you - please continue to pray for discernment and Divine guidence throughout this time when we will have to make important decisions regarding the quality of life that I have while I am still on this planet. God is soverign in my life, and He has indeed been so merciful and good to me. I have never taken for granted your faithfulness in remembering me in your prayers. It is such a blessing knowing that I have your loving support. I'll continue to post updates as I have them.

I received the second dose of Doxal on Monday and all went well. I'm feeling a little tired today after the first day back with children at school, but so are the majority of teachers, many of whom are a lot younger than I am, so I'm not to worried about it. I just might have to go home and take a nap! The kids seem to like my new "hairdo", which is short but a bit different from last year - light brown with gold highlights so I won't look as old as I feel! I'm back full time as long as I have the energy to do my job with enthusiasm. If I have to drop to part-time, a lady who has worked in the library with me for years will job share with me. So far everything is going well, PRAISE GOD! I will get a CT scan next Thursday to determine the growth, or lack of growth, in size and number of tumors, and after reviewing the results, the oncologist will decide whether to stick with this drug or move on to something else. The homeopathic physician is going to the clinic in Germany that he is affiliated with in the latter part of September and will take the disk with my most recent CT scan images to the team of cancer specialists there to see what they recommend. So far we have been unsuccessful in shrinking the tumors significantly. They haven't gotten bigger, but they haven't gotten significantly smaller, either. I am experiencing more fluid accumulating in my abdomenal area as well in that I can't zip up pants that I could wear at the beginning of the summer. That's usually not a good sign either. Sarah is off to Washington, D.C. this week and so is hurricane Earl - hope it misses her and everyone else! Bob is back doing any and all exercise that he feels up to. He is training for a century ride in Boulder in 2 weeks, so he has been spending time in the saddle. I'm so grateful that I feel better than I did at this time last year. I feel that I am making progress and that I am able to enjoy my "normal" life. Your continuing prayers are always needed and cherished. Will give another update after getting the results of the scan.

My new chemo regimen, the drug Doxil, took me down a notch or two, but I am feeling better now. This summer has been so wonderful - I've felt like my old self before I got sick, with loads of energy, no pain, and feeling stronger every day. The treatment this past Monday was the first time with this drug, so I am a little discouraged that it left me feeling so fatigued, with pain in my abdomen, cramping in my hands and feet, and overall operating at about 60% instead of 90%. After a few days of sleeping a lot and not doing much of anything, I am starting to feel better, so I'm hopeful that I will continue to improve. My oncologist would like to keep me on this drug for 3 treatments, given every 28 days and then we will evaluate how effective or ineffective it is in addressing the spread of cancer in my body, as well as in reducing the size of the tumors. So we won't have any tests done until the end of September. Thank you for continuing to pray for me. School starts on Aug. 23rd, so I need all the energy I can possibly have to put in a full work day. Bob and Sarah are doing fine. Sarah will participate in a triathlon this weekend, so she has been training like a maniac! Bob will do a 100 mile bike ride in Boulder in a few weeks, so he's been working out a lot, too. The weather is already turning a little cooler - fall will be here before we know it!

My recent trip to Louisiana to see family and dear friends was truly therapeutic! God blessed me with boundless energy while I was there in spite of the heat and humidity. It was a wonderful 12 days, but I must admit that it does feel good to be home again. I will have my next chemo on August 2nd when we anticipate that we will change to a different chemo drug that works similarly to the one I have been on, but without the negative side effects to the heart. Bob continues to improve after his heart surgery and is back to running, swimming, and biking daily. Sarah is doing well on her exercise regimen and mostly plant-based diet, so I guess you could say as a family we are supporting each other as we try to live a healthy lifestyle so that we can feel good every day! I am enjoying each day of summer vacation before I start back to work on Aug. 23rd in my same position as full-time librarian at the same school I have been in for a while now. I am indeed blessed to be there and am looking forward to another great year! I am so grateful that I feel like my "old" self again - like I am not even sick! God is so good and merciful. I didn't think that I would ever feel this well again. I didn't think I would ever have another beautiful summer in Colorado, so I know that each and every day is truly a gift from Him!

