In 1939 the Ministry of Information (MOI) department was formed in Great Britain and was responsible for publicity and propaganda during World War II.  By July of 1940,  enemy war bombers and fighter planes filled the skies above England.  The Netherlands, Belgium, and France had already fallen, and the war machine was now aimed at Britain.

To calm fears of an impending invasion, the MOI printed a number of morale boosting posters to serve as a rallying cry to bring out the best in its citizenry. One of them, written in white capital letters on a brilliant red background with King George’s crown at the top, read "KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.”   Mercifully the invasion of England never occurred, and the posters saw limited distribution.

Nearly 60 years later, one of the original posters was found in an old English bookstore. Suddenly, the call to "keep calm and carry on” had new life. The message of resilience has since resounded in the hearts of people everywhere. Who's life has not taken unexpected turns? Who hasn’t faced days of disappointment, discouragement, and loss, or had to address seemingly insurmountable challenges?

These five words are a quiet, calm, authoritative voice of reason suggesting we downplay the drama, keep steady, exercise restraint, and rely on the strength within, as well as prayers to our Father above to keep going. 

 While she senses an urgency to accomplish a few tasks, for the most part Cindy has adopted this slogan as her own.  Radiation seems to be taking it's toll and she finds herself tired, nauseated, suffering from the occasional headache and having general feeling of being disconnected.  But none of these symptoms keeps her down.  She is truly AMAZING.

Last weekend two of her sisters came up from Arizona for a much needed visit.  They were able to stay several days and help Cindy with some tasks that sisters can do best.  But most importantly, time was spent hugging, crying, laughing and cheering.  

Ali and Chloe arrived Monday, thanks to the generous support of Ali's husband, Jordan, and mother-in-law, Michelle.  Chloe adds a dose of new life that is desperately needed around here.  We can hardly wait for Stella and Anton to join her on Wednesday!  Of course we are equally excited to welcome Jason and Erica, but there is something special about a grandchild.

This past Thursday 4 of the 9 Adams boys arrived to rally round their baby sister.  For those unaware, Cindy is the youngest of 13 children, 9 boys, 4 girls.  In addition 2 of my own sisters came running.  The other night we all gathered, along with Reedo's sister and brother-in-law, for an Alaskan Salmon bbq.  There was salmon, grilled zucchini, steak, corn on the cob, potatoes. watermelon, salad and chocolate pecan caramel bars.  Yummers.  The boys cooked and we all ate and ate and ate and finally stopped when we were so full we couldn't move.  Her brothers continued to feed her soul.

 They dug up old dirt and set down new soil and then planted flowers, which her sisters had helped her pick out, along her front sidewalk.  Her garden drip system is now working like a charm.    I even benefited and got my front lights, which broke in the December '11 windstorm, reattached to the wall.  A few plumbing items were fixed as well.  LeGrand, Ed and Jim had to return home to Arizona on Monday, but Don, from Alaska, remains and spends his days mostly in the yard and garden.  Cindy's favorite spots.

After Cindy's normal daily radiation treatment Thursday we met with her Radiation Oncologist.  He gave her a little medication to take when she needs it to help with nausea.  Then he asked her to see if she could curl her toes on her left foot.  I wanted to jump out of my seat when I saw her tiny toes bend ever so slightly.  Dr. Harris, who has the most calm demeanor there is, smiled broadly and said "That's good.  That is really good!"  Being able to curl her toes gives a good indication that the radiation treatments are working on shrinking those nasty lesions.  Later that afternoon, Cindy and Reed met with another doctor who will be performing the biopsy on the tumor in her lung.  It was decided that the RFA would not be done on this lesion right now.  Instead, it will be used as a "marker" during chemotherapy treatment. Once it is determined that the right drugs are being used, and the cancer cells begin to be destroyed, they can readdress removing it.

Sunday was bittersweet as Cindy was released from her calling as the Relief Society President for our ward.  She will now be able to put every bit of energy into addressing her "bucket list", as she calls it without feeling the guilt of putting less energy into the needs of the ward.  She of course, will continue her care, concern and contact with all because that is just part of her being; but she will not have the burden of stewardship that the calling demands.

All in all it has been a pretty fantastic week.  Time seems to be flying too quickly. Getting through with the radiation in the next week and a half will be welcomed.  In the meantime, we will keep steady with the mantra:  "Keep Calm and Carry On!"

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ps.  fyi Cori gave Cindy a journal to keep a record of her thoughts, feelings, instructions, etc., during her journey.  The cover displays this slogan.  And another friend recently gave her a carry bag with the same poster screen printed on it.

Hard things are put in our way, not to stop us, but to call out our courage and strength.

Courage and Strength, along with Faith, Hope and Love are needed.  I reach down to the bottom of my soul and ask that all may be given to us. 
About a month ago, Cindy started noticing a few things that were not quite right with her body.  Every so often bright lights would flash in front of her eyes, then, slowly her left foot began to bother her. It was just a bit at first.  She wasn't able to keep her flip-flops on, and soon she was unable to curl her toes.  Her left hand would shake occasionally and her speech would slur, but so slightly that Cindy was the only one who noticed.

It was probably just a pinched nerve!  Right!?  That’s what we hoped but logic told us it was something more.  A good friend and neighbor arranged to have the first of many tests run, and ruled out the “pinched” nerve.  Suspecting much more he ordered a CT scan and quietly placed a call to Cindy's Oncologist.  That scan revealed horror. 

A number of lesions were found in her brain.  One is attached to the optical nerve, causing the flashing lights, another is affecting her motor skills in her foot and hand.  There is another which could trigger seizures, although she's had none, but it has prohibited her from being able to drive. The lesions are numerous and significant in size.  The next day a full body scan revealed a tumor in her right lung as well as on the lymph nodes behind.  

The breast cancer, which she fought so valiantly to defeat, has reared its ugly head and spread.

…

I cannot describe the sorrow that hovers over us.  The cancer is inoperable.  It is incurable.  But the Good Lord has not abandoned us, because it is treatable and there is hope for some time to be granted. 
The first treatment plan will be radiation to her brain.  For nearly three weeks radioactive waves will be directed to the lesions in her brain.  The goal is to shrink those lesions.  They will not go away but it is possible for them to be reduced, for a time, minimizing the impact they have on her body. 

A Radiofrequency Ablation or RFA will be performed on the lesion in her lung.  This is where a beam of radiation is used instead of surgery in order to remove a tumor.  Basically the tumor is heated up enough to burn the cancer cells and destroy them.  This type of treatment works well on lung tumors. The alternative, besides surgery would also include chemotherapy.  But chemotherapy cannot be started until the radiation process is complete.  That delay could allow this already large tumor to continue to grow and inhibit the ability to breath freely, so RFA is a good thing. As with any medical procedure there are risks, but it seems that the benefit will out weigh the risk in this case.

Once radiation is complete then a regimen of chemotherapy using a pill called Xeldoa will begin.  This form of chemotherapy will give Cindy mobility instead of being tethered to an intravenous dosage.  There is much she wants to accomplish and the mobility factor is welcomed.

There is so much more involved, but for now I will keep it simple.  I personally believe in miracles and am praying for one.  More specifically I am praying that the radiation treatments will be effective.  That the lesions will shrink and become “quiet”.  That the side effects will be minimal.  I pray that Cindy and Reed, as well as Jason, Erica, Stella, Anton, Deven, Ali, Jordan, Chloe, and Meg will be granted Courage and Strength.  Please add your prayers, faith, hope and love.

Posted by Libby Hansen