A glimpse into Laura's day

Don't have much to report today, but Laura sent me these photos to share...

She's always got a surprise when her meal comes. :-)


I don't think she's gonna have to serve... I think they'll let her off.

Yesterday's goals.... Check the bottom of the board. GFW!

A quote for us all...

Lisa left this comment from an earlier post. I like what it says...and it IS, in fact, just like Laura.

"I found this quote by Martha Washington in an email my mom sent me a while back. I think it pretty much fits her. 'I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.'" ♥

Just a quick update....

Chemo began yesterday. It's my understanding that she'll have the chemo for 7 days in a row. Then a 3 week "break" (while other things are being checked and monitored) and then I think there will be 3 more rounds of that.

Mary Celeste has been with Laura since Thursday (thank you, Mary!). I'm going to arrive in Albany on Wednesday and will be able to stay for about a week and a half. Lisa will come while I'm there and be able to stay until the end of October. Emily will come mid-October and will be able to stay until December! Robert and Clif are making plans to come soon. Thankfully, we all overlap a little.

Some very special news: Laura and I were planning to walk in the Atlanta 3-Day together. Her plans have changed, but I'm still gonna walk. I didn't really want to do it without her, but she encouraged me to do it. And, THEN! I received an e-mail from the 3-Day people inviting me to carry the "My Sister" flag at opening and closing ceremonies. It seems that I have to do the walk. ☺ I feel fortunate to carry the flag in Laura's honor and represent all people who have a sister in the fight.

Please continue to pray and please stay in touch with Laura -- either comment here, on facebook, e-mails, cards, letters.... Shower her with love. It means a lot.

Look at that beautiful toe! ☺ Notice those letters? See what they say? They stand for GoFightWin!

I am heartbroken to report that the reason she got those letters painted on her toes is because she was diagnosed on Thursday with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

But I tell you what! Her fighting spirit is still there and she's giving it all she's got.

She was admitted to the hospital yesterday and will be there for at least 4 or 5 weeks. After that, she'll have to go back for more chemo and will have to be admitted each time because the chemo will "knock her off her feet."

Because of the high chance of infection during treatment, she won't be allowed to have many visitors and those she has will have to wear masks, etc. She can't have flowers in her room or fresh fruit. But! She can have cards and letters and e-mails. And, prayers are always allowed!

As our former GoFightWin! 3-Day teammate, Debbie said : this leukemia "picked the wrong one to mess with."

GoFightWin!

Sometimes the road is smooth and even.

Sometimes it's bumpy and full of curves.

Laura's been on a bumpy, curvy road lately.

Please pray that her road would even out and that the scenery would improve.

Please pray for comfort and understanding.

I love her.

Laura is Laura

Laura just completed her second of seven weeks of radiation. Though it seemed a surprise to me when she told me it was going to take place, she said her doctors had discussed it early on in this HUGE process.

The effects of the radiation are cumulative, she has been told. So, the first week or so mostly affected her schedule. At the end of this week, however, she was experiencing tiredness.

Her treatment interferes with a trip she had planned during her spring break to go to New York. But, it's NOT going to interfere with trips she has planned to go to Lisa's and Emily's graduations!

Please continue to pray for my brave, tough, GoFightWinnin' sister! She has a lot on her plate. As Clif said, though, "She's the strongest person I know." It's been a rough few years, but she's gonna come out on top! I know it! 'Cause Laura is Laura!

GoFightWin! is at it again!

In October, team GoFightWin! is gonna fight cancer again with the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. So far, our team consists of Laura, Angel, Jennie and me. We'd love to have you join us. If that's not an option for you right now, we'd love to have you contribute to either one of goals. Each of us is required to raise $2300 in order to walk. Go to http://www.the3day.org. Click "donate" and then search for our team (GoFightWin!). Then you can click on any of our names to make a contribution.

For those of you who may not know, the 3-Day is a three day (duh!), 60 mile walk to help support the cause of finding a cure for breast cancer. Laura, Angel and I did it last year. It was an amazing event. (You can find photos in the October blog entry.)

Both Laura and Angel have been fighting the fight for over a year. It's not an easy fight, but they've both fought with grace and perseverance. Makes me proud to know 'em!

Please consider supporting our team.

Thank you.