Still Thinking

Here's a little update from my last note...  It's been 3 weeks since my last treatment in Vienna.  Remember I told you about getting two new chemo drugs?  Well, I was spoiled by the lack of side effects with the chemo I was getting for the past 6 months.  No longer...Now I've been having low energy, caught a cold, and my hair is falling out!  This is why I've been reluctant to embrace the approach suggested by my oncologists here in Calgary.  I'm not sure it's worth it.  I have managed to keep putting one foot in front of the other, getting through each day.  Hopefully things improve soon.

On a good note, I haven't had much pain since recovering from those last injuries, and I'm off all pain medications.  This weekend, I'm going to a Christian healing retreat (not exactly sure what to expect, but hoping to learn about God's perspective on illness and healing).  I'm still praying for wisdom about which treatment options to pursue, and amazingly, there are still options.  I have definitely not ruled out returning to Vienna and receiving the dendritic cell vaccine.  My Mom actually came across a study out of Harvard that is looking at those same vaccines.  It looked promising...unfortunately, I don't qualify for the study.  I'll keep you posted.

Will has been really looking forward to returning to work.  However, he has had a set-back.  His scar on his head has become quite sore and he had a fair bit of swelling recently.  An x-ray was taken and he is awaiting his surgeon's review of that x-ray, but it may mean he needs to have surgery again to replace his bone flap with something synthetic.  Again, we'll keep you posted.

We had a great weekend at Pine Lake family camp.  Alexis especially enjoyed being with her friends, catching frogs, eating treats and staying up really late!

I rarely give an update on Penny, our dog, but she had an eventful week too.  After reading about our family in the paper, someone in charge at Petland contacted us and offered Penny some treats from their store.  When I went to pick them up, I needed help getting everything to the car.  Penny was given a new bed, grooming supplies, lots of edible treats, and a year's supply of dog food!  Isn't that another example of generous, loving community spirit?

God bless,
Shawna