SEVEN

The week of July 4th is a week of celebration. Freedom is a GREAT reason to celebrate, but around here we celebrate for another reason, too......

On July 3rd, 2001 Matt was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia.

It was a huge shock to all of us. Right after Kensie was born, he started getting really tired and dizzy, but we just attributed it to lack of sleep. When it didn’t go away, I finally convinced Matt to go to the doctor. He couldn’t see anything wrong with Matt, but did some blood tests to be sure. He said we should come back in a week to get the results. The next day we got a message from him saying there was a problem. He made an appointment for us to see a hematologist (Dr. Nibley). He gave us several options of what might be wrong with Matt, including Leukemia. Matt’s red blood cell count was 18, and normally it should be around 40-50. That day (it was our 2nd anniversary) Matt went in for a blood transfusion and a bone marrow biopsy.
In the bone marrow biopsy they stuck a huge needle through Matt’s back and into his pelvic bone, broke off some of the bone, and extracted some of the marrow. This procedure would tell them exactly what was wrong with Matt.

Three days later, we went in to hear the results and Dr. Nibley told us that Matt had Leukemia. I was in total shock. Matt said he had a feeling that it was Leukemia. Matt’s mom & my parents were in the waiting room, and I don’t know how they reacted when they found out, but it was a surreal day. Dr. Nibley told Matt he had until Monday to quit his job, bank sperm, and get everything else in order. On Monday he was to go into St. Mark’s Hospital to begin chemotherapy. That was the beginning of over a year of intense chemotherapy treatment, lots of worry, many bizarre events, and endless miracles.

We were so blessed to have family, friends, neighbors, and Church leaders who helped us in so many ways {financially, spiritually, emotionally}. I look back and wonder how I did it. I really think it was through the prayers of others that I was able to survive through all the hellish things Matt had to go through without breaking down {too much}.

SO, every July 3rd we celebrate another cancer-free year. This year is NUMBER SEVEN! Independence Day has always been one of Matt's favorite holidays, but being able to rejoice in another kind of independence makes it even more special!