She’s Wonder Woman

Katie is one tough lady.

I wish I could take the burden of this whole process from her, but I know that I would not be able to handle it as well as she has. Her attitude towards everything has been incredible. Not saying that there has not been tough moments, but she continues to be so positive about everything, even when I know it’s physically and mentally hard for her to do it.

She won’t sit still. She continues to try and carry her own weight on everything around the house. I try to get her to sit down, and eventually she succumbs to the exhaustion. It’s a quality she has had for as long as I’ve known her.

This week has been a respite following a very scary previous week. She seems to have gained a lot of her strength back and is up moving and smiling. We were able to have her attend Spencer’s football game, a portion of Sammy’s soccer game, and she even made it to church. Even though she is still not 100%, it is a welcomed situation compared to last weekend.

She will go in this week to the hospital for a couple procedures, and then receive her second infusion next Monday. We feel confident that we are better equipped to handle the symptoms this go around. They have some better prescriptions for her, and we are learning the signs of the symptoms.

Life has felt a little more back to normal, we know that will probably get flipped upside down next week when she gets her next infusion, and the process begins again.

Our whole family attended church this Sunday, Katie was feeling well enough to go for an hour. As part of our congregational services, there is an open invitation for anyone to stand up and bear their testimony. Our 10yr old daughter Jenna stood and shared her thoughts about the importance of overcoming trials. After she sat down next to Katie and (unbeknownst to me at the time) she encouraged her mom to get up and share her testimony. I was surprised to see her start to go up, not just because she was feeling weak, but because I have hardly been able to make it through a sacrament meeting without silently blubbering through it, I wondered if she would be able to compose herself enough to speak. It has been humbling to be in a room full of friends and neighbors who we know have given so much of their time, talents, and resources to help us in every way. I have had a hard time expressing my appreciation without getting too emotional in the moment.

Katie used the opportunity to share her testimony of Gods knowledge of her situation, and express thanks to everyone. She shared a verse of scripture, “He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied; by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” Mosiah 14:11

We are glad that the symptoms have decreased and that Katie can enjoy small moments of normalcy. Still dreading the long haul of chemo down the road. We have not heard yet if any of this is combating the cancer the way it should be, but we are hopeful that the treatments are working. Because her cancer is difficult to measure by casual observation, we should be getting a ultrasound in the next few weeks to verify.

Thank you again for everyone’s continued prayers, messages, well wishes, and thoughtful gifts. We are still humbled by the support every day.