" FOUR and NO MORE!!!!!!! (my dad said that)

Can you believe I actually have four left and yes I still have my hair. (people ask me that all the time HA HA) It's a little thin but I'm thankful for every bit of it. Okay, all of our wonderful friends and family always ask what they can do for us, so this is what I'm asking. Next month is going to be a very significant month for me. Mike and I have hoped and dreamed that we will be finished by June (exactly one year from when I was diagnosed) so that over the summer my body can heal, and we can have precious time enjoying our family, vacationing in cool weather, and move forward with our lives. That has been our hope since the day I was diagnosed. I have a PET scan April 8th. If that is clean I will have three chemo treatments left. May 11th will be my last one. How cool is that right before my kids get out of school. And then we can schedule my surgery to reverse my illiostomy. It was temporarily placed so that my body would have no chance of infection. Like I have said before I have very conservative Doctors. I see my surgeon April 19th to possibly set a date for June and then I will be finished. (ahhhhhhhhhh)! So I'm asking all my prayer warriors to get on their knees and pray. God has had his hand on my family throughout this journey. My children have persevered along side Mike and I. We have tried to maintain somewhat of a normal life for them and we could not have done it without our amazing support group. I will never stop thanking you for the kindness we have been shown. We have had our share of really bad days but we also have very good days. I say this because I know their are people who read my blog that have also been diagnosed with cancer and I hope that this encourages you; that their will be an end. It has been a long year I know you are just as tired as we are. Mike and I have so much to be thankful for. Thanks for hanging in there with us it means so much to my family. Brandi
THIS IS MY HOPE:
And the God of all Grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ; after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To him be the power forever. Amen 1 Peter 5-10

A "little" help please........

Alright, I just finished number seven. Yippee! I only have five left can you believe it. I was diagnosed on June 26Th of 09 and I will be finished in June 2010. The doctor said "give me one year and I will give you forty" and he was right. Oh, what a year it has been! I now have two more treatments this month, two next month, and one the second week of May and then I'm done with chemo. Please continue to pray for me and my ongoing recovery. I'm actually feeling pretty good since I just had chemo yesterday. I don't know if my body is actually adjusting to the chemo, or if I actually don't care how I feel because, I just want to get this party over with! God is hearing and answering all of our prayers. Last week both Mike and the kids got sick and I barely caught a glimpse of it. Mike was so worried, he didn't want to through our schedule off by me getting sick, but I just kept on praying. Yesterday I went in to get my blood checked to make sure I could get chemo and they said my blood work was excellent. God is so good. Like I said he hears our prayers and I am so thankful. Now for a quite sad story that has really effected me.

Right after I was diagnosed and started treatment another women who is about ten years younger than me was diagnosed with cancer as well. She is a mother of two and her kids are about the same age as mine. We went through similar treatment and surgery and I thought her prognosis was good. It was just brought to my attention in the last few days that her cancer has spread and she was told by her Doctors that she only has a short time to live. I heard that she is writing letters to family members, and writing out birthday cards to her children so the will have something to open from her on their special day when she is gone. This pretty much hit home with me. My heart feels like it has been broken into pieces thinking of this mother writing cards to her precious children. I think we as mothers can totally relate to how difficult it would be saying goodbye. I was devastated and cried for two days. Then I realized I wanted to help in some small way so this is what I thought. I wanted to raise donations anonymously for this mother so that she can buy a small gift to give to each one of her kids along with the card from their mother for there birthdays. I know its short notice but I am under the impression she doesn't have much time so I wanted to have the money to give her buy my next chemo appointment which is March 16Th. I know most of us are struggling financially so it can be as little as five, ten, or twenty dollars. The amount is not as important as the fact that they know their are people who care about them and want to show them how much we care by doing something nice. I also ask you to please pray for these children and keep them tucked away in your hearts. Like I said I'll take anything I can get so please don't feel embarrassed if you can only donate a dollar its okay. God will bless these children more than we can ever imagine. Here is the address to send money or just a letter of encouragement if that's all you can do. Remember we just want them to know that they are loved. The address you can send the money to is: 1228 E. Emille Zola Phoenix AZ. 85022, or for those who live close just drop it by the house. Remember we don't have a lot of time and she doesn't know any thing about it. I'm trying to keep it as anonymous as possible. Thank you again this has truly shaken me and I really want this family to know that we care for them. Thank you so much for hearing my heart. We love you. Mike,Brandi,Lexi, and Blu God bless.

Dear friends let us love one another,for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is Love

1John 4:7-8