Well, it seems like we have crossed the finish line. Anna had her last round of maintenance chemo and, as of this morning, her blood counts are climbing up. The girls went back to school for the first time since December and I plan to go back to working in person tomorrow. We are so excited to get back to a normal life. 

Thinking back over the last six months, I still struggle to wrap my head around what took place. It seems like it has all happened in a weekend, but also seemed to take a lifetime. I have learned so much about myself, about Anna and about our family. We don’t take for granted how lucky we are to be in the situation we are in. When Anna went into the Emergency Room, she was critically ill. The doctors believed she was hours away from kidney and liver failure and her white blood cell count was over 70 (The average range is 5-7). 

Our doctor, Dr. Leon, stated that Anna’s progress is not the typical way treatment for AML goes, most of the time ending with a complete bone marrow transplant and many more complications. He said it is one of the smoothest cases he has had in years. 

Even though her program went relatively smoothly, it was very hard. Anna endured 38 rounds of chemotherapy, 4 bone marrow biopsies (which will continue), 2 lumbar punctures, 5 white blood cell shots, and more bags of platelets and red blood cells that we lost count. We spent a total of 57 days in the hospital, which means 57 days away from our kids, including Marae’s birthday- which I think was the toughest thing for both us. 

But through it all Anna endured. She was able to continue teaching and finished two of her grad school classes (both with A’s). 

I witnessed her barely having enough energy to get up, but still finding the strength to play with the girls and give them the attention that only a mom can. Inside, her body was going through absolute hell, but the way her smile would brighten up the room when she was with the girls will be a lasting memory I will carry with me forever. Her positivity through this entire experience has been just incredible, and the love I have for her continues to grow. 

What cancer does to someone physically, it does the same thing mentally. It attacks all of your doubts, you loneliness, your insecurities and takes over all of your thoughts. Without everyone’s love and support we would not have made it through. You were a lifeboat in this sea of uncertainty. For every one who was on the end of a phone call or text messages, who visited us, who made us meals or brought the girls gifts, for those who donated blood or to the gofundme page, to those that kept us in their thoughts and prayers, from the deepest part of our hearts; thank you. 

The entire 8 North staff has been absolutely incredible. Every single person on that floor has had a deep impact on our lives and we are so grateful for all the relationships we have cultivated with all of you. The work those people do is truly amazing. 

This marathon is over, but there are more races to run. Anna will be having some procedures on her heart and we will continue to appointments to make sure the cancer does not return, however we have a plan if that does happen.  We are excited for the future and for returning to normal, but continue to be grateful for every day and appreciate the things and people around us. 

People have continued to ask what they can do to help and we have come up with four things that we would appreciate. 
1. Donate to Cattails Cottage in Marshfield Wisconsin. This resource is used for cancer patients and caregivers to help have a sense of home while away. It is run completely by donations. We were recently featured in the Benchmarks magazine in Marshfield which tells our story and what Cattails does for people. 

Donate here: https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/giving/cancer-patient-lodging
2. Donate to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. This foundation continues to research and fight Leukemias as well as help families going through diagnosis and treatments. Donate here: https://givenow.lls.org/give/342076/?ds_rl=1278572&ds_rl=1278572&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI58m4lPyd9wIVjIjICh0NIwH-EAAYASAAEgL05_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds#!/donation/checkout 

Thank you again to everyone who has been with us on this journey. Words cannot express our gratitude and love for all of you. 

See the good, 

Kyle and Anna