We Interrupt these Italy posts to inform you of some very important news....

Today was kind of a landmark day in the Cook household.  For the first time in 4 years, since being diagnosed with Follicular Lymphoma, Lane got a clear CT scan!!!! :)

What does that mean?  It means that all the lymphnodes that were enlarged and swollen with cancer have shrunk down to normal size, and are not showing up on the scans!!! Wow, what a miraculous and happy day.

Why miraculous?  Because in May we got a scan after 4 rounds of our 3rd type of chemotherapy.  It showed the lymphnodes weren't really shrinking enough to make continuing the treatment worth it.  So we stopped.  The doctors started pushing very hard for the horrible stem-cell transplant.  Really, we were afraid it was our only option.

The doctors said there isn't a big rush.  So, we planned our big trip, and started getting our "affairs in order" to be ready for the big transplant.  Lane hasn't had a drop of medicine in 3 months.

Last week he got a scan, and this afternoon we met with the doctor to get the results.  He seemed more than a little surprised when he read the report and found that there was no activity to report.  All nodes had shrunk down to normal size!!!  We have NEVER had a clear scan like that!  Even after the horrific R-CHOP chemo he did in 2009.

He tried to say maybe it was just a late reaction to the medicine he was given earlier.  We know different.  So many family and friends have been praying for us, recently even more than ever.  We know God heard those prayers, and has answered them for us.  We are so very thankful, and still a little shocked at the little miracle that he has granted us.

So we have our first complete remission, and here's to a hopefully permanent reprieve from the tiring battle with cancer!! :)