Christmas Update

It has now been a little over two months since I was first diagnosed with Lung Cancer, Stage IV, which had spread throughout my body including my brain.  At that time I quickly became bedridden and on oxygen 24/7.  

 

On December 21, 2015, I had a follow up CT scan and MRI at Huntsman Cancer Institute.   Just four days before Christmas I have received my Christmas miracle.  The chief oncologist specializing in Lung Cancer informed me that they had witnessed a "Christmas Miracle" in the dramatic night and day reduction of my cancer.   It is truly a miracle.  Where there is great love and faith there are always miracles!

 

I still am fighting the good fight for the rest of the cancer to be defeated.  I know that I will have a full recovery as the healing continues. You would never know today that I had any illness.  If I didn’t have such wobbly ankles (due to four broken legs from snow skiing) I would sign up to run a marathon.  Let’s here it for “Dancing in the Rain.”  I believe in an all-powerful and loving God of miracles! 

End of November Update

Last Monday, November 23, I had my followup visit with my team at Huntsman Cancer Institute.  My blood labs came back much better than expected.  I am now completely off my portable oxygen.  I can go up and down stairs without stopping to take a breath.  Each day I feel a little bit better and a little bit stronger.  A month ago I was feeling a bit sad that I would not have the strength to put up Christmas decorations this year.  Well, last Friday I spent the entire day decorating my home for the holidays...that alone was a miracle.  Tis the season for miracles so please share with us some of your miracles and inspirational thoughts.  Thank you again for all your prayers for our family.  We are so blessed. 

Sister Israelsen (Gabi)

Dana's youngest daughter, Gabi, is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Quito, Ecuador. She has been serving for 4 months and will be serving for 14 more months.  Here is her take on Dancing in the Rain:

What I think about Dancing in the rain? Sometimes we just expect the rain to stop. That if we pray hard enough for the rain to stop it will. But first of all have you ever danced in the rain? It´s a blast!! Sometimes we need to pray for the strength to overcome our circumstances rather than pray to change our circumstances. And it is way more fun dancing in the rain with other people than it is alone! So step outside yourself and find the joy in the little things because one day those little things will become the big things. Our lives are a series of moments. We never know what the next moment is going to be and the moment yesterday already happened so stop worrying about the future or wanting to relive the past and enjoy today. Enjoy every little rain drop no matter how cheesy that line just was. Enjoy it. Being positive doesn´t mean faking a smile or just "being happy!" It doesn´t mean lying about how you feel or pretending like you are okay. Being positive means being real about your emotions and your circumstances but CHOOSING to find the humor in it all. Choosing to make the best of it. Choosing to be honest and real about your feelings because you never know if someone is feeling the same way. Challenges aren´t gumdrops and lollipops sometimes it´s a bunch of rotton candy and black licorice. But every trial and challenge can become a blessing in your life if you CHOOSE to let it.