You are loved ~ Send refrigerator magnet

[carole]

Lisa i posted her two magnets today, so hope they arrive safely.

[kuhio98]

Thank you Carole. She's going to be thrilled to receive them from so far away.

Rhoda received good news yesterday. She is on a new medicine (Neulasta) and it seems to be working. From Rhoda (FYI - she's been craving fresh fruit/citrus but wasn't allowed on her old medicine.):

My white blood cell count has gone up to 6.1 For the first time since diagnosis it is within normal range. Last week, as you recall, my wbc's were only 800.

My hemoglobin is 9.6, the same as last week.

My red blood cells stayed the same at 3.1.

My ANC number which tells how neutropenic I am is the highest ever at 4.1. I am in the normal range. The first thing I did was to go out and purchase one apple and one orange. I'm going to eat both of them tonight.

[dukedogsmom]

I love her board. I hope God decides to let her stay a lot longer than the doctors predicted.

[carole]

what wonderful news Lisa, i pray and hope with all my being, she will get through this ,thanks for letting us know.

[kuhio98]

I love her board. I hope God decides to let her stay a lot longer than the doctors predicted.

Rhoda is loving proving the doctor's wrong. She's still fighting and her goal is to live until the results are announced in March for the new Shelter Challenge http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=170014

Here's an update I received a yesterday.

Chemotherapy has been stopped permanently. It was taking my white blood cells to the danger level. I will be kept alive now with periodic blood transfusions. Platelets are a risk according to the oncologist. And eventually blood transfusions will affect my liver and spleen. I was only supposed to live for three to four months and it has now been over four months. I am truly blessed and the power of prayer is evident each day of my life.

Currently, I don't feel as though I'm dying. My bones hurt a lot and the muscles in my arms and shoulders seem to be affected by something but the doctor doesn't know what, and I am quite tired. Other than that, I feel pretty darned upbeat and I'm going to stay this way as long as I'm conscious to the best of my ability.

I feel that I am receiving so many blessings here on earth these past few months that when I do die there won't be anything left for me in Heaven. I cannot explain it - why I feel this way - but I'm blessed beyond words. I don't know what to say anymore. Thank you's aren't enough. I am unable to express my heart. And you have been such a big part of this. Your picture is still on my dining room wall, along with Susan Boyle's and everyone who comes into my home wants to know who you are, because on the printout of your picture I have written "Lisa - A Very Special Lady".

[Karen]

Tell her we are all pulling for her, some of us like proving doctors wrong! Why, my very existence - and Lady's Human's too - was once thought impossible, according to mother's docs, and here we are!

[carole]

I felt a big lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes just reading that, she is right LISA you are one very special lady for sure, i hope with all my heart Rhoda can stay on earth for a lot longer and beat her illness, she also sounds a wonderful person,do you know if she got the fridge magnets ?hoping so.

Bless her and all her loved ones,hoping with all my heart she is doing better and can recover from this.

[dukedogsmom]

Such good news! That last paragraph made me tear up, as well. I'm so glad that she's feeling such blessings and peace with her illness. I don't know if I'd be able to do that. I hope she can keep proving the doctors wrong.

[kuhio98]

Rhoda was given 6 weeks when she was diagnosed. She has fought for 10 months.

She is surrounded by her loving family and the doctor gives her a day or 2 at the most. She is on morphine and having trouble breathing.

Thank you to all who sent her magnets and encouragement.

I'm attaching a silly photo of Rhoda. She went out and bought this hat when she lost her hair from chemo.

[phesina]

Love and God's peace and blessings to Rhoda,

[Karen]

She will be in our prayers. And tell her I love her hat!

[Cataholic]

(((((hugs))))