---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sara <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sat, Dec 22, 2018 at 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: Sara's Leukemia Update!:)
To: Lucas and Naomi Smith <lucasandnaomi@xxxxxxxxx>, Renee O'Leske <
larsen.renee@xxxxxxxxx>, Craig O <craig_2525@xxxxxxxx>, Julie Larsen <
jelarsen2012@xxxxxxxxx>, Julie Larsen <brianandjulielarsen@xxxxxxxxx>,
Julie Reavis <jereavis@xxxxxxxxx>, Julianne Null <juliannenull@xxxxxxxxx>,
Julianne Null <nursejuju03@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Erika Holtz <erikaaholtz@xxxxxxxxx>,
Brian Larsen <brianlarsen4@xxxxxxxxx>, Paul Larsen <
paulandmaureenlarsen@xxxxxxxxx>, Allison Lang <allisonrlang24@xxxxxxxxx>,
Allison Lang <allyangel24@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Debbie Johnson <
debjnsn2013@xxxxxxxxx>, Cheryl Keller <cheryllkeller@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Cindy
Neu <4arainyday@xxxxxxxxx>, Kelly Swisher <k.renee06@xxxxxxxxx>, Tami
Spennetta <tamispennetta@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Chelsea Mooney <
mooney.chelsea@xxxxxxxxx>, Sanford and Patricia Smith <
sanfordandpatricia@xxxxxxxxx>, Mavi <blazerocker28@xxxxxxxxx>, Sheli Null <
srvnh1m@xxxxxxxxx>, <Ceckerty@xxxxxxxxx>, Julie Sullivan <
juliemaysullivan@xxxxxxxxx>, Dennis D. <dobberst@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Tania
Petersohn <wpstg10@xxxxxxxxx>, PatriciaDavisSmith <
patriciadavissmith@xxxxxxxxx>, Mara Wyttenbach <maraw.lift@xxxxxxxxx>, <
mldox@xxxxxxxxx>, katherine erwin <12erwink@xxxxxxxxx>, <kjrle2@xxxxxxxxx>,
Sue Brodish <suebrodish79@xxxxxxxxx>, Trevor Smith <trevor85smith@xxxxxxxxx>,
<kath.ann@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Scott & Cindy Leonard <sckmleonard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Scott and Cindy Leonard <sckmleonard@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Family & Friends,
I have a few updates for you this week....but before I get into that....I
wanted to tell you..... *I appreciate YOU ALL and your PRAYERS sooo much!*
.....and.... *Thank you for your continued prayers and support!*
So.... I saw my Oncologist this week, and my cancer is detectable again
(0.013%). The level is still low, but the resident/fellow Oncologist
recommended that I switch medications now.... His concern is that the more
my cancer is detectable the more my cancer has an opportunity to suddenly
go out of control. However, I asked for the opinion of the head
Oncologist as well....and he said that I can try to stay on my Gleevec
again for another 2 months....but they are being very vigilant with keeping
a close eye on me....and if my cancer levels have definitively gone up in
February, they will change my medication......
I also had a thyroid ultrasound this week to follow up on some benign
fluid-filled nodules (that I've known about for 8 years); and
unfortunately, they found a NEW "hyper-vascular" nodule that they are
concerned about and need to biopsy. So, I am waiting to find out when
they can get me in for that biopsy.....
So, needless to say.....this has been a very rough couple days, and I have
shed a lot of tears.....and I am quickly finding out that i don't wait very
well at all! Ahhh! It is hard to wait.....waiting for the
biopsy....waiting for the results.....waiting to see how my leukemia is
doing in February......etc....
BUT, I am sooo thankful for all of YOU....and just knowing that I can reach
out to you for prayers and support means soo much to my heart! Thank you!
I guess my biggest prayer requests would be that ......
1) God give me lots of grace to wait.....
2) that I can sleep....and my mind doesn't wander all night with all of the
"what if's"
3) that I eat well.....my diet already needs some serious improvement, and
I tend to eat even worse than usual when I'm stressed/worried. .....
4) that there is a CLEAR answer in February as to whether or not I need to
change medications....and IF I need to switch medications that the new one
would work and not cause horrible side effects (i.e. hair loss, fluid on
the lungs, sever headaches, etc...)
