Dr. Einhorn stopped by this morning and the best pathologist here at IU looked through what was taken out of Jon's lungs and found NOTHING but necrotic material (scar tissue). We are just OVERJOYED. 11 months--first good news we have heard!
Jon got one chest tube taken out yesterday. He will have his epidural taken out today. And the 2nd and final chest tube taken out tomorrow. Should be discharged from the hospital tomorrow (Sunday). He is feeling awesome, just a little tired I think from the pain medicines. He walked this morning and said he felt really great! Also, when we asked Dr. Einhorn about the 2 remaining spots, he said we are leaving them alone because "there is no way they are anything but scar tissue." Love his confidence! Also Jon will NOT have to be on 3 months of oral chemo. The great news just keeps coming!
So we will be in Indianapolis until next week, we will come back here (IU) for a follow up from surgery next month and then in January for another chest x-ray and blood work and an exam.
Again, please continue to pray for Jon's recovery. It is weird to have had surgery on both lungs at the same time. Also, please pray that there is not one bit of cancer remaining! When you live this life as a cancer patient or the spouse/family of a cancer patient you feel like you live from scan to scan. Because we have already been through this starting 7 years ago, we know the stress that lies ahead especially the first year of scans. So please pray that we will continue to trust in God and not let fears creep in.
For now…
The Strebe's continue to be…
GODSTRONG!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Thursday, November 21, 2013
PRAYERS ARE BEING ANSWERED! KEEP THEM UP!
We received such great news! I just spoke with the doctor.
They got all 3 spots with the scope. PRELIMINARY frozen results show ONLY SCAR TISSUE!!! There are those 2 spots remaining that are embedded. They left them alone. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as Jon continues his journey through this process. It is far from over but God is SOO GOOD!!
PRAISE GOD FOR:
Scar tissue (preliminary)
Seven thirty this morning God continues to do a miracle in Jon's life
Surgeon said everything went GREAT! God was definitely with that team.
Scoping! Much faster recovery and less pain for Jon!
I am telling you all this and its weird that Jon has no idea this news…LOL
But he is going to be so happy!! Can't wait to tell him!
Thank you for praying. We are SO humbly grateful. DON'T STOP!! Prayers must continue. Jon still has a tough road to walk down. Scans every 2 months, oral chemo, etc.
But for now.
We Stay
GODSTRONG!
They got all 3 spots with the scope. PRELIMINARY frozen results show ONLY SCAR TISSUE!!! There are those 2 spots remaining that are embedded. They left them alone. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors as Jon continues his journey through this process. It is far from over but God is SOO GOOD!!
PRAISE GOD FOR:
Scar tissue (preliminary)
Seven thirty this morning God continues to do a miracle in Jon's life
Surgeon said everything went GREAT! God was definitely with that team.
Scoping! Much faster recovery and less pain for Jon!
I am telling you all this and its weird that Jon has no idea this news…LOL
But he is going to be so happy!! Can't wait to tell him!
Thank you for praying. We are SO humbly grateful. DON'T STOP!! Prayers must continue. Jon still has a tough road to walk down. Scans every 2 months, oral chemo, etc.
But for now.
We Stay
GODSTRONG!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Prayer Request-- 5xS AND wear your GODSTRONG shirts tomorrow if you can!
Here are the 5 main prayer request:
Scope
Scar tissue
Surgeon and his team.
Save Jon's life!
Seven-thirty AM
Jon and I met with his oncologist and surgeon (Dr. Kessler) today. We found out some "new" news. First of all the GOOD news. Jon's tumor markers are NORMAL! YEA!! Also, Jon evidently has 5 nodules. 1 bigger one on his right, and 4 smaller ones on the left. The surgeon is 80-90% sure he can get all 3 with the scope (all tomorrow which is new news). The other 2 are embedded in his lung. If they find out through the path report the 3 removed are scar tissue they will leave the embedded ones alone. IF it were to be cancer they would have to remove the lobe of the left lung at a later date. PLEASE, PLEASE pray that they find scar tissue tomorrow. We will not know the results until next week. Also we are a little more anxious since they will be doing surgery on both lungs. Please continue to pray for protection for Jon.
The surgery is at 7:30AM. It will last hopefully a couple of hours.
