California

February 20:  Nanette had her Avastin infusion today at Huntsman in Day Break.  All the lab results were good and the infusion went well.  She finished her chemo pill regimen several days ago and now has 23 days off.  She is experiencing some fatigue but other that that, she is feeling well.  We had a wonderful time in California with the Abarca and Newman families.  Everyone was happy to see for themselves how good she looks and feels.  We all loved the 80 degree weather.  Every day was full of sunshine and blue skies.  Sergio's sisters Rosie and Maria and his sister-in-law Debbie took Nanette, Regan and Riley to the beach, to a swap meet, and the family gathered several times for good food and great conversation.  We all went to lots of Newman basketball games and the  girls and their cousins swam in the Newman's pool even though it was only 60 degrees.  They just couldn't resist.  Many friends and family came to visit with Nanette and her family.  Nanette's brother Tony who is a Bishop of the Ward Nanette grew up in asked her to speak for a few minutes in Sacrament meeting on Sunday.  She said how grateful she was to grow up in Ramona and how many people there had influenced her life for good.  She thanked everyone for their prayers and concern for her.  She realizes that prayers on her behalf have not only come from Tooele but from Ramona and friends in many different churches, communities, cities and states.  She knows how many people have expressed their love and concern for her and she's very grateful for all of you.  It's nice to go back to your hometown sometimes and be with such wonderful family members and friends who contributed to your "growing up" years.  She weathered the driving and trip very well.  But, as many of you know, after four or five days, Nanette is ready to "come home".  And even though she came back to more chemo and more treatments, she is home where she wants to be.

Regan and Riley turned 12

February 9:  Another good week for Nanette.  She had an Avastin infusion on Tuesday (Feb 3) and there were no side effects or complications. Her lab results were good and the infusion went well.  All the people at Huntsman in Day Break were happy to hear the good results of the MRI the week before.  The people at Huntsman become like family so they share in all the good news (and bad) right along with you. She started another round of chemo pills (5 days of double doses and 23 days in between).  She is still spending hours on the phone with the pharmacy trying to ensure her prescription arrives by the day she is to begin.  Maybe the third time will be the charm and they will come without a hitch. She is trying to reduce the steroid dosage but doing it slowly to keep free of headaches.  She has enjoyed a nice week with her family and friends.  Regan and Riley turned 12 years old this week and are out of Primary (at church) now and in to Young Women activities and classes.  The joy of having teenagers in the house again is coming quickly.  She is feeling well enough to take a short trip to California this coming week to spend time with the Newman and Abarca parts of the family living there.  A little sunshine will be a nice change and everyone is excited to see her and her family.  She has appreciated your calls and notes about the good results of her MRI.  You continue to show your concern and love for her and that means so much to her.

Blessed with good news

January 31:  It was a day to remember!  Nanette was first diagnosed with a brain tumor with an MRI and then after she finished with the six weeks of radiation, they did another MRI and said they would use it as a baseline to monitor the status of the tumor.  Today she had another MRI which they used for comparison with the previous one after radiation.  Tyler, Sergio, Frank (her dad) and I were all in the room when the physician's assistant came in before the oncologist.  He said to all of us "It has been a very long time since we've seen such a positive change in someone's scans."  We were all speechless.  Dr. Colman, the oncologist, came in with the nurse Kilee and showed us the scans and explained what had happened.  He went though it in detail for us, showing us all the pictures from different angles.  When he got to one scan in particular, we could all see that the tumor had noticably shrunk, the swelling was gone and different parts of the brain were aligned correctly again.  Dr. Colman said it was the best results we could have hoped for with this kind of brain tumor. 

 

Dr. Colman believes it is the chemo that is keeping the tumor from growing.  The Avastin infusions reduced the swelling.  The doctor's goal now is to continue the Avastin infusions for several more months, keep her on the chemo pills for six months to a year, wean her off the steroids and do MRI's every two months.  Doing the MRI's every two months will be the method of monitoring the tumor's activity.  The tumor is not gone but is considerably smaller and the goal now is to keep it "at bay" with the chemo regimen. 

 

We all walked out of Huntsman Cancer Center today with feelings and emotions far different than the first day we walked in there.  Not everyone is blessed to walk out those doors with such feelings of gratitude and relief.  We all believe this positive progress in her health is due to the prayers, fasting, Priesthood blessings, and sincere wishes and love of so many of you who read this blog and are her friends and family.

 

This battle is not over for Nanette.  She is not uninformed or naive as to the long miles ahead of her.  But, we are grateful today for this "good news" and thankful for each day these results have given us. 

 

Elder David A. Bednar said "God expects and trusts us to face temporary mortal adversity with His help so we can learn what we need to learn and ultimately become what we are to become in eternity.  Trusting in the Lord's will and timing is essential."

 

Nanette has been trusting through this whole experience so far and will, undoubtedly, continue down the miles ahead with faith and hope.  We will continue to post her progress through this blog.  And she is grateful to all of you who have traveled this road with her so far and for your prayers, thoughts, and kind actions.. She loves and appreciate each one of you.