the First from Leslie

Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog! Check in as you will to find out the latest from me as I walk this walk that God has called me to and that only He can see me through! I appreciate everyone's prayers as they are definitely needed and felt! Since I am starting this blog months into the story, I will do sort of a "Lost" theme of flashbacks to fill in the gaps. Be assured that while it hopefully won't be as confusing as "Lost", it's doubtful that it will be as exciting either!

So I start with an incredible story. The real reason that I decided to do a blog. I was resistant at first to the idea but then I met a couple of courageous, inspirational people in treatment and was once again reminded of the faces of cancer (I know, how could I forget with my involvement with The Lighthouse Family Retreat!) So I decided that maybe I did have something to say...

Her name is Danielle and she is 32 years old. I saw her just today but met her in early January when I began my first treatment. Richard and I had noticed her there each day and we were wondering "what her story is". One day she had a t-shirt on that said something like "Kicking Cancer's _ _ _!" Anyway, Presley, one of the nurses, and a friend of Trisha McWilliams, introduces us. She asks me what I am there for and when I tell her she says, me too! She says excitedly "There aren't many of us. We have what everyone wants to have!" I think, well maybe just these people here in this treatment room!

Anyway, come to find out that back in September, when she was 5 months pregnant, she was having shortness of breath and tightness in her chest. Her doctor blew it off as part of her pregnancy but her midwife suggested that she see a cardiologist. After some other tests, they did a chest xray that revealed a huge mass in her chest. She was diagnosed with an aggressive form of non hodgkin's lymphoma. She was immediately admitted to Northside Hospital where my doctor, Dr. Colleen Austin, was on call. She began CHOP the next day. Yes, 5 months pregnant! CHOP is three chemo drugs plus predisone and its ugly! She underwent 4 rounds and then was given a month off to have the baby. So, her baby girl is now 5 weeks and doing great! Praise the Lord! Now she is back in treatment with another even uglier regime call RICE which is Rituxan plus ICE (not sure what it is but its tougher than CHOP!) But Danielle is doing great, such a great attitude, always smiling, even though I know she has been through so, so much! The amazing thing is her baby is doing great! A reminder that God's timing is like no other! Diagnosed any earlier, she probably would have lost the baby. But she was able to have serious, toxic treatments that ultimately do not appear to have hurt her baby! Oh, the miraculous design of our bodies by our Creator, the author of life! So Danielle is my inspiration and such a blessing! Please pray for her and her family as God leads you to. More to come...and thanks for tuning in...