I love how God encourages all of us in little ways. This was no accident. Total God thing. I'm not sure if most of you know that Jon is a high school basketball referee. His dream one day is to be able to referee on the college level. One of the questions Jon asked the surgeon today was when he would be able to referee again. The surgeon asked what level he refereed (I'm sitting there thinking he asked because he wanted to know how hard he actually ran up and down the court). Well, it was because another one of his patients that was in the room beside us is a Big 10 referee for Men's Basketball! Not only that, the doctor wanted Jon to go over to his room and meet him. Dr. Kessler introduced Jon to him and not only that, but the Big 10 referee gave the doctor permission to give Jon his information so Jon could contact him! We serve such a BIG God that cares about us in EVERY way, even the small ways!
Jon is such a witness-- it's really cool to see. He makes such an impression on the people he comes in contact with. Dr. Einhorn and him hugged today and Dr. Einhorn said to Jon, "You are such a good man." I highly doubt he tells all his patients that. Also, Jon told Dr. Kessler that a lot of people are praying for him tomorrow and Dr. Kessler looked down, shook his head, looked back at Jon and said I really appreciate that. I see God using Jon in a Mighty way. Pray for everyone who comes in contact with Jon and his story! You are a part of telling his story for the Glory of God.
One last story. I signed up on the prayer wall for a slot for Luke (and me) and the twins (and me). I had SO much fun spending an hour with them praying for Jon, reading scripture about Jesus' healings and how we must go before Him and believe He can heal Jon, explaining what the prayer wall was, and making a little gift for Jon with them. I was thinking the other day about the fact that my goal was to do preschool with Luke this year at home. Well, that hasn't even come close to happening. You know, Luke may not can write one letter, know how to hold his pencil, know what sounds the letters make, etc, BUT he is learning more from living our lives and taking time to spend with God in prayer and studying Scripture than he could ever learn doing "school." And this is what life is all about. I would not take this time back at all! I would not change what we are going through. Because when I take a step back and see what God is doing in our family, and in our kids, I would not want this any other way! This will last for eternity and the kids, Jon and I are gaining more from this than we ever could be doing academics! I am grateful!
Please remember to order t-shirts if you still want one. Only 2 days left!
Just click on the link
http://www.bonfirefunds.com/jon-and-donna-strebe
The Strebe's are:
GODSTRONG
Scope
Scar tissue
Surgeon and his team.
Save Jon's life!
Seven-thirty AM
Jon and I met with his oncologist and surgeon (Dr. Kessler) today. We found out some "new" news. First of all the GOOD news. Jon's tumor markers are NORMAL! YEA!! Also, Jon evidently has 5 nodules. 1 bigger one on his right, and 4 smaller ones on the left. The surgeon is 80-90% sure he can get all 3 with the scope (all tomorrow which is new news). The other 2 are embedded in his lung. If they find out through the path report the 3 removed are scar tissue they will leave the embedded ones alone. IF it were to be cancer they would have to remove the lobe of the left lung at a later date. PLEASE, PLEASE pray that they find scar tissue tomorrow. We will not know the results until next week. Also we are a little more anxious since they will be doing surgery on both lungs. Please continue to pray for protection for Jon.
The surgery is at 7:30AM. It will last hopefully a couple of hours.
I love how God encourages all of us in little ways. This was no accident. Total God thing. I'm not sure if most of you know that Jon is a high school basketball referee. His dream one day is to be able to referee on the college level. One of the questions Jon asked the surgeon today was when he would be able to referee again. The surgeon asked what level he refereed (I'm sitting there thinking he asked because he wanted to know how hard he actually ran up and down the court). Well, it was because another one of his patients that was in the room beside us is a Big 10 referee for Men's Basketball! Not only that, the doctor wanted Jon to go over to his room and meet him. Dr. Kessler introduced Jon to him and not only that, but the Big 10 referee gave the doctor permission to give Jon his information so Jon could contact him! We serve such a BIG God that cares about us in EVERY way, even the small ways!
Jon is such a witness-- it's really cool to see. He makes such an impression on the people he comes in contact with. Dr. Einhorn and him hugged today and Dr. Einhorn said to Jon, "You are such a good man." I highly doubt he tells all his patients that. Also, Jon told Dr. Kessler that a lot of people are praying for him tomorrow and Dr. Kessler looked down, shook his head, looked back at Jon and said I really appreciate that. I see God using Jon in a Mighty way. Pray for everyone who comes in contact with Jon and his story! You are a part of telling his story for the Glory of God.
One last story. I signed up on the prayer wall for a slot for Luke (and me) and the twins (and me). I had SO much fun spending an hour with them praying for Jon, reading scripture about Jesus' healings and how we must go before Him and believe He can heal Jon, explaining what the prayer wall was, and making a little gift for Jon with them. I was thinking the other day about the fact that my goal was to do preschool with Luke this year at home. Well, that hasn't even come close to happening. You know, Luke may not can write one letter, know how to hold his pencil, know what sounds the letters make, etc, BUT he is learning more from living our lives and taking time to spend with God in prayer and studying Scripture than he could ever learn doing "school." And this is what life is all about. I would not take this time back at all! I would not change what we are going through. Because when I take a step back and see what God is doing in our family, and in our kids, I would not want this any other way! This will last for eternity and the kids, Jon and I are gaining more from this than we ever could be doing academics! I am grateful!
