BYU Football Season Begins!

Thurs. Aug 30, 2012 – First BYU Football Game of the Season

This morning I was able to drag myself out of bed to do my 2+ mile walk. I am feeling more of the fatigue from the radiation right now. Afterwards, I showered and went to my radiation appointment. After coming home, I was completely wiped out and had a really good nap. Later I woke up to eat lunch and do a few things around the house like laundry and vacuuming out the car. Then the fatigue set in and I took a 2^nd nap! Wow! I’m trying to be patient with my body and allow it to get the rest it needs, but I have to admit that I feel a bit like a little old granny sleeping as much as I have today. Haha

This evening was the first BYU football game of the season and kick off was at 8:15pm. A dear friend of ours was able to get us a parking pass close to the stadium so that I wouldn’t have to walk too far to get and from the games. It was wonderful. As the crowd rose in the stadium for the playing of the national anthem, a wave of emotion swept over me as I remembered 5 months ago when I was first diagnosed and we were deciding if we should buy season tickets for the coming fall. I told Lincoln, “We’re buying those football tickets and I WILL be going to the games with you!” Well 5 months later, there I stood next to my sweetheart in our BYU blue and white colors getting ready to make it through another football season together! I’m so grateful to still be here and for the gift of enjoying these moments with the people I love. I’m grateful to God for his tender mercies in my life. I will keep fighting! By the way, although I was only able to make it half way through the game, BYU did win and I plan on winning, too!

What a wonderful, wonderful world!

Tues. Aug, 28, 2012

This morning I went walking again with Tracy. We even jogged almost half of our route. It felt really good. I love talking with her and laughing. It’s good for my spirit. Later I went to my radiation appointment and had my weekly visit with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Clark. He checked to see how I’m doing after the first 7 radiation treatments and 2 low-dose chemo rounds. I still feel good and have not seen any redness or irritation on my chest or neck from the radiation yet. He clarified that when I’m done with the 6 weeks of radiation/chemo that they will give me 3 months of no treatments for my body to heal from everything and then another PET Scan. I can’t even imagine what 3 months without any chemo or radiation will feel like, probably, like HEAVEN! I’m really looking forward to that.

This afternoon I took a nap and was surprised when I woke up to find that a dear friend in the ward had dropped off a dinner for our family. What wonderful friends we have! I stopped by to see a young man who is leaving on his mission tomorrow for England and to wish him well. Then I stopped by to see my friend who had brought us the yummy dinner. It was wonderful to feel her spirit and reconnect with her. She’s a special lady.

Just as we were getting ready to go to bed, The door-bell rang and someone left an amazing Chicken Alfredo casserole on our porch. As we knelt in prayer, we gave thanks to our Heavenly Father for such a kind ward in which we live and for so many good people willing to reach out and support us right now. We are truly blessed.

Chemo Round #8 & Radiation Week 2

Mon. Aug. 27, 2012

Today was the beginning of Week 2 radiation and chemo. My friend, Jeannee, came with me for the ‘fieldtrip’ to the cancer center. The team of nurses and doctors that work there are really great people and I appreciate all they are doing to help me heal and get better, but I don’t necessarily ‘like’ going there. J

Having my friend with me made the experience so much more enjoyable. We chatted about a million different things and laughed together. The time really seemed to fly by. She’s amazing. 

At one point, an older man, about 73, came in and sat by us. He was definitely tired and not feeling well, but he had a smile on his face and said hello to everyone in the room. As we visited with him, we learned that he was going through chemo for the 3^rd time! I can’t even imagine what that would be like! My heart went out to him and I admired his desire to be happy and cheerful, despite his challenge. Happiness really is a choice and I’m grateful for the examples of goodness, love and courage that I see all around me. Although the cancer center is not a fun place to go visit, it truly is a sacred place. There’s a special spirit as some people reach out to help heal and comfort those who are suffering and others who are fighting for their lives and trying to understand the purpose in their challenges. 

Ashley Off to College

Thurs. Aug 23, 2012

All day long Ashley packed up her things and squeezed them into her little 1990 Nissan Sentra to take back up to Utah State for another year of college. I have appreciated her coming home this summer to help me with the wedding and being my personal helper with life as a chemo patient. She’s never complained and she’s made me laugh and smile. 

