Hello to all you supporters of ours! Well Friday was a pretty darn good day for our family. It began at 8:15 am with blood work at cancer care and then tele-health at 9 am with WPG. The news was favorable. The CT scan showed that the cancer has not grown....so I cried, then they said the CA 125(cancer tumor markers)continue to be going down....then I cried again.....so in conclusion they said they believe the cancer is stable...so I cried again!!! Hard to believe I was over the moon happy with all those tears. We also have been told the cancer will grow again if I don't have chemo.so the plan is 3 more rounds and then CT scans and WPG again. In the meantime its just good old living everyday.
I'm feeling pretty good and very blessed as I continue learning to live managing cancer. Its no easy feat but with the love and support shown to me and my family,we are able to continue the fight. For some time, perhaps since the 2nd surgery when they told us they couldn't remove the cancer as it was wrapped around the bowel and bladder, I believe a part of me lived to die....but recently in the past 2 months something has sparked me to live to live.....what a gift!! I'm feeling positive and happy and very at peace.
Our family is good and we continue to be very close spending lots of time together both at home and the lake. We found more angels in our lives that share their very beautiful and comfortable summer home with us...just one more of our many blessings. My monkies continue to hug me daily and their love gives me strength. Just had the best birthday cake ever from them...Buzz Light Year!! hahha
I'm going to share a little news...well as you blog readers are aware my husband has been my strength and so I've been wishing to show my appreciation in a real special way...so guess what I did. I cashed in all our beer bottles and rolled up all the loose change and boycotted Winners and bought him a sports car. I surprised him with a BMW hard top convertible. If you ever thought he looked good before, just wait till you see him now!!!
Thanks to you all for letting me brag today about my health, my family and my hubby. Keeping you in the loop as you keep us in your prayers. Till the next time. Much Love  Always, Donna

Chemo #39 Behind Me!!

Hello everyone. Sorry I've been so slow writing on my blog. The last chemo I had laid me down for a couple weeks but so far , so good from the chemo I had on Monday. The numbers keep coming down and generally I am doing ok. Gotta be honest, I am getting real tired but the results are what we are all wishing for so no stopping now. Next step, CT scan on July 30th then meet Winnipeg August 7th for the plan. Keep the prayers and well wishes coming!!!
Mandy sent me the most inspiring text on my way to chemo Monday...thinking of you this morning mom!!Chemo # 39-warrior gramma.#super hero!  Kyle is a little more silent but always telling me to drink lots of water and go rest and worries if I stay up late etc. Sort of funny how the roles reverse. Kelly, well he just keeps me smiling, house clean, yard looking great, groceries in the fridge  and loving me no matter what. And last but not least my little monkeys Sawyer and Frazer sing to me always..four hugs a day not the maximum four hugs a day not the minimum......  and we hug like crazzzy!! Not giving up...life is too good for me and my family. All you beautiful friends of mine keep enjoying everyday and thanks for your support to me and mine. Love you all!  Keeping you in the loop Donna

ONWARD & UPWARD!!

Hello everyone. I was to the DR on Friday and I got good news. The CA 125 has come down again and all seems good. This means chemo is a go again and I will have it tomorrow. The plan is chemo again in July followed by a CT scan and see how things are.
We had family pics taken this week and they turned out so good. Even with my new look I love, love ,love the finished product. I think what I love sooo much is all those in the pictures.
I participated in Relay for Life yesterday and was as proud as can be to complete the survivors lap. Its a very emotional walk as I had my family present cheering for me and many other cancer survivors. Its a journey I couldn't complete without the love and support of all of you. xx oo  The journey is not an easy one but one that has changed me. I look after myself as best as I can, ,i rest lots and pray often and say thanks each and every day.
Keeping you in  the loop   Always Donna

Time of Reflection and Gratitude

Hello everyone! Have been doing lots of reflecting and feeling very blessed. Its been 3 years today since I heard those unforgettable words...." Donna you have Cancer".  Boy oh  boy, so much has happened since that day. I hardly remember life without carrying this sometimes heavy, sometimes not, backpack. With this journey we have  been on, there has been some really tough times but there has been some really happy times...... along with many gifts. I refer to them as my " cancer gifts." Who would have ever thought that I would find goodness in all of this.....certainly not me!! My Mom used to always say to me "honey slow down and smell the roses" cause I was always on the go and usually in a hurry .My response always was "MOM your a long time dead....I can rest when im dead." Well I hear my mom now in a way I never imagined I could have. .I  live very differently tthan I use too..... I embrace each day and give thanks. I share and spend time for the moments not for things. I hug lots and say I love you whenever I feel like I want to. I don't worry about money and stuff....I smell the flowers and I see the beauty in many things and people. Im not in a hurry and I rest lots and take naps... Im so thankful and im so grateful...and im happy and feel blessed.....and all of you have made these gifts possible to me.  I will keep up the fight and enjoy my life. xxooxxoo  Keeping you in the loop Always Donna 

Chemo it is!!!

Hello everyone. I met with Winnipeg yesterday and it was decided that we will continue with chemo. That decision was based on me and that my mind and body are willing to have more chemo and that the CA 125 has come down. Oh dear lord I cant even tell you how scared I was waiting to hear and was overwhelmed with emotion when the Dr shared this news. There seemed to be some confusion with the CT scan so there was no accurate report from it. The  radiologist compared the new CT scan with the one from February of  2014 instead of the one from February 2015, so they will re look at it and share the report asap. For now, im taking the good from this and running with it. Going to enjoy the long weekend with my family and some friends and be ready to kick cancers ass with chemo on Tuesday..... Thanks for all your love, support and prayers.   Keeping you in the loop Always, Donna

FULL OF HOPE!!!

Hello to you all. I had my CT scan and hope and pray that its a good one. The staff in that department are so good to me and even shared a few hugs as they wish me well. So many great people I have met on this journey. On Tuesday I meet with the  Winnipeg team via tela health and get the results of both the scan and my CA 125. They will decide if the chemo is doing what we need it to and if so, continue chemo (this is what im praying for) or make a new plan. We are all going with option number 1
Our family is good. Lots of excitement around here. Kyle has livened up the house and I just love, love, love that hes home. Mandy is great. Happy and smiling and loving her little boys. Our family is so blessed despite the F... EN" C "word....
Kelly continues to feel and look great. So glad hes getting back to his normal self.
Years ago(like 15) we had a international student from Mexico live with our family. His name is Jose and we have always kept in touch with him. He is now 32 and a DR in Mexico and when I was first diagnosed he offered for us to come to his city and he would operate immediately at no charge and care for me. I passed on the offer but it meant the world to us. Monday night we were visiting at  Mandys house and who should open the door and come in but Jose.....wow...what a gift....we are catching up and sharing lots of love and laughter.
Life is good...keeping you in the loop always Donna

TEARS,TEARS & more TEARS.....but all HAPPY ONES!!!

Hello all! Wishing to share some good news. Chemo went well on Monday and ive had a good week. Didn't rest as much as I should have but im going to catch up on some rest this weekend. Since I started the new chemo drug, we had not seen the CA125 tumor markers go down but this time they were down. This would indicate that the chemo is doing its job. yahoooo and thanks be to GOD
This brought on many happy tears. The other part to the tear fest was the arriveal of Kyle home with his degree completed. As many of you know I prayed very hard and made many wishes to be well and welcome my son home with the biggest happiest hug ever....well all this happened at the Hamm House. That's all for now. Keeping you in the loop Always Donna