Keeping Kolby

Every child with a life threatening disease under the age of 18, gets to have a Make-A-Wish. I was sooo excited to be able to do this. For mine I either wanted to meet a celebrity or go on a cruise. In the end I chose a cruise because it was something my parents could enjoy as well. I wasn’t the only one in my family going through this trial of cancer. My parents had to see their daughter suffer and had to take close care of me. To me, they deserved a Wish just as much as I did. And....going on a cruise is most definitely not something to be complaining about ;) It was a 7 day eastern carribbean cruise on the Royal Caribbean: Oasis of the Seas ship on August 12 th through the 20th. It is the LARGEST ship in the WORLD. It was sooo cool. It had lots of pools, a rock climbing wall, a flow rider, a zip line, high-diving stunters, water shows, ice skating rink, and so much more. Being a "wish" patient, we got many perks on the ship. Such as being able to do ...

Well, here I am at the doctor's office having a consultation appointment to have my port removed. My port is where my chemo was administered. I am having it removed! Yay!!! I am having my port removed on August 3rd! I can't wait. This port has been with me for over a year, and I will not miss it one bit. I still have to have my blood drawn once a month and they will just have to draw my blood the old fashion way (through my arm). I also have to have scans every three months for the next 5 years to make sure that I stay cancer free. But parting with my port is a good thing. I will be able to do anything I want now. I wanted to have my port removed before I go on my Make a Wish Cruise this month. Even though I do not look forward to the surgery....I am so thankful that I can say goodbye to my port!

This year our ward had Ward Camp. So we went to Provo, Utah and stayed in one of our leaders condos. It may not sound like camping....and we didn't sleep in tents, but everything that we did was amazing, and we couldn't have experienced what we did if we were camping out somewhere in the wilderness. We felt the spirit so strong everyday several times. It was an amazing girls camp, and one that I will never ever forget. Here I am climbing Mount Timpanogos. It was a pretty strenuous 3 mile hike up to the caves. It was breathtaking, hard, and worth the climb. I did it! (Oops, I forgot to change the date on my camera...my bad!) Here we are, we had just climbed Ensign Point. The Warm Springs Ward Girls at Temple Square. "This is the Place" where Brigham Young told the saints where the Lord wanted them to settle and build the Salt Lake Temple. Ensign Peak. Just about to go down the Provo River with my bestie cousin Drew. Warm Springs Ward girls and leaders about to go ...

Jeff, Bentley, Kylie, Dad, Kristi, Me, and My Mom. My sisters and I! The Whole Fam Damily! (Mannions, Thorntons, Burrs, and Cramptons) I am so glad to be here for another 4th of July! Last year I was so sick, and this year I am feeling great. My family and I went to the Las Vegas Country Club (thanks gramps!) for a BBQ and a great firework show. Here I am with my amazing family celebrating another great and healthy year!

Kolby has finally decided that it was time for her to hang up her wig and start going out with her real hair. Kolby's hair loss was very emotional and private. She would not like to talk about it and she never ever wanted to leave the house unless she was wearing her hair piece and hat. Her hair is growing back so dark and just darling. She is feeling confident enough, so we went and had some professional pictures taken and now she is finally allowing me to post some pics of her new hairdo. She is just adorable. I am so proud of you Kolby!

Today we learned that I am cancer free. I had my first body scan after not receiving chemo and I am officially cancer free! I feel so good. I have been going to the gym every day and eating healthier than ever and I feel wonderful! I am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to stay on this earth a little longer with my family and friends. I so appreciate my healthy body more than ever. I know that for every three months for the next five years I will have to have more body scans to make sure this sneaky cancer doesn't return, and I know there is a chance it may come back, but for now I am going to celebrate each moment that I have living a good and clean life. I am so thankful for the gospel in my life, for my family, friends, nurses and doctors who played a huge role in my life this past year. I know that bad things happen to good people to make them better and I am a better person because of this trial. I will never give up hope, and I know there is always a rainbow ...