3 month follow up

On October 8th Sarah had her 3 month follow up appt with Dr DeTraglia her oncologist. Everything was perfect. Her bloodwork was all normal and she will go back in 3 more months. We've had a busy summer and fall in the Bruins family. Elizabeth spent 3 1/2 weeks in Germany taking a course offered by her college. She was also able to visit Prague and Italy while on this trip. She was happy to be able to visit with all of her host families from her year as a Rotary exchange student in Cremona, Italy. 

Sarah has been busy playing soccer for her college (Mohawk Valley Community College). She has come back very strong, has played very well and is second in goals scored for her team. She is putting in a lot of effort in her studies also. Her hair has come in very fast so far and it really looks adorable. 

Mary is busy as a junior in high school. She is a very good and motivated student. She is also playing varsity soccer this year and her team has won their league. They start sectional games on Thursday night. 

Neil and I are doing well. Working on our kitchen remodeling project and going to lots of soccer games. Our Austrian "son" exchange student from 2 years ago came back for a great 6 week visit this summer. It was fantastic to see him. He graduated from high school in June and he was accepted into med school in Vienna after her does manditory community service for 10 months. 

I just thought we should catch people up on our lives. Life is Good!!

Elizabeth and her cousin Sara 

Sarah back at her favorite sport. 

Mary's 1st day as a junior in high school. 

Neil and I with our Austrian son Andreas

The Battle is Won!

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 
- 1 Corinthians 16:13

We started out with that passage six months ago.  In that six months, we have found that no one is more courageous, strong, and firm in her faith than Sarah has been.

Last Friday, Sarah had her final PET scan.  Within a couple of hours, her oncologist called to say that everything was clear - no signs of cancer!

On Saturday, Sarah graduated from Little Falls High School, giving us a second reason to celebrate.

Sunday morning, this passage was part of one of the readings in church:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
-  2 Timothy 4:7


This has been an amazing journey.  We've learned that we have an incredibly tough daughter; a family that can get through anything; and the support of a community near & far that is second to none.

I have a couple of those kind of memories that stick in your head I'd like to share.
December 17th, the day Sarah had her biopsy, she woke up from the anesthesia and we told her what the doctor had already told us - she has cancer.  Sarah said "OK, let's beat it."
At what we expected to be Sarah's last basketball game, it seemed like the entire community was there.  They gave Sarah a standing ovation as she left the court, and moved me to tears.
At nearly every basketball game after that, the opposing teams warmed up in 'Battle Like Bruins' shirts - even Fabius-Pompey, a team we don't meet in the regular season, at the Sectional Championship game in the Carrier Dome.
Everywhere we went, it seemed someone would come up to say "we're praying for Sarah."
June 27th - We get a wonderful graduation gift when we learn the best news possible, that Sarah shows no signs of cancer!

While there is no way we can thank everyone enough for all the prayers, good wishes, donations, and support, please know that we are extremely grateful to all as we wrap up this battle.

Battle Like Bruins!  The Battle is Won!
-- Neil

11 down, 1 to go!!!!

Tonight is the night before Sarah's last chemotherapy treatment.  It seems like this fight has been going on for so long but it's only been 7 months.  I guess when your life goes in 2 week intervals everything slows down.  We are so proud of our Sarah and the way she has handled everything that she has been faced with.  She really is our Hero and we are amazed by her strength and courage every day.  We are so grateful to all of our family and friends that have helped us through this battle.  Your prayers, well wishes, care, support and donations  have meant the world to us and as I have said many times before we feel blessed to have all of you in our lives.  Tomorrow I will post a picture of a very happy girl who is ready to get on with her life.

Chemo #10 done, 2 more to go.

Last Wednesday was treatment #10, the end is in sight. I really have to get moving on graduation stuff. 

Confirmation, College, Track and Prom

It has been another busy month here.  Sarah will have her 10th chemo treatment tomorrow and then only 2 to go.  We are ready to be done with all of this craziness in our lives.  Sarah and Mary have been running track and have their last meet tomorrow although Sarah probably won't feel up to running.  Mary had her Confirmation May 6th with our new Bishop of Albany.  Sarah was her sponsor and it was a great night.  On Thursday Neil and I drove out to Buffalo to bring Elizabeth home from her 1st year at Canisius College.  We stayed overnight at my cousins house and left for home on Friday.  We had planned to get an early start home but Neil found out on Thursday night that a friend that he had gone to high school with in Illinois was in Buffalo so we were able to see him for a short visit.  Neil hasn't seen him in about 28 years.  His friend (Scott) is now doing the sound on tour with Joe Bonomassa so we were able to see him at work.  It was a very short visit but we are hoping that when Joe is in the area  again we can get to see him for a longer visit.  He tends to play here occasionally because he is from the Utica area.  On Saturday Sarah had her senior prom and she looked absolutely beautiful.  She went with her boyfriend Derek and they were a stunning couple.  At the grand march Sarah was crowned the prom queen which was a wonderful surprise.  The prom committee made sure to pad the combs so they didn't stick into her head.  So now on to planning for graduation.  Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers during Sarah's treatments.  We are so grateful to everyone that has sent cards or asked about Sarah's progress.  The support you have all given us has helped us all to get through this trying time and we thank you so much.  I'll try not to let so much time go before my next post.

 Neil and his friend Scott, back together after 28 years!

Careful packing, this is all from just 1 kid!

 Mary's confirmation with Bishop Sharfenberger, the new Bishop of Albany.

 Track with her new uniform hat!

 Sarah and Derek

 With Hannah and Gen

 Most of the soccer team

 Daddy's little girl

 Mommy's baby

 A great group of friends!!

