Back from my appointment and Doc says I'm doing GREAT!!!

All my levels are where they need to be and everything looks really good. I check back into the hospital this coming Monday, Oct. 4th. This is the 2nd part of the first round for me. I will have 3 more rounds to go so I have a long journey ahead of me but I really want to take it one day at a time. This round coming up on Monday is going to be so much easier than the first part. Only 3 days of chemo and then a day or two of watching my levels and then  I come home and will have a month before my 2nd round starts. I can't even imagine how much better I will feel by the time I start my 2nd round. I was so sick when I first went into the hospital. My doctor told me today that I was actually out of the hospital very fast from the time they started my chemo on Sept. 1st. So please keep the prayers flowing to the heavens. Everyone of you is helping to make me strong enough to deal with this battle. The BATTLE that I am going to WIN!!! Thanks to all of your help.
Much Love
Lundy

It's so good to be home!

I've been home since Tuesday evening. Wednesday was great and I probably overdid it a little so I paid for it Thursday. But today has been so much better and I can feel my strength coming back. I even did a few little chores. Almost felt like myself for a bit. But I promise everyone, I'm being good. Please just keep me and my sweet family in your prayers. I am amazed at my kids and how they kept our home from falling apart. I know this is the hardest thing they have ever had to do or deal with. I just thank God for them. They all basically just put their lives on hold for me.
Thank you all for your thoughts and all of the prayers
Love,
Lundy

I'M HEADED HOME! THANKS TO ALL THE PRAYERS!
LOVE YOU ALL
LUNDY<3

Hope this message gets out to everyone!

I can't tell you all what you have done for me! All the messages and prayers and cards and flowers and thoughts and LOVE that you have all poured over me has gotten me through the hardest thing I have ever done in MY WHOLE LIFE! Just got the word from my doctor that my target date to go home is Tuesday. So needless to say I am more than ready. May not post for a little while. Right now I just want to go home and lay on my couch with 4 dogs and 3 cats and a rabbit and watch my big TV and be with my kids and my husband. IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL DREAM!

LOVE TO ALL
LUNDY

Blood Count...

doubled again today! :) that's the good news. The bad news is that it needs to be at 2000. I had though it was 1000. But that's still only 14 points to go and it could go from 6 to 12 any day now. Please everyone...just cross your fingers.
Much love
Lundy

ALMOST NO HAIR

Lacey cut most of it off today. It won't be such a huge transition now. I'm wearing a scarf and I think I can get used to this. I may decide I'm in no hurry to grow it back. Yeah...just kidding. I'm excited to see what it will be like when it comes back in. I'm even more happy today that my blood count went from .2 to .3 and today I had blood again which means by morning it may go up again or at least it may in the next few days. just have to get it up to a 1000 per million to go home. It's at 300 per million now. I CAN DO THIS!!! Please keep praying.
Lots of love and hugs
Lundy

Perdido Bay soccer tournament this weekend...

....and I won't be there. Okay everybody, now my heart is broken. I wanted to at least be home to watch my Turner play soccer. The good news is I have my tickets and i will be watching on the computer. Just not the same as watching him in person. If anyone is looking for anything fun to do this weekend that would be a good idea. It's at the Orange Beach sportsplex with a game at 9:30 and 7:30 on Saturday for the u-19 Boys. If you go yell your hearts out to #1 for me. Because I'm pretty sure I have the best son in the whole world!!! And he isn't going to have any of his family there watching him. I'm so scared he won't put his heart into it like he always does for us. And while I get my prayers will everyone please throw some in there for my kids. Especially Turner. He isn't supposed to be living on his yet for another year and he has done a fantastic job but doing it with a broken heart. And my girls have just been true angels. They have worked so hard to keep their own lives running but to keep ours running as smoothly as possible while we are in the hospital. What gifts GOD has given me. They are amazing kids.
I love you
Lundy

