First, let me start by apologizing for the delay in this entry. Second, thank you to each and everyone of you for the prayers, kind thoughts and well wishes. They sure seem to be working. After another trip to Houston for scans, with my friend Liz Dawson Prior by my side, as well as my mom and my Uncle Steve, I am elated to tell you that the news was good! In simple terms:

1. There are no new tumors.
2. The existing 'spots' (tumors or scars? We don't know. I'm going with scars!) on the   bones are healing.
3. The tumor marker test shows my numbers are back in the normal range.
4. The circulating tumor cell test was zero!

I can't even begin to tell you the joy and relief I have been experiencing since hearing this wonderful news. I feel so very lucky.

After the great day and wonderful champagne lunch to celebrate, I had another celebratory meal with my Aunt Marg and Uncle Al who were in town visiting my cousin Katie, who recently moved back to Houston. After ordering champagne (my favorite!) the young waiter asked what we were celebrating. He said he too was a former patient at MD Anderson. When he returned with the bottle, I asked him how long he had been a survivor. He said it had been 2 years. Without my asking, he paused, looked down and quietly said that he had breast cancer. I was stunned by the coincidence. After telling him my experience, he brought me dessert on a plate that read congratulations in chocolate with a candle. As I left, he gave me a big hug. I never get tired of meeting kind, compassionate people. And again, I feel so very lucky because I do so, so often.

Next stop was Austin to Tom and Jill's daughter's baptism. Allie Jennifer Jennings was Christened with Megan Jennings as her Godmother and Todd Summy as her Godfather. Meeting Allie was even better than I expected. She is even cuter in person, which I didn't even think was possible. Not only that, being around Tom and Jill's family and friends was very special for me. They have been so kind and supportive in so many ways. And to meet some of them for the first time was wonderful.

Life can be like a roller coaster and the past few weeks, my emotions certainly have been 
on that ride. While I am so very grateful for my good news and was so touched to meet the sweet baby that my cousins named her middle name after me, I also fell from the high upon learning some news. My friend Sally, who entered the clinical trial after me, had her first set of scans since the transplant. Sally found out that she had new bone tumors, making the trial unsuccessful for her.

My other friend Sammy, who turned 21 on May 23rd, learned that after her five organ transplant for pancreatic cancer, now has tumors in her lungs.

Last February, I heard that a girl I went to college with had died of a brain tumor. Molly was 36 and left behind three children. She was the oldest of five kids in her family. On May 16th, the youngest of the five, John, passed away of the same brain tumor. He was 32. Their sister Mary, 35, is fighting melanoma that has metastasized. She recently had her hip replaced due to her cancer spread.

Life is full of ups and downs. While I celebrate my great news, I am reminded how quickly that news can change. While some of us fight for our lives, others are enjoying coasting through. And while some lives end, beautiful babies are born and baptised. According to John's obit and caring bridge page, he always signed off with his motto--be good--be kind. I hope I can follow John's motto whether my rollercoaster ride is up or down.

Be good. Be kind.
Love,
Jennifer