5) That they can get me in ASAP for this thyroid biopsy....I am super
anxious to know what this nodule is.....
Thank you sooo much for all your prayers and support! I truly can't even
tell you how much i appreciate it!
Hope you all have wonderful HOLIDAYS :)
hugs & hugs!!
Sara Joy
On Thu, Sep 13, 2018 at 12:45 PM Sara <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Family & Friends,
I am very EXCITED to send you all some GREAT news :) My cancer levels
are back down to undetectable 0.000% again!!! Praise the LORD! I believe
that my cancer levels are TRULY an answer to prayers because I haven't
changed anything over the last 2 months (as far as my lifestyle and/or
medications) to change my lab results......except for all the prayers of my
brothers & sisters in Christ! So thank you sooo much for your prayers!
They will check my levels again in December; and I never know what the
future holds....... but I am just soooo thankful to have the GIFT of
another 3 months with my *same dose* of the *same* medication.
God has definitely been answering many prayers for both my physical and
spiritual healing over the past weeks. I have truly been overwhelmed by
the LOVE of my Father in Heaven.
Thank you for your continued prayers! ......I can't even begin to tell you
how much I appreciate them!
hugs to you all!!!
Sara Joy
On Thu, Jul 19, 2018 at 12:41 PM Sara Larsen <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Family & Friends,
I saw my oncologist again today, and my cancer levels are 0.018%. That
number is still nice and low thankfully:-)......but for some reason my
cancer is detectable again. The oncologists are a bit puzzled by my
levels increasing again, but they are going to keep a close eye on it. I
will just continue my 600mg dose of Gleevec for now, and I will get my
levels checked again in 2 months.
But, the good news is that I feel GREAT/healthy. But I really appreciate
your continued prayers!
Hugs!!!
Sara Joy
Sent from my iPhone
On Apr 20, 2018, at 4:32 PM, Sara <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Family & Friends,
Thank you sooo much for your continued prayers! I saw my Oncologist
again yesterday, and I got some more GOOD news:)
My cancer levels are staying strong at 0.000% (undetectable!) which is
GREAT! It seems that the Gleevec medication is continuing to work!
So....for now, I will continue to take Gleevec (600mg) for as long as it
continues to work!
Thanks sooo much for your *faithfulness* in prayer! I appreciate it
sooo much! I will see my Oncologist again in 3 months:)
hugs to you all!!!
Sara Joy
On Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 6:53 PM, Sara Larsen <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Family & Friends,
So....the Oncology Clinic called me today, and....I have some *AMAZING*
news for you all! My cancer levels are back to *0.000%*. Ahhh!! yay!
:) I couldn't believe it! It looks like I am still responding to (and
NOT resistant to) my mediation!!!! My cancer levels literally dropped
from 0.370% to 0.000% in just 6 weeks!!! I couldn't believe it. It truly
is a miracle.
So.... for now, I can stay on my higher dose (600mg) of Gleevec since I
am still responding to it!! yah!!! And, I will continue to get checked
regularly (about every 2 months) to make sure my cancer stays controlled.
I will see the Oncologist again at the beginning of April. But, I am just
soooooo thankful that the LORD has caused my body to respond to the
mediation, and that I can continue to take gleevec for as long as it works.
I am hoping it continues to work for the next 50+years:)
Thank you ALL sooooo much for your LOVE and faithful prayers and *continued
prayers*. I truly was not expecting this good report! I am still in
shock and sooo thankful! The Lord is sooo powerful.
Love you all!! :)
Sara Joy
On Thu, Feb 1, 2018 at 5:49 PM, Sara Larsen <sarajlarsen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hello Family & Friends,
I wanted to let you know that I saw my oncologist today, but
unfortunately my cancer lab results did not come back yet.
My initial blood work (i.e. white blood cells, red blood cells,
platelets, electrolytes, etc...) all looked good.... which is great!
But..... the main cancer test (that will determine my course of
treatment and will show if my medication is still working or not) did not
come back yet.
So, as of right now, I don’t have any big updates. But, I should know
by Monday what the cancer test results are. I’ll definitely keep you
posted as soon as I have some results and answers.
Thank you soooo much for your continued love and prayers!!! It is
definitely hard to wait for answers.
Love you all!!!!:-)
Sara Joy
