MK Update 3/10/2009

Hello Army!! I hope this e-mail finds each of you enjoying this wonderful weather!! I just wanted to send out a quick update and let you guys know that your prayers continue to sustain me! Today is a milestone day--one year ago today I received my first chemo treatment. That seems like so long ago yet the memories are still very vivid. At this time last year I was at Jay's house starting to feel somewhat yucky and clueless to just how yucky I would feel over the next 10 days when my bloodcounts would "bottom out" and I spend 5 days in reverse isolation at the hospital. I remember being amazed at just how terrible I felt and thinking that I might not make it out of the hospital. I also remember thinking that if I made it out this time I still had 5 more treatments to go and could not imagine going through that 5 more times. But, I did make it out of the hospital and tolerated the last 5 treatments much better (thanks to each of you)!!

Boy am I glad those days are a distant memory. I celebrated this milestone by working 11 hours today and going to the gym and playing basketball with Chris, David, Zac, and Alex. Oh how things have changed in one year!!! I feel so very, very good. I honestly feel better now than I did before the diagnosis. My bloodcounts are higher now than they were when I started chemo. I had my repeat scans in late January and those scans showed me to continue to be cancer-free!! I researched the "personal summer" issue and found that caffeine plays a large role in hot flashes. I stopped drinking Mt. Dew and 2 days later stopped having "personal summers"!! I got my first haircut a few weeks ago. I went with Erin and it was so much fun--small victories mean so much!! I still cherish each day and try to make the most out of every waking minute. I continue to remember the many lessons I have learned through this experience. I also remain amazed at the power of prayer and the sheer power of the "Army of Angels" that continues to pray for me (and my family) daily. I thank God for each of you daily. I love each of you and will be forever grateful for all that you have done (and continue to do) for me. I will keep you posted after scans and appointments. Much love to you all!! Big hugs, Big tears, Big smiles--lots of love!!!!! MK