Remission Achieved - Day 31

We got the news we had hoped and prayed for today - Ellie's MRD test of her marrow came back with a 0% leukemia cell count meaning she is now officially in remission!  There are days in your life that can bring you to your knees both in sorrow and in joy....and this most certainly is the latter.  Click HERE for a sampling of our reaction to the news in my world.  :)

This roller coaster of a ride is pretty amazing at times.  We have a resilient little girl who is fighting so hard, it is almost as if she could never have imagined any other way to do it.  She has and will have to sacrifice so many things boys/girls her age are doing right now, but the strength gathered and the perseverance she is putting forth is a lesson for her mom and I.  This will provide so much confidence for us all moving forward.  For now, her body is cancer free and we head into the next phase of treatment planning to keep it that way.  There are two and half years to go with treatment and many difficult days ahead, but when it comes to fighting this awful disease I like my chances playing with a 0% MRD value at Day 29 compared to doing so with any micro fraction of value above that.  The Leukemia, now on the outside looking in no less, may not realize it yet....but after the shock and awe of Induction, it will find out we just gettin' warmed up.

In 5 days, the next segment of treatment known as Consolidation starts and will last 8 weeks.  It begins with a 12 hour long period of chemo at the hospital on Wednesday which includes another spinal cord injection under anesthesia (nothing like starting off the next phase with a bang, I guess).  I'll save the details of all that is ahead in the next 9 months for a post in a couple days.....because for now, we are going to celebrate for the duration of the weekend.  We are giving thanks to God and for all of the prayers sent Ellie's way.  And we are resting up to re-energize for what's ahead since we know very well this all far from over.  Our doctor spent some quality time with us yesterday despite being late and gave us a very good sentiment to always keep in mind.  He said "Don't worry what the future holds, you will find out in due time and nobody can tell you right now what that will be.  Enjoy today and enjoy tomorrow."  Indeed.  The War is still ongoing, but in today's battle Ellie has come out on top and reclaimed the territory that is rightfully hers.  I hope you can find time to raise a glass to that this weekend.  I know we will.

Coach Valvano famously spoke about the three things we as humans should do every day.  He said first we should laugh.  Find humor in the many things that go on during your day.  Second, we should spend some time for ourselves in thought.  And third, we should do or be a part of something that brings our emotions to tears. (Well, done, Done, and DONE!)  Here's how he finished his thoughts:

"But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special." - Jimmy V


Amen