Hope

Bucket List: Ring the "treatment finished gong" at Huntsman Cancer Center. Check. 

Family Photo

Family Photo

New chapter begins this week! No more Pembro - lost too much weight to keep taking it. Just prayers and scans every six weeks now.

And hope... Lots of hope. 

While I was getting my last infusion, looking out the wall of windows at the beautiful view, a cute old man came by to see if we wanted or needed anything. We asked what brought him to Huntsman today? He smiled sweetly and humbly said, "Well, I was the architect. When we met with Jon and Karen to get their ideas they said only one thing: We want everything about our center to bring about hope. (He paused and smiled again.) My daughter had bone marrow cancer and was one of the first patients here. She helped me design this infusion center."
       I was almost afraid to ask, "Is she doing okay now?" 
He smiled and said, "No, that is why I like to come here. It makes me feel close to her."

(Hope Photo by Debbie Beus)

Easter Miracles

Family Photo

I was looking forward to seeing my oldest child's family and his newest addition, an adorable blonde, blue-eyed baby boy. I was reminded what a miracle the whole birth process is as he gently placed the tiny, helpless newborn in my arms. He was everything a Nana could ever want in a new grandchild! SOOOO CUTE! I was in heaven! EARTHLY HEAVEN not the actual “Heaven” heaven...

When they announced they were expecting we had just found out the melanoma was metastasizing aggressively. I wondered if I'd still be here when the baby was born. I wondered that if I were alive... what kind of life would it be? Well, the incredible news is that I am alive and thriving and actually feeling good most of the time. I am so grateful! Such a blessing and miracle!

Family Photo

I can say that now! I am a medical miracle! My cancer came back 9 months after approval of the newest type of treatment for melanoma: immunotherapy using a drug called Keytrudah (Pembro). They use my own immune system to find and attack metastatic growths and it's working! Some patients have their tumors disappear within months while just over half of the cancer patients don't see any response at all. My tumors are not disappearing... or even shrinking... but they seem to be non-reactive at this point which means I'm on the winning team, the original tumors are not growing and there are no new growths!

Family Photo

I didn't buy winter boots because I wasn't sure I would last through the season. I didn't buy new clothes unless they were “hospital comfy.” I used to wonder if I'd even use up a newly opened bar of soap! I didn't buy new prescription glasses because... why? 

And so on....

Easter Lily - Family Photo

I find myself thinking about what I would like to do with this extra time. One thing I want to do is bear my testimony of the miracle of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and tell everyone it is here on the earth... right now! I want to tell everyone how wonderful the Book of Mormon is and how it can change your life when you understand that Jesus Christ really came to visit this continent after His resurrection. I want to tell everyone that there is a plan for them to live eternally with loved ones and that the relationships we enjoy here can exist in heaven. We can have Heaven... now AND forever. 

I trust in His redeeming grace to save us all from death and sin if we will COME UNTO HIM with full purpose of heart and allow Him to do what He has always wanted and already laid the plans for. His resurrection paved the way for ALL of us.

He lives... He lives... He lives! With all my heart I know this! And you can know it too.

Instagram: LDSWomen