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| 05/12/2008 | What a great day today!!! Another Mothers Day with Abby full of energy and hope. Melissa is just so happy to have us all together today.
I have failed to post for quite some time (Melissa has tried to keep up); I found the posting very therapeutic at one point but now run from the whole cancer talk. I now try to forget last year and just keep so busy I feel I am forgetting about a lot of you all. First I would like to say sorry for not keeping everyone up on our great victorys with Abby. I have returned to being a workaholic just trying not to remember the past. I am not sure if it’s the right thing but it has been part of the healing for me.
Now onto Abby… wow what a great couple of months it’s been. Abby is full of life, hope and courage. She gets this from all of your support prayers and kind words. Abby is doing great at school, we have to get on her to keep up with her work but that’s o.k. to have that problem. Abby just wants to be one of the kids; we notice she is having a little tough time fitting in. She just missed so much of the year and building her social skills with other kids. No one is mean or keeping her out, she just missed so much of the bonding this year with her class. Next school year (end of July) will be great, she will be starting JR High with all new kids and everyone will be on the same level. They all will be feeling out of place and maybe just a little scared to be big JR High Students.
Abby is due for scans again in July but until then life is good. We were released back to our regular family doctor for all medical needs. If something isn’t right then they will contact Phoenix Children’s for us. We will only see the oncology staff at PCH every three months for scans and a basic check up. July is our next round. Another mile stone is Abby is going to the dentist for the first time in 18 months. We were unable to see the dentist due to her medical condition. She is excited to go and wants braces; she said she wants a pretty smile. Well I seem to think she has the prettiest smile around. Braces will be a tough thing right now due to the fact the doctors say having metal in her month will not work. The metal will get in the way of her scans and hinder the detection of any new cancer, so we will have to check on those new plastic invislines. One would say why fix the teeth but if it builds her confidence so be it. Confidence builds hope and hope brings a healthy outlook on life ect…
Abby just finished with a great weekend, the Phoenix J.C. Comancheros had their banquet which Abby was award with all kinds of goodies. Abby was the Comancheros wish cowpoke this year. Their mission is to bring hope to children with an equestrian experience. There are so many great cowboys in the group (don’t forget about the awesome wives that support them), who have all taken Abby under their wings. Jim and Patty Beurleign have adopted Abby and Megan as their cowgirls; we have been out to their home many weekends to ride. This is something we could have never give Abby or Megan for that matter. Last year when the days were really dark and not sure if we would make it till the next (Abby being so sick and just not wanting to fight anymore) we would use the wish cowpoke card and it worked. They arranged so much for Abby this last year it’s been great. If you know one of those Comancheros give them a huge for us.
I know I am rambling there is just so much to say, but to finish it off for tonight lets just thank God for all of our blessings. Please remember all of the kids and families that fight this battle everyday. Sometimes we just get so busy we forget about all of our true heroes. Please take a minute and huge your kids and love your spouse. We never know when life will just turn overnight. We could have never gone this far without all of you and your support. God has truly placed around a strong support group with love and kidness.
Thanks The Fraser’s |
| 04/24/2008 | FROM YOUR HEARTS TO GODs EARS......CLEAN SCANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE SMILING BIG!!! |
| 04/23/2008 | Tomorrow we meet with the docs.
I forgot to mention that on Sunday when the girls and I were at Girl Scout Camp, my yellow LiveStrong bracelet broke--I think it is a sign--I think we are done with cancer.
Let’s hope for that.
The Frasers |
| 04/21/2008 | Hope everyone had a great weekend.
It is scan day. Abby and dad arrived about 8:30 and it was not as smooth as we would hope—they had trouble with Abby’s IV and it took too many pokes. She was understandably upset. Scans were completed, and we will meet with the Doctor on Thursday for results.
This weekend was Girl Scouts camp, the girls had a great time in Prescott. The major activities for the weekend were the challenge courses. On Saturday the low challenge course was a teambuilding course and the girls had to really work together to be successful. On Sunday, the high challenge course was exciting and somewhat scary. It was about 50 feet up (the girls were hooked to a safety line the entire time) and included a log to walk across, a wire to walk across which took you to the platform. From the platform they took the zip line down—that was the reward. There are some great pictures posted. Abby completed the course—she was ok on the log, but the walking across the wire was more of a challenge than I think she wanted. She did it, though—just like every other challenge she’s faced—and was happy at the end.
Well, praying for clean scans, and always praying for other families in this battle. |
| 04/17/2008 | Hello everyone and happy spring!
