Tuesday, September 11, 2012

have you ever heard a miracle sing?

Strange, it doesn't even need words or music.

The nurse practitioner came into the room with the biggest smile on her face.  "Good news?"  I ask, as my smile starts matching hers.  "Yes, just read it."  She handed me the print out from the radiologist.

MRI Brain wwo Cont

"Just skip to the end."

IMPRESSION:

Interval near complete resolution of enhancement associated with multiple metastatic lesions.  Very faint residual enhancement associated with a right frontal parafalcine mass.  No new enhancing lesions, acute ischemia, or hemorrhagic metastases.

Me (kind of tearing up): "So this is uncommon, yes?" 

Her: "This like...never happens." 

She hands me the other report.

PET CT Whole Body

Again I skip the bottom.

Impression:
1.  Marked interval improvement suggesting treatement response having demonstrated between 50 and 100 hypermetabolic lesions on prior imaging, now demonstrating 4 hypermetabolic lesions.  Lesions include a right adrenal nodule, nodule superior to the right kidney, anterior mediastinal nodule, and right axillary node.
2.  Increased activity withing the right maxilla consistent with periodotal disease.  
3.  Multiple small metastatic lesions demonstrated on the prior MR of the brain are too small to characterize by PET.

You read that right.  4 tumors left.

She pulled up the scans.  The organs (heart, bladder, kidneys) are lit up too, but the little dots are cancer.

June 22nd.  Cancer everywhere.  They aren't even counting the tumors, 50-100 seems like a broad range.  Pretty devastating.

Miracle.  September 10th.  4 tumors remain.  This is not a great thing to have, unless you looked like the first photo.  Pretty incredible!

"I wonder if the guys reading these scans are thinking "What are they giving this girl?"  We laughed.
 
We laughed!!!

Although they can't predict what happens next, we are hoping my immune system will continue to take care of the cancer.  We are going to keep up with the Temodar, and eventually even get me off of that and see what happens. Scan again in 2 months.

We begin living that next chunk of life right now.  So excited!!

ps  
By biggest hope was to get to drive again (mostly because it would mean the cancer was gone in the brain).  I didn't honestly think it was a possibility.  Today I really wanted to take a road trip, but Josh keeps reminding me it isn't a practical week for us (alright, it is his birthday tomorrow after all).  I guess we aren't in hurry any more! :)

52 comments:

  1. What a blessing! I'm so happy for you and your family :) continued prayers coming your way!

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  2. I read this at work at literally screamed with joy!!! Hoping and praying that your immune systems continues to kick butt! It seems as strong and determined as you are! :) So happy for you!

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  3. I don't know you Alisa, but your story has resonated so strongly with me and I find myself thinking about you all of the time. I cannot tell you how so very happy I am for you and your family. You are an amazing woman and it won't surprise me when you beat the unbeatable!!!

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  4. this made me tear up reading it. how amazing! so SO happy for you guys!!

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  5. Great news Alisa! SO happy for you! Anxious to see pictures of a road trip in a few weeks where you are driving!

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  6. Thanks for the update, Alisa. That is awesome!

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  7. I am SO happy for you! That is seriously the best news!

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  8. Hallelujah!!! sing the choirs of angels and friends! Awesome, Awesome news!

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  9. I am CHEERING for you here in Southern California! Hooray hooray hooray!! If you do take a road trip to our area, I'd love to treat you to lunch :)

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  10. Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness!!! Best news EVER!! I am so so happy for you, my friend. Hooray for miracles!

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  11. I am so overwhelmed with happiness for you and your family right now! Go on and drive to California! What a miracle indeed! Love you!

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  12. What an amazing miracle to witness! You are such an amazing women and deserve all of the happiness in the world. So happy for you and your family!!'nn

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  13. I don't even have words!! This is Wonderful wonderful wonderful news!!!

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  14. I am thrilled! What will you do with your beautiful September now?

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  15. Oh my heavens! Tears of joy! You so deserve this miracle and the many more that are to come!!!

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  16. I know miracles happen. I've witnessed them in my own life and at times I have wondered why some people get miracles, and some don't; I'm so glad you are one of the people who gets (is?) a miracle!!! Congrats and keep going!

    So long Cancer!

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  17. YEAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Incredible!!!!!!

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  18. This is, hands down, the best blog post I have ever read...and I have read a lot of blog posts! I've had butterflies all day long and now they can rest. I'm so very happy about this and so happy for you and your family. 9/11 is no longer a bleak day!!!!! It's miracle day!

