Catching up

I know it's been a while since my last blog.  I've been in sort of a "blah" state I guess you could say.  I went to a psychiatrist for the second time since being diagnosed.  She was amazed I hadn't seen anyone since January at MD Anderson.   I'm not that big of a talker, pretty sure therapy isn't my thing.  Other than that, things are basically the same for me for now.

Since my last posting, my friends threw a fundraiser at Taco Mac for me.  I'll add some pictures to the end of the event.   I just want to thank Taco Mac, Phillips Arena, Lisa Durham, Reggie Kimbell, Ron Terrell, Poppy Patterson, Amanda Davis, Jessica Jefferies,  Brad & Mandy Busch, and Summer & Wes Bayer for all helping make this fundraiser so successful.   We raised over $5000!   Oh, I almost forgot the kids.   Karley and Maddie were on top of things all night too.   They were awesome.  So many friends and family came out and donated so much money.  I can't thank every single person that came out individually, but know that I appreciate it more than you can imagine.  It has helped us so much.   You all make me feel truly blessed!

Also, thank you so much to the attorneys and staff at Arnall, Golden, and Gregory for raising so much money for me within a few short days.  God bless you guys!

Please keep your prayers coming for Reggie.  He began radiation last week and is doing well but I know he's tired.

Our new friend Marjorie came out to the fundraiser for a bit.  She's got a battle on her hands as well and I can only hope we can do some type of fundraiser for her too.   She's such a great person and very determined to beat this cancer!  We will continue to keep her in our prayers!

Also, please pray for Gretchen Mitchell, another fellow JHS classmate and friend that has her own battle ahead of her.   She needs our support and prayers right now!

Finally, please continue praying for Tim as he continues to improve.

Thank you all for all your support and prayers!  Remember, life is short and can change in an instant.  None of us expected these cards, but it's what we were dealt.   Keep that in mind when you're with your loved ones.  Hold them close, you never know....

Jeremiah 29:11-13

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.   'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  'And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.'

Results 5/10/13

I apologize for not updating yesterday, I was exhausted from being at Piedmont all day.  My MRI is still clear and my lung tumors are still shrinking (according to the chest x-ray), praise the Lord!   I still will go for an MRI every 3 months but don't have to see Dr. Chandler, he can call me with the results.  I will go back in 6 weeks for a PetScan and to the oncologist to see where we really are.  Chest x-rays don't show that much detail.

He also let me know that I will be on Tarceva for the rest of my life, unless it quits working.  I am so thankful for these pills even though the side effects are not great.  I'm praying for a cure to this horrible disease!

I met a very brave woman, Marjorie, while waiting on my MRI.  I found out she went to high school on the same side of town I did and is only a year older than I am.   She is not getting good results from her meds right now.   She has a different type of cancer but is also stage IV with two children.  She needs our prayers for strength and healing!

Finally, my old friend Reggie had his voice surgery this week and is wasting no time using it.  I love him!  MD Anderson suggested fractionated radiation (which is radiation every day for 6 weeks) so he is going to Emory next week to see if they can do it there.  He's still got a long road but your prayers are helping both of us!

Mark 11:24

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Giants

So, I know it's been a while since my last blog.  I apologize.  I was so busy with appointments and catching up from being away, until about two weeks ago.  Then, I got caught up and now have had time to think.  That's not a good thing right now.

My hair is coming out in clumps now and my eyes have been very dry and that's rough.   There's no stopping it and I feel so vain for being upset about it.  It was tough accepting my diagnosis when I first began this journey and I know I'm going to stumble and have some roadblocks, it's just very hard to stay positive all of the time.  I know God has a plan, it's just difficult to be such a logical person yet refrain from trying to understand what that plan is.

My next appointments are on May 10th and I'm very much praying the results keep getting better.  I'm so blessed for all of my friends, family, and prayer warriors that have been here for me.  I hope you all know how much your prayers mean.

I heard a great saying in church Sunday: "keep your focus on God and the giants will crumble, if you focus on the giants, then you will stumble".

