Hello all. Schools about to start and the kids are almost as excited as I am for them!

I am still going to physical therapy and working on my shoulder. I usually go twice a week. I have been trying to get myself into a workout routine so I don't have to go to PT much longer. It's been hard with the kids at home. It's just like when you are on the phone, when I work out the kids always want something!

I am not sure if I will have to have my shoulder surgeon go back in and cut scar tissue or not. It depends on how much range I can get after I have strengthened the muscles. I can almost get my arm straight up and down but moving it outward with my elbow stuck to my side is another story! I can get it out with help, to about thirty degrees. About fifteen degrees less than the other arm. It may not seem like much but it really does make a difference. Not sure if I will ever be able to throw a ball, which is something I would really like to do with the kids again. But, I am here and I may not end up in perfect shape, but it won't be the worst either!

I also would like to say it was great to see my friends at the meet the parents nite at the kids schools. So many of you had me with tears in my eyes at your kind and supportive words.

Here are just a few comments that my dear friends have said:

My one friend said 'Its great to see you smiling!' it's hard not to smile with God smiling down at me!

Another friend told me 'you are a true inspiration!' I said 'thank you' humbly.

Then another friend (a doctor) said, 'My friend was just diagnosed with breast cancer, and I told her about your positivity and strength as you went through your chemo treatments. I always use you as an example to my friends and patients when they are faced with a difficult situation. You're my inspiration.' that's when I said, 'I am happy to hear this. It makes me know that I didn't go through this for nothing.'

I have been told by others I am an inspiration, a tower of strength, a remarkable woman. But sometimes though I am smiling and saying thank you, it just doesn't sink in. Lately I have been going through a very tough time as my shoulder is healing slowly, and my right hip needs replaced and is deteriorating rapidly. Everything is just snow balling. I have really needed to hear those words.

Anyone who is going through a tough time if it cancer or something else in their life, let them know how much you care. I know that hearing all of your kind words has given me a renewed sense of strength.

Thank you all my dear friends and God bless.....

Love,
Lisa~

Well the blog is back up and running for one more year! So let me catch you up on what's been going on with me!
It's confirmed. AVN in the shoulder now. I have to find a doctor that specializes in AVN of the shoulder and go from there. Unfortunately, the treatment is a total shoulder replacement. Not looking forward to this. But I do remain cancer free!

Let me just add this...I have not stopped undergoing cancer treatment since my diagnosis February 09. I know it seems like things have moved forward and that all is well. However, with the AVN in my hips and now my shoulder life has just seemed to come to a stand still. I am not asking for sympathy. That helps no one. Prayers are welcomed always. But what I am saying is that look at the people in your lives who have gone through something tough. Whether it be cancer treatment or surgery or something that seems to have come and gone, look at that person and know that though they look like all is well on the outside, things may not be that way for them on the inside. Patience and understanding are needed. It is frustrating! However, having recently found a LIVESTRONG bracelet in my kids playroom I have taken on a new attitude. Though this diagnosis is frustrating and I am tired of everything seeming to go wrong, I have decided it's not enough to be strong. I have been strong. But that is going about it all the wrong way. I know this may sound corny but I have decided to LIVE-STRONG! Everyone should look at their lives and ask themselves, how are you living? Be an inspiration: LIVESTRONG!!!!

test test test....is this working?

Hello everyone! We are closing down our www.grizbabesteam.com website. The site was not free and the cost to keep it is too great. So, all of my updates will now be posted on facebook, www.facebook.com/lisa.griewisch#!/group.php?gid=77876341925.  I will use this page as my personal leukemia blog page. Feel free to leave your comments and write me messages as I will be checking it frequently from now on.

Thank you for your support and continued prayers. You have no idea how much it means to me especially to know that you still think of me as I continue to pray and fight everyday to stay healthy. May God bless you with excellent health and love.

If you can't find the site by the link, go to facebook and type in ALL Leukemia Sucks! You'll find me there in  my orange shirt and black turbin.

Love and hugs,
Lisa~

Hello all. I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day whatever you did! I am doing pretty well with my hip surgery. Of course I am not dancing yet but in a month or so I hope to be walking without a limp! Or a cane for that matter!
 
I really want to thank everyone who was able to help us with meals during my recovery. You have no idea how much that really truly helps our family. Being able to sit down to a home cooked meal as a family is so important and because of your help we were able to do that. Thanks again.

I also want to thank all of you for your cards and messages. I wasn't able to respond when I got them but know that I did get them and I appreciated all of you keeping me smiling with  your kind words!

I also want to thank my husband's boss Tom for recognizing me during  "Livia's Leapers 5th Annual Batter Up! Snowball Softball to benefit the American Cancer Society. The people as his work have been very understanding and words can not express how much I appreciate them.

So now that my "grammy award" speeches are done. Sincerely, thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless.

