LONG over due Emily update!

I'm so sorry I haven't made this post sooner. I don't know why it's so hard for me...I think because I want to write really well and express my deep gratitude to everyone who has been so beyond kind to us. I just don't think there is anything that would be great enough in my mind to express our sincere and humble appreciation. Also I'm not good at all at explaining the medical stuff so I've been waiting for my sweet husband to write that part. He finally did tonight...but first I will attempt to try and just tell you a little of how grateful we are for all of you.

Since our very first post about Emily's diagnosis, the way hundreds of people embraced and surrounded our family and our daughter was beautifully overwhelming. People from all over the world, from Alaska, the UK, Canada, California, to right next door, covered us in prayer and more. I know that Scott and I and my entire family were in awe over the love that was poured into this little old blog. From this beautiful invention called internet the world was able to reach into our home and our hearts and forever change the journey we first began 2 years and 8 months ago.

Our inbox was filled with e-mails about how not only were you praying for Emily and our family but your friends, families, and churches were also praying for us. Emily received cards, letters, gifts, made friends and pen pals....it was amazing. Our church family and neighbors literally fed our family for 3 months during the most draining part of our journey. We will forever be grateful and never forget the love so generously extended to our daughter and family.

YOU carried us threw and gave us strength and YOU were Jesus to us. From the deepest bottom of my heart, thank you.

OK now that I'm probably done gushing my cheesy heart out to you...here is the medical stuff Scott wrote to further explain Emily's results.

Emily's most recent scan showed no visible sign of iodine uptake, which means that all the iodine that is suppose to be sucked into her thyroid cells (cancer) just went through her body. This, combined with her VERY low level thyroglobulin test strongly suggests that there is no cancer left in her body. Or at the very least very trace amounts.

This is, of course, all very good news. Our radiologist told us that Emily is to get her thyroglobulin level tested routinely, and if it never goes up, he'll never have to see her again. If it starts to slowly rise we will take her back to him for another scan and if it shows some iodine uptake we will give her another dose of iodine radiation treatment. Hopefully this will never happen. The worst case scenario is that the thyroglobulin goes up, we go for the scan, and the iodine doesn't absorb. If this occurs it most likely means that cancer is growing but it no longer can be treated with iodine. In this circumstance if the cancer is in a central location we would be able to operate, or if it is widespread we would have to look at alternate treatments like exterior radiation or chemo.

But, fortunately, these are worst case scenarios that are not likely to ever happen. In fact, our radiologist stated that he expect Emily to live a long and healthy life and live long enough to see her grandchildren grow up. We should all be so lucky I suppose.

Emily is celebrating her 12th birthday tomorrow! Tonight we had her "Birthday Eve" (that's what Emily wanted to call it!) and she opened her presents. This is her with her Webkins. The white one and pink one are her new ones.