5th Treatment and GREAT NEWS!!!!

Hi everyone!

Shari has some WONDERFUL NEWS to share with everyone. She had a CT scan last week and reviewed the results of that scan today with her oncologist while at the hospital for her regularly scheduled treatment. Here is what Shari has to report!

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I had my appointment today with Dr. Schuchter at 9am, Tuesday, January 27th. She reviewed my CT Scan from last Wednesday, and everything that they (the CT Scan radiologists) have been following has shrunk. The disease is stable, which is AMAZING in and of itself, but even better than that .... Dr. Schuchter said that "We have altered the course of the disease!" This is huge information. The treatment is working. The disease is shrinking and it is moving in the direction of being gone. I AM A MIRACLE!!!!! Celebrate with me, celebrate in the good news.

Thank you for all your good wishes, loving support and ongoing friendships. I know that this is my battle to win but I could not be on this path with out the love and support of all of the communities that love and support me and my family and for that I am so grateful.

Loving,
Shari
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Isn't that fantastic.... there just aren't words for how exciting this is. Shari knows that there is still a road ahead of her, but some validation along the way that this is the right treatment for her and that it is working is just what the doctor ordered! At this point, the plan is to do one more treatment (in about 3 weeks) and then do another CT scan to decide on the future course of treatment.

Shari did complete her 5th treatment today, and as of tonight was still feeling her usual, "high" self as she normally does on Day 1. As always, please keep Shari in your prayers as she gets through this tough first week after treatment and that the Atavan works as well for her this time as it did last time.

Shari's friend Max will be arriving tomorrow and will stay with them until Monday to support the family during Shari's treatment recovery. Thanks again, Aunt Max!

Feel free to keep the blog comments and emails flowing. Shari really loves reading all of your messages to her! You can also feel free to call her, but keep in mind that it will be very difficult for Shari to return calls during this first week.

Everyone lift a glass for our dear friend, Shari. This is a moment to celebrate!

Peace,
Shannon

Treatment #4 Update

Shari's last treatment occurred on Friday, January 2nd. The day before this treatment, Shari's "Rose Angel" struck again! Shari received her pre-treatment anonymous rose and 7 inspirational quotes, and she loved it! Thank you, "Rose Angel"!

During her treatment, Shari met with her oncologist, Dr. Schuchter. During their meeting, Dr. Schuchter did an exam on Shari. And, she felt no lumps or bumps anywhere in her groin and upper thigh area!!! Dr. Schuchter was VERY EXCITED by this and feels that this treatment is really working!

Shari and Dr. Schuchter on treatment day!

Shari was able to have a conversation with Dr. Schuchter about the next steps in her treatment plan during their meeting. Shari will be getting a cat scan and WHEN it comes back clear and the mass in her lung is gone, then they have decided that there will be 2 more rounds of the current treatment plan. This will then be followed by an undetermined period of continuing the oral targeted therapy drugs and the possibility of some type of maintenance chemotherapy program. Please keep Shari in your thoughts and prayers, and keep seeing her as "The Miracle" who has eradicated all of the cancer in her body!

Shari tried a new pain management drug during her recovery week this treatment. She had taken Percocet for pain management during the first and second treatments, however, after the second treatment, the Percocet made her quite ill and she experienced extreme nausea and constipation. Because of this, Shari chose to take no pain management drugs after the third treatment, and wound up in a great deal of pain, for an extra day longer than usual. This fourth treatment, they recommended that Shari try Atavan. The Atavan worked really well for Shari. She was in less pain during her recovery week, and didn't suffer from any of the unpleasant Percocet side effects.

For previous treatments, Shari's friend Max has come to stay with them during Shari's recovery week. Aunt Max had a retreat scheduled over the recovery week this time and wasn't able to come. Aunt Max was dearly missed as she is a enormous source of support for the whole family. However, Aunt Max will be back for next treatment cycle. Thank you so much, Max!

Shari also wanted to mention the amazing support she is getting from her neighborhood! Her neighbors in her development are sending them meals regularly. This has been such a gift for Shari and Tom and it makes their lives so much easier. So, a big huge thank you to the wonderful neighbors in Windsor Ridge!

Shari's next treatment is scheduled for January 27th. We'll have more updates for you soon!

Best, Shannon

Christmas Day 2008!

On Christmas morning, Daria was full of excitement and being so cute! She couldn't wait to get downstairs. When she finally came down, she went right to the Christmas stockings (which definitely surprised Shari ). The problem was that, of course, Shari was waiting with the video camera by the Christmas Tree (in the living room) and when Daria hit the bottom of the stairs she went to the fireplace which is in the family room. So much for planning!

Daria enjoyed all her presents. This year, since she was 5 now Santa brings all of her presents unwrapped so that she can see them all right away and not have to take the time to unwrap everything! Thank you Santa for this amazing present for Mommy, not having to wrap each and every gift!

Another thing that occurred this year was that Daria realized that Mama and Summer's stockings were empty. She told everyone for weeks that "Mama and Summer were bad and Santa didn't bring them anything." Shari wanted me to send a special "Thank You" to a person who shall remain nameless for not filling her stocking :-)

A dollhouse! Just what Daria asked Santa for! She must have been a good girl this year!