 On the left is last year's prom date, Sarah's friend since kindergarten at St. Francis de Sales Alex Fox and on the right this year's date Derek Raux.

 Sarah and Gen, friends since 7th grade.

 Queen Sarah and King Theo, friends since kindergarten at St. Francis de Sales.

 St Francis de Sales was well represented in the royal court.

 Sarah and Hannah

 Sarah, Derek, Hannah and Jonathan

 Grandma Van Allen with most of her grands, just missing Elizabeth and Kristen.

 Crazy Royal Cousins!!

 If Sarah is the Queen does that make Mary a princess?  

 

Happy Easter!!

I'm so sorry that I have neglected the blog these last few weeks.  Sarah had her 7th treatment on April 2nd and it was a rough one.  Probably the worst yet.  We ended up with her going through many scans and tests and what we found out is that she has ended up with some asthma that has been induced by the chemo.  She is on 2 inhalers and the pulmonologist is hopeful that she won't need them once she is done with the chemo. Her 8th treatment was on April 16th and it went much better with no difficulties other than the usual fatigue.  Sarah and Mary have been on spring break this week and Mary has been enjoying herself, reading, sleeping and eating.  Three of her favorite activities.  We were able to get out to Albany the other day to find her a dress for her Confirmation so she was happy to go shopping which is another of her favorite things to do.  Sarah has been sleeping, working and hanging our with her friends this week.  We all have had spring fever around here.  Elizabeth is home for the long Easter weekend.  Going to a Catholic college gives her extra days off for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Monday after Easter too.  She will be back at school for about 3 weeks before she comes home for summer break.  She has her old job from last summer all lined up to start when she gets back.  We hope that everyone has a very Blessed Easter.  We feel so blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends helping us through this challenging time.  We truly love you all.

Halfway Done!!!!!

Wednesday was the halfway point for Sarah's chemo treatments.....6 down 6 to go.  Grandma Van Allen came along with us this week.  Sarah's still hanging in there, very sleepy with red puffy eyes.  She is going to have her hair shaved tomorrow.  It is getting very thin and she says that her scalp is hurting.  We got her a nice warm fleece hat to wear and also a Nike baseball cap.  She'll look beautiful with or without the hats.  Elizabeth is home for spring break (the weather is not looking at all like spring here in LF though). She has been having a good time with her high school friends that are on break also.  Neil and I will bring her back to Buffalo on Sunday. It's hard to believe that her 1st year at Canisius is almost over. Mary is very busy with stage crew for the LFHS play next weekend.  She's had some very long days with school, track practice and play practice but it will all be worth it. I am hoping that spring will get here soon, this weather is getting old.  Thanks for all of the prayers.

Basketball, Track & Spring Break

The basketball season ended on Saturday when our amazing girls had their first loss after a very hard fought battle with Harpursville in the Regional finals at Onondaga Community College.  It was sad to see them so disappointed but they have only made us all so proud.  These girls and their coaches have made Sarah's battle easier by their support, concern and love.  They really are a very special group of girls and very talented athletes.  Neil and I have enjoyed watching them play together since 7th grade, they have a special bond after all the years together.  Sarah was pretty sleepy since Wednesday but she is waking up a little more each day.  Basketball ended on Saturday and Track started on Monday so here she goes again.  Mary was busy helping to keep stats for the basketball team and is now busy with play practice (she's on stage crew for Damn Yankees) and track practice.  Elizabeth will be home on Friday for spring break, I hope we get some spring for her to enjoy.  It doesn't look too good for spring today, apparently we are going to have another snow storm and the temps are going to go back down to the teens.  It's been such a long, cold winter I'm so ready for spring sunshine.  Thanks for the prayers!!

Chemo # 5....done

Yesterday Sarah had her 5th Chemo treatment.  She did very well and had the same problems an the other times (fatigue and swollen, itchy, red eyes).  She has been sleeping almost since we got home yesterday and not very hungry which is unlike her.  Her treatment went well and her blood work is holding steady.  The results of the PET scan were fantastic and tell us that we are doing the right thing.  They also tell us that she won't need to have radiation, which is good. At her treatment she brought her beautiful prayer shawl from the Becker family to keep her cozy.  Thanks for all of the prayers and please keep them coming, they are helping so much.

Big Day & Fantastic News yesterday!!

So yesterday was awesome!!  The LF girls won their game at the Syracuse University Carrier Dome by 21 points against Fabius-Pompey but best of all was the news we got on the way to the game from Sarah's oncologist.  The PET scan that she had on Thursday came back with great results which means that the chemo treatments are working to kill off those awful cancer cells.  This doesn't mean that she can stop her treatments but it's just comforting to know that she is responding well to the therapy.  With this win at The Dome the girls have become Section 3 Class C Champions.  It was so much fun to see the girls play at The Dome.  Mary was there working very hard at running the video for the coaches too.  Again it was amazing to see the opposing team come out on the floor wearing Sarah's shirts.  There were so many people wearing the shirts there and we had a lot of family there also to cheer the girls on.  It was great that Sarah's teammate Cheyenne was able to take the floor for a couple minutes after breaking her leg just a few weeks ago.  Elizabeth was unable to make it to the game because it was so early on a Friday but hopefully we will be able to get her home next weekend for the Regional Finals at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse next Saturday. Watching these girls play so well has really helped us to get through the craziness in our life right now so we are really hoping that they keep it going for a couple more weeks.

Little Falls pressure, Gen Schoff too much for Fabius-Pompey in girls Class C final (video) -...