Greetings from Casa de Coursey! The past couple of months have steadily been slipping away. Summer is long gone and only a few days of autumn remain here in the lower mainland of British Columbia. Winter is hard for this Florida/Arizona girl to embrace. Give me ALL the sunshine!!
Here are some highlights since our last post.
We had family visit!! My Uncle Terry and Aunt Jennifer came to visit us at the beginning of October. We enjoyed a lovely week with them and were able to drive to Lillooet and show them our home. We were sad to see them go but we were left feeling well loved. Thank you both SO much for the time shared together. Love you!
We were invited to attend some fun events!
We attended Aubrey’s circus which was her Make-A-Wish. Aubrey is a sweet three year old girl who wanted her very own circus and be able to invite all her oncology friends. We were so honored to get to share in her wish day! So fun!
The Toronto Raptors put on a fair for BCCH families. There were games, some prizes and lots of tall basketball players! Thank you Raptors!
The BCCH Foundation gave us tickets to a local junior hockey league game. Apparently Michael Bublé is part owner of the Giants and has a suite that is reserved for BCCH families. We were able to invite 8 friends and were so glad the Kettners could join us! Coral and Howard have been such a blessing to us. Thank you guys, it was fun!
Octobers can be hard for me as there have been several losses throughout the month over the years, but what a blessing that on the last day of the month I am reminded of God’s faithfulness by being able to celebrate my first born child’s birthday. This year Nico turned 7! We were able to go home for almost a whole week and celebrate with our friends who also have a son that shares the same birthday as Nico. And we got to take some birthday/family pictures by the super talented and wonderful Kayla Lee. Can’t wait to see how they turned out!
This past Friday night some interesting meetings started at a church near us with a speaker that Nico has come to really enjoy. Because we’ve had quite a lot of church at home this year, we’ve been watching the 3ABN channel which broadcasts a kids series of meetings by Doug Bachelor. This week he is doing a series of nightly meetings that go over where we are in Biblical prophecy. Nico has been enjoying the live presentations. You can check it out here!
And tomorrow will hopefully kick off week 37 of treatment which will be Nico’s LAST (as in no more never, ever again, please Lord!) five day chemo!!! After this week he will have one easy chemo and one overnight chemo left. We are steps away from the finish line… maybe. There is a chance that the tumor board (all the oncologists, radiation, surgeons and other specialists involved in treatment) will recommend 6 months of maintenance chemo for Nico. Up until recently, low dose maintenance chemotherapy at the end of the initial treatment has not (and still is not officially) the standard of care for the treatment of Rhabdomyosarcoma. But because new research out of Europe has indicated a significant reduction in relapse with the addition of the maintenance protocol, Nico’s oncologist will be bringing this up at his tumor board review. Nick and I have conflicting emotions. A very big part of us wants to be completely done with chemo. And yet we also want to make sure we are doing whatever we can to minimize the chances for relapse. (We are planning to work with our naturopath and take steps on the natural front as well.) Thankfully, it appears we may be able to complete the maintenance while living back home in Lillooet. We should know more in the next few weeks. Please keep that in prayer. Nick and I have prayed that God would guide that decision and that it be His will.
We are looking forward to having family come and spend Thanksgiving with us. Nick’s mom, sister, brother-in-law and their girls (minus one- we are going to miss you Gabs!) will be coming as well as my mom, sister, brother-in-law and nephew. The weather may be cold here now but the love that radiates from our family and friends warms our hearts daily. We praise God for you all. ❤
Courage for Nico 
Thanks for sharing the highlights that have helped make your journey a little easier. So thankful you’ve not walked alone and there have been some green pastures and still waters along the way. Praise God for His comfort, goodness and mercy and we so look forward to your return home hugs to you all. Our thoughts and prayers are with you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
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God has shown His faithfulness through many ways. We are especially thankful for the support from our BLC church family. Looking forward to worshipping together again soon! Miss y’all!
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I am so happy for you and Nico, and I will continue to pray as this journey comes to an end. It is so wonderful to see the photos and hear highlights from your lives. I wish you all the best in the coming weeks and the most happy Thanksgiving! ❤ God bless you all.
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Thanks so much Jacqui! ❤
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We are so thrilled that this journey is almost over for your family. As much as we’ve enjoyed having you as a part of our family, and we will miss you very much, we know your eager to get home. I love your boys like they are my own grandchildren and I want you to know that you guys have been a huge blessing to me – watching you go through this experience with such a positive attitutude, with smiles on your faces all the time, is an inspiration! Hugs and love to you all – here’s to the end and a new beginning.
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Praying that this can be the end of Chemo for Nico, we have not stopped praying for him and ya’ll, Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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