Tomorrow, 12/2 is chemo number 5! For those that have been asking - yes, originally I was done with 4 cycles. But with my improved lung symptoms and the visible tumor on the outside of my chest dead - we have decided to do 2 more because we believe it is working well!
The last two weeks without a chest tube have quite frankly been amazing. Yes, I still had a lot of issues with my mouth sores and tongue and trouble eating for about 5 days, and yes I was still very tired during my NADIR days. BUT, I'm back to what feels like me! Working at the hospital instead of at home, which I love! Staying very busy with errands and reading books for fun and the Bible, and back to working out (31 week pregnant prenantal workouts)!
I am so grateful to feel more like myself in time for the holidays. I also really love getting to be at the hospital now before I take my maternity leave - I really love my job!
In other positive news - Lyla is steadily growing and everything is looking good! She is up to 2 pounds 13 ounces so we are very excited 😍 I have officially organized her beautiful nursery and had another amazing baby shower at work!!
Here are a few photos of the fun I have had over the last two weeks since chemo cycle 4:
In terms of oncology specific updates we got some cool news during chemo #4! My tumor came back different than anticipated with some hormone receptor activity and a newer finding that it is "HER2 low". So it's not positive for HER2 or negative, just a new classification. These things together give me more maintenance treatment options than originally thought which of course is a HUGE blessing! I will start an oral immune therapy after Lyla is born!
Over the last few weeks I have really been digging into the book of Matthew with a bible study on the Proverbs 31 app (highly recommend!!) I have had so much fun learning and getting so much out of my Bible time. Along with my prayer time it truly fills me with peace,, hope, and courage. Something I wanted to share was that in Matthew 4 (I am not a pastor and so if this is a wrong interpretation - I am doing my best! Lol) Jesus is tempted by the devil while in the wild after fasting. Each of the 3 ways the devil comes to him give examples of how we should deal with the devil today. The first time he tried to get Jesus with physical needs offering food, the second he questions him to do something crazy and god would prove who he is and save him, and the 3rd tries to bait him with an easy path to power. I found this to be so cool that there are real examples of how the devil is so real he even tempted Jesus and then we have a book that shows us what to do with those temptations to learn from! God really has our backs! So if the devil is messing with you I hope maybe this scripture will help you feel less alone and give you some guidance.
Over the next two weeks if I could have prayers of continuing to be symptom free from my lungs, that the chemo would continue to work while my mouth feels better... and that Lyla would continue to be strong and grow! I feel so encompassed by prayer each day - thank you all for that. I truly believe they are making a difference.
It is the first - go feel your boobs ! If you don't know how to do that download the know your lemons app and it will teach you!
Until next time ! ☺️
Sami
I was just thinking today that I needed to talk to your mom for a status update, but I do hate to bug her. Especially not knowing if the news will be good or not. So I was so glad to see your update and that things are improving for you, Justin and Lyla. God will Bless you and is walking this journey with you. I am so happy to see that you truly know this because no one could blame you if you felt deserted after all you have been through, like Jesus on the cross asking God why He had abandoned Him. You have chosen to fight hard for your relationship with God and that will be blessed.…