Cancer is my giant.  But God is bigger than cancer...

Please keep up your prayers for Reggie and Tim too. They need them just as much!

God bless you all!

John 16:33
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Overcoming

As most of you know, Reggie has a tough battle going on himself.   He decided, before going through a complicated surgery, he wanted to go to L.A. again.   Since my schedule was pretty open, I went with him (thanks to my sister's flying privileges and his mom's hotel connections).

It was a great trip.  We went everywhere....here are a few pictures from the trip:

We got back from L.A. and all of a sudden it's spring break!  Amanda and the kids came to St. Simons to visit.

It was a great time!   Now I'm in Atlanta and just had an ultrasound of my pelvic cyst.  We've decided to keep watching it.  If it keeps growing or staying the same, we may have to remove my ovaries, which will send me into menopause with no hormone therapy.  OH NO!!!!  Anyways, I thank God it's not more cancer!

Meanwhile, Reggie had the same bad news and considering a second opinion at MD Anderson or John Hopkins.  His face, more than likely, may be paralyzed and require a feeding tube based on the news he received at Emory.   He has a very complicated surgery that lasts two days to look forward to, along with several months at a rehab center.  He desperately needs our prayers, for both strength and healing.

Thank you all for your continuous prayers and support!  My next scans are May 10th to see what progress has been made with the Tarceva.   I will probably update before then with update on Reggie though.

Psalm 107:19-21
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.   He sent forth his word and healed them, he rescued them from the grave.  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds of men.

Friends In Need...

Since my last post, Ocean Lodge held a birthday party for one of the great musicians here in St. Simons, Michael Hulett.   He and Jim Polezoes, his manager, asked for donations on my behalf instead of gifts.   It was so very kind of them and a great time.  I can't thank them enough.  Ocean Lodge also passed out awareness bracelets and pins (thanks Michelle and Tina).   And Tina had a beautiful poster collage of Karley and I made.   It was beautiful!  Thank you all so much!

This post is not going to be so much about me, but more about a few friends in need of our prayers and support.  

SUSIE
Since I was diagnosed, I joined a website, www.inspire.com.  I've met many people with my same condition (although I'm the youngest I've met).   One woman I met, Susie, really needs or prayers.   We've been talking about Tarceva, but it was just discontinued for her because it wasn't working.  The lesions in her lungs are getting larger and now she has 7 small lesions in her brain, all requiring radiation.  She has two daughters, ages 26 and 24, who lost their father in 2000 to Hodgkins disease.  As a mother, I know she is fighting for her life for her girls.  Please pray for Susie and her family.  Not only for healing but for strength through these troubled times.

REGGIE
As you all know, our dear friend Reggie received bad news the day of my last post.  Well, here it is...  His tumor, called a skull base tumor, is really a brain tumor (for those who did not know).  The Emory doctors showed us the location of the tumor on his CT Scan.  It is basically touching the brain stem.  The physicians are running more tests on March 27th to find out more about what they need to do.

He has already lost hearing in his right ear permanently.  His voice and ability to swallow properly may not recover.   He's already showing symptoms of partial facial paralysis, which is not reversible.  Since he isn't swallowing properly, food is going into his lungs, which could cause a serious infection. It is probable that one side of his face will be paralyzed and eventually droop, requiring plastic surgeries down the road.  If his ability to swallow gets worse, he may need a feeding tube.  These are all things we know now, but will not know the outcome until after surgery.   The tumor is destroying nerves that control all of these functions.  We may know more on the 27th, but we are not sure.  

As we all know, Reggie is a very outgoing and funny guy.  He makes me laugh when no one else can.   I've told him it's okay to be sad and worried.  The worst part is not knowing what is going to happen to you.  You don't have to try and pretend to be okay when you don't know if you will.   The best thing to do is to give that worry to God.  It is SO hard to get to that point, but when you do, it's an indescribable feeling of peace.  Please pray for Reggie.  He needs our prayers for healing, strength, and faith.  We all love him so much.

