New Year, New Cheer

"Life is a storm my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next."

- Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo

Never has this quote been more true for us than with Keith's cancer treatments. Particularly when his immune system is so compromised, his condition can change daily and his prognosis can go from grim to great in a matter of hours.

Well, after nearly two weeks of being "shattered on the rocks," it's finally Keith's turn to "bask in the sun"...at least for a few more days until his little ship is besieged again by the storm of chemo.

Keith finally came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and it is so nice to be home together again as a family. It's amazing to us how much happiness we feel in the simple pleasure of being together as a family under one roof.

As happy as we are that he is home, we are even happier with his MRI results today. His scans looked great, with no signs of remaining or recurrent tumor. Though his treatment often creates the kind of difficulties we've experienced over the last few weeks, the treatment is working and, despite it's challenges, we have to remember that the ends justify the means.

We are again humbled and grateful for the many calls, emails and messages we've received over the last couple of weeks while Keith has been in the hospital. We sincerely appreciate the thoughts, prayers and loving concern that so many have expressed on Keith's behalf.

Keith is doing great, seemingly oblivious to the two weeks of torture he just recently endured and is home again, happy as can be. His physical resilience is impressive but it's his God-given ability to suffer and forget that makes this treatment bearable for us all. We are truly grateful for Heavenly Father's healing hand in Keith's care and that Keith's tiny shoulders are constantly strenghtened to bear the burdens placed upon them.