Baby girl, all grown up!

Wed. Oct. 3, 2012

Today is a great day to be alive! I’m so grateful to have gone walking/jogging this morning and feel the sun on my face and see the beautiful fall colors on the mountains. Every day is a gift and it’s strange not to have to go the cancer center today. Haha, but I can get used to this!

The Young Women’s Night of Excellence Program was tonight. Lincoln and I went with Lexy and had so much fun! I helped her get dressed in her big sister’s Prom dress. Can’t believe my baby is so grown up! She looked beautiful. It was a fun night to help her feel special and realize all the wonderful qualities she has as a daughter of God.

Night of Excellence - Lexy and Jessi

Radiation 30/30 Complete!

Mon. Oct. 1, 2012

Today was my very last day of radiation! Yay! As I was laying on the table getting my tumor zapped by the radiation machine, my thoughts turned to God and I thought about the past six months of my life trying to beat this cancer. I thanked Heavenly Father that I was at this point in my journey and pleaded that these treatments will have done the job in killing off the cancer completely. I also thanked him for the incredible amount of love and support that both I and my family have received during this unexpected journey. As I got up from the table I mentioned to Katie and Dana, the technicians, that this was my last radiation. One of them said she was sad not to see me again, but happy that I made it through everything. Dana disappeared around the corner and then came back with a bottle of Sparkling Cider and a big ‘congratulations!’

I also had my blood drawn first to see if my body responded to the shots last week to raise my white blood cell count. Everything came back normal and looking good. I was very relieved. It feels so awesome to be at this point, but also surreal. I can’t believe I don’t have to go back again tomorrow, but so grateful that it’s a reality.

With a heart full of gratitude, I move forward to let the healing begin and pray for a very positive PET Scan in December. Until then, I plan on making the most of everyday that I’ve been given.

I'm sooo hungry!

Sat. Sept 29, 2012

Beautiful fall day!  My biggest problem has been being SUPER hungry! I’m just having the hardest time swallowing things. I don’t even mind so much that I can’t taste food, but swallowing is a problem. This afternoon, Lincoln came home and I announced that I NEEDED a kid’s meal from Artic Circle. Haha. 

My stomach hurts from being so hungry! It took me about 40 minutes, but I finished the hamburger and was so happy to have a full tummy! This should start getting better in a few weeks. I just need to hang in there.

Arctic Circle Kid's Burger + 40 minutes = A full tummy! 

Fighting cancer lying down . .

Fri. Sept 28, 2012

Lincoln worked from home for the second day to keep an eye on me. He took me to my appointments this morning. When we got to radiation, I had him come back and see how the radiation machine works. He met the cute radiation technicians that have become my friends over the last 6 weeks and they explained the process to him. Pretty cool.

Tonight he and Lexy went to the BYU football game and I stayed at home and watched it on tv. I didn’t feel up to getting out for the game, but Tyler dropped by and watched it with me. I’m doing better and looking forward to my last radiation treatment on Monday. Wahoo!

It's always darkest just before the dawn

Wed. Sept. 26, 2012

Today has been a tough day. I’m not sure why, but it just has. My body hurts and I just am looking forward to getting better. I know I can do this and I just have to hang in there and be patient and trust in the Lord. I opened my front door this afternoon and found a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from a dear friend telling me congratulations on finishing my chemo! That sent me into tears and I realized how lucky I am to have such amazing people in my life. I truly am blessed.

Tonight was probably the hardest night I’ve had to far. I was in a lot of pain, chest on fire, throat and esophagus raw, teeth aching, neuropathy hurting, freezing and shaking like a leaf. Lincoln was able to give me a blessing and I took a sleeping pill to fall asleep. I’m so grateful for a loving, patient husband and for the power of the priesthood in my life. I’m looking forward to getting better.

I'm not alone . . .

Tues. Sept. 25, 2012

This morning I went walking again with Tracy and it was a little harder today than it has been. I’m just feeling fatigued from the radiation. I met with Dr. Clark and we talked about how I’m doing with all the radiation side effects. It’s getting harder, but I just have to hang in there. The doctor told me that all the side effects will peak around 10-12 days after my final radiation treatment and then I’ll start to feel better. Not to complain, but my chest feels like a really bad sunburn, my tastes buds don’t exist at all, and it’s extremely difficult to swallow anything. Not a lot of fun, but I’m hoping that all this is killing the cancer for good!

My sweet friend Becky, from my college days, dropped by this afternoon to say hi and see how I’m doing. It was so awesome to reconnect with her after so many years. She too has had some very challenging experiences in her life and we both agreed that it has been our faith that has gotten us through the trials and made us better people because of it. Life is much more precious now and we acknowledge the Lord’s blessings in our lives and the power of prayer as our friends and family have rallied around us in the tough times.

Chemo #12 out 12! Someone ring that bell!!

Mon. Sept. 24, 2012

Chemo #12 out of 12! Done & Done!

I did it! I completed 12 out of 12 rounds of chemo!! Tracy went with me again. Radiation first, 25 out of 30 and chemo #12. My platelets and white blood cell count were low again, but the doctor let me to go ahead and get my last round of chemo. Wahoo! I will have to come in every day again to get the neupragen shot to boost my white blood cell count and help my immune system to bounce back. I didn’t even have a reaction to the Carboplatin, (cancer drug)! The nurse said most people get a saturation point and can’t handle any more. I didn’t! The American Fork office doesn’t have a bell to ring when patients finish their treatment, like some cancer centers do, so I just told everyone I was done with chemo and ringing a ‘virtual bell’ as a victory cry! They just laughed at me and wished me well.

Tonight to celebrate, we had a Google Hang-Out Session with Ashley, Chad, Tyler & Andrea, my mom & dad, Kathy and Maddie. It was fun to celebrate together and just catch up on each other’s lives. My family means everything to me!