Please remember to order t-shirts if you still want one. Only 2 days left!
Just click on the link
http://www.bonfirefunds.com/jon-and-donna-strebe
The Strebe's are:
GODSTRONG
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Way long overdue update
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
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
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Two opportunities...
Hey everyone,
This is Mandy and Amybeth - friends of Donna and Jon's from Atlanta. We are so grateful for everyone who participated in the GODSTRONG shirts - buying shirts and sending in pictures - what an encouragement as you guys helped to raise 23,000. Thank-you!
We know everyone is concerned over Jon having to go back to IU for surgery. We also know that many of you must feel like we do - there isn't physically a lot we can "do" and that is a helpless feeling.
But there are two opportunities to walk with them leading into surgery that we wanted to make you aware of.
1. We have set up a 24 hour prayer wall for the week leading into surgery. If you would be willing to take an hour sometime the week of Jon's surgery please click this link and sign your name. If you hit enter after signing your name it will update automatically. You don't have to "save." If the date for surgery changes check back on this link as we will adjust the dates accordingly.
We would love 168 people to take ONE hour to intercede for Jon and Donna leading into surgery.
SECONDLY
2. Amybeth had a GODSTRONG blanket made for Jon.
We are going to put this blanket in several different locations over the next few weeks for people to pray over. We would love for you to stop by in the area where it is going to be - place your hands on the blanket - pray for Jon and Donna, and then sign it.
Below are the locations and "contact" people at those locations who are handling mailing, etc:
Atlanta area -
Providence Christian Academy (fun in the afternoon room)
Monday October 28-Wednesday October 30
contact: Mandy Chapman - twochapmans@gmail.com
Atlanta area -
NCF - Martha Nunnally
Thursday October 31-Friday, November 1
contact: Martha Nunnally - mnunnally@nationalchristian.
Hilton Head area -
Hilton Head Christian Academy - Sherry Bundy
Tuesday, November 5-Wednesday November 6
contact: Sherri Bundy - Sherribundy4@aol.com
Hilton Head area -
Riverview
Thursday, November 7-Friday, November 8
contact: Mandy Klepper - Mklepper@
Dallas area:
Sara Strebe (Gateway Frisco Church)
Monday, November 11-Tuesday November 12
contact: Sara Strebe - sarastrebe@yahoo.com
Arizona area
Sherry Saylor
Thursday, November 14-Friday, November 15
contact: Sherry Saylor - Rsfarms2@dishmail.net
Indiana:
Linda Dodson
Monday November 18-Wednesday November 20
contact: Linda Dodson - ldodsoncbs@att.net
It will end with the group in Indiana who will get it to Jon as he heads to surgery at IU November 21.
We want this blanket to be another symbol for Jon and Donna of people standing with them. We know we can't send the blanket to every place in this short amount of time. If you can't physically get to a location but you would like to sign the blanket please e-mail me or the contact person at your location and we will sign your name.
You can also e-mail me (Mandy) with any questions at twochapmans@gmail.com
Feel free to copy and paste this post into e-mail form to send on to people who may have missed it on the blog.
Thanks everyone,
Sean and Mandy Chapman
Brian and Amybeth Skinner
Monday, October 21, 2013
CT results
Jon had his CT scan and we got results from Dr. Einhorn today. I will tell you everything we know. There are 3 remaining spots. One is larger on the right side. The other 2 are very small on the left side. The plan is to do surgery to remove the larger one in 4 weeks. The next steps will depend on the pathology report. If it shows scar tissue, they will assume the small spots are scar tissue and leave them alone. If it shows live cancer, they will go back in and remove the small spots. We do not have a surgery date yet but looks like it will be right before Thanksgiving. Obviously this is not the news we wanted to hear. But at the same time, we knew this was a possibility.
The surgery will be done up here at IU Hospital. We had a couple of people comment that this thoracic surgeon is "the best." People come from all over to use him and him and Dr. Einhorn have worked together for a while. Another confirmation that Jon made the right decision when choosing to come to IU Cancer Center and be treated by Dr. Einhorn!