I'm happy to say that my June 21st tests all revealed that not much change for better or worse has taken place since the last battery of tests. The fact that the tumors have not gotten larger, and that the cancer has not spread anywhere else is reason to celebrate! My chemo went well on June 23rd. We decided to stay on the same chemo regimen until after I return from my visit to Louisiana in July. Until then, Bob, Sarah, and I continue to enjoy each and every day in the Colorado mountains and have been keeping a very busy schedule to include all the things we enjoy doing.
Bob celebrated his 64th birthday yesterday and is recovering really well from his heart surgery in May. He is back running, road biking, swimming, and working 12 hour days. Sarah is quite busy at the rec center now that all the kids are out of school on summer vacation. While she is anxious for school to resume, I am thankful that I still have about 6 weeks left before I will return to work. We are so blessed to live in this beautiful place where we have the support of so many wonderful friends. God is so good! My next update will be at the end of July after my next chemo and my trip to Louisiana.

School's out! YEA!!! I can't tell you how relaxed I feel already. Summer in the mountains of Colorado this year is truly a gift from God. I can honestly remember laying in bed at the hospital in the Hospice room, watching the snow falling outside and thinking that I would probably never see a Colorado summer again. So, I plan to make the most of each and every day, doing all the things we enjoy, and savor every moment for what it is - a wonderful gift! I had chemo last Thursday. I am scheduled for a CT scan, an echocardiogram, and a port flow test on June 21st. The oncologist is thinking that we will not schedule another chemo on the 23rd as I would normally have, but rather take some time off, let my body regroup, and see what happens. We will monitor my body closely, and if we think that I need to get back on some kind of chemo, he has a different one in mind to try. The current chemo drug has been very effective in keeping the cancer from spreading, and has actually reduced the size of the big tumor, but it is very hard on my heart. So, we will try a different drug that acts similarly to the one I am on now, but hasn't the drawback of the heart deal, although I'm sure it has its own drawbacks, whatever they are. Last summer when I got off of everything and was just taking my homeopathic remedies and following the RAVE diet, I didn't do so well, so I hope my body is stronger now and will respond to less treatment in a positive way! Bob is doing really well in the monitored cardiac rehab program at the Shaw Center where I receive my treatments. The staff there is very knowledgeable and helpful. On his off days, he does the excercises using his own heart monitor. Sarah just finished a 10K race in Port Angeles, WA, where she was visiting her old roommate from CMC in Steamboat. She has lost 30 pounds over the past year and is feeling so much more energetic and stronger than before. She often rides her bike to and from work now that the days are nice and long, and works in the masters' swim program three times a week, so she is serious about getting into shape. We all feel so blessed to be together and to feel so well after a roller-coaster year. I was asked to give an "inspirational" message at the state Delta Kappa Gamma Conference in Longmont this weekend, and of course I shared my "miracle" story of how God healed me at Christmastime. So many women came up to me afterward to tell me how touched they were by my message, and that they would share it with others they know who are struggling with pain and hopelessness. Many asked me for my contact information so that they could pass it along to a loved one. I was so happy that I was able to offer encouragement to them. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is faithful in answering them!

This is more of an update on Bob rather than me- I continue to feel amazingly well and have been in Grand Junction with Bob all week while he is recovering from aortic valve replacement surgery. He had several days of intense discomfort in ICU, but since he has been discharged from there, most of the tubes have come out and he is functioning extremely well on his own. He has been walking 4-5 times a day and his vital signs are excellent. We anticipate that we will be able to go home tomorrow - Sunday. We praise Jesus for His mercy and favor during this difficult time. With God's abundant provision, I have no doubt that Bob will continue to improve. Thank you for your prayers and support. My next chemo is on June 3rd, so please continue to keep both of us in your daily prayers.

