Six Months and All is Well!

Today was Melissa's first set of scans since August 24, 2011. We were all excited and yet nervous at the same time.

• Lab work @ 8:30 a.m.
• CT. scan @ 10:00 a.m.
• Dr. Bierman's appointment @ 2:50 p.m.

According to all reports, all numbers are good! Blood work is great. Scans are clean. Dr. Bierman is pleased!

Melissa is scheduled every 4 months now. Maribeth has her next set of scans set up for June 7th.

Melissa asked to have a picture taken with Dr. Bierman and Maribeth. She says, "You are moviestars to me!"

We feel so blessed with her results. Thank you for your love and support. We continue to ask for prayers for Steve's sister, Sally, and for my brother, Anthony.

I will blog in April after Melissa participates in the Lymphomathon.

Cancer Survivor One Year---Priceless!

Melissa was diagnosed one year ago today with Advanced Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. We were told the minute you are diagnosed, you are a cancer survivor. Today we congratulate Melissa and celebrate! Today she is a "One Year Cancer Survivor"!!!

Our family has been reliving January 2011 as if it were yesterday. It all seems surreal to us! We thank all of you for your continuous prayers and support.

Melissa's life is becoming " normal" once again! She has her own apartment, loves teaching kindergarten, works part-time at the Market Basket, and is working out at the gym to gain her stamina back! One thing she wishes for...is that her hair would grow faster! However, her hair is somewhat long enough for her to use her flat iron!

All in all, one year later, we are so very grateful. We are truly blessed and excited to celebrate this day!

On February 9th, 2012, Melissa will have her first set of scans since August, 2011. She will begin her day with lab work, next CT scans, and conclude with her appointment with Dr. Bierman. Prayers are very appreciated!!! I will blog that day.

Thank you for your caring thoughts, concerns, and prayers. Life is Good! God is Great!

Reconnecting With the Doctors!

Today was our first day back to appointments. We began at Lakeside Hospital this morning. Melissa had an ultrasound on her left breast. She felt a hard lump. The good news is that it was scar tissue from her previous fibroid cysts that were removed when she was 17 years old.

In the afternoon Melissa had blood work done at UNMC at Village Pointe. Her lab work was great!

Next was our appointment with Dr. Bierman, her oncologist. He felt her neck and underarm and said the lymphnodes are normal. He was pleased with all lab results too!

Dr. Maribeth, her oncologist nurse, hugged her and remarked how good she looks! Steve, Melissa, and I are thrilled. We feel so blessed! Melissa's next appointment is February 16, 2012. It will consist of lab work, a CT scan, and Dr. Bierman's appointment.

As we continue to pray for Melissa, we now add Aunt Sally! Sally is Steve's sister, Melissa's godmother. She was diagnosed this week with lung cancer, stage 4. The lung cancer has spread to her brain. Radiation treatments have already begun on her brain. Chemotherapy for the spot on her lung will begin November 30th. She, too, is going to UNMC for her treatments.

As the holidays approach, we thank God for the oncologists at UNMC, and for the prayers and support we receive from all of you!



Thank you!

Remission Celebration!

Time to Celebrate:)

Aimee, Matt, Melissa, Maggie, Steve

F.R.O.G.

Fully Rely On God

What a beautiful day! Thank you to all who came and and also to those who were not able to come but were with us in spirit! Your prayers and support these past 8 months have been overwhelming! Melissa was so excited to celebrate and wanted everyone to join in! Matt and Aimee were here for the weekend. Marc and Nancy(Steve's sister and husband) were here from Missouri! Lots of family, friends, neighbors, sorority sisters....everyone joined in the fun! Thank you so much!!!!

Melissa and Maggie with Ed's delicious cupcakes!

 

 Melissa's Kappa Kappa Gamma Girls supporting her with "Team Melissa" shirts.

The back of the shirt says "Remission Accomplished"!





 Friends!

A beautiful day to celebrate!

 

Melissa, Steve and I are participating in a 12 week support group for cancer survivors and their care givers. It is called "A Time to Heal"; a program that is provided through grant funding. It started 2 weeks ago and has been very informative and enjoyable.

Melissa is teaching kindergarten and enjoying her students. She has found an apartment and that she will move in to next month. Steve and I , her "roomies" will miss her. Yet we are happy for Melissa as she continues to get her life back to normal!

Melissa's new class!

Celebrating River City Round Up!

Thank you for your continued support and prayers. November 17th is our next appointment with Dr. Bierman. I will continue to update the blog.

Hugs to all of you! Life is Good! God is Great!!

Remission! Remission! Remission!

Lab work---Great!

PET scan-- Great!

CT scan----Great!

Pulmonary test--Great!

REMISSION---PRICELESS!!!!

Dr. Bierman said, "All scans look marvelous! Not one abnormal test!" Wow! I have been crying ever since! Her next appointment will be November 17th with Dr. Bierman. She will have lab work but no scans at that time.

Melissa is so excited....even her hair is growing! It is coming in wavy, just as it did when she was a little girl.

This is definitely a time for prayers of thanksgiving! We are so thankful for all of your prayers and support these past 7 months. Again...more tears of joy!

We are planning a remission party, Saturday, September 24th. It will be an Open House from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at our home. It will be very casual. Please come and celebrate with us!

REMISSION is the magical word!  We are truly blessed!

Anxiously Awaiting August 24th!

We met with Dr. Imbrock, the surgeon this past Tuesday. He examined the incision from the port removal surgery and all is healing nicely! Melissa continues to look forward to having all of this behind her!

 Melissa enjoyed her last week of summer by socializing with friends, shopping, and working out. Melissa has also been busy getting her kindergarten room ready.  As she was working at school one day this week, she ran into a kindergarten student from last year. The student hugged Melissa and said "Miss Maher you have real hair now, it's growing!". Melissa was so excited with the student's comment she hugged her once more!

Our next step is Wednesday, August 24th. Melissa will be at UNMC early that morning. It will be a whole day affair consumed with lab work, scans, and appointments. We are hoping and praying for all tests to be negative so we hear the magical words "Melissa is in remission". We will let you know the results once we have met with the doctors. Thank you for all of your support and prayers.

Chemo is Done! Port is Out! Scans to Come!

This morning was port removal surgery! It was quick.... done with a local numbing shot! Melissa was awake and alert during the procedure. She enjoyed visiting with Dr. Imbrock, the surgeon. Next week, we meet again with him for the follow-up appointment.

Melissa is now resting on the couch. Her left arm and shoulder will be out of commission for a few days.

Since chemo has ended and graduate classes are completed, Melissa has been busy getting ready for the new school year! We have been decorating the classroom, printing nametags, organizing her daily schedule, and making numerous trips to the "dollar bin" at Target!

We will let you know how next week's appointment goes. Please continue with your caring thoughts and prayers. August 24th is the scheduled day for all the tests and scans to be done.

We are blessed to have all of you in our life! Thank You!