A REALLY, REALLY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!

Normally, the phrase "increases your chance of long-term survival" is not one you get excited to hear. I mean who really wants to discuss "chances" of survival? However, these words were music to my ears this week as they came from my doctor.  Why the increase?  Well, I am happy to say that my post radiation MRI and CT scan showed that my tumor is all but gone! Yep, that's right…we have good news coming to you from the Bond family! Feels like a long time, I know. And I am sure that I would not have gotten such "excellent" results (more doctor’s words) if it was not for all of the amazing support (mental and physical) love, prayers and  positive energy that so, so many people have been sending to my family. You all have bolstered my spirits through my journey so far. I am now half way through my treatment plan and feel like I can see that light at the end of tunnel (and no, it's not a train!). So thank you all! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Next we just have to get Elisa on the same good news wagon.

Since her release from the hospital after her seizures, Elisa has been battling the effects of the new medications.  She has been suffering from both physical and emotional side effects, which is why she still hasn’t been posting on the blog.  I will let her share as she sees fit at a later date.  I can tell you that she has been having difficulty with her blood counts (both red and white) and may be having a transfusion this coming week if they have not come up enough or have dropped further.  One of the big problems with the low counts, other than being winded from something as simple as scratching your head and being very vulnerable to infection, is that it messes with the chemotherapy. They can't keep her on a regular treatment schedule. The week before Father’s Day they had to skip it all together.   Then Elisa had to give herself injections into her belly for three days with a medication to stimulate her white blood count. Yep, she is pretty badass.  I would have fainted doing it. There was a little silver lining though. Since she didn't have chemo she actually okay over the weekend and so did I. So we spent the weekend at her fathers house where there is a backyard that we could play with Sadie in and a pool near by that we could swim in.  We did have to lather on the 100 SPF sunblock because we’re photosensitive from the chemo but it’s a small price to pay.  

We had one of the best couple of days that we have had in a long, long time.  Sadie went in the pool every day and took to it like a fish. She was not afraid of swimming at all, and at night was still chanting "kicking, kicking" as she lay on her back and wildly waved her feet in the air. We had wonderful tea parties in the backyard with her toy tea set that I gave her that weekend.  I have been holding onto it for about a year. It was really amazing to watch her spend hours setting up the teacups and pouring imaginary tea for everyone. She even made sure we had sugar and cream! It is one of her favorite things to play with now, even at 6 AM! She loved being chased around the yard and taking walks with Grandpa who made us yummy big dinners each night.  Sadie starting calling him “Grandpa Pasta.”
 

It was really great to get away and we all felt very refreshed from it.  It didn't hurt that Sadie even slept 11 hours one night! It is these times with my girls that make going through treatment seem like just a minor irritation if it means I will get more of them. I am only sorry there was not more of the family there to see and have all the fun. We hope we get to spend some more weekends like this with the rest of you guys really soon. We love and miss you all!

Unfortunately, Elisa’s counts were still low this week so they decided to give her a partial dose of her chemotherapy.  She has been really drained and then Sadie got an ear infection with fever and a terrible cough.  I have also been fighting a cold but am not complaining because I am still flying high from my good news!  I hope you enjoy two of my favorite pictures from our Father's Day weekend.