One Year To Go... But Not Really

Hannah had her first August appointment this morning (it works out where she will have two appointments this month). I had been so excited to post on here that she only has one year left for her treatment. While this is true (she will be finished with treatment next August), we have never gotten past treatment in our discussions with her doctors. They told us today that when she gets off treatment next year she will continue to go to the hospital for appointments and blood work every four weeks for ANOTHER YEAR after that. So we will be making monthly trips to Atlanta until August 2015, then every three months for a long time after that. The risk of relapse is highest in the year following treatment and gradually gets less with time. That is why she will be carefully monitored that first year off treatment.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I am thankful that such a great team of doctors will be carefully tracking her health. Only going once a month is better than going once a week like we did for six months - I am thankful for that. I just had it in my mind that I could kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel, that we had to just get through the next year. I'm feeling a little discouraged today. I hate it for Hannah. She dreads going to the hospital and getting poked. She won't be getting chemo in her body after this next year of treatment, which is so much better for her. But nothing will change as far as us scheduling our lives around these trips...finding someone to keep Evan and Lauren, Eric taking off work, the long drive, Hannah hating to go to the hospital, etc. It feels like this is never going to end.

We have chosen to be positive and thankful through this journey. We will continue to be that way - I just need a couple of days to get used to this new information and get it in my mind that this is the way it's going to be. I have to keep remembering all we have to be thankful for. It just feels a little disheartening today.

Hannah begged to get out of the stroller and run with us this morning.