Holiday Dash

It's the Holiday Dash - those busy weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas! 

I'm in a holding pattern at the moment and am so thankful that I'm not having chemo these past few months with everything else that has been going on.  After Steve recovered from shingles, one of his knees started really hurting.  After x-rays, cortisone shot, anti-inflamatories and MRI, he had arthoscopic surgery last week to repair the meniscus.  He is on one crutch now and improving.  Doc says new knees are down the road, but is hopeful this procedure will help.

Saw my specialist at UCSF in November.  Bone marrow hasn't recovered enough as yet to consider transplant.  Blood work done recently is not very encouraging.  Bone marrow still not recovering and things have actually gone down hill instead of improving.  Cancer loads are rapidly rising again and bone marrow not adequate to withstand treatment at this time. The next few weeks are filled with Dr. appointments, MRI, x-rays, bone marrow biopsy, and possibly heart and lung function tests.  Transplant is beginning to look like it will not happen even if we decided to go forward with it. I continue my monthly infusions of Aredia, for my bones, and Gamma-globulin, for my immune system.

Right now there are days to be enjoyed through the holiday season.  My choir concert, Christmas parties, carol sing with friends, and looking forward to family that will be here sometime during the holidays.  It will be baby Grey's first Christmas.  Our newest little grandson was born to parents, Jeremy & Holly, on October 20.  We also are celebrating Jeremy's completion of his B.S. degree in business management from National University.

We pray for those of our loved ones who are struggling with health issues, too, and cancers that would try to destroy our life and our hope.  We daily remind ourselves that our hope is in the Lord; He is the giver of life enternal.  It is the time of year that the whole world must stop and take notice of his birth and life on this earth!  Merry Christmas!