GOOD NEWS:
Jon has been completely discharged from the BMT Unit. They say he is doing wonderful! We are GOING HOME! My sister is flying in Wednesday night. We are packing up Thursday and leaving out Friday morning. We will drive half way Friday and the rest on Saturday. Jon will fly home on Saturday and we will all get home at the same time! We are SOO super excited. All of us except Luke can hardly wait. Luke is conflicted. He LOVES the adventures we have had in Indianapolis and doesn't want to leave. But at the same time he says he can't wait to get back to play in his playroom! Ryan just wants to get back to go swimming (when we left it was still HOT). And Emma Kate wants to get back to ride her ATV. I just want to get back and prop my feet up on our new couch and enjoy DVR again. And Jon just wants to go to the beach. It's the simple things!
Ryan has had croup and he also ran a pretty high fever for a couple of days/nights so that was stressful and I got no sleep! Luke started wheezing a week and a half ago so we have been doing lots of breathing treatments to keep him from having an asthma attack. Emma Kate has been the least sick but has had a pretty bad cough. This was all going on when Jon's counts were literally almost non-existent. God totally protected him and he literally started getting a cold the day after his counts started coming back up! And so far he has been able to fight it pretty well and has only a mild cold.
Prayer request:
1. Pray the surgeon will be able to get the remaining mass with a scope. It will be much less invasive than actual surgery to open the chest.
2. Pray that all they will find is scar tissue.
3. Safe travels home.
4. Jon's body will continue to recover. Although BMT Unit (Bone Marrow Transplant) thinks he is doing great, if Jon had blood work done it would be alarming for a "normal" person. It is a new normal but his numbers compared to that of a healthy person are still not good at all.
5. Jon is weary, tired, and completely drained. This is very hard news for him to handle emotionally. Pray he will get recharged at home before his surgery.
Jon asked me today if we would make it through this, and I said YES!! Because we are...
GODSTRONG!!
The surgery will be done up here at IU Hospital. We had a couple of people comment that this thoracic surgeon is "the best." People come from all over to use him and him and Dr. Einhorn have worked together for a while. Another confirmation that Jon made the right decision when choosing to come to IU Cancer Center and be treated by Dr. Einhorn!
GOOD NEWS:
Jon has been completely discharged from the BMT Unit. They say he is doing wonderful! We are GOING HOME! My sister is flying in Wednesday night. We are packing up Thursday and leaving out Friday morning. We will drive half way Friday and the rest on Saturday. Jon will fly home on Saturday and we will all get home at the same time! We are SOO super excited. All of us except Luke can hardly wait. Luke is conflicted. He LOVES the adventures we have had in Indianapolis and doesn't want to leave. But at the same time he says he can't wait to get back to play in his playroom! Ryan just wants to get back to go swimming (when we left it was still HOT). And Emma Kate wants to get back to ride her ATV. I just want to get back and prop my feet up on our new couch and enjoy DVR again. And Jon just wants to go to the beach. It's the simple things!
Ryan has had croup and he also ran a pretty high fever for a couple of days/nights so that was stressful and I got no sleep! Luke started wheezing a week and a half ago so we have been doing lots of breathing treatments to keep him from having an asthma attack. Emma Kate has been the least sick but has had a pretty bad cough. This was all going on when Jon's counts were literally almost non-existent. God totally protected him and he literally started getting a cold the day after his counts started coming back up! And so far he has been able to fight it pretty well and has only a mild cold.
Prayer request:
1. Pray the surgeon will be able to get the remaining mass with a scope. It will be much less invasive than actual surgery to open the chest.
2. Pray that all they will find is scar tissue.
3. Safe travels home.
4. Jon's body will continue to recover. Although BMT Unit (Bone Marrow Transplant) thinks he is doing great, if Jon had blood work done it would be alarming for a "normal" person. It is a new normal but his numbers compared to that of a healthy person are still not good at all.
5. Jon is weary, tired, and completely drained. This is very hard news for him to handle emotionally. Pray he will get recharged at home before his surgery.
Jon asked me today if we would make it through this, and I said YES!! Because we are...
GODSTRONG!!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Weary
We are all weary of this journey. Jon is weary from enduring 2 months of his body completely being depleted of every good thing (AND BAD thing). He is weary from fighting nausea for basically 2 months, he is weary from the mental battle. I am weary of coming to the clinic everyday, rushing home to see my kids, going back and forth between apartments to take care of everything and everyone. Emily is weary from MY KIDS! LOL. She is weary from hearing them cry and scream, "I WANT MY MOMMY." Weary from getting up every morning early and not stopping until night time. She is weary from being pulled in lots of different directions, being asked to do this and that. This is a 7 day a week thing. None of us stop for "breaks" during the week, or whatever. It is constant and we need prayer for strength to make it through to the finish line. We are longing to be back at home in our own beds, on our own furniture, in our spacious house God has provided for us, and with our friends and family.
