Hello all you loyal blog followers!  Here's a note from Dan about the latest chemo ~ almost over!!!

Robin had her fifth chemo treatment this past Friday. She met with her Hematologist/Oncologist and he told her the cancer is responding to the treatments. This is good news and we are so thankful. Robin’s final chemo treatment will be Friday, November 13 - Whoopee!!! Robin is scheduled to meet with her gynecologist/oncologist-surgeon four weeks following her last chemo treatment to discuss his recommendation of radiation therapy – we will keep you posted….

Typically the first two days following her treatment, Robin is energetic and feels completely normal; however toward the end of the second day, fatigue sets in and she will spend the next two to three days in bed. The good news is that she does not experience any nausea, just fatigue. So, today, Robin is resting at home. If all goes as past treatments, she will be up and running toward the end of this week.

Robin believes that the Lord has healed her from both cancers. If you have time, read Psalm 116 – Robin has claimed this Psalm as a confirmation of her healing.


We love you all, your kindness, your cards and letters of encouragement, your fantastic meals (Dan loves them) and most of all your powerful prayers.

Robin alerted me yesterday that the blog hadn't been updated in a while. I knew I had updated earlier this month, but when I logged in I found the post in my "drafts" and not published. So sorry for those of you loyal blog followers that have been wondering about Robin. Dan also said he'd get a note together soon. Also, when I spoke with her she sounded GREAT. Dan was out of town for 5 days last week and she was out and about Christmas shopping. She's constantly thinking of others . . . LOVE HER!

Robin asked me to please convey to all of you how great she feels! She has been feeling great, chemo and all. Marc went with her to this past chemo appointment and here's some pictures he took along with a note from him.




Spending time at chemo with mom is something I look forward to. The hospital is amazing. They've got valet parking & gorgeous waterfalls out in front.
Mom amazes me, she knows all the nurses names & asks them all in passing how they are doing. They all look at her, smile & respond "its great to see you Robin". Sitting in the chemo room, mom makes sure to notice all the other patients & even has 1 other woman who she has seen frequently who she prays with. Mom smiles at everyone & Ive even seen her get up after she was done with her chemo & go pray with a few of the other ladies having treatment. Its amazing to see my mom with such a positive attitude & blessing others while she herself is going through this tough time.

O ya, I even look forward to the lunch she makes. Its usually a turkey sandwich on wheat bread, chips, fruit & a kiss! I love this time with my mom & wouldn't trade doing anything else.

Marc

Robin completed her third Chemotherapy session this past Thursday 9/10 and met with Dr. Shihabi, Hematologist/Oncologist. He informed her that she is responding to the Chemo for her Ovarian Cancer and the Gleevac for her Leukemia.


On Tuesday, 9/15, Robin met with Dr. Leiserowitz, Gynecologist/Oncologist – Surgeon for her mid-term Chemo treatment strategy. Dr. Leiserowitz had preformed the initial surgery and was unable to remove the tumor in the vaginal area. His strategy was to shrink the tumor with three chemo treatments and perform a second surgery to remove the tumor. When Robin met with Dr. Leiserowitz, he conducted an examination and reviewed her blood work and told her that the tumor had retracted from to vagina back to the cervix and had reduced significantly in size. He went on to say that the vaginal area where the tumor had invaded looked healthy and as a result a second surgery would not be necessary…Praise the Lord!!!!


Dr. Leiserowitz told Robin that he is amazed at how well she has responded to the Chemo and he could not have imagined such progress in this short period of time. He told her that this positive response has exceeded any expectation that he might have hoped for with the type of cancer.


His plan is for Robin to continue her three remaining Chemo treatments over the course of 9-weeks and then have Radiation treatment in the pelvic and vaginal areas for “mopping-up.”


Of course, we told the Dr. that we believe this positive news is a direct result of all of the prayers that are being offered up to the Lord on Robin’s behalf, locally and around the world.


Once again, we thank everyone for your prayers, cards and letters of encouragement, plus the delicious meals after each Chemo treatment. What would we be without those who love us?

I spent a bit of time with Robin yesterday, I should have planned for longer but I didn't want to be a burden to her with 4 children, if she was feeling at all not well. As it was, the kids were great and Robin and I had a short but sweet visit. She is doing fabulously. She is busily living life, going into work for short stints, visiting with family, etc. But she also listens to her body and rests when she needs to.

She modeled her short new hairdo and her 2 new wigs that just look amazing on her. I jokingly asked her on the phone the night before if she had gone blond and it turns out she had . . . almost:) one of them is dark with a ton of blond highlights in the front ~ she looks gorgeous in it!

She continues to amaze me, and I feel blessed to have such an amazing woman as part of my life.

Ruthe Shafer is Dan’s sister, Robin’s sister-in-law

Thursday, August 20, 2009



Robin’s second chemotherapy was the occasion that brought Steve and me to Sacramento from the O.C. Everything went smoothly for Robin this morning until the IV poking began—ouch! After five pokes and three nurses, eureka! They found a vein and started her treatment.



Robin was a champ! She made friends with everyone in the room—and shared her joy in the Lord with each one. Her prayer shawl and her promise blanket kept her cozy. In less than two hours Robin’s treatment was complete—no nausea or discomfort.



What a blessing it was for me to sit with my sister and friend today. It is impossible to be around her without being encouraged. I will cherish this visit always.



“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him”...and Robin does! (Romans 8:23)

Today Robin and Dan decided to take a day trip. It is the weekend before Robin’s second Chemo treatment scheduled on Thursday Aug 20th. What a great time to go to Lake Tahoe for the day.


We started out seeing our oldest granddaughter Kathryn at the Hagen Oaks Golf Pro Shop where she works and than on to Loomis for brunch at the Hi Hand Nursery. Wow! What a place to visit. After brunch, it was up the hill to Lake Tahoe where the weather was a perfect 73 degrees with spectacular views – Priceless! Finally, we ate dinner on the lake at Richardson Camp and than home to Sacramento 91-degree weather.


Last Thursday we met with our new Hematologist/Oncologist, Dr. Shahabbi – he replaced Dr. Miller who left for Johns Hopkins to head up their breast cancer research.


Dr. Shahabbi told Robin that her blood count was a bit off because of the interaction of the infusion chemo treatment for the ovarian cancer and the Gleevec treatment for the Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. He is not alarmed, as he had anticipated this in advance and it is not of great concern. However, Robin’s second chemo treatment might have to be rescheduled if her blood counts have not come up by Thursday, her day of treatment. Robin will go for her treatment this Thursday and they will do blood work to see if they will do the chemo – if not, they will send her home and schedule her chemo for a later date.