May Update

Another month has passed since my last update. Things have continued at a steady pace but with the musical behind us and the end of track season, Maggie has actually had a chance to come up for air. For the first time in months, we've actually had an evening or two each week with nothing on the schedule!

Maggie's entire experience with "Grease" was wonderful. She recently commented that she wished there was always a musical going on! You can tell by the pictures posted previously on the blog that Maggie was having fun! This week the students from the musical will participate in the Mancini Awards. This is the "red carpet" awards for the top performances in the county. Each school participating will perform one of their numbers from their musical. Maggie begins finals next week and will finish school on June 3rd. As typical of Maggie, she'll be on the go all summer. She heads off to Jumonville, church camp, the week after school is out. Carpenter's Project, a mission project with her youth group will be in July. In the midst of all these things she'll be starting cross country training.

Kate finished her semester May 5th. Wow, she has completed her first year of college! How thankful we are for the miracle of life God has given Kate and for the way He faithfully carried her through both semesters. It's good having Kate at home. She had a few days to catch her breath and started her first of two on line courses for the summer. We've been trying to spend time at the gym a couple days a week – not that she loves it, but she endures itJ She started walking some with my mom this week. Our goal is to try and get her stronger, so that she doesn’t have to be so dependent on the scooter in the fall to get around campus. Her gait/balance is still unsteady but with the nerve damage, which resulted from the high dose chemo, that is something that will not change over night. She still handles all with grace and a positive attitude. In a recent annual check up, Kate’s endocrine specialist diagnosed her with adrenal insufficiency – he feels like this could be also contributing to her fatigue. This means Kate's adrenal gland does not respond as it should. If she gets a fever/infection we would double her medication or should she ever be in an accident she would need an injection of cortisone right away to compensate for the under production of her adrenal gland. We have tweaked Kate's medication dose and hope to see an improvement in adrenal function when we repeat her ACTH blood test in July. Kate will also have her next MRI in July.

We are enjoying the spring-like days and warmer temperatures. The newness of life displayed in the green grace and budding trees and flowers refreshes my spirit.

I love this time of year and the promise of new life it brings. Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. God answers prayer and has filled us with joy and peace and hope. We rejoice in God's goodness and faithfulness!