I will miss her this year. She has been overwhelmed with not having a job when she goes back. Something about conflicts with her class schedule. Just as we were hugging good-bye, her cell phone rang and it was a lady at Aggie Ice Cream asking if she was still available for a job with them. Tears of joy ran down her face and then down mine! So after the call, we had a ‘thank you’ prayer and hugged as she headed back up to school. I’m so grateful for tender mercies and for answered payers. I know the Lord is mindful of each of our situations and that He is with us. Good luck, Ashley!

Happy 25th Anniversary

Wed. Aug 22, 2012 25 years of marriage

Today is my 25^th wedding anniversary! Wow! Lincoln and I had talked about waiting until I get better to go do something to celebrate, but I decided that we need to celebrate ‘now’! It couldn’t be anything too big or too far away, so we decided to just go out to dinner and spend the night away together. Life is too short and too fragile to just take for granted that there will be ‘another time.’ I’m grateful for the past 25 years with my best friend at my side. We've had challenges, but so many blessings and joys in our lives. I’m grateful for the gift of life and for the opportunity to be a wife and mother and for the wonderful lessons that I’ve learned along the way. Lincoln still tells me that he loves me and that I’m beautiful. I’m a lucky woman. Here’s to 25 more years!

Lincoln & Lisa - 25 years!

Phase 2 of Treatments Begins

Mon. Aug. 20, 2012 – Radiation Begins!

This morning I started with a 2+ mile brisk walk. It felt really good again. Each time I go, I feel stronger and stronger. I recognize that the radiation therapy will bring on added fatigue in a few weeks, but right now I feel really good.

After a shower, Ashley went with me to have my first radiation treatment. It went relatively smooth and only took about 20 minutes. Then I met with Dr. Breyer to discuss what chemo she wants me to take on a weekly basis for the next 6 weeks. I’ve been praying that my doctors will be inspired as to what will best help me beat this battle against cancer. Today I was told that because I have responded so well to the Carboplatin and Taxotere chemo drugs, she wants to keep me on those 2 meds on a much lower dosage. I was quite surprised because she had mentioned a possible different medication last week when I saw her. 

She said that it’s such a low dose that it’s like a ‘whiff’ of chemo compared to the heavy doses I was on previously. I also thought my chemo would be a 30 minute session, but after talking with the nurses and getting set up for my chemo, I learned that it is more like a 3 hour chemo event each week. I have to admit I was a little bummed about that aspect of the treatment. I’ll still need to take the anti-nausea drugs for the first 5 days of chemo just to make sure that I don’t get sick. The bottom line is that I want to get better and if I want to do that, I’ll need to follow the doctor’s recommendations. This phase will last for 6 weeks. I have already conquered 4 months of heavy chemo; I know I can do this.

After my appointments, Ashley dropped me off at a local bakery to have lunch with two of my good friends. It felt really good to laugh and to visit with them. They are amazing ladies and I love them dearly. I have so many blessings in my life. I have a great deal of positive to focus on and that’s what I choose to do right now! J

Wonderful Sunday Happenings!

Sun. Aug. 19, 2012

I have to remind myself from time to time that Sunday is a day of rest. Rest from the world’s activities, but not from the Lord’s. We had a meeting at 10am with a member of our Stake Presidency and our high councilman to discuss our calling. It was a wonderful meeting. We attended Sacrament Meeting with Lexy in our home ward and then went down to the singles ward. We returned home around 3pm and I emailed all of the weekly singles ward activities out to the home ward YSA Couples so they can share it in their home wards. Lincoln made some yummy zucchini bread for the families that he home teaches. Then I started on dinner. Tyler and Andrea joined up and we really had a fun time together. Our garden is producing so much beautiful tasty treats that I’m thrilled. We had fresh tomatoes, onions and green pepper slices on our grilled hamburgers. It was delightful! I also made a yummy peach cobbler from the fresh peaches that a neighbor brought to us. Wow! It turned out pretty terrific. I made copies of the recipe for Ashley and Andrea to take to school.

After dinner, I helped Andrea with Thank you cards, Lincoln helped Tyler updating a computer and Ashley and Lexy hung out with us. After Lincoln’s home teaching appointments another neighbor brought by some delicious bacon wrapped chicken skewers and some pistachio encrusted chicken breasts to share with us. We were all in heaven! Today was a wonderful day of serving and being served and feeling God’s love in my life.