Current Events

We went to clinic again this week. Everything was good except my ANC has dropped to 400. They don't really know why so I am going to go in again next week just to check up on it. I am officially off cyclosporin and only have one pill to take in the morning and at night.

I am back to playing volleyball again, it is a lot of hard work but I hope it will pay off. I am really sore and it hurts to move but that just means I am making progress.

Things have been a little tough lately, and my spirits have just been a little down. It can just be hard readjusting to things sometimes. But I just keep going on in hopes of brighter days. That's all we can do right? :) Thank you for your prayers and support and for following my blog!

Rachel

Summer Days

More pictures

Emily, Rachel, and cousin Taylor.

A lot of thoughts are going through my head, I hope I can make them make sense. A friend of mine with AML, Tanner, passed away this weekend. He was only 19, so not far from my age. He was unable to serve a mission because of his disease, but I know he is up there serving right now. My heart goes out to his friends and family. I can't imagine what they are going through.

Read Tanner's story at tanner-foreverstrong.blogspot.com

Over the past week I have really been trying hard to focus on my blessings, rather than complaining about what I don't have. I may not be able to play volleyball just yet, but I have to legs to walk, and for that I am grateful. I did not have to have any operations that changed me physically, so I am still able to pursue playing. I am alive and well, and loving the little things of life. I am loving that it is becoming summer, as you know I spent last summer cooped up in a hospital room. I love the thought of being able to go back to school, and have a teacher who can lecture and give lessons rather than just doing worksheets. Last night I was able to take my first shower in a year, it is little things like these that make me feel closer to normality.

There are some days that I am very scared. Scared of relapse, scared of dying, scared of having my life ripped out from under me again. These things are always in the back of my mind. I realize that sometimes it is harder to heal emotionally than it is physically. But I know that we cannot live in fear, because that is no life at all. Little by little, I'm getting better. I am making progress. Sometimes I forget about cancer just for a little bit, and I can only look forward to more of these times.

I have had a great support system through out all of my illness. I honestly could not have made it through without my family, and without my dear friends. Thank you for helping me stay Steele Strong. It is so true that God does not put you through challenges on your own, you all have truly helped bear my burden. Thank you for the prayers, and thank you for everything.

Rachel

New Picture of Rachel

Packing on the Poundage

Today at clinic, we found out that I had gained 5 pounds in 2 weeks! Those calorie drinks seem to be working. Not only that, but I got my line out!! I am now tubeless. It's great. Within a few days I will be able to shower for the first time in a year. Today is a good day :)

It finally seems like I will be able to take my mind off of cancer every now and then. Also, this weekend my team qualified for nationals again! I was able to go and watch them and it was a lot of fun. It is so nice to have things going well, I am loving that I am out of the hospital for the warm weather. Thank you all for your prayers and support, I couldn't have made it this far without you.

Rachel

Yes, I have an AFRO

After a bit of styling... I came up with this.

SteeleStrong Originals

Amalphi Arts has made it possible for me to make prints of some paintings I have done, and to sell them with the proceeds going towards Cure Search and to Hope Kids. I wanted to find a way to give back and I am really excited that I am able to do so through my art!

We have set up a new page to process orders for anyone who is interested in getting a print or a framed print of one of the paintings. Click here, or click the logo below to go to the SteeleStrong Originals page.

Here is some more info about the great things that CureSearch and Hope Kids do for Cancer Research!

CureSearch for Children's Cancer funds and supports the lifesaving research of the Children's Oncology Group, the world's largest cooperative pediatric cancer research organization-- essentially a "cancer center without walls."

Over the last 40 years, research has taken children's cancer from a virtually incurable disease, to one with an overall cure rate of 78% today.

HopeKids provides ongoing events and activities and a powerful, unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. They surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope can be a powerful medicine.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers- things are going really well for me right now :)

-Rachel

The Latest

We have set a date to take out my line! May 10th I will be rid of this foreign object in my body forever. I will have to get poked every other week, but I decided I can handle that. Let's hope I can haha. I have been trying to bulk up and exercise lately. My dad found these 540 calorie drinks, that don't taste very good, but I have been trying to drink some of those for some extra help. I have also been biking more and playing a little bit of volleyball. I still love playing, so thats good, I just wish I had my old body to play with. I wish my life were like a movie so they could cover the hard work part in a 2 minute musical sequence and then I would be done! But that's ok. I will keep you all updated.

Rachel