Bob is recovering in ICU at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction from surgery to replace his aortic valve. We are amazed at the skill of the surgeon and at the advances in technology and modern medicine. We are indeed blessed! We expect that he should be discharged from the hospital to come home on Sunday or Monday. I am planning to stay in Grand Junction with Bob until then, and return to school for the remaining two weeks of the school year. We are all ready for summer in the mountains to get here! Bob will be going to supervised rehab in Glenwood Springs 3 days a week for a month once we get home, so it will be nice to have warm weather to walk the neighborhood and to drive through the canyon. We appreciate your prayers. He is certainly not out of the weeds, but we are optimistic that he will continue to improve. Sarah is a huge help to us keeping an eye on the home front, taking care of the cat, mowing the grass, cleaning the house, and just being a tremendous support for us. Did I mention that she is the best daughter anyone could ever have - just amazing with a spirit of compassion that no doubt is a gift from her heavenly Father!

I know it's been awhile, but until I have new news to report, I don't usually post anything. Yesterday, May 11th was my scheduled chemo day. My friend, Kathy Moser, from Steamboat drove over to take me to my treatment and visit with me while I'm there. She had just arrived at my house when I received a call from Sarah who instead of being at work like I thought she was, was in the process of taking her dad to Glenwood Springs to get an ultrasound done on his groin and right leg, which then led to her driving him all the way to Grand Junction to St. Mary's Hospital where he will have a procedure done today to stitch up the femoral artery where they went in two weeks ago to perform a cardiac catheterization. It seems that it never closed or healed properly, so it has been leaking and causing a huge hematoma that has to be drained. I am on my way in a few minutes to stay with Bob while he is in the hospital. We expect to be home on Thursday afternoon. Please keep us in your prayers. He is still scheduled to have an aortic valve replacement done on May 19th. All the pretests show that he is a good candidate for the least invasive procedure, so we think his recovery time will be about 3 weeks, with a 5 day hospital stay. The results of my blood work, echocardiogram, and CT scan are all good, with even a slight (2cm) decrease in size of the big tumor in my abdomen, and less ascides (fluid) present as noted on the digital images. My chemo went well and I feel fine to make the trip to Grand Junction this morning. Last May 1st, my surgeon in Denver told me that I had one month to live. Bob and I came home in a daze trying to wrap our heads around everything that we needed to take care of personally, emotionally,legally and financially while still trying to live as normal a life for the 30 days we had left. One year later, I am so grateful that I've had many wonderful days with family and friends, far exceeding my wildest dreams! My God is so faithful! He gives life, and he takes it away, and in the meantime He has extended His infinite compassion and mercy on me and my family. We look forward to a delightful summer in the mountains together - if it will ever stop snowing! I think God controls that, too! Love to you all. Will keep you updated, but know that no news is good news.

Our trip to Louisiana to visit my friend in Abbeville and to visit Bob's sister and brother-in-law and many relatives and friends there was absolutely wonderful! It went by way too quickly, but we managed to squeeze in just about everything we planned on doing - including eating some of our favorite delicacies. Now we are back to the straight and narrow R.A.V.E. diet because it seems to work for us and keep us energized. I received chemo on March 30th as planned and had a CT scan as well which showed no drastic or significant changes for the better or the worse. I was able to get some fluid removed from my abdomen at Presbyterian St. Luke's hospital in Denver on Thursday. Though a bit painful during and after the procedure, I am experiencing some relief from the feeling of constant pressure on my internal organs. The radiologist who did the procedure explained that the reason the fluid causes pain is that the cells that release the fluid are all inflamed due to the progression of the disease. When my body cannot absorb the fluid at a rate that parallels the rate of fluid production, it builds up in the abdominal cavity and causes pressure, overall discomfort, and sometimes acute pain. Thankfully I have pain meds for that! After the procedure, we had a 5 hour trip home because Vail Pass was closed in both directions due to severe winter weather conditions and multi-car accidents. We had to be re-routed through Leadville which took longer because it is a two-lane mountain highway with all the I-70 east-west traffic diverted to this route. Home looked extra sweet when we finally arrived! Hope you all have a blessed and wonderful Easter. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers as well.

You should assume that when you don't see a post from me for this long, it must be good news! I feel wonderfully well - maybe because spring break and a trip to see family and friends in Louisiana is just around the corner! I might have to go off my diet so I can have some crawfish and a New Orleans po-boy. (yum!) I am scheduled for my next chemo and a CT scan on March 30th, and will try again to have fluid removed on April 2nd in Denver. I feel so blessed to have had so many days that I actually felt good - lots of energy, sleeping well, and pain is under control. Thank you for continuing to pray for me and for all your cards and letters that remind me that you are thinking of me and are supporting me with your kind words, generous hearts, and sincere optimism. You're the best!