Love and hugs,
Lisa~

Hello everyone. Just a quick update! I had my hip replacement on Wednesday, January 26th as expected. I was happy to hear and am happy to report that everything went as expected. The old came out well and was soft from the AVN right on the weight bearing area. Mark was able to look at the bone to see exactly what the AVN caused. My  new replacement parts went in without complication and fit perfectly.  I am happy to have this out of the way and moving forward with the healing process. PT isn't so bad. I actually feel better when I am moving then when I have been laying or sitting for too long of a time. Then I have to remember not to over do it! I am happy to report that so far, all is well and I am so grateful for my friends and families help. Thank you to everyone for supporting me and my family through this tough time with all of your thoughts, prayers and help!
God bless-
Love and Hugs,
Lisa~

Good day all! Tomorrow is the big day for me. I will be under the knife getting a new left hip. Well, ball and socket anyway! But it is called a full hip replacement. I have talked to a few friends and friends of friends who have undergone the procedure and all are very pleased with the outcome. I have been told that the pain is well worth it and it doesn't last as long as my imagine has it lasting! Like a broken bone it will take 6-8 weeks to fully heal. Because they are going through the front, Anterior approach, the healing time will be cut dramatically! So please keep me in your prayers and in your thoughts.
God Bless with lots of love and hugs,
Lisa~

Happy 2011 everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful and prosperous start to your new year! Mine is going...I mean the last time I posted was in December when I was still waiting to find out if I was doing better or worse with my AVN in my hips. Well, the results came back and it looks like I will indeed be getting a full hip replacement in my left hip January 26th. I have a 75% collapse on the weight bearing area of the femoral head. My ortho said that the next step is a full hip replacement. The bone is too compromised to heal itself at this point. I can wait to have the surgery but it would be a matter of months not years and my mobility would only continue to decrease and become more painful. Not to mention the deterioration that would continue regardless. So the ideal time is now so I can heal up for the summer.

Now I was having pain in my right hip and I still am. But the MRI didn't show any bone involvement only some swelling and irritation in the surrounding tissue. So, now what? It's a wait and see situation. We'll take care of the left now and keep an eye on the right one. At least that's what I was told by my ortho. If it does start to collapse like the left one, then it too will need replaced. 

I wasn't too concerned or should I say worried about the surgery when I found out I would need it in December. I mean I was busy with Christmas! Making sure my kids had a wonderful winter vacation. And I am happy to say that they did! But, now that January is here, the reality is set in that they are going to be cutting out a large area of my hardest, strongest bone in my body and replacing it with a "metal" type of thing they pull out of a sterile bag. Hammering and sawing while I lay deep under anesthesia.  Then when I wake, I just have to concentrate on baby steps. Literally!

I know that there are many people much older than I that have had a full hip replacement and they have done well. That is comforting. Though I guess I am just angry that I have to have it done at all. I have always been happy never to have broken a bone in my body. I have been in so many situations where I should have broken an ankle here or there. But I never did. I have sprained my ankles, I have torn my ACL and meniscus in my knee and had it repaired. I have sprained my thumb and I have had goose eggs so huge on my shins from falling off of bikes and out of trees! (When I was a kid of course!) But never have I broken a bone. Now they're going to take one. Or part of one. So I guess I have to put my pride in my back pocket and move forward.

I hope all of you are doing well.  Stay healthy and happy this new year. I look forward to seeing and hearing from you my dear friends.

God bless,
Lisa~

Hello and Happy Holidays everyone! Life has been, well, uneventful for the most part. Which I am very happy about! Thanksgiving has come and gone. I hope you all had a great time and enjoyed family and friends no matter how far.
I have made some new friends through this blog recently and I am happy to help anyway I can with my words of wisdom! I have to say that when you go through such a life altering event such as fighting your own battle with cancer, life changes you. And if you are wise, you change your life.
For some reason, none of which anyone will figure out for years to come, if ever, something happened at some specific time in my life that allowed my body not to recognize one single leukemia cell. Suddenly, I have cancer. Living day to day. Helping my kids with homework, being a loving attentive wife and mother and then out of nowhere-cancer.
Why? Well, I stopped asking that long long ago. Sometimes things just are. Sometimes. Some things we can control. Somethings we think we can control but really we are just fooling ourselves. Cancer is one of those things. Though we can take action to do things that may, MAY, help prevent this deadly disease.
My sister in law Angie, gave me this incredible book titled,"Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life" By David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. I am not trying to push a book and I get nothing out of it except sharing information that I believe to be very valuable. I think that if you are active in your own healing process, then you are more likely to be healed. You have to want to help yourself. That is the only way one can truly be helped. Anyway, if you want to be more informed on cancer and diet, then this is a great book to read. It can't hurt! Right?
Okay. So if you were wondering how my avascular necrosis of the hip is doing, it is okay. I had an MRI done  a week ago and I see my ortho tomorrow. I am not sure what the next step will be. I guess I find out tomorrow.
Good news is that my leukemia is still in remission! Thank the Lord for big favors and little ones!
Love and hugs and God Bless,
Lisa~

Hello all. It has been way too long since my last post. Though not much has changed in terms of my Leukemia. Which is good and bad. My hips are still healing and I am still on the crutches. That's the bad. The good is that I am still in remission. Always the good.
The kids are doing well. Grace is playing basketball and improving every week! Jack just started hockey and has moved up to play with the kids older than he is. He'll be playing with them in the spring anyway so he was okay with joining them early. He is most definitely good enough that he won't have any problems!
I just wanted to give you a quick update. Not that there is much to talk about but it's great to know that no news is sometimes good news! God bless and keep praying.
Love and hugs,
Lisa~

Happy Veterans Day to all of you who have served our country and given us the freedom to live and love in the USA!!!