Update & Prayer Request - December 30, 2013

It is early morning.  Dawn, in shades of peach and yellow is pushing away the night sky.   The snow, pristine on Christmas day, is well tracked with boot prints, snowshoe prints, and paw prints, evidence of our family enjoying time together in the north country.  We were blessed with three days of warmer weather before diving into the deep freeze.  God is so good!  Our family time was sweet….so very special to have all our kids and grands under one roof and so thankful that I was feeling good, really good!  I was able to cook and play and talk and hug my babies, big and little.  Yes, our God is most definitely good!!!

The time was even more special as it followed six very difficult weeks.  I am NOT blaming God; He had a lesson to teach, and I had a lesson to learn.  In October we got some very good news with my PET scan.  My cancer was in remission.  I had just finished my seventh cycle of oxalyplatin and 5-FU with accumulating side effects.  I was given a choice, one more round of the two drugs, or cut out the oxalyplatin, which causes most of the adverse side effects, and continue with a maintenance dose of 5-FU.  Without a moment’s pause, I jumped in, feet first, and decided to do one more round of the combination drug.  Why not, it was working???  Not a good decision.  I did not take time to pray, to ask God what we should do.  I stepped, no jumped, outside of His will, something I hope to never do again!  My liver enzymes increased well outside “my normal” range, indicating inflammation/damage to my liver.  My pancreas was inflamed, a condition that can rapidly turn serious, even life threatening, my blood sugars were running higher than normal, and I slept, for four weeks, sometimes as much as 20 hours a day.  I had plenty of time to think, to seek forgiveness, to learn.  God graciously gave me the strength to do what I absolutely needed to do, but nothing more.   He stopped me, right where I was, loved me, forgave me. 

By Thanksgiving I was feeling better, venturing out to run a few errands, even fixing the turkey with my mom.  It was short lived.  I developed a horrible respiratory infection with cough, ear, sinus and eye infections.   I am still battling the ear infections, but the rest of the “junk” is gone.  The cough was so severe that I ruptured the incision from my surgery and now have an abdominal hernia.  Surgery to repair it would require that I go off my chemo for six weeks.  After PRAYING, we have decided to “wait and watch”.

So….I have learned.  I am not perfect, and I will probably make decisions without seeking God’s council, but I am learning to seek God in all things.  I am grateful to be surrounded by people who hold me accountable.  I am grateful for each one of you who have faithfully prayed for me.  It has been my privilege to pray for you too.

My “new year” begins with a CT scan on Monday, January 6^th.  I covet your prayers for a scan that indicates NO CANCER.  I covet your prayers for direction as we move forward with maintenance chemo.  The neuropathy is more difficult when it is cold, and I continue to pray that God would lead me to a good treatment option for that. 

How is your “new year” beginning?  Is there something I can be praying for you….praise, thanksgiving, healing, peace.  God has so graciously blessed me this year.  My time with family has been so precious, we have welcomed two new babies, faced down cancer, created wonderful memories.   We have laughed and cried together, carried and been carried by each other.  We have learned many lessons.  TO GOD BE ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY!!!!

May each of you be blessed, as you have blessed me.  May the new year be filled with opportunity to praise, thank and give glory to God.