After being off of chemo for 6 weeks, I have noticed a significant increase in weight due to a substantial amount of fluid that is building up in my abdomen again. I scheduled an appointment to have the fluid removed at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver on Thursday. Unfortunately, the same radiologist that was successful in removing 12 lbs. of fluid last time was unable to access the only pocket with enough fluid to make the procedure worthwhile. He said to wait a few weeks and we could try again. Needless to say, I was very disappointed because I am experiencing pain, lack of energy, and an overall feeling of just not being up to par. The oncologist in Denver that I met with and my oncologist here in Vail both concur that the fluid is a result of cancer cell activity; therefore, we will resume chemo treatments on Tuesday, March 2nd using the same regimen for another 4 treatments. I will need to have a echo cardiogram done before each treatment because this drug is particularly hard on the heart, though I have never experienced any problems there before. I guess all those years of running paid off! In the meantime, I am trying out a new pain medication and hope that once I start the chemo treatments, maybe my body will be able to absorb the fluid naturally. I am still going to school every day that I am not having a procedure done. This week is the Dr. Seuss Celebration in the library on Monday, and the spring book fair starts on Tuesday. Parent - Teacher conferences are also next week, so teachers are expected to stay until 7 P.M. two evenings, so I will truly be put to the test. Please continue to pray for me. Bob and Sarah are so great to remind me that life for everyone is a roller coaster ride, so we are experiencing the ups and the downs of life just as you are. We love you and enjoy hearing from you so much!
Ruth

Thanks

I have not blogged in a bit but I do want to thank each and every one of you for your unfailing support that we have received since the beginning of this whole ordeal. We would not be able to do this without your love, prayers, support! Thanks so much, we are so blessed.

After going in for a routine blood draw before my next scheduled chemo treatment on Monday, the doctor and I learned that my white blood cell count was too low to undergo treatment. We decided to wait for a few months to let my body build back up and see how it will respond to "no chemo" for awhile, knowing that if necessary, I can undergo chemo again - same drug and same regimen. I plan to go in next month for another blood test, and after two months, get another CT scan to see if the tumors are continuing to get smaller, or if they are getting larger without the the chemo. I am currently receiving aggressive homeopathic therapy with lots of enzymes, supplements, and am continuing on a plant-based diet which includes lots of juicing and protein shakes. I am actually anxious to know how my body will respond now that we have discontinued chemo for awhile. For the first time in a month, I am experiencing some abdominal pain now that I have been off the pain medication patch. It was explained to me that even though I was not using the patch, the medication continues to work inside the body for some time - a "residual" effect. I have tried some natural pain remedies, but they have been ineffective.It's the "roller coaster" ride of ups and downs, but I must admit that since Christmas, I have experienced many more ups than downs - Praise God! He has been so faithful in the past, I trust that he will continue to guide and protect me. He created every cell in my body, so I know that He knows how they all work together to be healthy again. Thank you for your prayers! I think of you as my support crew in this journey. I couldn't do it without you!

The results of the CT scan show that the tumor in my liver, the lesion in my spleen, and the big tumor in my lower abdomen have all gotten smaller! Praise the living God! The radiologist said that there is no evidence of any blockage in my intestines or in my bowel. The amount of fluid has also been reduced, so all in all, it was a very encouraging report. I will have another chemo tomorrow. Following that treatment, I will have an echocardiogram. If all is well with my heart, I will probably have the final chemo in three weeks. Thank you for your continuing prayers! The conference in Denver was excellent. I was able to meet the author who will be visiting my school in April, so we were able to finalize plans for that. I attended many worthwhile sessions on literacy, on the newest children's books hot off the press, and on integrating digital technology, including "skyping" into my library lessons. Of course I'm all pumped up and ready to try some of the new things I learned! Ain't life great! Every day is truly a gift!

