Relay for Life - by Ane

Last Saturday night, the 13th of July, Mark shared his story at the Lake Oswego chapter of The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.  He did a great job!!! Many were touched and we were asked if we truly understood what a miracle we had!  Yes, we do!!  Not a day goes by that we don't give thanks and rejoice in the blessings we have received. 

Our 35th is Today! - by Ane

Today Mark & I celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary!  It has been a most joyful day – lunch with friends, an afternoon movie, and dinner at Paley’s Place in Portland.  At some point last year I had a feeling that Mark would be here to celebrate this anniversary and I wrote it in my journal.  When it was I didn’t remember, but I wanted to find it. I went to my journal, but where to look I did not know.   April 1, 2012 looked like a good place to start.  About half way down I saw these words that I had penned:

“This morning as I was awaking I was thinking about the extension I had prayed for.  There was a sweet feeling that we may be able to celebrate our 35^th wedding anniversary which would be a year from this July, and that we would go to Ireland.  That would be awesome!!!”

It is awesome!  Not only did we get today, but we also will be going on a Mediterranean cruise the end of July, and from there we will spend a week in Ireland.  Mark’s great, great, great grandparents, Edward & Francis Hornibrook were married at Christ Church Kilbrogen, Bandon, County Cork, Ireland.  We will visit the church which is now a museum as well as the adjoining cemetery where their parents were buried.  Edward & Francis immigrated to Canada in 1826.  Going to County Cork has been a dream for many years, and this August it will become a reality. So many blessings fill our lives, and our hearts are full to the brim with gratitude. 

Oh Happy Day! - by Ane

Another clean chest x-ray!  Hurray!!  Mark has been off the Zelboraf for five months now, and there doesn’t appear to be any tumor activity.  He feels GREAT, his hair is growing back in thicker than it was before he lost it, he is gaining weight, and looking younger every day!  Wow, what a blessing.  What a miracle!  Dr. Urba used the word remission today and said unless there are any concerns he will see us in 3 months for a routine check-up.  During the last visit I had mentioned to him that there were MANY people praying for us, and he said emphatically, “Tell them not to stop!”  So, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Defying Odds? - by Mark

I’m still here and feeling great!!  We just got back from our Precoa cruise on the Allure of the Seas; what an amazing ship and what wonderful people.  Between family, friends, work and church I have never been told so many times how great it is to see me and how wonderful I look.  It is awesome – everyone should get such treatment, it does wonders for the soul!  I guess it is compared to death or the very ancient, pale, frail, gaunt look I had 6 months ago.  In any case, I feel much loved and am so grateful to be here feeling so good!

Ane and I met with Dr. Urba yesterday – what a wonderful man.  We discussed options and determined to do nothing until late June/early July.  At that time I will get another chest x-ray.  If there is nothing, I suspect we will just keep monitoring.  If there is something growing I will likely go back on Zelboraf. Recent studies in mice show that starting and stopping this medication does prolong the life of the four legged little creatures so it is assumed it will work the same in humans.  Dr. Urba is not encouraging Yervoy at this point because I am doing so well and my quality of life will not be the same on this treatment.  He even indicated that I could be the one that each oncologist seems to have that defy all the odds and are healed, when according to medicine they shouldn’t be.  We would be OK with that! 

I have had some heart palpitations over the past couple of months so Dr. Zemsky, the heart electrician, had me wear a heart monitor for a couple of days.  He just emailed and said: “Your Holter monitor showed some short episodes of arrhythmia, lasting seconds.  These are not concerning, and are likely what you're experiencing during palpitations.”  So… we don’t need to sweat it.  Just keep enjoying life.

With so many faith filled prayers heading our way – I just may be the one to defy the odds.  Thank you so much for your faith, prayers and healing thoughts!!  I feel great!