February 8, 2007 - AFP and Dance Marathon

Chris, Herkey, and Leah

Leah with Tyler (Morale Captain and friend from Dance Marathon, James, Stephanie, and Roshaun)

Leah and Dr. Nancy.....14 months after first meeting, Leah lets Nancy touch her without screaming, "Get away from me!"

First of all, Leah's check-up went very well! AFP = 2.2! YEAH! Nancy (from the above picture) was back in hem/onc and saw Leah as did Dr. Rahdi. Leah's appointment was at 8, but we were done with her blood draw by then and just visited mostly. Dr. Rahdi and Nancy were done looking her over by 9, but we still had to wait for the AFP results to be back from the lab. By the time we went to buy a cinnamon roll and returned they had the good news. Leah always has plans for our Iowa City days, and this one was no different. We stopped at Coral Ridge Mall, ate at Olive Garden, and stopped at the consignment shop in Marion.

Second of all, the above pictures are from Dance Marathon. I have a few more I will need to post, but my computer seems maxed out with three at a time. The weekend was wonderful! Lots of dancing and lots of visits with old friends-only in much better circumstances. The whole event is a very upbeat, inspirational one. Chris presented to the Spirit Dancers on Saturday morning. He had a DVD made of pictures with Leah that he showed and talked for a few minutes. I thought he did a great job--especially because he claims it was impromptu and he had not rehearsed what he was planning on saying.

We arrived home tired and cold to learn that Megan Koepke had passed away on Friday night. Megan, who was twelve, had been in and out of treatment for over eight years.....her parents have been a blessing to us in our experience with Leah. We continue to think of them and pray for them and their daughters in these days, weeks, months and years to come.

As we discussed with some parents at Dance Marathon, life and your priorities definitely change when confronted with an illness like cancer. One of those priorities that has shifted somewhat or at least factors in a lot higher in importance is the time spent with our family. So, in an effort to keep 2007 as exciting for our family as 2006 was, Chris has taken a different job. Because we live at the funeral home, this also means we will be moving. So----Chris' new job is with First Maxfield-right next door to Kaiser Corson Funeral Home. He is VERY excited about learning and doing something new after 11 years at his current job. We have purchased a house in a development outside of Denver. Our new address is: 102 Summer Ridge Road, Denver, Iowa 50622. I don't have a new phone number yet, but will post it when we have that ironed out. Right now we are knee deep in painting, packing and throwing out way too much stuff. Leah is pretty pumped up about everything. Last night she helped Grandma Karen take wallpaper off in one room. We all looked out our bedroom window to watch the deer eating in our back yard. The entire back yard is wooded and there are many wild turkey, too.

So, once again we are cancer-free for 5 weeks...the next visit is scheduled for my week of spring break. We are so grateful for these happy times and pray for many more to come. In addition, we continue to rejoice in the many, many people who keep Leah in their prayers each and every day.

One last Leah statement.....as Leah was rolling her eyes at her sister the other day, she looks at me and states, "I think Chloe is hallucinating!" (Perhaps she spends way too much time with me?!... I think I may have said those very words a time or two).