Sunday, February 24th

I am getting spoiled to winter in Houston, TX. Can you believe that I

willingly left sunny, 70 degree temps with azaleas and petunias blooming to come home to ice-coated trees? It's the truth...and I'm still shivering about it today! At least with me traveling more frequently, I know I'll get to enjoy it again soon. I just wanted to soak it all in and bring it home. This has been an icy winter here at home, and I'm really ready for some warmer weather.

As an update, I got another good report last Friday (the 22nd) from my doctor in Houston. He said he cannot feel ANY tumor at all anymore. He said he wasn't quite sure what they saw on the ultrasound on the 11th that showed a tumor still remaining, but he just can't seem to find one anymore. Well, hallelujah! He said he'd see me next week, and that everything looked great.

I received another treatment, where my nurse's name was "Mercy"...how fitting! Then I enjoyed an evening of sizzling fajitas and good conversation (or was it good fajitas and sizzling conversation? Hard to say when politics come up in the Walker family!) No, we had a great time, and laughed untill we cried. That, coupled with warm weather, flowers blooming, and awaking each morning to a chorus of chirping birds, and I'd call that some serious therapy!

Thank you for your continued prayers. You are just such a blessing to our family! Isn't God good? I have seen his hand in my life this week, and I am already enjoying His promise of Spring!

Love to you and yours,

Leslie, Jeff, and the boys

Here are Some Family Photos

A Great Report

Hello from Houston! I just wanted to give you a quick update on what they found yesterday. In a nutshell, they found that I'm getting better! Praise the Lord!

The cancer on my spine and in my lymph nodes is smaller, and the main tumor has not grown, which are all good signs. My neurologist was pleased with the way the cancer in my spine is responding. He said it is doing exactly what he thought it would do, and he would scan me again in 3 months. My oncologist was pleased with the results of the MRI and the ultrasound.

He presented my case to the tumor review board again, and then several of those doctors examined me and then they discussed my progress again. My Dr. then came back into the exam room and said they were very positive and optimistic, and his words were, "You know, I think we might be able to cure you after all." How about that from the same man who spoke the words "technically incurable" just months ago?! Isn't that wonderful?

So thank you, thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement, notes and phone calls, dinners and gifts. You are all such a blessing to us...there are just not enough words to tell you how we feel.

For now, I will continue to receive treatment weekly as long as I don't experience any numbness in my hands or feet. The goal is 12 weeks, but we're shooting for 25. Yesterday, I received treatment #6. After all of that, we're looking at surgery, possibly radiation, and then receiving medication once every 3 weeks for about the next...oh...50 years or so. Sounds good to me!

I'll write more when we get home. I'll sign off for now...tomorrow's a big travel day!

Love to you all!

Leslie

p.s. Thanks to my childhood church in Curryville...I am glad to be your object lesson on intercessory prayer! Who would've ever guessed? Thanks Sue!

Jack Frost

I love taking photographs, and I take TONS of them since Jeff, my wonderful husband, presented me with a digital camera for Mother's Day 2007. Some of the photos are good...a few of them I think are great. Here are some from a beautiful frost we had last month. I hope you like them.

My Blessings

Good lookin' crew, don't you think?

We are heading to TX on Sunday. I am feeling great, and nearly everyone in our family is over their cold, so thanks for your prayers. We are eager to hear what my doctors say on Monday, and as soon as I get a chance, I'll post what I know.

Thank you for caring about me and my family. We are so thankful for all of you.

Blessings,

Leslie

Flyin' High

Good afternoon! Thanks for checking back in after my long absence. After talking with a few friends, I realized that my last entry was a bit misleading. As you may remember, my doctors (here and in TX) got into a bit of a disagreement concerning my treatment. I remarked that our prayers were answered, and I was able to get treatment locally, and was very pleased, which is true. I didn't want to go into all the details, b/c there are many, many tremendous people working at the local cancer center, and I am very appreciative of their care. I don't want my words to sound disrespectful at all.

HOWEVER...basically, the last day I received treatment locally, my oncologist said I needed to choose...him or my doctor in TX. Well, I didn't ponder the choice very long. My local "across the board" oncologist, or my TX oncologist who is a 20 year specialist in my particular type of breast cancer. Hmmmm....yah, I'm goin' with TX!

The true answer to prayer is that because he drew such a line in the sand, so to speak, the decision was obvious, and there was an immediate peace about it. My brother, my husband, and I were talking about it, and we all agreed that in 10 years, I won't regret having gone to TX. However, I'd probably regret NOT going. So, there you go.

I am now traveling weekly to Houston for my chemotherapy. Sounds crazy, I know, but it is so worth it. I am examined weekly by my oncologist (something that hasn't happened locally since my Dec. 20th appt, and then he only examined my abdomen...still don't know what he was looking for!), and I just feel like I am being monitored much more closely.

My current prayer requests are:

1) My children. They are going without me for at least 2 and sometimes 7 days at a time, which they don't really seem to mind. But the "re-entry" period, when I return, is rather challenging. Literally! There are lots of discipline issues as they check and re-check to see if I'm still in charge. The answer is "Yessir...I am still the momma, and you will do as you are told...the first time...without arguing...or complaining...or stomping your foot...and with a pleasant attitude." It's better today, and I think once we get into the routine of "predictably unpredictable" we'll all be a lot happier! Maybe just pray for obedient spirits, cooperative attitudes, and...well, that'd cover it!

2) Protection from illnesses...for my family and me. I've been doing fine with low counts and all, but Jeff and Isaac have both come down with just a nasty cold, which I can usually skate by, but since my immune system is compromised, well, I'm concerned. We just all need to stay healthy.

3) Traveling mercies...I'm really logging a lot of air miles (not on a credit card, just in real life).

4) My doctor's appt. on FEBRUARY 11th. On this day, starting at 7 am, I will undergo two separate tests to see how the cancer is responding to the chemotherapy. I will also meet with my oncologist, my neurosurgeon, a radiologist, a surgeon, and possibly a member of the bone marrow transplant team to discuss where we go from here. Sounds like a party to me! Hopefully, I'll be reporting fantastic news! Pray for continued healing and for wisdom for those who are treating me.

5) Continued financial provision. New year, new deductible. Jeff's work has been steady lately, due to recent storms, but we would still appreciate your prayers for job security. We don't need any more ice storms or tornados, but a delicate hailstorm that damages some roofs already in need of repair would be nice! :o)

Thank you so much for everything you are doing for us. You have been, and continue to be, such a blessing! I appreciate all of your cards and blog posts. They are so encouraging, and I do read them...it's just that when I get ready to reply...there is usually a discipline issue that comes up. Umhmmm...imagine that with 3 little boys with cabin fever! Hopefully this week will be better.

Love,

Leslie