Friday, October 31, 2008

Abbey is in Remission!

We just got off the phone with the doctor, and we are thankful to let you all know that there were 0% cancer cells found in Abbey's bone marrow today!  Abbey is exactly where the doctors want her to be at this point.  They explained to us that although she still has a long road ahead with treatments, chemo and medications, the cancer is under control (in remission) and she is responding exactly as planned to the treatments thus far.  God answered all our prayer requests for today... every one!  

The doctor let us stop the steroids today (which was a day earlier than we expected) and she will have a break this week from most of her oral medications.  They told us that she should start feeling more herself, sleeping better and eating more normal once the steroids start to come out of her body.  We can't wait to see her smile more, hear her laugh again, watch her play, and just be our Abbey. 

The next phase called 'Consolidation' will begin next Friday.  We will be back at the clinic on Monday to check her blood and see if she needs any transfusions and then Friday she will have two more doses of chemo.  This month will be a little easier than last month.  Although she will continue to have about the same amount of chemo, she will not be on the steroids at all so she will have less day to day side effects. 

Tonight we are thanking God for how far we've come in one month and are praying for God's strength as we continue on. There are no words for Jim and I to express what it feels like to see our little girl go from 95% cancer cells in her bone marrow, down to 0%.  Our hearts are slowly being pieced back together and we are not looking back, but looking forward to see how God is going to continue to work in her body and in our lives.    

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

23 comments:

Kelly Hunt said...

I am so happy and excited to hear the good news! 0%- wow, God is good!!!

Sarah P said...

I am so happy to hear you news. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. I will continue to be in prayer for you all. I pray that very quickly you will see Abbey coming out of the steroid cloud and back to being herself. I hope this week is a time of refreshing for all of you.

Sarah P

Anonymous said...

That is WONDERFUL!! We hope you *see* your Abbey again very soon! The laughs of 3 year olds are the best laughs!! :)

Keri Bush said...

YEAH!!!!!!!!!! We are SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD, PRAISE GOD!!!!!! I'm so thrilled. ABBA is awesome, Thank you for answering our prayers. Hugs, hugs, hugs and more hugs to you!!!!! I'd drive over right now and give you them, but I'm still coughing and I'll love you and hug you from afar.

Anonymous said...

YEAH!!!!!! We are so excited and grateful to God for his goodness and faithfulness to y'all. We'll talk soon. With MUCH love and joy.

Alicia for the 7

Cross family said...

What great news. Your faith is a testimony to all of us that need to remember how God is involved in our lives everyday. He is with us during the good times and the hard times and is involved in every little detail that even we may overlook. You are all in our prayers every day.
Love,
Sumner, dee and the girls

Anonymous said...

That is incredible news!!!! Thank you Lord our God for you everlasting faithfulness to Abbey and her entire family. I loved reading every word of this update.

Love, Jerrold

BethanyM said...

We are overjoyed and pray prayers of thanksgiving with your family to our wonderful, awesome, all powerful God!!!

Anonymous said...

PRAISE GOD!!! We are so happy for you! God is so good!
PSALM 34
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from A.L.L. my fears.
5 Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of A.L.L. his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. ...
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; He delivers them from A.L.L. their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them A.L.L.;
20 He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

We love you and we rejoice with you!!!

the Ortega's

Anonymous said...

YEA YEA YEA!!
WHAT FABULOUS NEWS.
THANK YOU GOD ABOVE !!!
We can't wait to give you all a big hug and celebrate this great news together.

Anonymous said...

How wonderful to hear that Abbey is at 0%! God is so great! I hope you see your little Abbey's personality very very soon! :) Love and prayers still surround all of you!

Anonymous said...

that is so wonderful!!! how awesome is God to answer those prayers!!! we couldn't wait to hear the news! :)
~Rachael and Julie Hyde

Andrea said...

Praise God! What awesome news. Continuing to pray for the complete restoration of Abbey's health over the next few years.

Love in Christ,
Andrea

The Liegel Family said...

Praise the Lord!!!

That's all I can say.

Praise the Lord!!!

Anonymous said...

I come to this blog through someone I knew quite a few years ago...facebook is a crazy thing!!! In any case, I am so glad to hear that your little girl is in remission! God is good all the time and all the time, God is good!!!!!

Prayer Pals 4 Orphans said...

I was so excited to hear what God has done. I read your incredible news earler, but am just now having an opportunity to post a comment.

When I told Noah, he literally screamed and said "now she won't have to take that medicine anymore."

Then, I told Johnny and he laughed and his eyes filled up with tears. When his daddy asked him what was going on, he said "we prayed for God to heal Abbey and He did AND we prayed for God to heal Pop and He healed him too!"

We are truly rejoicing with you all tonight and praising our mighty God for the work of His hands. All glory and honor are His alone!

We will continue to lift dear Abbey up in prayer as she enters these next phases of treatment.

The Lawlers love you Abbey!

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear this news! Love to you all.

Chris and Sarah said...

We are rejoicing and praising God with you!!! Wonderful, amazing news!

Anonymous said...

That is fantastic! Praise God!
Melissa

Deb Leonard said...

Praise God, Praise God, PRAISE GOD!! God is so Good!! We will be praying for you to have a good week. love to you all, Deb Leonard

Laurel Greer said...

Praise the Lord!!!!! Shelley and Jim--we rejoice with you! Tears of joy are shared!

Prayer Pals 4 Orphans said...

In one of your posts, you mentioned a little girl named Leah and requested prayers for her and her family. We are praying for her and I wondered if her family has a blog. I would like to create a "Pray for ..." list my blog and wanted to include her.
Thanks!
Aggie Lawler

Amy Beachy said...

God is AWESOME!! Praise the Lord for what He is doing in her life. We will continue to keep Abby and your family in our prayers.
Love,
The Beachy family