The Waiting is Over

I have anxiously awaited Feb. 24th, 2011 for a looooong time.  

Today I can FINALLY say that my sweet Bronny is in.....

REMISSION!

Feb. 24th, 2006

Current.  Isn't she just lovely?  :)

Bronwyn had one of the slowest growing tumors out there, called an astrocytoma (because the cells are shaped like stars.)  Slow growing is definitely preferable, and is the reason we had to wait 5 years to really know that the nasty bugger was out of our lives.  

Brain tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 4.

1:  Totally benign.  Take 'em out and move on.

2:  90% of the time are benign, come back about 10% of the time.

3 and 4: Always come back and spread to other body parts.  Not good.

After her surgery, EVERYONE was POSITIVE that Bronwyn's tumor was a one.  We went home assuming we would never go back.  That our lives would go on normally, aside from our long weekend at Primary Children's hospital, and Bronwyn's new head that now looked like a baseball.  But...

Several days later our neurosurgeon called to inform us that her tumor was actually a TWO.  While better than a 3 or 4, it wasn't what we wanted to hear.  We then learned that if it did come back, it would come back as a 3 or a 4.  Definitely not what we wanted to hear.

I remember laying on my bed with Todd, both of us sobbing.  This news seemed harder to handle than the original shock of the brain tumor.  So since that day in bed we have been waiting...

For 5 years.

Through 14 MRI's

Through HARD years helping Bronwyn deal with the trauma of medical situations.

But you know what?

We made it!

She made it!

I have had a lump in my throat all day!  Couldn't be more grateful.  Couldn't feel more blessed.

To celebrate reaching the 5 year mark, we are hoping all of our friends and family will donate at least $5 to the American Cancer Society; in honor of Bronwyn or whoever you know that has dealt with cancer.

Click here to donate.

And most importantly, THANK YOU for supporting us the past 5 years.  Thank you for your prayers, your kind word, and your love.  We have felt it.

So far this week:

This week I have:

Said goodbye to my best friend.
Finished up a Music Birth Class series.
Taught 5 zumba classes.
Supported a client through an all night birth.  7 pm to 6 am.
Caught Bronwyn up on homework for missing 3 days of school.
Wiped alot of runny noses!
Drank alot of diet coke!

This week I have not:
Slept.
Eaten well.
Seen my husband.

Looking forward to the weekend and my Valentine's Date with Todd tonight.  Blue Door Cafe, here we come!

2011... my thoughts so far...

We started out 2011 getting the news that our best friends were moving.  Not cool.  Sure, it was a little expected.  But when you hear the definite "yes", no amount of preparation can take away the sting.  Add on top of that the fact that we have all been super sick and barely functional for weeks now, and that about sums up how much I am hating 2011!  So far, one of the worst years of my life.  Sure, sure; it's been a great year so far for zumba and music birth.  But you know the quote "No success can compensate for failure in the home"?  I'm changing it to "no success can compensate for an aching heart".  Doesn't matter.

I thought I would be spending late nights talking and packing boxes.  Being physically and emotionally helpful.  Instead I have done NOTHING but try to survive my own miserable days at home.  UG.

This video just about sums up how things are going at my house.