Full Remission

Hello!

Mom has been told she is in Full Remission! It was very exciting news. Since she responded so well to treatment, her oncologist is giving her preventative chemotherapy now. It was kind of a bombshell as we all thought mom was going to be done with her treatments. She is now receiving five shots of chemotherapy into her spine.

She had her first shot the Thursday after her chemo and it kicked moms butt! This is the first time she really had any major side effects. She has had nausea and would get headaches very easily. Yesterday was the first day that she has felt good. She will have one shot at the end of this week and then three shots each week after this.

It is a bummer that she is still being treated, but it is preventative and it is amazing she is even able to do this treatment. We are so happy that she is doing so well.

Mom was a great fighter, but now she is a survivor!

Just as a reminder, please send me an email if you have been following the blog, my email is kerrybelvill@gmail.com.

Thank you for all of your support!

Kerry

Last Treatment Tomorrow!

Hello readers!

Hope all is well with all of you. Mom has been nagging me to post to the blog (nagging is good because she feels good enough to nag me). I am finally finding some time between school and work to write this post.

Mom found out three weeks ago that after four treatments she still has no cancer activity. She had to unfortunately have a bone marrow test to be sure the cancer was gone out of her bone marrow. She made it though the test, and the results came back great. She has no cancer in the marrow either. She has been having some trouble with her legs, but the tests from that came back with no damage to her legs.

Overall, mom has no cancer activity and everything seems to be looking good. She has her last treatment tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that I was able to take off work tomorrow to go with her. After, I am treating mom and Cyndi to an awesome lunch out! She is so happy and her spirits are still so strong. She will be heading back to work in the next couple months or so (get ready mom's work peeps).

I truly believe that my mom's amazing personality got her through this. If you know mom, she is pretty amazing and hysterical. She has had the best attitude through this journey and she has beat cancer!!!! Way to go mom. It is hard to think that just in November it was so difficult, and each day was so tough for our friends and family. I have learned that the mind is so powerful and that we have so much to live for each day. I am so grateful to have mom around and doing so well. I again, cannot imagine life without her.

When mom was in the hospital and Joe and Janet were here from Kansas, we were at dinner and it was a tough day at the hospital, Aunt Kathy asked how I felt. During this time in the hospital I was not very receptive of anyone asking how I was doing, as I was so focused on mom. I answered her, holding back tears that: I wanted mom to make it to Christmas and my graduation. Indeed, mom made it to Christmas and she is now going to be at my graduation for my masters in May. This day, May 22nd is such an important day to me, not only am I celebrating my degree, but that mom was here to see it and support me through it. As I look at it now, those two little things were the biggest things to me this past year.

As I reflect on this last year, I still am in awe that we all made it through it. I cannot tell you all enough how much the support and love was the only thing that got me through these past few months.

I know that reading this blog is sort of "anonymous" but I would like to write something up for mom regarding her journey and I would like to include those that followed and supported her and our family through her progress. Please email me your name so I can add you to the list. My email is kerrybelvill@gmail.com.

I thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart, for reading this blog, for taking mom to appointments, for calling and texting her, for taking her to tea (even though she brings her own decaf black tea), and for all the prayers especially. You are all the reason we have had the strength! LOVE YOU ALL and LOVE YOU MOM! So glad you are here to nag me and read my blog.

Love, Bear

Feeling Good

Hello!

Mom is still feeling great, she has her pet scan appointment on Friday and we hope the results of this turn out well. She has been walking Buffy everyday and enjoys that time. She has been knitting like crazy, even with the numbness in her hands.

Mom's attitude and personality has allowed her to heal (at least that is what I think), she has the craziest personality and attitude.

She has truly enjoyed reconnecting with old friends. I have enjoyed receiving emails from individuals she has spoke with for years.

I wanted to post some pictures of mom, hopefully soon we will be able to post some of the videos she has made.

Me, Mom and Dad (while mom was in the hospital)

Humeno group at Emanuel's 50th Anniversary!

Thanks for reading! love Kerry

Mom is finished with four treatments

Happy rainy Thursday to all!

Mom had her fourth treatment this past Tuesday. She is responding very well to her treatments still. She will have a petscan again on February 5th to see her results after four treatments of chemotherapy. Her white blood cell counts are at the level they need to be. She has been having some issues with her legs being red and very sore to touch. They are going to conduct some circulation tests next week (or the week of the 5th). Mom has not had any major side effects from the chemo. She has not been sick to her stomach and is feeling pretty good most of the time.

For any of you that know my mothers personality, know how honest and funny she can be. She has the best outlook on this entire life experience. Who else would be so excited of the fact that my godmother is making her a scrapbook to document this life event. She cracks me up each and every day. SHe is an inspiration of what is important in life, happiness and laughter.

I have had many conversations with individuals that were so supportive during my mothers time in the hospital and during those days when we did not have a bright outlook, and they are all just amazed at how well my mother is doing. She has stage four lymphoma and has a better attitude and life perspective than anyone I have ever met. I enjoy telling others about her funny stories and her wackiness.

This evening we had dinner together and we were talking about a good friend of hers that is having a very tough battle with a lot of cancer. This woman was hositptilized shortly after my mom (kind of the same circumstances of quick admittance and treatment), and it reminded me again of how lucky I am to still have my mother responding to treatment. I am so grateful to have my mother around and to be around her positive energy. It was very grounding and a great reminder to remember how lucky I (we) truly are to still have Judy (mom) in our lives. Oh and dont worry, mom is not going away!

This past weekend mom and I attended our old church's anniversary celebration. It brought tears to my eyes (still does) to see my mom with her family and friends as the humneo group (aka helions as I say) took over the pianos and sang their beautiful songs for the congregation and onlookers. It reminded me how much music has been such a part of our strength through this battle.

I know this is long winded, but I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your continued support, love and prayers. When mom was first sick we were nervous on how we were going to handle this, balance it all. Without all of your support we would not be here. Having meals brought over allowed mom to truly rest. Driving her to her doctors appointments have not only provided rides, but love and great conversation between her and her great friends. Those that have been following and emailing me, this support is endless and unforgettable.

If moms petscan comes back positive she will only have two more treatments, if she has cancer activity, they will complete four more treatments of chemotherapy. Lets pray and hope for only two more.

While mom was in the hospital we had "parties" in her room. The pictures below are from her Sunday Night party where we had glow in the dark necklaces. One picture is of all of the girls, my best friend Cassie, my aunt Janet from Kansas, my aunt Kathy from CA, mom and me. Another picture is of me and mom!

THank you again! Love Bear