Starting High Dose Chemo

We ate out one last time last night at Hard Rock Cafe and walked around the city.  We had a great time celebrating the night before Jon's chemo.

Let me quickly update you on the neighbor situation.  We had a "meeting" with the 2 lady's below us last night (a daughter and her elderly mother).  The conversation did not go well.  Jon started it off and was very nice, told them our situation and told them we are trying our best to keep our kids either gone or quiet.  The daughter in particular was not very receptive.  So I of course was getting more and more mad.  Then I started crying and asking them if they had a clue what it was like to "fight for your life."  I explained that our kids do not have much of a mom or dad present in their lives right now and we are all doing the best we can.  Honestly, they didn't seem to care much about any of that except the "thumps" and screaming they hear.  So I was too upset and pretty much just left.  Jon of course was awesome through the whole thing as usual.  But it was funny when he told them we do not expect our kids to be perfect because no one is perfect except Jesus Christ.  They didn't seem to want to hear about that either.  Do pray I can calm down and make them cookies and be a witness.

Jon is currently sitting in a private room receiving his fluids.  The nurse has come in this morning and drawn labs.  We are waiting for results and then the chemo will be ordered.  (We just got results--PTL all his tumor markers are NORMAL!!  So pray this high dose will knock this cancer down for good)  We will be here until about 4 or 5 today.  He will receive the one drug, Etoposide over a 2 hour period.  The carboplatum will be given over 30 minutes.  He will also receive pre-meds.  And then 4 hours of fluids.

These are the things we are praying for:

1.  That God will guide each nurse, doctor, pharmacist, etc that is in charge of handling his care.

2.  That God will get glory through this.    Jon is taking EVERY opportunity to share with people he comes in contact with about His Savior.  Jon was already amazing before this but I've seen God work in his life and CHANGE him.  It has been awesome to watch and he will surely never be the same.  Good lesson for all of us whether or not we are faced with a potentially fatal disease.  Share Christ with others!!

3.  Jon will feel minimal side effects and the ones he has can be controlled with meds.

One thing that I'm learning is what it means to help others and reach out!  I will never pass up another opportunity again.  All of you have been amazing.  Jon is SOO encouraged by the outpouring of love, support, and prayers you all have sent his way.  This is a HUGE encouragement to him.  He is amazed at the response with his shirts.  What a blessing that over 800 people will be standing with him through this (and we know there is more than that that are not ordering shirts).  I know I keep the money being raised on the DL but we are also grateful for that.  I don't think it is any secret that this is a huge financial cost and Jon is the breadwinner of the family--and obviously not currently working.  This obviously helps to keep him stress free which is our goal:o)



I will leave you with one thing:

This is what Jon received in the mail the other day!  He was very happy!  He also received a personal email from Chuck Pagano.  It was so encouraging and uplifting.  Coach Pagano (Head Football Coach for the Indianapolis Colts) talked about his faith through his cancer ordeal (he was treated at IU about a year ago).  In it he states that a close friend of his told him to ask God to heal him each morning and night.  Then the friend told him to start thanking God for healing him long before he was ever in remission.  So let's start THANKING God for Jon's healing!!!!