We haven’t posted and update in a while, we are very sorry—but have been busy with the “normal” things of life and that’s a good thing. Abby is doing GREAT! School is super busy for her, but she is doing a great job and we are very proud of her. Her hair is about 2 inches long now and she spikes it up—it is very cute! Abby, Megan and Mom are going camping this weekend with the Girl Scouts—this is the first time for camping in well over a year. Before Abby was sick, camping was something we did at least 6 times a year.
Next Monday (the 21st) is scan day. We are praying very hard for clean scans…we will hear the results on Thursday (the 24th) our appointment is at 1:30. This is a bit of a stressful week for us but we will pull through—we will let you know on Thursday afternoon after we talk to the doctors.
Please help us pray hard for Abby’s scans—that they are clear and for all families fighting cancer that they will be strong and ward this ugly beast off.
The Frasers |
| 03/27/2008 | Hope everyone is having a great week. We’ve posted a few new pictures recently, so take a look if you haven’t been to the photo page in a while.
It has been a busy back to school week after an awesome Easter weekend. I was looking back at last Easter and remembering that Abby and Dad watched Mass on TV—what an improvement…we all went to Easter Mass as a family. The last year sometimes seems like just yesterday and sometimes it seems very far away—I like when it seems far away.
On Saturday, we were out to the Beurleigns for a day of horse-back riding and bar-b-que. Abby rode a new horse named Whiskey. She loved it because Whiskey liked to trot and go a little faster than Roany…Megan was very happy, however, slowly walking around on Roany. It was truly a beautiful day and a joy to watch the big smiles on the girls’ faces.
We visited Dr. on Monday…he was very positive and said Abby looks great (we already knew that). Our focus for her now is eating a little healthier (actually we should all be doing that), then scans at the end of April. So we keep forging ahead with hopes for clean scans and continued good days.
A young man who we knew of through HopeKids passed last week—pray for his family. As always, thank you all for your support and all of your prayers.
The Frasers |
| 03/21/2008 | Happy Easter.
Well, actually Good Friday. The kids return from grandmas this afternoon, so our house will be back to normal—loud and messy. It was a nice break for Bruce and I, but we sure did miss the kids and are excited to have them back. By all accounts, they enjoyed their time in New Mexico and got to see some snow.
Tonight we will color eggs in anticipation of the Easter bunny, and Sunday will bring a day of Celebrating Mass, hunting eggs and enjoying family for Easter dinner. We thank God for his blessings on Abby and our family.
We have a checkup with the Dr. on Monday and scans will come up again late April.
We wish you all a very happy Easter and as always, continue to pray for families battling this illness that their children may find healing and they may find peace.
The Frasers |
| 03/13/2008 | Hello everyone, sorry for the late update.
Last week brought a bit of a speed bump …..it seems that Abby did get exposure to chicken pox. She did have them when she was very little, but with everything that her immune system has been through, there is a potential for her getting them again. So immunizations ensued, three of them, and we are crossing our fingers.
We have a new addition to the family. Nikki, a 6 month old Gordon Setter has joined us from Iowa. She is a very sweet and smart girl, but a puppy nonetheless. We are adjusting to her energy and her chewing things. The kids really love her.
This past weekend, Abby and Megan were able to go to Knottsberry farm with the Girl Scout troop. The trip was a reward for their successful Girl Scout cookie sales. Abby and Megan had a great time—it is just very wonderful when Abby can enjoy fun and activities that other 6th graders are able to enjoy.
We feel so lucky and blessed that she is happy and feeling great. We were reminded of the pain this disease brings to families while the girls were away. We attended the funeral of a beautiful boy who was taken too soon by this terrible illness. We’ve said many prayers for his family over the past few months, and now we can only pray that they will find healing with his passing.
Next week, all the kids, Abby included, will be heading to New Mexico. Abby was originally scheduled to go skiing with a group from Phoenix Children’s, but with the chicken pox scare, those plans had to change. Grandma is really looking forward to their visit and I know they will enjoy the snow there.
As always, we thank you for your prayers for Abby and ask that you spread your love and prayers to other families fighting this terrible disease. The Frasers. |
| 03/03/2008 | Hello all wow another busy week!! This week has been good to our whole family sometimes I wonder how we keep up.