Annie   

Joyous Update- October 24, 2013

Forgive me, I should have written this yesterday, but to be honest, I was singing songs of praise and worship, celebrating with family, and thanking God.  My scan was PERFECTLY CLEAR.  I was aware that they were watching one area for changes, but it turns out there were a couple of other areas of concern that we were unaware of.  All those areas show no increased metabolic activity indicating no cancer.   The only area of increased activity was my bones which is good because it shows that the drugs to increase my white counts are doing their job stimulating my bone marrow. Thank you God!!!!  He has listened and heard our prayers and I am once again humbled by each of you and your faithfulness in bringing our prayers before the thrown of God.  So, what is next???  My liver function tests are climbing which lets us know that my liver needs a break.  The rise is not dramatic, but it has been climbing consistently.  I will go off the oxalyplatin at the end of this cycle (I have had eight cycles), for a few months and continue with 5FU in the oral form.  Yes, this is the drug that we had a little battle with the insurance company over.  We are praying that since they finally approved it before, then will do so again.  We will scan again in 3-4 months.  If there are any areas of concern at that time, I will go back on the combination drugs again.  My cancer has respond well to that combination and there is every reason to believe that if we need to, we can go back to that.  Encouraging to me is that the neuropathy should improve, the cold sensitivity should go away (excellent as we head into cold winter months), and I will not feel quite so tired.  We are trying a new drug regimen to help with that.  I slept for 4 days last cycle, and so far this cycle has been much better.  Last week I wrote about the colors of the autumn leaves.  They are still beautiful, and the grands are out collecting them.  Next we plan on collecting some acorns for a little decorating project.....yes, I am feeling better.  I had to smile Monday morning as we were leaving the hospital after then scan....our first snowfall of the season.  Again I was struck my the awesomeness of our God.  The snowfall was those little, unique, perfectly formed, six pointed crystals.  Again, God didn't have to create such beauty for us, in fact, our busy lives don't allow much time to stop and appreciate it.  Perhaps it is a blessing to have to slow down life, to pause and wonder over the little things, to thank God for the moments, to seek joy, to give thanks in all things.  No, not perhaps, I am certain this is God's plan for me.  I need to keep my eyes on Him, to be constantly aware of the miracle He is performing in my life, and the ripple effect that has on those I love, as well as those who have been consistently praying for me, a stranger, a friend, a friend of a friend.  To all of you, you have my deepest thanks, you are being my rock, and I have been so blessed.

 

May you be blessed,

Annie  

Prayer Request - October 18, 2013

Just a really quick update before next week when I promise a much more detailed update. I covet your prayers this weekend. I am having a PET/CT scan on Monday and we are praying that there will be no evidence of cancer anywhere in my body. Would you please join us in that prayer? I have been feeling really pretty good these last few weeks: good enough to take care of our grandbaby on Wednesday mornings while his mom stays connected with her school, good enough to go to the apple orchard and cook up a big batch of applesauce, good enough to enjoy lake weekends with our kids and their kids. I am praising God. I love fall and am relishing the change of seasons here, the reds, oranges and yellows, the crisp air, the clear blue skies. I stand in awe of God's majesty. God didn't have to create a world with these awesome seasons, the beauty of the fall, but He did for us that we might understand His awesomeness. So, take a moment with me, draw in a breathe of the clear autumn air, gaze at the colors and reflect on Him, artistic creator. Thank you for your prayers on my behalf. I am truly grateful, and blessed beyond comprehension by your faithfulness. God will hear our prayers and answer.

In His name, Annie

Prayer Request - August 21, 2013

Thank you for continuing to rejoice with our family as we celebrate my mom's clear scan results last week...God's Hand continues to amaze us and we know that it is only Him who is responsible for the scan's results.

 

This morning with our praises comes renewed request as my mom has hit another little 'hiccup' along this road. She was scheduled to have her chemo treatment yesterday morning, which has been postponed a week because her white count was too low the week before. Yesterday's blood work revealed her white count to be too low for treatment again (even lower than the week prior), meaning another postponement (probably till early next week). They gave her a shot yesterday (and she will have 3 subsequent shots in the next three days) to hopefully help boost her white blood cells and allow her to continue with her treatment.  The shots are incredibly uncomfortable and cause great 'bone pain' which is leaving her on the couch or in bed. 

 

Would you please pray that...

 

-The cancer would remain MIRACULOUSLY GONE...that this hiccup preventing her from getting treatment would NOT allow the cancer to 'gain strength'

-That her white count would INCREASE dramatically

-That the bone pain would be GONE or at least tolerable with pain medicine

-That her heart would not be discouraged as time in bed/on the couch isn't good for anyone's joy

-That satan would not weasel his way in and cause fear, doubt, despair, etc.