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  19. There has to be a comment about you having a "beautiful body," as in your insides are absolutely much more beautiful without all that cancer in there. So, so, so glad it was good news today. We'll keep praying. I agree-you did an excellent job changing a lot of peoples 9/11 memories!

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  20. What an amazing miracle!!! I am so happy for you and humbled by the miracle that it is. Yay!!

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  21. Oh!my!heck!!! I am so beyond happy to hear this! I say take that drive straight to California!!!

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  22. I got goosebumps reading this. I've been thinking about you and your family all day. I am so happy! You need to plan an awesome celebration STAT!

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  23. Alisa, this is the most amazing news EVER!!! Mike and I cannot stop talking about it and sending up prayers of gratitude. It is amazing to witness a miracle.

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  24. YEAH!!!! Will pass this wonderful news on to Brandon & Brit who so enjoyed seeing you last week!! Continued improvement expected!!
    Buffy & Brent

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  25. I am absolutely elated for you and your family!! What you've mentioned is true---if anyone can beat the odds, you can. And are!

    I follow your blog religiously and it has made a huge difference in they way I view each day. Three of my four kids are exactly your kids' ages, and I'd like to think I've tried to focus more on the things that really matter because of what you've shared. And I love the way you share it. Your honesty and emotion are so beautifully portrayed in your brilliant writing. Thank you, thank you for inspiring me.

    You and your family are constantly in my thoughts and prayers. What a happy, happy day!

    Kellie,
    Marcia Christensen Black's daughter....a good friend of your mom's growing up.

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  26. I'm so so so happy for you! What a miracle! I'm sitting at my computer crying after reading that last post. God is good.
    Buffy...Brittany's sister

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  27. Ashkii & I cried tears of joy for your family. We are SO thrilled - forget CA- how about a road trip to the Atlantic;)???

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  28. Miracles happen! Wonderful news. We are praying for you here in Austria.

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  29. Thank you for sharing your good news so quickly. Many of us were waiting patiently (some of us NOT so patiently) for the results. Your good news is beyond words, only tears can fully express our happiness for you, and our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for miracles.
    Kristi Hankins

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  30. I guess my question is, was it IPI or your swim in the hot springs at Lava? :) Maybe we'll have to go again and melt the rest of those tumors....

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  31. just want to add my joy to that of all the other commenters. What a beautiful door you have gone through. The horseshoe should forever grace that door.
    Aunt Kathy

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  32. Chills all over. So glad to hear this news!

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  33. I think Kari has a point. New money making idea: make lava hot springs into cancer curing spa.

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  34. Lucky horseshoe. Love that so much!!!!

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  35. Bite off a huge chunk of life and savour it! This is incredible news! Just stunned really. As a person who reads a lot of these reports, it is nice to see such a positive impression. Continued prayers for you and your family!

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  36. I absolutely believe in miracles, and am so happy for you, Alisa!
    -Brittany's brother

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  37. Thank you for sharing your life, your journey. Thank you for helping me remember that miracles do happen.

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  38. Incredible. Miraculous. Awe-inspiring. And wonderful are words that don't do a justice for this kind of news. Truly amazing. I told you on FB already that this news was the best I've heard ever since I got my good news 2 years ago that my melanoma was in remission. You truly are the most deserving soul of this miracle. I am so grateful to our Heavenly Father for this news!

    P.S. And I can't wait to meet you, hopefully soon, someday!

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  39. Alisa- I've thought about you so much and have been following your blog. You are such an inspiration and have absolutely amazed me! I let out a little yell of excitement reading the update from your scan. I'm so happy for you and your cute family. Best wishes for even more good news next scan!

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  40. BEST! DAY! EVER!!!!!! I'm so happy for you Alisa and family!!! We love you!!!

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  41. Alisa-I am one of Sonja's mission companions. We met once when I came and stayed at your parents when her and Rob got married. I have been following your blog for over a year and I am so so so thrilled to read this post!!! My family and I have included you and your fam in our prayers for a long time! I am so so happy to hear of your miracle!!!!!

    Heather Jarvis-Jemmett

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  42. I am always thinking about you and often times we read your blog posts over dinner or breakfast. This was the best post ever. We are so happy for you, Josh and your cute boys!

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  43. I read this post and saw that there were 49 comments, so had to make 50 (obviously). So happy for this news!

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  44. I am glad you finally got some good news. And if I was the nurse reading those results, you would have had to pick my jaw up off of the ground. You never cease to amaze me. And I am glad you get to drive again!!!

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  45. Read Kari's post, I think it is dated April 12, 2012. amazing!

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