Heading Home!

Wahoo!  We are heading home today--busiest travel day of the year.  Jon has a final check up in the clinic with the surgeon in the morning and our flight from Indy leaves out at 4:25PM.  Pray the weather will not delay or more importantly cancel our flight.  We are READY to be home with our kiddos.  We have been away from them for 8 days!

Jon is doing great.  He is still a little sore (cut in 8 places)!!  He had 2 chest tubes (those incisions even look pretty big).  He is also still very tired, but is anxious to get home and get back to "normal."  It will take about 6-8 weeks for him to have NO limitations but for 2 weeks cannot lift more than 15 pounds.  And then a gradual increase from there.  But he will go back to work pretty quickly so for all of you co-workers, like it or not, he is coming back for good:o).  He canNOT wait to live his normal life which includes P90X, teaching everyday, Athletic Director duties, and refereeing.  Oh, and did I mention that he has 3 small kids and a wife.  This man is on the go and this past year has cramped his style.

A delivery came during his hospital stay!  It was his GODSTRONG blanket that went all over the country!  He was super excited.  Here is a video and a picture.  My phone ran out of memory so the video shut off but at least you can see a clip of when he saw the blanket.  How awesome that many, many people were praying for Jon on the day of his surgery and praying for continual healing in his body.  GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!  It's amazing!  I'm sure Jon will write a thank you soon!

So many people have reached out to us during this time and one thing Jon and I have made a commitment to is giving back!  Jon got out of the hospital on Sunday and Monday he went to the BMT unit to encourage and minister to 3 of the 4 testicular patients that IU has currently getting the same treatment Jon got (by the way that is a lot at one time).  This is a picture of Mark and his girlfriend Candice.  They are 23 and fresh out of college and dealing with some pretty heavy stuff.  I am asking you to pray for Mark (and Candice and his parents).  Also, please pray for Rob and Josh.  We got to meet all 3 of them and they are all great guys!  Please pray for them as they are all in the middle of getting high dose with stem cell transplant. We enjoyed telling our story of our journey and encouraging them. 

I'll leave you with a funny story.  When Jon went in to surgery he had to take his wedding ring off.  I was worried it would fall off my finger, so I took my wedding rings off, put his band on and then mine on top so his would stay on my finger.  I forgot it was even there by the end of the stressful day.  I stayed at the hospital the first night after Jon's surgery.  I woke up in the morning and my finger was very swollen.  I could not for the life of me get my rings off.  So i began doing all the tricks to get it off, lotion, ice to get the swelling down, vasoline, etc.  The situation was getting worse.  The finger was swelling even more.  There was no hope.  But the funny part was all the nurses were getting involved in the action.  They were coming in and out of the room, not to help Jon but to help me.  They were trying every trick they had heard about from the ER.  NO Luck.   They were even going to extremes to call down to the ER to get me a ring cutter.  We were all wondering who the patient was.  At this point, Jon is completely rolling his eyes wondering how I always get myself into these messes.  He calls me his beautiful disaster.  The ER sent the ring cutter up to the room.  I held it in my hand but just couldn't bring myself to use it.  So with the urging of Jon's mom, we decided to give it the rest of the day to see if the swelling would go down and sure enough that night I somehow worked and worked and got it off!!  Always some sort of drama to tell about.  

Happy Thanksgiving to all and 

We are thankful to be…

GODSTRONG!!

Glorious update on Jon

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!

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!

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

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

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.

 

PRAYER WALL FOR JON

 

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.com

 

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@riverviewcharterschool.org 

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

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!!