She won.

One of the best people I have ever known in my life died this morning. I can't quite grasp it. It still doesn't seem real. 

I am so thankful that I saw her just last week...

I am thankful for her good friends and my good siblings and her children who have loved her fiercely and many of whom were by her side when she left. I am thankful that I was able to tell her I love her before she let go.

Many of you have been a great support to our family and we are more thankful than we can say.

I'm on my way to Atlanta now. All of her children are together and my siblings are together, too... It will be good to get there to hug them for real.

We are deeply sad, but thankful that she no longer has to fight. She has won.

I am picturing her right now on heaven's front porch with Mama and Papa. It's a peaceful thought. 

Please pray and please post

I don't have a lot of information... but Laura has been having difficulty breathing. So much so that she ended up going to her local hospital in an ambulance yesterday 'cause she couldn't walk to the car. 

She's got fluid on her lungs and the hospital in Albany is going to send her by ambulance to Emory in Atlanta.

Mary is there. Robert is on his way...or most likely already in ATL. I'm waiting to find out more from docs before I go... 

Her son is getting married in 3 weeks and we want her to be well enough to be there. SO! Please pray for that.

And, while you're praying, if you have an Instagram account, start posting some GOFIGHTWIN! photos with the hashtag #gfw!  And, pass it on!

Let's find pics that show her how much we love her. 

Let's all work together to help her kick some stupid cancer complication butt!

Love y'all!

Update

On Thursday Laura finished up the 2nd of two eight week cycles of photopheresis. The results of that treatment are still to be determined.

The next thing on the treatment plan is an infusion of an immunotherapy drug (can't remember the name of that drug).

(I'm not feeling very clever and creative with my writing right now, but here are the bullet point items.)

• She's gained weight.
• She also has fibrosis of the lungs.
• She has graft vs. host disease in her joints, eyes, skin and lungs.
• Her lungs are only at 45% capacity.
• The doctors do not advise her to go back to work because her resistance is still low.

Because she's a go-getter, she is doing all she can to get better.  She walks at the Y every day for 2 1/2 miles. She has done stuff around her house that you might not think is such a big deal, but it really IS a big deal. 

I asked Laura to tell me how things have been going...things she's done lately, etc., Here's the email that I got from her:

The biggest accomplishment lately is the changing of 8(!) fluorescent 4 foot lights in the garage and 2 flood lights.  I told myself, "I'll be durn if I get somebody to come over here to change the light bulbs!"  It probably took me about 45 minutes and I was TOTALLY out of breath but so HAPPY! It probably took me 2 days to completely recover but I didn't care.  I'm pretty sure it would have been a pretty big deal for some regular people.  

I have read LOTS of books and Mama would have been so happy that I was reading plus I have Miss Dye and Mrs Cannon to talk about them with.  

I was able to go to an FCCLA region competition in Warner Robbins and judge a STAR (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event.  It was kind of difficult getting from the parking lot to registration and then to the room but I didn't use the inhaler and I didn't have to stop to recover. It was so good to be around students and adults that enjoy doing that kind of stuff.

Clif and my granddogs came to see me last weekend and I'm looking forward to Clif, Trisha and Mary coming next weekend for a "meet and greet" party for Trisha and Clif and a shower for them at the church.  

I still go to spinning and do what I can.  My instructor is very  understanding and encouraging.  

I have been cooking more and enjoying doing it.  I am also thinking of things to sew. I'll probably start stuff like that next week.  

I can vacuum without too much difficulty.

The pneumonia part is undetermined.  They say my lungs sound clear but they don't know for sure until they do another CT scan.  I think I have less than 45% lung capacity now but I'm trying.  I go to pulmonary rehab twice a week and do whatever I'm supposed to.  One of the best things about that is meeting other people with similar issues and talking about how they handle them.  There are some amazing people handling lung problems everyday.  My Thursday afternoon class consists of me and two other women; one 91 and the other 93 years old.  One of them is on oxygen all the time the other is not but they are hanging in there!

And the best part of this whole journey ("into the wilderness") is I've got the best support group of family and friends!  

Today is sunny and beautiful.  I have already been to Tift Park in Albany to visit the booths of all kinds of stuff from jewelry to soaps and etc.  Tonight I'm doing Mexican Music Trivia night with the spinning group.  The sun makes me feel positive.  

Yes, there are set backs but at least there is something hopeful.

Four years ago today Laura had her bone marrow transplant. So thankful for the person who donated their marrow so Laura could keep on keepin' on!

Thank you, person!

Wooo hoooo!

Laura had her two days of photopheresis and is back in Leesburg. She sounded pretty upbeat when I spoke with her, but I imagine she's pretty tired. 

She was able to get one treatment done on Monday -- due to a scheduling glitch (not her's)...which was good. And then she had one today. 

Next treatment will be next Tuesday and Wednesday. Then Thanksgiving with the fam! (Wish I could be there... Or, they could be here.)

She drove back to Leesburg after her appointment. She has some good friends in Leesburg who often fix her dinner on the night she comes back. And, they did tonight.  I sure do appreciate those people. Sendin' a hug to them!! 

Keep prayin' that things make a difference. 

Thank you!

Photopherisis Next Week

Laura went to Atlanta earlier this week and had her "line" put in.  She also went to a class on how the Photopheresis works.

She will go to Atlanta on Monday to be there for an 8:00 blood work appointment on Tuesday. That will be followed by the photopheresis.  The photo below describes what happens during the process.

As of right now, she will go to Atlanta once a week for two days at a time for eight weeks. At the end of eight weeks, they'll see how she's doing and decide how to proceed.

Please pray that her body decides to straighten itself out and that she will be relieved of the pesky Graft vs. Host disease.  Dadgummit! I think it's about time for her to feel really good.

Thanks so much!

Will update as I learn more.

Long time no communication....

Hey Y'all,

Sorry about the long time between posts... 

Quick little update here:

Laura started this school year with a bang. She has been very busy with lesson plans and extracurricular activities.

A few weeks ago, she got a cold which, long story, short turned into pneumonia. With a fair amount of rigamarole, she finally saw her doctor at Emory who (in addition to her local oncologist) recommended that she take short-term disability to straighten out a multitude of issues related to her GVHD (Graft v. Host Disease). Some of those issues are: dry eyes, joint issues, and a significant decrease in her lung capacity. 

They want her to go up next week to insert a "line" (kinda like a port, but I can't remember the official name) so that they can treat her with photophoresis. That means, that they will remove her blood and treat it with a light treatment of some kind. Her line makes that possible. They take out her blood and put it back in after the photophoresis. She'll have to go weekly for 2-3 days at a time until they feel like she no longer needs to go.  They're also giving her some meds for the issues she has with her joints (can't remember the name of that either.) It's pretty bad stiffness in her joints. 

I feel pretty good about her taking some time to focus on straightening out her GVHD. And, I feel hopeful that they have some treatment options to help her feel better.  I would appreciate it if you would pray that insurance approve it, that this treatment is successful and that it works quickly. It would be nice not to have to drive to Atlanta every week.

She's a GoFightWinner!, though... :-)

We appreciate you all.