3 WEEK ANNIVERSARY

I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE AUGUST 25TH!!!!  BOY DID I HAVE IT MIXED UP. I HAD NO IDEA I HAD BEEN HERE THIS LONG....3 WEEKS TODAY....BUT IT'S ALSO 3 WEEKS BEHIND ME THAT I WILL NEVER HAVE TO DO AGAIN. I'M GETTING A SKYPE CAMERA SO I CAN TALK TO MY 4 LEGGED BABIES. YES...I'VE LOST MY MIND BUT NOBODY CAN SAY THAT TO ME RIGHT NOW. HAHAHA.
lOVE YOU ALL <3
lUNDY

3 DAYS OUT OF MY FIRST TREATMENT...

AND FEELING BETTER WITH EVERYDAY. I had blood and plateletes last night and I have had such a good day. It makes me feel so much better. Now we just need to wait for those numbers to climb back up there where they belong. Get those prayers going...please.;) I want to go home for a few weeks. I got to go for a wheel chair ride right at dark and was lucky enough to run into a kitty. He talked to me :) for a minute, and was so cute. Wish I could have snuck him in here to cuddle with. I'm sure he didn't have any fleas or anything.
So anyway, thanks everybody...so many comments. I know I can't do this without you.
Lots of Love,
Lundy

Not much going on right now, which isn't a bad thing but my days are going by pretty slowly......I'm so HOMESICK! I was unhooked from my pole and my food they were feeding me. Feels nice to be free and able to walk around whenever I want. But it's taken me a while to understand I can actually get up and move. I feel like I'm supposed to stay attached to the bed. But it's time to get up and regain a little strength. All my blood counts have dropped again and everything is really low which makes me a little tired but it also tell me the meds are working. My white count is down to .2, about as low as it can go. My visitation has to slow down now and that makes me a little sad but it's not for long. Please continue to keep me in your prayers and throw one in there that I can go home SOON. I miss my stuff and all of my 4 legged babies so bad.
Lots of love,
Lundy

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I reallly did do it!!! I stay so confused through all this chemo stuff. I try to understand what's going on but I'm so busy just trying to stay afloat I can't keep up. I took my last treatment today for the 1st round. JUST FOUND THIS OUT and I still don't believe it. I know I'm not done but boy.....I can do anything now! Thank you to everyone who has helped me with this and supported me and prayed for me. The prayers definitely work, not that I had a doubt. :) And please don't stop.
Love to ALL
LUNDY

I LOVED THIS SONG AS A CHILD. NOW I APPRECIATE IT FOR ITS MEANING.

ARTIST: The Carpenters


TITLE: Top of The World 


Such a feelin's coming over me

There is wonder in most every thing I see

Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes

And I won't be surprised if it's a dream



Everything I want the world to be is now coming true     

especially for me. And the reason is clear, it's because

MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE HERE.  

You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen



I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation. And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around 

"YOUR LOVE'S PUT ME AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD"



Something in the wind has learned my name

And it's telling me that things are not the same

In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze

There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me



There is only one wish on my mind

When this day is through I hope that I will find

That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me

All I need will be mine if you are here


THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE PRAYERS. THEY ARE WORKING. <3
LUNDY

 

Okay....I had a few days off. Back on the gleevek today. I fought with those 4 little pils for 2 and a half hours but I took them. For each pill I took I treated myself to a candy. What the heck? I really didn't want to take them but so far so good! They didn't make me sick. My girls are coming to see me too. I love my weekends even knowing how hard it is on them. I'm a bad mama. They just make my days fly by so fast with their sweet ways. Laney even went shopping for me and bought me some pj's. NO MORE HOSPITAL GOWNS....just can't do it anymore. ughhhhhhh. Anyway, I am having another good day and I LOVE good days!!!!! A few more days and I will be through my very first round of chemo, WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Love you everybody, thanks for keeping my spirits up.
Lundy<3

