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!