Posing with her Hello Kitty backpack

The gift-opening excitement

Daddy and Daria. This is what the holidays are all about!

Daria with her beautiful wooden bird from Nordstroms! Nordstroms decorates for the holidays each year with these birds and the first time Daria saw them, she fell absolutely in love with them. Tom arranged to get a bird for Daria and she LOVED opening this gift, as you can tell from her precious expression on her face!

Christmas Eve 2008!

The Olbrich family tradition is to decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. This year, the tree got decorated on Christmas Eve morning instead of at night because Tom had to work that afternoon and evening. Shari's parents had come the night before so that they could be a part of the decorating which they have done each year.

The morning of Christmas Eve, around 7:30am, Shari heard little voices coming from downstairs. Shari knew that Daria was very excited about decorating the tree and that she had conversation with Tom the night before about what time they would start. Now, this is supposed to be a "family" tradition and there they were decorating the tree without anyone. So Shari asked them to slow down, get dressed and allow her to get some pictures :-) The tree did indeed get decorated and everyone enjoyed a special breakfast that Shari had prepared since they weren't going to be having their traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

The eager tree decorators!

Daria placing her ornament very carefully

Look at this ornament, Mama.

Daria and Pop Pop together on Christmas Eve.

First Night of Hanukkah!

Following are some pictures from the first night of Hanukkah 2008! This year, since Shari was still recovering from her treatment, Aunt Max was with the Olbrich's to celebrate too! Aunt Max made a yummy Hanukkah dinner that included Potato Latkes.

For the last 2 years, Daria has said the prayers over the candles repeating them after Shari. This year, right from the 1st night she started to recite them all by herself. Shari also decided that Daria was ready to be able to light her own Menorah by herself. Daria was so excited about this and told everyone that "she was saying the prayers by herself and lighting her own Menorah with real fire on the top." (which means that her candle was really lit with a flame). This was a very big to do in the Olbrich household this year!

Their Hanukkah tradition is to have Daria open 1 present each night of Hanukkah. And of course their crazy dog Summer gets in the act every year! She loves to open presents and rip up the wrapping paper. This year was no different.

What a big girl lighting the candle herself on her own menorah!

Daria helping Mommy light a candle too.

Happy Hanukkah everyone!

Daria and Mommy on the first night of Hanukkah.

Daria and Aunt Max

Summer enjoying her gift (and the wrapping paper!).

Chemo Round 3 update

Hi everyone,

On Tuesday, December 16th, Shari completed her 3rd round of chemotherapy treatment. Tuesday was a very long day for Shari. She left the house at 7am and didn't get home until close to 6:30pm. Despite being tired and drained, Shari did experience her usual Day 1 side effect of feeling "high" from the meds. Yesterday, Shari felt decent. There was some more significant bone and joint pain than she usually feels this early in her chemo cycle, but it wasn't too unbearable. Shari did also experience some nausea yesterday. Anticipating how she would feel in the next couple of days, and despite her side effects, Shari actually mustered the strength to complete all of her gift wrapping for the upcoming holidays. She is so inspirational!

Shari's friend Max (or Crazy Aunt Max) returned from Boston yesterday and will stay with Shari through Sunday. Max is such a wonderful support for Shari, Daria, and Tom.... making sure that they all have what they need to make it through these tough days of Shari's chemo cycle.

Please keep Shari in your prayers over the next several days. These are the days that are the toughest for her in her chemo cycle and she will experience the worst and most significant side effects over the next few days.

During her treatment on Tuesday, Shari and the oncology team revisited Shari's targeted therapy regimen. You will recall that Shari was having significant reaction to the targeted therapy drugs (severe body rashes). She had been taking the drug 2 times per day, but when the reactions started, they discontinued the drug altogether until her body healed. Shari then started taking the targeted therapy once per day. She has not had any of the severe rashing during this time, although she does still have itching and peeling of her hands and feet. Because she has reacted fairly well to the once per day plan, they decided on Tuesday that Shari would start taking the targeted therapy drugs 2 times per day, every other day. On the days in between, Shari will just take it once per day. Please pray for Shari that this gradual ramp up will work for her body and not cause her any severe reactions as it had before!

Shari's next chemotherapy is now scheduled for January 5th, but may be pushed back to January 12th. We will update the exact date in a post soon.

Best,
Shannon

A Rose is More Than Just a Rose...

Shari just completed Round 3 of chemotherapy yesterday (an update on that is coming next). Before we get to that, though, we want to tell all of her friends and family about Shari's "Rose Angel". The day before each of the 3 chemotherapy treatments that Shari has completed, Shari has found a rose on her front doorstep. The rose is always accompanied by 7 different inspirational quotes written on index cards and paper clipped to the rose.

The rose is given to Shari anonymously. She genuinely has no idea who keeps leaving her pre-treatment rose and inspirational quotes for her. While one part of Shari is very curious about who the mystery gifter is, another part of her happy to have it remain a mystery. She is very thankful and appreciative of this anonymous "Rose Angel" who is so thoughtful and provides her with this wonderful pick-me-up right before each of her treatments.

So, to Shari's "Rose Angel" whomever you are, Shari wants you to know this.... She appreciates you and your generosity more than you can know. Your gesture really puts a smile on her face and helps her get through her tough days. You are very much loved and appreciated!