Easter has always been my favorite holiday.  The anticipation of winter ending, the sprouts peeking from the dirt and the amazing revelation that one man conquered death. 
This revelation adds to my life many things, not least of which is HOPE.  And on that word, let me bring to you the latest update. 

Previously I outlined the new treatment plan: 2 rounds of DVT-PACE prior to stem cell transplant.  Kevin has completed both of these rounds, as well as had his stem cells harvested (if you are fascinated by modern medicine throw “stem cell apheresis” into Google).  I shared with you that this chemo is quite nasty and that reputation has proven to be true.  I cannot fathom putting physical pain and discomfort on top of the knowledge about this cancer and the niggling question “will all of this be for nothing?”  Stress like this changes you---whether you’d like it to or not.  I am so PROUD of my husband.  He is fighting like a true man of God and he is taking this change and growing from it.  When something like this hits your life, it naturally brings out 2 basic questions:  “What in my life am I fighting for?” and “Where do I place my hope?”  The answers to these questions are often why in hindsight many survivors describe trials as blessings.  Although I would obviously have never prayed for this to come into our lives, I find myself thanking God for many things that I never would’ve if it had not entered our life.  And for that, I thank God.   

Following his completion of round 2 of DVT-PACE, the plasmacytomas on his back and arm have disappeared to the touch, which of course is very encouraging.  The doc ran one more test on his M-protein (cancer protein) to see how effective it actually was on the tumors.  If you recall from previous posts, the magic number for this test is zero.  After waiting over a week for this test result and with Kev doing some very effective doctor stalking (joking….sort of), we received the results.  The tests were unable to detect any M-protein.  Although you may think we were jumping with joy, we have adapted to taking good news in stride.  Our previous good news about clean bone marrow followed by his body popping out with plasmacytomas really did something to how we process any future good news. But let me take a moment to get this out…..THAAAANK YOOOOU GOD!!! 

Kevin begins his transplant very soon  (due to the fact that this is an open blog on the world wide wasteland, I won’t post on exact hospital admission dates.  If you’d like details about the hospital stay, please email me at kristinvanzanten@gmail.com).  We are as ready as we’ll ever be for something like this, but we rest in what we know about God’s character. Love.  Mercy.  Grace. 

We are eagerly anticipating remission.  It is so close we can taste it.  Though we have no idea of the length, we know that God does, and that God loves us.  We do know that life will never be the same as it was “before.”  But that is okay…and do I dare say ‘good’? 

Hope.  Where does it come from?  Doctors, medicine, luck, Karma, Buddha, self-enlightenment? This list is endless.  If you ask me, it comes from an empty tomb. 

God bless you everyone.
Love, Kristin