Radiant Resilience: Lauren's Story

Since it’s been a long time since Lauren’s blog has been updated, I figured that we work our way backwards instead of starting where we left off. I celebrated yet another birthday, and at my age, the past tends to get a little hazy.

In the past six weeks, Lauren received two more chemo treatments. On Wednesday, April 10, it was time for her second PET scan. Today, we met with the oncology team to discuss the results of the scan, and we are incredibly thankful that the outcome is very good. Lauren’s body is responding well to the chemo, and no radiation is required. Better yet, one of the four medications is no longer needed. In these past few months, we’ve experienced God’s nearness and comfort and are thankful that He has answered our prayers. Our gratitude goes out to all of you who have shown Lauren so much love and are praying for her recovery.

Today’s chemo treatment was up in the air as Lauren’s blood tests two weeks ago showed that her neutrophil levels were getting to the point where chemo might have to be postponed. Lauren’s levels were at 0.6, the lowest level allowed before injections to boost the neutrophils are required. However, today’s blood test showed that her neutrophils were at 0.8, and her treatment went ahead as scheduled.

The two weeks after treatment have shown a bit of a pattern. The first 3-4 days following chemo are pretty much a write-off, as Lauren has very little energy and sleeps a lot. After this, Lauren gets some of her energy back and starts to attend school and take part in some activities. Here are some of these activities in no particular order:

During Spring break, Lauren was supposed to join a team of volunteers to participate in a trip to Mexico and spend some time at an orphanage. Unfortunately, traveling to a foreign country is not an option, so she had to forego the trip. On the day of the team’s departure, Lauren went to see them off, and they gave her a gift basket with the idea that she could open one gift per day for the duration of the trip. Upon the team’s return, she received a large card with individual well-wishes from the kids and staff at the orphanage.

Instead of traveling to Mexico, Lauren, along with the two Sara (h)s and their obligatory moms, spent a long weekend at Point Roberts. Tsawwassen Mills Mall is close by, so I’m sure it was a successful trip.

The day after the Point Roberts trip was a treatment day, and Nadia came along. The weather was beautiful, and now we know why they put wheels on IV poles. Oncology is on the eighth floor at Children’s Hospital and has a rooftop garden with a great view of the city.

Credo’s Spring dinner was held at the school. Lauren helped set up as part of the SALT team and took pictures for her journalism class.

This past weekend, the senior volleyball and basketball teams from Parkland Immanuel Christian School in Edmonton traveled to the Lower Mainland for some matches versus the Credo Christian High School teams. Lauren played volleyball on Friday and basketball on Saturday night. Throw in an equestrian event, three barbecue evenings, and the weekend was a great success.

Lauren has completed two out of six months of her treatment, and we are confident that she is on the path back to a healthy normal. I’ll leave you with this picture from 2017.