-That the Lord would continue to be glorified through every aspect of this journey

 

Thank you for continuing to pray alongside our family and rally on my mom's behalf...we are so grateful for your intercession!!

 

Be blessed.

 

Annie & family

Update! August 14, 2013

Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in Affliction, and Faithful in Prayer.  Romans 12:12

 

Praising God, praising God, praising God...the lymph nodes in question 6 weeks ago are now GONE!  Thank you so much for faithfully praying on my behalf.  There was some "nonspecific metabolic activity" around my pancreas that my doctor believes is inflammation.  We can be praying  about that.  My next scan is in 6-8 weeks.  If you could pray over my white blood count that would be much appreciated.  It was to low to receive chemo yesterday so I have a week off.  If it is too low again next week they will have to adjust my doses, and I would prefer not to have to do that.  And.....when you pray, praise and thank God for the miracle He is working in me!!!

 

Your faithfulness is a blessing to me and my family.  May you be blessed.

Annie 

Prayer Request - August 10, 2013

I woke up this morning to the cry of a loon, a majestic pink sunrise, and the lake as smooth as glass.  Yes, this is my "happy place".  I have been in a very good place these last few weeks.  I am tolerating the new chemo treatments much better than last summer.  I am trying a new drug to combat the neuropathy and it has changed the tingling pain from a very sharp, needle prick to a dull buzz which is much more tolerable, and I am completing a cancer physical rehab program that has really improved the quality of my lift.  I can now walk, slowly, up to two miles, manage a flight of stairs comfortably, and am getting stronger every day.  If fact, yesterday I carried my very sleepy grandson, all 50 pounds of him into the dairy for dinner.  My vertigo is gone after only two sessions with the physical therapist.  Thank you God....for placing all these wonderful people in my life to help me to encourage me and to care for me.  God continues to meet my every need and then some.  The best part of the summer has been enjoying my two BIG grandchildren and getting to know the two LITTLE ones.  It is all very ordinary, but the ordinary is precious.

 

I would like to ask you to pray with us in the next few days.  I have a follow up PET/CT scan on Monday.  We are praying boldly that the cancer in the lymph nodes will be gone and that there would be no indications of cancer anywhere else.  I read in a devotion last week that "trust is believing that God can, and faith is believing that God will".  I have faith that our God will heal.

 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.  May you be blessed as you have blessed me.

Annie

We hope you all are doing well and enjoying some sweet summer fun with your family and friends. We are all doing well, enjoying the summer and relishing in lots of time outside and memories up north at the cabin. Annie is doing well with the recent change in her chemo regimen as the side effects thus far have been manageable. No news yet as to how it is working-we continue to BOLDLY pray that the Lord would use the chemo (or the flick of His own Hand) to obliterate ALL of the cancerous cells in her body FOR GOOD so she (and our family and friends) can continue making/enjoying sweet memories together.  Thank you for continuing to pray and rally with our family!

 

It's hard to believe but the Purple Ride is just around the corner, which means the second annual Praying for Annie M Team is beginning to rally and get ready for a beautiful morning of biking fun! 

 

If you participated last year, we hope you might consider joining our team again...if you weren't able, we hope you might be able to join us as we support my mom again this year!

 

This year's Twin Cities Pancan Purple Ride is Sunday morning, Sept. 15th at Elm Creek Regional Park.  Last year, the Praying for Annie M team raised close to $10,000!!!  It is our prayer and hope that we might top that amount this year as we continue to fight to irradiate pancreatic cancer!  

 

You can help by joining the Praying for Annie M team on Sunday morning, Sept. 15, either as a bike rider or as a "virtual rider".  The registration link is pasted below.  Thank you for your continued prayers and love and support for Annie! 

 

http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/ccp.asp?ievent=1063096&ccp=638261

 

Last year's ride was incredible as we saw others rallying for the same cause that has become so near to our hearts. There was purple everywhere...even bikes were decorated! Families towed little ones in bike trailers and cheerleaders lined parts of the route...we hope you'll join us as we don our purple and cheer our dear Annie and so many others on!

 

Be blessed,

Annie's Family