I actually went outside for the first time in 15 days! It was BEAUTIFUL!!!! It's amazing what you appreciate after being stuck inside for so long. I was watching 3 little wrens in the courtyard and they were so precious they made me cry. I think I was just super jealous of all their energy. It was hot but I think I felt a touch of fall in the air. Which is really weird because I feel like I missed most of the summer. But bring it on. I'm ready for cool weather and feeling good! Just an idea....the old saying about stopping to smell the roses? Not a bad idea.
Love you all,
Lundy

a lil' explanation

Hi everyone, 


This is Laney. I wanted to give y'all a somewhat condensed version of the info I've compiled over the last few weeks regarding Mom's condition. There is A LOT of information available on leukemia on the internet, and it is all very technical and confusing. But, it helps me to try to understand what is happening to Mom's body. So, if any of you are interested, here is my attempt at an explanation:


Mom has been diagnosed with CML with an ALL blast crisis. This means that she has the chronic myelogenous form of leukemia, but it progressed to the blast phase (the final phase), which then transformed into an aggressive acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) by the time she arrived at the hospital. The doctors quickly got her ALL under control and stopped the blast phase with chemotherapy and a wonder drug called Gleevec. All of her blast cells have disappeared. Her white blood cell count is also down. They are now attempting to push her CML back into the chronic phase so that she will respond well to treatment and experience less symptoms. Once the treatment (chemotherapy) successfully sends her disease into remission, I believe she will need a bone marrow transplant to completely cure her of the CML. However, I do need Dr. Tan (her hematology oncologist) to confirm this. Please read the following info below for more details.


Many thanks to all who are supporting my family and amazing mother. She will beat this stinkin' cancer with the strength that builds from all of your love and encouragement! 


Much love, 
Laney

Overview

Leukemia is a form of cancer that begins in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow — the soft, inner part of the bones. Leukemia, which literally means "white blood" in Greek, occurs when there is an excess of abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Known as leukocytes, these cells are so plentiful in some patients that the blood actually has a whitish tinge.

Under normal circumstances, the blood-forming (hematopoietic) cells of the bone marrow make leukocytes to defend the body against infectious organisms, such as viruses and bacteria. If some leukocytes are damaged and remain in an immature form, they become poor infection fighters that multiply excessively and do not die off as they should.

These damaged leukemic cells accumulate and lessen the production of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (erythrocytes), blood-clotting cells (platelets), and normal leukocytes. If untreated, these leukemic cells overwhelm the bone marrow, enter the bloodstream, and eventually invade other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). In this way, the behavior of leukemia is different than that of other cancers, which usually begin in major organs and ultimately spread to the bone marrow.

There are more than a dozen varieties of leukemia, but the following 4 types are the most common:

• Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Acute leukemias usually develop suddenly, whereas some chronic types may exist for years before they are diagnosed.

Types
Leukemia is classified by how quickly it progresses. Acute leukemia is fast-growing and can overrun the body within a few weeks or months. By contrast, chronic leukemia is slow-growing and progressively worsens over years.

Acute versus Chronic Leukemia
The blood-forming (hematopoietic) cells of acute leukemia remain in an immature state, so they reproduce and accumulate very rapidly. Therefore, acute leukemia needs to be treated immediately, otherwise the disease may be fatal within a few months. Fortunately, some subtypes of acute leukemia respond very well to available therapies and they are curable. Children often develop acute forms of leukemia, which are managed differently from leukemia in adults.
In chronic leukemia, the blood-forming cells eventually mature, or differentiate, but they are not "normal." They remain in the bloodstream much longer than normal white blood cells, and they are unable to combat infection well.


Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is known as a myeloproliferative disorder—that is, it is a disease in which bone marrow cells proliferate (multiply) outside of the bone marrow tissue.
CML is easy to diagnose, since it has a genetic peculiarity, or marker, that is readily identifiable under a microscope. About 95% of CML patients have a genetic translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22 in their leukemic cells. This abnormality, which is known as the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1), is named after the city in which it was discovered. The Philadelphia chromosome causes uncontrolled reproduction and proliferation of all types of white blood cells and platelets (blood clotting factors). Sadly, CML is not yet curable by standard methods of chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
CML tends to occur in middle- and retirement-aged people (the median age is 67 years). It occasionally affects people in their 20s, but it is rare in the very young; only 2% to 3% of childhood leukemias are CML. Early disease often is without symptoms (asymptomatic) and is discovered accidentally. Individuals with more advanced cases of CML may appear sickly and experience fevers, easy bruising, and bone pain. Laboratory and physical findings include enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), a high white blood cell count, and absent or low amounts of the white blood cell enzyme alkaline phosphatase.
Like other forms of leukemia, CML is not "staged". Rather, this unstable disease is categorized according to the three phases of its development: chronic, accelerated, and blast.