This was a big weekend. Abby spent Saturday at the Parada Del Sol Rodeo, she was an honored guest. Last year when things were just not going well at all and we were unsure how long Abby would be with us I asked Abby were will she rather be? Abby’s answer was a Rodeo were she could just be a cowgirl and have fun. I thought to myself o.k. dad how do you make this work, but when your little girl who is fighting and I mean fighting for her life what do you say? Well I told Abby to go to that place in her dreams for now but we will make it happen, I had no clue how but just wanted her to fight at that time. A few days later we got an email from Hope Kids to see if Abby was up for being the Wish Cow Poke for the Phoenix J.C. Comancheros. We emailed Rob from Hope Kids right back and said yes. We were placed into contact with the Comancheros and they fell in love with Abby right away. I was thinking to myself God is watching out for her, he knows I could never give Abby a Rodeo experience. When things just seem overwhelming they just fall into place.
The Comancheros worked with the Scottsdale J.C.’s and helped fulfill Abby’s dream.
We arrived at the Rodeo at noon on Saturday and were treated like Head Honchos, food drinks and great seats. We all felt so special then the Queens came and whisked Abby off. Abby met with all of the Queens who showed her a great day. Abby got to ride in the practice area on Miss Rodeo Arizona’s Horse, sign autographs for Rodeo guests with the Queen Court. All of the Rodeo Queens were just all over Abby and made her day, Abby was the prettiest of them all I think. Abby also had a chance to ride on the Bison Home Wagon during the performance and the spot light was on her. We hung out with the J.C.’s and Comancheros all day, we even stayed for the night performance. The day just seemed to never end, until we hit the truck to come home and both kids were out.
Sunday brought another busy day with a hockey game with Phoenix Road Runners; the Road Runners have a program with Phoenix Children’s Hospital called Face Off Against Children’s Cancer. Abby got to watch her player win 5-1 against Alaska and Abby’s player even scored a goal. After the game the kids got to go down to the locker room and have ice cream with the players. Then Sunday night was spent at Arizona Country Club for a Hope Kids Fund Raiser. Abby and Mom went to this event to support the Hope Kids (which is non-profit that does great things for kids) with one of there large fund raisers.
This weekend came to a close late on Sunday with Abby having a great week, pain was minimal and life is great. I would like to thank all of you who pray and have prayed for
Abby in the past and into the future. Please remember all of the other kids fighting this horrible disease. We will continue to live fast and furious trying to accomplish so much for Abby.
Thanks The Fraser’s |
| 02/25/2008 | What a great week, Abby is acting and looking better all the time. We only had one day with pain last week which is great, hopefully we can say we had none soon. It was a busy week, we meet with Dr Watanabe on Thursday and Abby had counts done. Abby’s counts (ANC) are at 1300 which is down we would like to see them at 2000 but that is expected. Over the next 3 months we were told her counts will roller coaster, her body is just not up to full strength at this time. Dr Watanabe gave us the words we wanted to hear we can now call Abby’s Cancer in Remission but the next breath he said not to be to complacent. We always have to be vigilant and watch out for anything that looks out of the norm, we were given our scan schedule and have scans again in April. The scans will happen very regular for 4 years along with a battery of tests each year. We are one more step in the right direction in the journey. We are working towards the term CURE but that is far away and scary to dream about. We would love to be there but have to be reserved in our thought process to get there.
Now on to the fun stuff, this last week end was the Parada Del Sol Parade and what a weekend it was due to the Phoenix Jaycees Comancheros making Abby their Wish Cow Poke and hooking us up with the Scottsdale Jaycees. Jim Beurlein is our contact with the Comancheros and has become our close friend and treated us to a great day. Abby was the Honorary Grand Marshall which this year the theme was Modern Day Heroes for the Parade. This was kept a secret from her until the morning of the parade. She represented all of the children fighting this nasty disease with courage, faith and will. Abby is my true Hero and I have learned so much from her this year, I can only hope to live my life as strong as she has and does everyday. Abby, Megan and Grandma rode in the parade in a beautiful carriage and had the time of their life. After the parade at the Trails End Celebration the Parada Committee crowned Abby The Lil Miss Queen for the Rodeo she received a crown and sash. Another past Queen was so touched she gave Abby her buckle to have and keep (this is a big deal due to the fact the buckles are treasured items) so Abby truly looks like a Rodeo Queen. Next weekend is the Rodeo were Abby will be very active in the events as a Queen. All of the Royalty is so excited to whisk Abby away next Saturday and do all of the Queen stuff with her. It looks like next weekend will be a great weekend for her she is so excited and looking forward to it so much.
All of this is possible because of folks like you who have been there for Abby through this journey. Our prayers and your prayers have been answered. We still need to stay vigilant and cautious but also get on with life. As always please pray for Abby, we need to continue to have clean scans as we head into the future. Could you please also pray for all of the kids that are battling this evil disease.
Thanks The Fraser’s |
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