Rachel here, pretty self explanatory by the the pictures, that today- is the day...
This is a necklace that my Aunt had made for me. Its says "I can do hard things"
Diane here, Rachel and I cried today but we are not alone. Each day we learn and grow from others who are also fighting the battle of cancer, it does not discriminate. Today we saw a baby that was first diagnosed at 6 weeks old. Today we also got to read about the amazing support that continues to grow for Rach, via this Daily Herald article.
I look at the pictures and I see purity, beauty and the sweetest strength ever! You've got your mothers and grandmothers eyes,,, so lovely! The necklace is perfect for you too, so great to have your motto so close to your heart. If you save your hair in a ziplock bag or something, I'll fill a pretty pillow for you, or do as my grandfather did with my grandmothers hair,,, he had a chin rest made for his violin! We hope you get the rest you need and stay focused on your fight. We love you and your family dearly and you're always in our hearts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteYou have done many hard things, especially now that you have passed the halfway point for your treatment. We are praying for you to have strength as you finish the rest of your treatments.
ReplyDeleteLove, Abigail and Susannah
You can do hard things <3
aww, Rach, you're still gorgeous, even without hair!
ReplyDeleteI think that is GREAT what the school is doing! hang in there Rachel! I think about and pray for you often! Keep on rockin'!
She looks great!!! I really can't tell she's lost any hair.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/user/taliajoy18?feature=CBAQwRs%3D
ReplyDeleteIm praying for you!!(:
i have the coolest twin in the world!
ReplyDeleteGiven how much you are loved and supported, I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see a bunch of guys at Orem High shave their heads. And you never know...maybe even a few girls or even teachers.
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to live by "I can do hard things" in my own challenges. I did okay for awhile but then gave up again. I've got to try harder. You do inspire me!
Uhgggg!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNo words for this side effect!!! No fun at all! Diane and Rachel, I'm sitting here with my 10 year old daugher. She is currently undergoingg a 48 hour EEG at home. She may be suffering from a seizure disorder. We are close to the end of this test and she is sick of it!! Wires everywhere on her head sticky glue! We have been following your blog and we just saw this post.... She looked at what you are dealing with and said OK I can deal with these wires! I want to be strong like Rachel! :-)YOU are helping so many Rachel!!!! Stay strong my friend!
Sending hugs from California!!
I love you rachie! You are beautiful! Who needs hair when they have a face and personality like you!?
ReplyDeleteDiane, I forgot to ask in my above comment where on earth did your aunt find that wonderful necklace??? I would love to buy one for my daughter.
ReplyDeletePraying for you! Stephanie c.
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Deletewildwirewest.com 214 679 6187 Mark is his name. Just mention my uncle (Kendall) and aunts (Rori)name (from Idaho)and he should remember making it for them.
DeleteYou are so beautiful, hair won't make much of a difference to how pretty you are. When your hair does grow back through it will be healthy and stunning.
ReplyDeleteOne of my close friends went through a similar thing and she is now in recovery. I think what you are doing is so strong and amazingly confident. Never for a second doubt yourself because you are truly amazing.
X x Molly x X
You are beautiful with or without hair!!
ReplyDeleteOf course my phone was acting up and my comment got deleted but in short-you are amazing and so inspiring how you handle life, your parents must be incredibly proud!!! When you have time check out "talia castellano" on you tube, super cute young girl battling cancer, she has embraced her shaved head and does amazing make up tutorials :)
ReplyDeleteyou are such a beautiful girl, inside and out-- and I don't even know you! THank you for your courage and your optimism. I truly look up to you!
ReplyDeleterach. you are INCREDIBLE!!! i admire you so much it's crazy!! i love you girl! and so does Heavenly Father. i know that for a fact. you are such an champ!!! keep your head up baby girl!!
ReplyDeleteYou are beautiful! I'm inspired by your strength... I think of you daily... Sending you big hugs...
ReplyDeleteRachel, I will be praying for you. Amen we have an absolutly great God. I hope to meet you in Heaven. I love you
ReplyDeletexoxo Lacey
Personally, I think that hair is overrated...and look on the bright side, you won't have to shave your legs! Yahoo!
ReplyDeleteYou are gorgeous, and people will be able to see your beautiful soul through your eyes....you are already sharing that part of yourself through your words. I read the newspaper article, I think it is absolutely amazing how Orem High School is being pulled together because of you...you are bringing people together that may have never taken the time to get to know one another! I like to count things like that as "Tender Mercies", I like to write them down, to look at during the hard times. Tender Mercies are everywhere, but you have to look for them, expect that they will be there, and then acknowledge them. I know that this won't be hard for you, because you already see the positive side of things. Please take the time to write them down on a calendar or in a journal, I promise you that it will come in handy and help you on a day when it's hard to see anything positive. "Just keep swimming!"
i found out about you because of yourcousin from @cutegirlshairstyles.
ReplyDeleteyou are really pretty
Dear Rachel and Diane,
ReplyDeleteI love you both so much. May my hugs, prayers and support travel the distance so you will feel it from me.
Love,
Shannon Swain
Thank you for the necklace info :-)
ReplyDeleteAnother great blog to follow is "lilblueboo"
Once on the blog click on cancer chronicals.
The blog follows a young moms journey against all odds cancer!
She is now doing wonderful!
~Stephanie from california
how you find the courage to still smile while holding your hair in your hands I don't know, but I do know that you are beautiful and you inspire me.