• Chronic phase—Patients in this initial phase have fewer than 5% blast cells and promyelocytes (immature granulocytes) in their blood and bone marrow. This phase is marked by increasing overproduction of granulocytes. Individuals generally experience only mild symptoms, and they respond well to conventional treatment.
• Accelerated phase—Patients in this progressive phase have more than 5%, but fewer than 30% blast cells. Their leukemic cells exhibit more chromosomal abnormalities besides the Philadelphia chromosome, and so more abnormal cells are produced. Noticeable symptoms such as fever, poor appetite, weight loss occur, and patients may not respond as well to therapy.
• Blast phase (acute phase, blast crisis)—Patients in this final phase have more than 30% blast cells in their blood and bone marrow samples. The blast cells frequently invade other tissues and organs outside of the bone marrow. During this phase, the disease transforms into an aggressive, acute leukemia (70% acute myelogenous leukemia, 30% acute lymphocytic leukemia). 

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)—also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia—is a malignant disease caused by the abnormal growth and development of early nongranular white blood cells, or lymphocytes. The leukemia originates in the blast cells of the bone marrow (B-cells), thymus (T-cells), and lymph nodes. ALL occurs predominantly in children, peaking at 4 years of age.
ALL often is diagnosed after a patient experiences a 4- to 6-week period of illness. Initial symptoms may include a nonspecific infection (e.g., respiratory infection) that persists or recurs despite antibiotic therapy. During this period, the person may start to experience aching bone pain in the back, limbs, and/or joints. Walking difficulties may be seen in some children who have extreme swelling of the large joints. But the symptoms that most often suggest referral for a blood count (measure of the number of blood cells within the blood) are a purplish-brown rash or the onset of excessive bruising.

Well, I DID IT! I got my second spinal tap out of the way and feel like writing in COLOR! I don't even know if or when there will be another but I sure know the 2nd was alot easier than the first. I have gone a whole day without getting sick but of course night time makes me nervous. Night time is like a box of chocolates....never know what you gonna get....wait....that's life. I've proven that too. Anyway, needless to say, I had a better day and I need to hear from people. Keep me pumped up please! I love each and every one of you.
Lundy

2 Weeks in the hospital!

I could have never dreamed I would be kept inside a hospital for 2 weeks. The really scarry part is that I am not done.......! They are telling me I just made it through the hardest part of my chemo. I guess I'm pretty proud of that. If I could have left running and screaming, I probably would have but I guess that wouldn't get me to far. I had a pretty good day yesterday, large part due to having all my kids close by. I thought I was ready for a little snacking too. Overdid that too. But I will learn. I'm still amazed at the amount of patience my family has with me. I never really looked at Hugh as a true Angel but I have figured out now that is all it can be. No normal person can stay this calm and pleasant through all of this hell. Thank you God! Hugh is the one that should have went running and screaming. Thank you also for each day you give me to try and get better. Thank you to my family and friends for my comments. Please don't stop. The laughter and the tears helps my days go by so much easier.
I love you,
Lundy

Debra,
thank you so much for the song. I had always listened to it and sung along with it but never paid attention to the actual meaning. It's perfect.
Thank you

Thank you everyone for all your comments. They really inspire me to get busy and do what i need to do. I started my chemo last night around 10PM. They are kepping me comfortable as promised. When I get down in the dumps I have been opening up my little magic book with the comments to read and cheer me up. Thank you so so much. Laney is on her way to sort of give the medical point of view of everything for me. I would just ramble on forever so I think she will make much more sense.Please keep them coming. I love you all. Lundy