What a difference a year makes.  This time last year Heather was getting ready for her mediport placement and the start of chemo.  I realize now looking back on pictures from a year ago how much of a fog we lived in especially during the first few months of her treatment.  I'm thankful again to friends and family who supported us so well as I see pictures of my kids doing fun things (indoor soccer, play dates, etc.) and really have no idea how they got there, but they appear to be having a great time! 

Heather had her first surveillance CT recently and the results looked great.  There were no signs of recurrence of the cancer.  God has been so good to us.  Sure, there are more scans ahead (every six months for the next few years and then hopefully spaced out a bit after that until the five year mark if things look good), but I could have never imagined a year ago as she was about to start chemo that she'd be in remission now.  Heather has been getting back to her active self and is back at work doing what she loves and we are so thankful for that.  If you find yourself praying for H, pray that God would continue to heal her.  Her body went through a lot over the past year.  Like many good things in life (remission in this case) there is a lot of joy, but it is also mixed with some mourning and loss at times.  Pray that the cancer would stay away and that this recent scan would be one of many that prove her to be cured.  You can also pray for the insurance details and finances of our medical bills to get sorted out.  

Speaking of scans, I had my 1 month follow up scan for my carotid dissection (see previous post if interested) and it looks stable, so that's good.  According to the neuro-interventionalist, the 1 month scan is basically to make sure it hasn't gotten worse.  I'll have a follow up in five months or so and will continue on the same meds for now.  I certainly wouldn't mind prayers that this thing would resolve completely on the follow up scan, for complete healing.  Pray for patience as well as the long term activity implications (running, etc.) remain unclear.  For now, I'll be the guy in my garage with the five pound weights and resistance bands.  I probably look like something from an 80's Jazzercise video, but it feels good to be up and moving again though.  

Thanks again for your care and support along this journey and hope your 2024 is one of joy and peace.