Fully involved in my final radiation session (it is five treatments, as well as a practice round beforehand), I was already feeling extra tired as I geared up for my 3rd round of chemo. On Friday, we had a very special thing that helped boost all of our spirits. A visit from Ashli and David Thompson, some dear friends from Colorado. In fact, Ashli was Lily and Derek’s piano teacher for four years, and she was amazing. (Even though it was a miracle that she and I could ever stop talking long enough for the kids to have their lessons – ha ha!). We had the most wonderful time catching up, and hopefully we can get together again when they come back to see their son, Tristan, in his next performance in Ballet Texas.

And then on Saturday afternoon, amazing Marilyn arrived from Utah. Oh, how much our whole family loves her!! It was nice to have her arrive a few days before my treatment, while I was sort of a regular person (even if I was feeling the effects of radiation).

Although she is more of an extra sister to me, for my kids, especially Lily and Derek, she and her husband are like an extra set of grandparents to them. What a special blessing! We met them our last year in Savannah, GA back in 2008, when Brent, a chaplain for the Army Reserves, was activated to take the place of a deployed chaplain. They lived in the apartment kitty-corner to us, and we immediately became one big, wonderful family. They moved back to Utah after that year, and we have always tried to visit and stay in touch.

On Monday, Kevin and I headed off to The Start Center for Cancer Care to both meet with my oncologist, Dr. Scott Ulmer, and for my infusions. He had the results of my scans that they had me do the previous week, and he was very happy with the results. Dr. Ulmer is so happy with how my body is responding to the treatment and with my progress. The tumor in my lung has completely stopped growing, and all the others are shrinking really really well. As of right now, he thinks that the four chemo treatments should be enough, but we will have scans later on to check also. And then I will start on maintenance care, which will be either immunotherapy on its own or a combination of immunotherapy and chemo.

We went into my chemo treatment with a wonderful picnic from Chick-fil-A, and happy with the news from Dr. Ulmer. As I receive my infusions, Kevin sets up his Ipad and we watch the TV show, “Only Murders in the Building,” which is a fun show with Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez (FYI – there is a bit of swearing, so for adults only). It is so hilarious, and we laugh hysterically as we watch. It is the perfect thing to distract us from the hard, even if the nurses and other patients probably think we are insane – ha ha!

Another good thing came on Tuesday, when I had my very last radiation treatment. My radiation oncologist, Dr. Chevli, pretty much told us that he hoped he wouldn’t ever have to see me again, because that would mean I wouldn’t need any more radiation 😉. The entire staff there were so wonderful, especially my radiation technicians, and so I had had Lily and Marilyn make treats the day before, so that I could bring them treats as a thank you.

Since I had completed all my radiation, they had me ring the bell, which totally made me cry. What a blessing in so many ways – especially because they were able to get all three rounds completed so quickly. It seemed like every time we had an appointment for the next step, they would call and move it up weeks earlier. Definitely a miracle.

We did have some really lame things happen as well though. Last week, our 1 1/2 year old washing machine died last week, and when we came out of radiation treatment on Monday, we came out to a flat tire on my car. And of course, newer cars don’t have spare tires, and the tire inflater has a short in the wire so it didn’t fully fill the tire. We made it about halfway home when all the air had escaped, so Derek met up with us to take Kevin to the car parts store, and to take me home.. (After having chemo and radiation, I was done for and just needed to rest.) Just a little reminders that life still happens even when you’re battling cancer. I told my family that it sort of feels like a really bad country song.

Luckily, we had Marilyn there helping out, and she a very special comfort to our kids – and to me. We spent time talking and watching movies together. She also did some fabulous projects around the house to help out even more, which was wonderful.

Having Marilyn with us the past five days has been the most tremendous gift. And she even put up with the fact that I was crazy extra grumpy and miserable this week. I just felt so awful, and I think part of it was that all I wanted to do was help she and Lily in the kitchen and with projects, but I think I had been feeling so much better the week before, that all the side effects hit me extra hard and horribly. It made me even more grateful that Marilyn was there, since loves me no matter what, even if I was definitely extra grumpy and lame. We all love her so much and are going to miss her more than we can say.

Lily especially loved the extra support. She has carried so much extra emotional weight, and I don’t think it helped that she found out for sure that her internship was not going to come through after all, which was added stress. And so when her daddy pulled her onto his lap to give her squishy hugs – whether she wanted them or not – it filled my heart with love for them both.

One very fun random thing from this week was when Pamela sent me the most fun meme: “Let’s normalize texting like 18th-century penpals. Dearest Friend, The week has been relentless. My spirit is frayed, my inbox overflowing. Wine stocks are dangerously low. Pary, send word if you too are barely upright.”

It was so funny, but made even better when my friend, Annalie, sent this response: “My Dearest Lisa, I pray this text finds you in tolerable health and spirits. You have oft been in my thoughts of late, and I could not forbear from taking up my keyboard to inquire after your condition. How fares your course of treatment, and has the physic brought you any measure of comfort and relief? Though distance separates us, my concern for your well-being remains ever near. I entreat you to take all possible care of yourself and allow both time and rest to perform their kind offices. May each new day bring you strength renewed and hope restored. With sincerest affection and esteem, Your devoted friend, Annalie”

Oh, it was perfection and definitely gave me a laugh I sorely needed.