Yesterday (Wednesday, June 19th) Emily completed her second round of the strongest dose of chemo available. She will have two more of these treatments in July, then move onto the next stage of chemo which will be administered weekly from August - October.

Emily said yesterday's treatment "went great because I knew what to expect."  Always looking for the silver lining, that Em.

She asks we continue to pray for minimal side effects (migranes, nausea, extreme fatigue, mouth sores, etc.) and when they rear their ugly head, that she is able to manage them effectively. When her Oncologist met with her yesterday he was amazed how well she was doing given the stregnth of her treatment. Probably because she insists on still dressing so fabulous head-to-toe to go to the hospital.

Her other prayer request is for her mental strength at this point in the game - remaining focused, but also allowing the emotions to process what she's facing physically. 

Like clockwork at that 14 day mark yesterday, while showering before going in to receive chemo, her hair began falling out in chunks from the previous treatment. And while one may have the book knowledge of these anticipated symptoms, nothing really mentally prepares you to watch your own body respond to such a repeated toxic treatment. 

When you consider what she has walked in the last 2 months...the shock of the initial diagnosis, the nearly immediate mastectomy, the port surgery, the start of chemo and it's gruling side effects, then a daily task as simple as combing your hair one morning and it's leaving your familiar body now, too. It's a lot, and continues happening so quickly. 

Especially for an introvert like Em that makes every effort to not wear her cancer diagnosis as a banner, keeping life as normal as possible for her kids...it's the world now knowing through her hair loss what she's been quietly battling for weeks and mentally preparing for the "looks" and stranger's unsolicited advice. Another new normal.

And while her beauty (all of us) is deeper than looks, it's the reminder of this awful disease her body is fighting each day.  And you know what? We cry those tears alongside her, then stand back up and keep fighting alongside her. Making the effort to encourage her and keep her spirits up, while engaging with her in things besides just cancer. Because she's so much more than this diagnosis, and that's all we really want is to feel normal in a very unsettling chapter of our lives.

So will you pray these things with us? That she will (1) have minimal chemo side effects, (2) maintain her mental strength, (3) and feel loved/normal/comfortable in her skin as much as possible these next few months.

We love you and deeply covet your prayers for Emily. She's beating this thing, all while dressed to the nines. Now what's my excuse? 

Little Sis, Stephanie