I do have a really cool story. So back when Jon first started this process I told you he was going to write a letter to Lance Armstrong. Well, he did (way back when) and I NEVER mailed it until last week!! I asked all of you to pray and we also prayed that Mr. Armstrong would actually see the letter and not his publicist or whoever runs his LIVESTRONG foundation, etc. Well, prayers were answered!! Mr. Armstrong hand wrote a letter back to Jon. It was short and basically thanked Jon for writing and to keep fighting. I just think it is way cool that this letter is in the hands of Lance Armstrong and hopefully he did not just toss it into the trash but pray that God would use the words Jon wrote to penetrate through his heart. Here is an excerpt of the end of the letter that Jon wrote that we need to pray Mr. Armstrong's heart will be softened by:
God is good and we do not need to be Lance Armstrong's judge. We need to pray for him! He needs Jesus just like all of us do! Thanks for joining in. God has given Jon some awesome opportunities to share with people and it is so fun to see Jon using every one of them!
I need to share some great news before I sign off. Jon has gotten his blood work back for the day and his white counts are coming up!! They are hoping to discharge him next week. Like TOTALLY discharge him from the BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) Unit. The docs and NP say he is doing fantastic and we should be able to come home!!! HALLELUJAH! Great news for all of us. I did not know this news when I wrote the first paragraph of this blog. I think we can make it to the finish line but this last week will be very busy packing and saying our good bye's. Pray for strength and energy!
We will do it because we are...
GODSTRONG!
I do have a really cool story. So back when Jon first started this process I told you he was going to write a letter to Lance Armstrong. Well, he did (way back when) and I NEVER mailed it until last week!! I asked all of you to pray and we also prayed that Mr. Armstrong would actually see the letter and not his publicist or whoever runs his LIVESTRONG foundation, etc. Well, prayers were answered!! Mr. Armstrong hand wrote a letter back to Jon. It was short and basically thanked Jon for writing and to keep fighting. I just think it is way cool that this letter is in the hands of Lance Armstrong and hopefully he did not just toss it into the trash but pray that God would use the words Jon wrote to penetrate through his heart. Here is an excerpt of the end of the letter that Jon wrote that we need to pray Mr. Armstrong's heart will be softened by:
Mr. Armstrong, I am writing to you on the eve of my first of two rounds of high dose chemo with stem cell transplant. My family and I have moved from South Carolina to Indianapolis for the next 2-3 months. I have to be honest with you that I very nervous about the outcome, as well as how the treatment is going to affect me over the course of the treatment protocol. Reading your book, certainly painted a very real picture of what potentially is to come.
I have to tell you that there is one difference between you and I, and it is our belief system. Throughout this process, I have never asked, “ why me? “. I have always said “ Why not me? “ I firmly believe that what my family and I are going through is God’s will for our lives. I believe that God has led us to Indiana to be treated by the best doctor in the world. I believe that God is going to work through Dr. Einhorn and his staff, the nurses, the technicians, and the medicine. It is through these people, their knowledge, and wisdom that God will perform a miracle. I am a firm believer in God the Father, who sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. Only to have him be raised from the dead three days later and defeat death. Please understand that Jesus died on the cross for me, for you, and for all of mankind.
I don’t know where you stand, faith wise, but I want you to know that as a current cancer patient, I am praying that God either continues to reveal Himself to you in a very real way, or that He introduces Himself to you. I am praying that if you don’t know the God that I believe in that your heart will be softened to His leading. Mr. Armstrong, I believe that whether God heals me or not, that His will is being accomplished even now as I write you. You are truly an inspiration to all current cancer patients. Your strength and determination are to be admired. I plan to fight this cancer with same amount of courage and perseverance that are described in your book. I know that the Lord my God will provide me with the mindset and strength necessary for my family to get through this process. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I greatly appreciate it! I hope to someday have the opportunity to meet you face to face. We can share our stories of survival!
I need to share some great news before I sign off. Jon has gotten his blood work back for the day and his white counts are coming up!! They are hoping to discharge him next week. Like TOTALLY discharge him from the BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant) Unit. The docs and NP say he is doing fantastic and we should be able to come home!!! HALLELUJAH! Great news for all of us. I did not know this news when I wrote the first paragraph of this blog. I think we can make it to the finish line but this last week will be very busy packing and saying our good bye's. Pray for strength and energy!
We will do it because we are...
GODSTRONG!
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