Lauren's facebook update last night - not remission yet!

FIRST UPDATE AS A PROPER ADULT (Hope I don't have to act like one soon though hehe):

So, I'm pretty sure everyone now knows how I spent my 21st birthday yesterday. If you don't you've either just joined facebook or you're unobservant. 😜 The ‪#‎cranesforlauren‬ movement was and still is so overwhelming and unbelievable. I still can't grasp that 20,000 cranes are sitting in my living room, each one created with love and each one having its own journey to get to my place. So again, thank you to everyone who got involved, from posting a picture of an industrial crane to taking the time out to make a crane or to simply just say happy birthday - all of it has meant so much to me, words can only try to show how thankful I am! And I guess the biggest of Thank you's goes out to Jen Frith who started it all in the first place. You have made such an impact in my life and I will never forget yesterday and I know I've said thank you to you so many times already, but it never seems enough to express how I am feeling right now. So again from the bottom of my heart thank you!

Now onto some serious adult stuff. Unfortunately I'm not going to transplant next week as my biopsy results came back with residual disease that was so small they can't even put it as a percentage. BUT FORTUNATELY Pfizer have given me yet another dose of the magical drug Inotuzumab!!! This is because...
1. the drug is clearly working (it's just taking longer than expected but then that's why it's on trial right?)
2. I haven't really received any side affects from it apart from low blood counts.
3. If I was in America on the actual trial I would be receiving five to six doses of the stuff before going for transplant so the fact it's worked so well after 3 rounds and the fact I haven't had any major side affects helps pfizers trial data which in the end will help it get into Australia faster and yes that means more dollars in their pockets.

So as you can see it's not the best news but it's certainly a win win situation for both parties.
However, when I got the phone call from my doctor today I was totally disheartened because I was so sure that this was it, with everything that had happened over yesterday and the past week that surely I was in remission. So even though I seem quite positive now I definitely have had my moments today. But having 20,000 cranes surrounding me certainly helped me gain perspective.

So again thank you to everyone!! It has put such a smile on my face to know so many people are thinking of me and it has just brought so much hope and inspiration into my life! Thank you!
‪#‎FUCKLEUKAEMIA‬ ‪#‎FUCKCANCER‬
(And if you have a problem with the word fuck, well I have a problem with the word cancer!)

Happy 21st Birthday Lauren - Surprise #cranesforlauren

Today was a surprise 21st for Lauren with in excess of 20,000 origami cranes delivered from people all over the world. For the full story, look out for the Cranes for Lauren group on facebook, started by Jen Frith as a way of providing support and encouragement to her 4 weeks ago. Since then, the group has grown to over 3,800 members all over the world and thousands of photos with cranes from all major international travel spots. If you'd like access to the group (unfortunately because it's so big, Jen can't change its status from 'secret' to 'public') - just send Lauren or myself a facebook message and let us know you're email address so we can invite you to it.

Is on channel 7 news in Adelaide tonight...6:00pm
Also in tomorrow's Advertiser and Eastern Courier/Messenger tomorrow too.
View #cranesforlauren of social media...facebook, twitter etc

Here's some pictures from the group to give you a taste.

1,000 origami cranes and a wish

Lauren's in for her bone marrow biopsy this morning. Before going in, she finished making her 1,000th origami crane, a goal she had to be granted a wish. Here's her words from FB this morning:

An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. Some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise) and is said to live for a thousand years: That is why 1000 cranes are made, one for each year.... ‪#‎FUCKLEUKAEMIA‬ ‪#‎FUCKCANCER‬ ‪#‎makeawish‬ ‪#‎1000origamicranes‬

This was one of her goals on 100things.com.au - #21. Make 1,000 origami cranes - tick

On her Pre-Operative Assessment form this morning for the bone marrow biopsy, love her answer to the question of 'any other serious illness'? Her response:
"ALL Leukaemia (although there shouldn't be anything there now - (fingers crossed)." I look forward to her being proven correct!!

Bone Marrow biopsy is this Wednesday

Last post (last week) I mentioned Lauren's bone marrow biopsy was being done last Thursday. I'm starting to get enquiries about the results, so just to let you know, that bone marrow biopsy was moved to this Wednesday, so results should be out sometime next week. Fingers crossed for a positive result and successful way forward from here. Her 21st birthday is tomorrow week (28th Sept), so hopefully we'll be able to give her a great 21st Birthday present in some very welcome and encouraging news!!

Inotuzumab - last treatment, last Thursday

Lauren had what should be her last treatment of inotuzumab last Thursday. Third treatment of third cycle. This is the test drug she's been on to achieve remission so we can go to transplant. Bone marrow biopsy booked for next Thursday, so we should know more week after next.

Lauren has been home for the last 3 weeks which has made everything a lot easier and helped her positively as she's enjoyed some freedom and taking my car out and burning a couple of tanks of petrol, "just driving".

We've passed 20,000 views, so I guess we need to keep going with this blog.