And so the journey continues

Friends and family,

I hope that this summer has brought you some good memories filled with travels, enjoyable weather, and time to soak in all that life has to offer. Since our last update our time has been filled with the continue inconvienience of travelling to hospital weekly for check-ups and doing the same old same old. However, we have had time to relax and spend it with friends and family over good eats and laughter.

For a major part of the summer Christa spent her time planning our wedding which we were finally able to have - this time Christa in her dress, me in my suit and special friends and family present. We could not have asked for better weather and a better day. It feels great to finally feel official (even though we were before), but this time to have the memory of a real wedding.

Our journey together has brought it's fair share of ups and downs as wehave travelled this road and battled this disease - but every moment has been an incredible brush stroke to an incredible painting. As some of you may or may not have heard our battle has once again taken a turn no one ever thought would happen. One week I was at hospital and all was going well and things were on the mend, the very next week (last week) things showed a completely different story.

Results from blood came back showing that once again the cancer has returned bringing me to diagnosis number four. Over the past several days as we have digested this news we have realized doctors have done all they can do. I have received some of the strongest chemo and medications known, plus two transplants...one which was a bone marrow transplant. Though doctors are unsure of a timeline all they can do at this point is provide medications dealing with the symptoms.

With the crappy news behind I do believe there is hope. Just because we have received such news does not mean we have given up. We know that we believe in something stronger and more powerful than any man or medicine can offer. We are deciding to continue walking this journey out seeking out other options as they come along considering anything which may help with my recovery.

Though I struggled for a few days if I should share the news publicly or not - I decided why not? You have been with us this far why not keep on going. Especially since we believe so much in fighting this disease with an army, not just the two of us.

We will continue to update as often as we can but know that we thank you all for your support, love, encouragement and prayers.

Tim

Never Going Back

The other day..I was having a moment with God and He ever so quietly whispered in my ear "You and Tim, are NEVER going back."

Realizing how powerful that little message was really made me thank God for what He has pulled us through. We are never going back...just pressing forward...with victory!

What can we tell you other than WE LOVE SUMMER! Tim would love to be camping right now, enjoying the tent, campfire and warm weather, but he isn't allowed to camp until next year. SO..we've been enjoying lots of time outside with our new friend Bruno, taking in hikes, planning our little wedding reception and I've been very busy with photography. Summer is always a blast. Tim has been faithfully working on his book. I am SO proud to see him write. This book has been on his "t0-do" list for a long time, we know thousands will be impacted by his story. He has a great team helping him along and the finished product will blow your socks off.

Guess what? Tim had a bone marrow aspirate done about two weeks ago and here are the results:

100% of the cells being produced (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, hemoglobin, etc) are donor cells, Andrews cells...which means the transplant was a 100% success! Tim is a brand new man! Currently his counts are recovering...and Andrew's blood type which is B negative is taking over the house! When they did the aspirate and pulled out the piece of bone, it was as long as a bobby pin...which is jaw dropping...! The doctor was even blown away! I thought about it later and realized that Tim's marrow in the past had been tiny, barely there..and now it was huge and healthy looking...so the marrow must be strong and healthy. We were so glad to get the results that the marrow WAS strong and healthy, all thanks to Andrew!

Tim visits the clinic every two weeks, with blood taken every week. He can get it checked in Airdrie which is a huge blessing for him. He is feeling good, and you can tell his body is recovering well.

Today we went up to unit 57 to say hello, and it was so bitter sweet to be there. His doctors were SO excited to see him and see how well he is doing. That was cool.

Enjoy the photos! We will update soon!

Summer!!!

Phew...what a beautiful summer we are having so far! Of course, we've experienced the nice long days of rain...and a little bit of snow, but for the most part, the sun has been shining, as it is right now. It is bursting into our office window, and as I write I am reminded of the wonderful things the sunshine does for Tim and I. It is a glorious thing to be outside on days like this, on warm summer days, soaking up the moments we've missed and knowing we will enjoy these summer days for years and years and YEARS to come!

What is new since our last post? LOTS!

Tim is currently being seen once a week, which will soon be moved to once every two weeks. His blood work is fantastic, and his counts are in normal range. It's cool to see that on paper, because they have been so low for so long. Again, we've said it before, the doctors and nurses are SO impressed with his progress, attitude, appetite, and how well he is taking care of himself.

Going to the hospital isn't as intense as it has been. The clinic is such a positive and relaxing environment, and the nurses flirt with Tim like CRAZY! I love it!

Tim and I celebrated our one year anniversary on May 25th, we've taken day trips to Canmore and Drumheller, went to the Relay for Life and are currently planning our little "wedding" celebration in August. I'll finally get to wear my wedding dress! Life is incredible. Always has been.

Christa

Day 14

I just pulled up our blog and realized that the last post was from Day 6-Post Transplant and today we are Day 14!

Tim continues to do fantastic...

