It’s been about a month since the last update update, so here’s what’s going on. Love, Sarah
Hello All,
It’s so good to be back home, settling into a combination of new and old routines. Since my immune system is still compromised, we are currently keeping physical distance from anyone outside our immediate family. This is very different from how our lives have been over the past few months with so much willing help from our supportive family! My sister was with me and Simon Peter since March… here for a month prior to flying back to Washington with us in mid-April, helped so much with Simon Peter’s care while there, and flew home with us and stayed for a week helping us re-acclimate, and babysitting while we had some oncology appointments in Kansas City. And obviously, Grandma Maxwell, Anna, and Mary were here for hours each day while I was gone… so it’s definitely different now. Distanced outdoor visits and walks have provided nice opportunities for chatting—and Facetime is available for other times (and states)!
Christopher’s flexibility in work hours is a blessing, and I’m grateful for his willingness to help out with the children so I can get extra rest. We were excited to start our new school year last week and are settling into a good routine. I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow with all of them! I love doing school with them again (I find that I really enjoy elementary school in my 30’s. Any other moms relate? 😉 ) That’s certainly not to say it’s always easy, but I’m reminded again that God’s grace IS sufficient. Maybe it’s easier to remember and rest in that when peacefully quarantined in a hospital room than it is when the noise and needs of six little people are whirling around me, but my need is exactly the same and so is His grace!
There were a few delays with getting my anti-HER2 therapy going at the local hospital, but everything came into place, and I got my first subcutaneous injection there a week ago Friday. I enjoyed meeting and chatting with the nurses. From here on out (until at least April) I will be going to Kansas City for treatments on Thursday afternoons. Some weeks it will just be for Vitamin C at the naturopathic oncology clinic; other weeks I’ll also be going to the hospital for treatments. After meeting with my naturopathic oncologist and going over recent lab work, we also will be looking into dental work and chelation (detoxing my system of heavy metals) in the next few months.
It was nice to see my blood counts starting to come back up in last week’s lab draw. We were also glad that my circulating tumor cell count (CTC) showed “none detected” a couple weeks ago. While that’s not a guarantee I’m “free and clear,” it is definitely nice to have that number at zero.
Thank you all for praying and supporting us through this journey!
Love,
Anna Marie
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my
strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”
(2 Corinthians 12:9).
Anna Marie this update is only full of positive and wonderful news!!! So happy for you! You are a great Poverbs 31 woman! Enjoy today!!
It’s so nice to hear that all is going well for you in the midst of these circumstances. We are so very thankful for all the help you have received and still are receiving. God is so good!!
I am praying that your tests continue to come back in the negative and that you can build your immune system back up quickly and that you aren’t exposed to any illnesses.
God Bless!!!
Cyndi
Thank you for the update! We will continue to pray for you, and thank God for His goodness!
So happy to see this post this morning! Anna Marie, it is so wonderful to hear how things are going, and that you are able to joyfully homeschool again! And yes, I enjoy homeschooling the elementary grades, also. We’ll be praying for your recovery!
Thank you so much for this update! Our hearts have felt for you through this journey and we are thankful to be able to read your updates and know how to continue praying. We are especially thankful for the good news in this update and pray you will continue to see your blood counts rise, your energy increase, and your CTC levels remain at zero.
So happy to hear another update and that everything seems to be going well! Definitely continuing in prayer for all of you!
Such a joy-filled post! I am praying for you!
Anna Marie your posts evoke many emotions. They always help settle me down to what I need to focus on amidst my problems. Your words are so powerful because of what you are enduring. Your faith is remarkable. I will continue to pray for you for complete healing and strength to be a mom, wife and teacher. Please continue to rely on God and focus on His Word and thank you for reminding me to do the same.
This is such encouraging news to hear that your blood counts are coming up and that no tumor cells can be detected! I know you must be overjoyed to be back home with Christopher and your children, and starting a new school year together. I love the girls’ dresses, by the way! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers each day as you travel along this journey. I have so much admiration for how you have faced this situation with such humble reliance upon the Lord and how you always find so many things to be grateful for. Your joy in the midst of these trials is truly an inspiration.
I’ve been checking the blog for a week for an update. I’ve been praying for Anna Marie and All.
I enjoy elementary school so much in my 30s also:-)
Thank you for the update. Praying for physical healing and continued peace during this season. Praising God for all those in your family who are stepping in to help with the needs of your children. God is faithful to provide!
So happy you are home with your family and making progress on your treatment journey! Each time I read your updates I am encouraged by your cheerful faithfulness. You probably miss having your sister with you, and all the regular help from the Maxwells. But you don’t complain! You come to my mind regularly and I am praying God brings full healing to your body. Thanks for sharing another update with us!
Beautiful pictures of you and your family.
We love the matching clothes!
Thank you for the update we continue to keep you in our prayers.
Much love and blessings to you all,
I so look forward to seeing Anna Marie’s posts. She is truly a special spirit. I will continue to pray for her well being.
God Bless You Dear Anna Marie! Thank you for the update. We delight in lifting you and your precious family up to the Lord! We are praying for the Lord to generously give you wisdom as you endure so much physical affliction! God is so wonderfully loving to allow us to see His grace admits our pain. Dealing with anything chronic is hard to endure. But as we tell our children it’s not too hard! God is faithful to see His children walk in victory! As we choose to not complain, smile when we don’t feel like it, prefer and bless when we are angry, etc. Discipling elementary children in my 40’s is tough. But the rewards I see throughout the day is all worth the investment for Jesus! 2 Corinthians 1:3
Thank you for sharing that adorable picture of all of your children; love the color scheme!
So grateful for the good news! Continued prayers for Anna Marie and her family.
Looking forward to seeing some more wedding pictures!