I wish I had information to give regarding the CT Scan I had yesterday, but my oncologist and I played telephone tag today and I only know from his voice message that "things look good, but we need to talk about next steps". I assume that we may have a chance to visit on the phone tomorrow, but I am leaving right after school to attend a big international reading conference in Denver and won't return until Friday evening. I'm optimistic that my body is responding positively to all the prayers that are being lifted up to God on my behalf, to the plant-based diet I'm on, and to the chemo treatments I have already had. My oncologist and I did discuss at our last meeting that we would make a decision regarding the possibility of one or two more chemo treatments after the results of the CT Scan were in. Since I have not had the full dose in my previous chemo treatments, I could still have one or two more before I would exceed the total recommended amount. I feel like I am so much stronger now, and I have so much more energy than I used to have. I am no longer struggling to get through the school day, but am living a pretty normal life. The fact that Bob, Sarah, and I have already booked our flight to New Orleans for my Spring Break is also an indicator of how well I feel! I now weigh 100 lbs. and actually have some "meat" on my bones. It no longer hurts to sit down on a wooden chair! Even Sarah says I'm starting to get some muscle in my arms! I continue to crank up the incline on the treadmill and pick up the speed, so who knows, maybe I will be able to enter the Bolder Boulder Race over the Memorial Day weekend afterall!
Thank you for your continuing prayers, phone calls, cards, and overall good wishes. You always brighten my days - knowing that you are thinking of me and are as hopeful as I am for a complete recovery! I'll keep you posted on my progress.

My dear friend, Kathy Moser, from Steamboat drove to Eagle this morning to take me to my last chemo treatment and to keep me company while I got the infusion. The Shaw Regional Cancer Treatment Center was packed. The number of people being diagnosed with cancer in our part of the state seems to be increasing. Although not all of my blood test results are in, the decision was made based on the results the oncologist did have to go ahead with this treatment as planned. I will have a CT scan in 2-3 weeks to see if the tumors have continued to shrink in size/numbers. I continue taking the homeopathic enzymes and supplements I got from Germany, and am sticking to a diet of plant-based foods, no dairy, lots of fresh vegetable juice, and protein shakes. As a result, I've gained 10 lbs. in a month since I was in the hospital and now weigh 97, so I'me close to the 105 that I was before the blockage episode. I have a good appetite and graze my way through the day consuming lots of calories! After my chemo, Kathy and I went out for a nice lunch, met with my homeopathic physician, and then went to the Alpine Club to get a wonderful massage that Bob arranged for us. We then made a quick run to Costco (since there isn't one in Steamboat) and finally ended the day having a "simple supper" of soup and salad at the Eagle Methodist Church, which the church I go to co-sponsors with them each Monday evening. Costco donates a variety of breads and desserts each week. We always meet someone new at this community event, and it does offer much- needed support for families who are struggling financially right now. I am optimistic that my body will respond positively to our attempts to manage this disease successfully. I am confident that with so many people praying for me and wishing me well that I will continue to enjoy each and every day as a gift from God for as many days as He has ordained for me, totally amazed by all of His blessings!
Love, Ruth

I am elated to tell you that I made it through the first week back at school working all day every day after our Christmas break! Not only that, but I had tons of energy, did not have to come home and take a nap, and I actually think that I am feeling better now than before I had the blockage. I guess that when Jesus heals, he does it right! I am so grateful! I am very thankful for every day that I am feeling well and can live a "normal" life doing the simple day-to-day activities. I even enjoy doing laundry and cleaning the house! (I don't know how long that will last.) The outpouring of your love and support continue to encourage me and inspire me during this time of healing and recovery. I will have my last chemo on Jan. 18th, and will discuss with my oncologist at that time what protocol we will follow from that point on. My blood chemistry report a few weeks ago shows that everything is within the "normal range" and no area revealed a "red flag". Isn't that wonderful!!! I appreciate your continuing prayers on my behalf and want you to know how much it means to me to know that so many people are. When I was in the hospital in so much pain, I really could only beg for mercy, so it is of great comfort to me to know that even when I am unable to pray, you are praying for me. God has been faithful in answering our prayers! Hallelujah!

Ruth is back at school and doing well. She has more energy than my dad and I but is looking forward to the weekend.
Thanks for all your prayers and support- you all are some awesome prayer warriors!!