A few days ago, while getting a blood transfusion, he spiked a little bit of a fever and had to be admitted and put on precautionary antibiotics. Turns out, the fever was a response to Andrews cells making their home in Tim's marrow. How cool huh? After a couple days in over night, he was able to get out on passes..and is currently being seen daily. His amazing Dr. Ping is SO impressed with his response to the transplant. Tim had some mouth sores and a pretty sore throat, in order to eat he needed some morphine, but even still, the nurses were saying "What do you do for your mouth? In the midst of the pain..it still looks better than I've ever seen!" His doc also says that she can't even compare Tim to the other patients...wow God!

Now we're enjoying this weather...and have started to unpack our suitcases. Tim will be moved to the outpatient clinic in a few days. A few months ago we thought this journey would never end, and now we are finishing...Tim is finishing with health and strength! His counts are increasing...yahhh!

We'll update you soon!

Day 6

Today is Day 6! I know! We can't believe it either!

Tim continues to do FANTASTIC! We know this is ALL because of our powerful God, Tim's incredible attitude and prayer. It is so cool to see him feeling great. He is happy, laughing lots, eating like a horse, gaining weight, and has had NO mouth pain or sores. We are living in a miracle!

The staff are in awe! We have been able to be home each day and night, attending morning checkups every day. Tim consistently walks out of them with flying colors.

I really think Andrew's cells are perfect for Tim's body. We can tell they are working in there...Tim's skin has changed to a mild tan, doc's say this is a good sign!

If you are a prayer..please agree with us for the following things;

-Continued miracles and incredible progress for Tim
-No mouth sores or pain
-No infection or fevers
-That each day he would continue to be let out on passes
-That Tim's incredible story would be a witness to MANY on this unit of our God's power in lives!

May 7th--Day 2

Hey Guys!

So, I don't have time to give you a huge long blog..but a quick update should do for now! Leading up to transplant was an exciting time..we had been waiting for this special day for a long time. Knowing it was just around the corner was amazing! Tim had been waiting for it too. This journey has been a long one, and for him, May 5th was not only a gift from his brother, but a new chance to FINALLY live life cancer free!

The day arrived! May 5th! Andrew (Tim's brother and donor) was at the hospital at 7:15am. Accompanied by his wife, they began a day of blood work, line insertion and finally the stem cell collection. He started at 10:00am and was done by 4:00pm! I went down to check up on them a couple times, and although Andrew was a little stiff, he had a big smile on his face the entire time. His wife Michelle sat beside him the entire day, totally supportive and proud. I could see it on her face!

The collection was prepared and brought up to Tim at 6:00pm. It was so neat to see them bring that bag into the room. Tim and I just looked at eachother in awe. What Andrew had given Tim! SO cool!

The infusion began...

Although Tim had a slight reaction to the unmatched red blood cells from Andrew, it was soon over as they slowed the infusion. The nurse mentioned that the patients that get sick during the stem cell infusion end up doing really well overall. The sickness didn't last and shortly after the transplant, Tim was eating a big piece of cake. :)

Then, just like that, the day we'd been waiting for was over! Andrew had just given Tim LIFE.

So tonight, Tim and I are at home relaxing..

"Wait" you say... "Did I hear that right?"

Yes, you did in fact. Tim was able to go home the next day. Since, we've gone in each day for checkups and the doctor mentioned to us the other day "I don't really understand how you are doing so well...?" We know why, and we know that from this point forward, life is going to be good, all the time!

So! I'm going to go and hang out with my amazing hubby who inspires me every single day.

What We've Been Waiting For...

Hey everybody, we know it has been awhile since we last wrote, blogging hasn't really been on our mind as we have been enjoying our time together at home. What an awesome and refreshing break! We've done everything from bike rides and picnics to quality time together as a couple and with friends too. On top of that, we've just been overwhelmed with the way God has been preparing us for the end of our journey, the end of Cancer and the end of this season. We are so excited and confident. God is a faithful and incredible God, who will see us through this, there will be a party through the next few weeks and after them too!

So what is next? Well, Tim will receive a few days of "bone marrow killer" chemo (as we like to call it...) next week. Side effects for most patients are none, but Tim isn't most patients... ;) The pharmacist told him that if he hasn't had any side effects with the other chemos, he definitely won't with these ones either! So cool!! The chemo they give will essentially get rid of all of Tim's own bone marrow to make room for the new guys coming in--Andrew's cells!

Tim will have two days off, and then be admitted on May 5th for the transplant, what we've been waiting for! Andrew will arrive in the morning and have his cells collected from a big vein in his neck. As soon as they are ready--the staff bring the cells, or bone marrow, upstairs to Tim, and infuses them! THEN...its recovery time for his body! Most patients stay in for about two weeks, some less, and the doctors watch Tim's blood really closely. Those new cells will find their home inside of Tim's marrow and begin producing exactly what his body needs--and fighting off all the bad at the same time. It sounds pretty simple here, and it is...alot is included in the process, but it is an incredible and amazing gift from God that this life saving treatment is here for patients like Tim!

Tim is doing fantastic! He has gained lots of weight, he is strong, healthy and totally prepared for this transplant! This time off has been SO great! We're SUPER excited for what is yet to come!!

Keep following!!!