January Update

Can't believe it's been a month since the last posting.... Christmas went great! Rachel was fine physically.... her rapid heart rate has mellowed a bit since ending chemo. We are assuming that was a by-product of the treatments.

We visited a radiation clinic in Joplin at Freeman Hospital since Rachel has chosen radiation treatments, instead of additional chemo, as the final phase of her treatment. Rachel delayed this portion of her treatment thinking she was going on a mini-vacation after Christmas.... but this did not materialize, so we're a bit behind getting this over with! She was "marked" with specific measurements for the exact location of the radiation and will have them in two areas... chest and left neck areas. The treatments began on January 14th... once per day for 15 business days... at this point she has had 6 of 15.... Radiation can make you tired and create some nausea, but this has only happened once to her.

Rach has enrolled in the 2nd semester at Pittsburg State and has started working again in a coffee shop in the mall. She will return to her hospital job in Girard, KS at the end of February or early March. We are on full ahead with life as normal as possible and Rachel refuses to believe this stuff is even happening to her. She's handled this pretty well, except for an occasional flare-up with family members, but that's pretty normal.

Thanks again for all your support and prayers!