Amazingly Wonderful News!

Today we got the results of Lily's MRI and PET scan and they were fantastic! The doctor said her PET scan was perfect and is simply amazed at how well she is doing. He wants to do one more test- a bone marrow biopsy- but said the chances of that showing something the scans do not is very slim. Lily also had an Echo and EKG done on her heart to make sure it has not been damaged by some of the chemotherapy drugs, but everything looks great.

This picture of Lily's PET scan is just a photocopy, but you can see when you compare the first image from January to the image from this week what a difference there is between the two. Lily's first scan revealed cancer in her foot, knee, pelvis, spine, shoulders and arms. The second image is completely normal.

Words really can't describe how I felt after meeting with the doctor today. Joy. Gratitude. And a surreal feeling that I can't explain. The doctor actually said the words total and remission.

Lily will continue her scheduled chemotherapy treatment for the next three months, but it will not be as intense as it has been in the past. Monday she will have a transfusion with overnight hydration, but then she will get two weeks off from chemotherapy. This cycle will continue for the next 9 weeks, followed by even "easier" chemotherapy drugs. Once Lily has completed her treatment, she will have another evaluation. If everything still looks good, she will only need to be seen periodically to be evaluated. 

The doctor reminded us today of how far Lily has come when he mentioned the night, nearly 9 months ago, when Phillip and I sobbed in his office as our world came crashing down on us. I never could understand how anyone would want such a terribly heartbreaking career, but what a difference today's visit was. Now it makes a little more sense. 

When I thanked the doctor, however, he said, "Don't thank me. It's all her," and pointed at Lily. In a way, he is right. Lily's strength of body and mind is something simply amazing. But I also know where we would be without the doctors, nurses, medical science, holistic medicine, family, friends, love, prayers and human kindness (in no certain order) working for us. And for this, I am thankful!

The result of Lily's PET scan was as fantastic as her MRI. There was no sign of the tumor in her foot and the only area with uptake was in her shoulder. In comparison to her previous PET scans which showed uptake in her foot, knee, legs, pelvis, spine and shoulders, this is an amazing improvement. 

Lily has come so far in such a short amount of time and we are so happy and thankful that she is doing so well. So many people from all over the world have sent their prayers and loving thoughts our way and we feel the strength and power of their love.  All of this positive healing energy has helped as surely as the chemotherapy has.

Happy Friday

Yipeee! It's Friday and we made it through the week! Lily has been feeling much better the last few days and now has a couple weeks off from chemo. We have a few fun things planned for the upcoming week, but mostly we will just stay at home and relax. Lily's blood counts will likely drop next week and we have an appointment scheduled for Wednesday to get blood work done.

The date for her MRI is May 23rd and she will have a PET scan, echo and EKG on May 25th.

Good News

We talked to the doctor yesterday and received the results from the PET scan. Good news! The tumor in Lily's foot has shrunk and the cancer that has spread to her bone marrow has diminished.  You can visually see this in the PET scan.


The darkened areas show uptake and indicate the presence of cancer;
ignore the darkened areas of her organs.

 


We are so thankful that Lily is responding to the treatments. We hope and pray that she continues to do so.