Hey everyone,
This is Jon writing. Let me first start out by apologizing. I am truly sorry for not updating the blog in the last four weeks. You all probably thought the Strebe family had fallen off the face of the earth. Quite the contrary, the Strebe family had entered paradise, which we like to call home!!! I know you know what I am talking about. Even when you go on vacation, it is always a great moment when you pull into the driveway, and are home. Well it was especially sweet, after having spent two months in a foreign city, living in a building where some of the people around us didn't want us there, and having to be there because you have cancer was just not most people's idea of fun. It was great, Donna was driving everyone back to the apartment from CBS on a Thursday and it was snowing! It was October 25th, and it was snowing!!! Craziness! Two days later Donna was pulling everyone into the driveway in 81 degree temperatures. I knew there was a reason we live where we live.
Since coming back home, we have thoroughly enjoyed our home, and the area that we live in on a whole new level! We consider it such a blessing from God to have the house we have, and live in the place that we live. We are appreciating everything at a whole new level! As soon as we arrived, it was like someone had flipped a switch for our kids, and they turned into brand new children that we hadn't seen for over two months. The change was certainly for the better. And let me reassure you that the change was not just for the kids, the adults too instantly became different! We have enjoyed watching our kids play in the front yard, play in the back yard, drive their battery powered vehicles all over the place, go to the park, eat at "our" Chick Fil A and countless other activities. We have gone to the beach, gotten burned :), enjoyed spending time with friends we had not seen for months, and just plain loved getting back to a "normal" life.
I also must say that I just celebrated my 37th birthday. Let me just tell you that this birthday meant just a little bit more than some of the other ones. Usually, as you get older, birthdays just aren't quite as fun anymore. Well, for this guy, birthdays just got a little more special. Funny how your perspective changes on even the little things in life. My sweet wife took me to Jacksonville where we shopped till we dropped (yes I actually like shopping), stayed at the Hyatt on the river (gorgeous view), walked on the beach, and ate dinner at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island the next day. What an awesome birthday! It truly was perfect! Thank you honey! I truly have the best wife on the planet!
Let me also update you on my health situation. God has totally blessed me in this way. Starting with the second round of high dose chemo, my doctors and nurses all told us that the second round could very possibly be easier than the first round. My response, was "no way"! Well, as it turned out it was easier! Since being home I have gotten to a place where doing P90X might actually be a possibility again. My energy is back to normal as is my appetite. I am even gaining a little weight, albeit the wrong kind of weight, but weight nonetheless.
So, that brings me to this week. Here is the schedule so you all can continue to pray. First and foremost, please continue to pray that no matter what, God's will is being done in our lives, as well as the lives of the people around us. Donna and I will fly back up to Indianapolis on Tuesday. We will meet with my oncologist and the thoracic surgeon on Wednesday, and have surgery on Thursday. My last scan revealed that although my body responded positively to the high dose chemo, there was still a spot left on my right lung, and 2-3 smaller spots on my left lung. The surgeon will go in with the intention of scoping the right lung and removing the spot which could be scar tissue or live cancer. If he can't remove everything through the scope, they will then have to cut me open. This will move our time in Indy from a 2-3 day stay in the hospital, and 2 days beyond for monitoring, to a 6-7 day stint in the hospital and another couple days of monitoring.
If what is removed is found to be scar tissue, we believe that the doctors will recommend watching the right side through the use of CT scans. If what is removed is found to be cancer, we will more than likely go back to Indy in a month to remove what remains on the left side. Again, pray that God's will be done, no matter what it is. However, also pray that it is not cancer, and that they can remove the spot through scoping, rather than cutting. That would allow us to be home for Thanksgiving rather than having to spend it away from our kids, family, and friends.
We continue to trust that God is working in our lives, and that He continues to work in us and through, using this time in our lives, and using this challenge for His glory, to affect others for Him! We don't understand the continued struggle that we are faced with, but know that it is not our place to ask why. We press on as a family, steadfast in the knowledge that our God who is omnipotent, and omniscient, has already gone before us this week, and knows everything that is about to occur. Thank you to each one of you who continues to ride this roller coaster with us. We love and appreciate each one of you, and the support that you have shown our family in so many different ways.
A couple of reminders. We have opened up t-shirt sales again. This will go for about 6 more days. A lot of you have asked so I feel confident we will get to 50. Here is the link
http://www.bonfirefunds.com/jon-and-donna-strebe
Also. If you have not taken the time to listen to Jon speak at the church in Indy, please do. It will be worth your time. Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjAFCcdBXNM
Also, here is a link to the prayer wall leading up to Jon's surgery. Thanks!
Prayer Wall for Jon
2 comments:
Amazing words and testimony, Jon. We will not stop praying and sending our love. Covering you from AZ this week, Amy and the entire AZ fam :)
Jon, great update! We have not met, but my husband and I and our kids know Donna (she taught both of them in elementary school at Providence...both have since graduated from college)...and we have been praying all along the journey and will continue! I wanted to encourage you. We don't always know what goes on behind the scenes of our lives but God is always at work, doing more to provide for our needs than we even know to ask for. I wanted to mention that while I know your first neighbors in Indy did not want you there and were unkind ( which is very sad and unfortunate), there were and are many other folks in Indy who have been praying for you since you got there, and will be praying this week as you have surgery! Just last week, Dr. John Isch and his wife, Mary, asked about you and said they were praying. He was chief of surgery at St. Vincent's Hospital before retiring and knows many in the medical community there...lots of Christian docs in Indy. Donna and her Mom met John and Mary when they came to bring dinner one evening. You were very sick that night. Turns out they have a mutual friend where Donna's Mom works (small world ). Dr. Isch also knows Dr. Einhorn well. Initially when I heard y'all were going to Indy, I asked several friends there to pray, and they responded by emailing other local friends. Donna met a few of them, Kathy Smith and her daughter, Jen....and another friend, Lisa Miller, who arranged and brought some meals. I'm sure there were others. I just wanted you to be encouraged by that and to know that there are friends (you haven't met) there in Indy who are glad you came :) and in Georgia, too, who haven't forgotten you and who are still checking on you and still praying! Wearing my t-shirt proudly for the battle! #Godstrong
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