For The Love of Mary

It is a Happy New Year in our house. We got the blood work back from the latest screening and we are once again doing the happy dance. This time there is no roller coaster ride just dancing and thanking the good Lord. The most sensitive marker is Chromogranin A and is indicative of cancer growth. The normal range is 0-50. Last time my chromogranin was 100. This time it was 5. Yes 5! 5, 5, 5, 5, 5. Serotonin is also measured and normal is 0-220. Last time mine was over 1000. This time it was 46. Yep, you are reading right 46. Serotonin in massive doses like I had is what ultimately damages the heart, as it floods from the liver to the heart, and is also partly responsible for the flushing I experience. I didn't have scans done so we don't know if the cancer is receding or not. I will have those nasty scans next month (I keep saying that)! The other test that showed improvement was my Vit D. It went from 71 to 80. The Vit D council recommends that people with chronic illness have a level from 80-100. Which reminds me. Have you all had your D checked? Ya, here I go again. Vitamin D is involved in over 2000 gene's. Which means it has a TON to do with your long term health and even more important, healing. PLEASE, get your D checked. It's easy and cheap.

Next week marks the two year anniversary of the bilateral mastectomy and the beginning of a long arduous journey. Jeff and I were talking about the first surgery and it feels more like ten years than two. I will have my sixth and hopefully final surgery a week from today. So much has happened in the last two years that it is just simply hard to take it all in and sift through it.

Over the holidays I started rereading the best of the cancer books I've collected and was reminded of the significant difference that friends and family make on a cancer patients survival. Cancer patients survive up to 60% longer when they have a good support system in place. Here's how I figure it... I have a much better than good support system. I have an UNBELIEVABLE support system so I'm thinking my survival must be up to 100% and we can just beat this damned disease. I know all of you have wanted to do something, anything to help and those studies prove YOU HAVE. It has made all the difference in the world and then some. Jeff and I feel grateful (understatement) and blessed.

Jeff is still looking for work. We have had a wonderful few months hanging out together. He has gotten serious about his job search and things have started to look more promising. I think he is ready to go back to work. It has been really great for me and I will miss not having him here all the time.

Cole's newest adventure is Tae Kwon Do. White Gee and all. So if he "hi ah's" you, I apologize! It is delightful to watch and his master is wonderful with the kids. There are little 9 yr old black belts. Holy Cow! Cole's school teacher told us last week that she is sure Cole now understands everything she is saying in Spanish (he is in Spanish Immersion school) as he is translating it all to English, out loud of course, and she has to stop him. He is reading in Spanish as well. We are really pleased that he will be bilingual in a short time.

Aunt G (Angie) is still living with us and continues with her studies at Bastyr. She remains a ray of sunshine in my life as those of you that know her can easily see. Jeff teases her, as only brothers can do, that Cole will be leaving home before her!

I wish you all a loving, joyous and healthy year.

My love,
Mary