ReplyDeleteOkay, so many things come to mind with the hair thing. My aunt had straight, lifeless hair, starting to turn gray, before her chemo. Then when it came back it was dark and curly. She was thrilled. My sister's hair came back with the exact same salt and pepper color and her familiar cowlicks. When she had lost so much that she decided that she'd need to cover it up anyway she had her daughter, Emily, shave her head. Emily took it much harder than her mom and cried the whole time but she wanted to be the one to do it. My sister also learned how to do her makeup from a support group she was in at the hospital to make up for the loss of her brows and lashes. And she had a wigmaker use a picture to make her a wig that looked like her natural hair. And one more hair thing. I remember seeing some beautiful framed pieces, I think in Nauvoo, which had been made from hair that had been twisted, knotted and shaped into elaborate designs. I couldn't tell it was hair until I looked very closely, curious about what form of lacemaking it was. So, those are the first things that came to my mind. Take what you want from it. And I agree with everyone else. It's not your hair that makes you beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI came across your page through cutegirlhairstyles on youtube. I've read all your blogs. You are such a strong and beautiful girl. Every time I read a post by you, I think of this verse from the Bible. "For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13) Keep your head up and continue to believe that God has an amazing plan!
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you remember me or not but I am Rori and Kendall's daughter and I have been getting regular updates from my mom about you. You have been in our prayers and you are a great example of faith and endurance in our home as you go through this trial. I want to thank you for that, you are such an amazing girl with so much to offer in life, thank you for sharing yourself with all of us and teaching us so much. Stay strong, we love you!
LeeAnn
Hi Rachel, I know you don't know me, but I am Shelby Snelgrove's sister. I think you both ran together. I just want to let you know that I think you are amazing, and that your faith through all of this is a great example to me. Thank you for simply being who you are.
ReplyDeleteRemember to keep your chin up, and also that my family is thinking of you, and you are in our prayers.
-Aubrey
Rachel, i'll shave my head if you shave yours! Seriously ;) after i have babies i lose tons of hair, so i like to go super short, i bet you would rock short hair! Sometimes i do a faux hawk and that's fun... you're halfway there right? You CAN do hard things!! We're praying for you!
ReplyDeleteThe kids miss you. They pray for you every night. Can't believe you got locked on the deck! We don't keep that door locked from the inside anymore:) when you get back it won't happen again!
ReplyDeleteRachel, I don't know if you will remember us but we used to be in your ward before we moved to Wisconsin. My husband, I believe, taught your Sunday school class. We heard your news and have been praying for you!! What an inspiration you are; so full of faith and optimism! You are a special daughter of God and it is very clear He knows and loves you. Hugs from Wisconsin!! --Meghan and Kody Staples :)
ReplyDeleteRachel, Hannah Gould's sister here! I am not going through cancer, but had my open heart surgery a few weeks ago and have been in and out of the hospital ever since. I just know firsthand how crappy this all can be! I just cried when I read your posts because of my own struggles and I just want you to know that I have thought of you for strength many times when I was going through some difficult things. They have had me on high doses of steroids as well and many painful situations and I just always think of you to give me a little boost. You have done so much to inspire others, me included, that we can do hard stuff! Remember to let yourself have a little cry every once in while when you are there being so brave. And know I am thinking of you and praying for you often, even if we don't know each other, I feel connected to you in some sort of way when I read all that you are going through. Take care girly!
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Paula i'm 22 years old and I'm from Chile (SouthAmerica, and I speak spanish :P)and don't have any health problems but I'm inspire by you and your attitud!
ReplyDeleteI come to know about you because of Mindi's webpage, and I read your story, and I'm impressed! you're such a strong woman,and you're struggling with so much.
I know God knows why things happen, and I'm really happy that you know that you can count on Him... and I'm sure this is some kind of mission you got, especially as I read the coments above, I realize that you inspire people, that you can help others with their own struggle.
I'll be praying for you and your family, and I'll keep reading your posts.
(I'd like to say so much more, but, as my natural language is spanish it is really difficult... I apologize if my english isn't good enough =S)
-Paula
As I sat here looking at your latest pictures and the information that was given, I see that my problems aren't problems at all. My stress is really nothing for I have 7 beautiful healthy children. But my Pastor's granddaughter is listed on Caringbridge. She has Escobar syndrome. She is the sweetest girl in the world. Her name is Holly and all who meet her love her. But she has struggled as you are struggling. We will pray for you as much as we can remember to. Thanks for being such an inspiration. May God bless you and keep you as you walk in your valley of the shadow of death, Fear no evil for the Lord is with you.
ReplyDeleteMichelle T., KY
I also found you from cutegirlhairtstyles on youtube. :) love the site so much. Thank you Mindy and Thank you CGH #3. Maybe one day your wish will come true!!!!
DeleteMichelle T.
Your spirit glows, Rachel! Whatever happens, you keep that smile on, no matter what. It's makes you magical, and brings out your best.
ReplyDeleteWe are behind you. Your cheering sections keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Rachel,
ReplyDeleteYou are sooooo pretty! Idk what to say! your family is so sweet! love Mindy and her family! you are being prayed for!!
Even though you may feel weak, and scared. I KNOW THAT GOD IS WATCHING OUT FOR YOU. You've probably heard this a hundred times but i know that it's true.
ReplyDeleteLove you Rachel girl! Keep going strong! You are constantly in my prayers!
ReplyDelete