Another reason I'm sharing so much about Reggie is that I would like to start another fund after the 27th for him.   More than likely, some things he may need will not be covered under health insurance.  Additionally, he may be out of work for some time.   We just don't know yet and therefore, I'm waiting to start a goal for the fund.   When I get that info, I'll post on my blog and facebook.

TIM
Reggie and I went and visited Tim while at Emory.  He's currently going through physical therapy to begin walking again.  He's been at the hospital nearly as long as I've known about my disease it seems.   Tim is a fighter and can get through this.  He posts updates daily on his facebook page.  Please pray for Tim's healing and strength.


Also, please continue to pray for Dylan Rosier, Mrs. Jean, and a friend I met at MD Anderson, Courtney, who is my age, has a child, and also has Stage IV NCSLC.

I know it's a lot of prayers, but your prayers are more powerful than you know.  Thank you all for your continuous support and prayers for me as well.  God Bless all of you!

John 14:13-14
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.   If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

Results 3/12/13

I just got home from receiving results of CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.  The oncologist did find a pelvic cyst but it seems unrelated.

The rest of the scans show the cancer is still confined to my lungs.  Additionally, by the grace of God, the primary tumor has gone down by about 65% and there are no longer "numerous nodules"  throughout my lungs.  According tot the scans, there are now only 2 besides my primary tumor.  One is 3 mm and the other is 4 mm, with the primary tumor  now 1.9 x 1 cm.

After hearing these fantastic results, we met with Piedmont's marketing team to share my story.  They are an awesome group of people and I can't brag enough about the treatment I've had at Piedmont.   Everyone has been so kind and empathetic to my situation.

I am so thankful these scans continue to show improvement.  God is so good!  He and my doctors have been taking great care of me!  I am thankful for all of the continued prayers and support from my family and friends.  God Bless you all!

I will follow up in 6 weeks with a chest x-ray and see how things are going.  We continue to pray the cancer will keep going away!

Please also continue your prayers for Reggie.  He did not have great news.  His tumor is very complicated and requires more scans before treatment even begins.   Left untreated, he would be terminal within a year or two.  I know he can get through this, but he's got a long and hard road ahead.  We are "Tumor Homeys"!

I know I've quoted this verse before, but I feel it is so appropriate for any situation you may be in. When everything seems hopeless, look to Him:

John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."

Eight Days of Waiting

Only twelve days left until I get my PetScan results.  Karley and I will be flying to Atlanta on March 8th so she and I can visit with friends and family.  My scan is on the 11th and results on the 12th, but she's flying back on the 10th so she can make it back to school.  Plus, I don't take her to the hospital with me...

I look more forward to visiting friends and family (and eating at La Parrilla) than I do results (hence the title name).  Results are just not what I think of while I'm planning our trip.   Results will be what they will be, nothing changes that, so I don't dwell.

Since I last wrote, I joined an online lung cancer support community and met quite a few people with very inspiring stories and a few stage IV survivors!  Although I haven't found anyone my age on there, I did meet a woman whose husband was also diagnosed stage IV and he is only 34.  It's good to share stories and tips.  I feel like a Tarceva veteran now, even though I've only been taking it since the beginning of January, I've had the side effects.

The rash is getting better but I'm still losing some hair.  Now I'm not so sure it's all from the Gamma Knife.  I did read that a rare side effect of Tarceva is hair loss.   It's a small price to pay for it's benefit though.  I'm good with it.  Karley likes to tell everyone, "My mom has a big bald spot".  Kids are great! I'm so glad she loves to share everything!

I also don't have to regulate my eating schedule as much now since I finished some meds I had to take twice daily.  I can eat whenever I want (up until around 7:30 p.m.) now!  It's the little things :)

I've decided it best for me not to work until I get better.  Not because I don't want to work, but I get exhausted so easily when I try.  Saving my energy for Karley and housework is about all I can handle right now, or maybe all I want to try and handle right now.

Enough about me.  I have some prayer requests for those prayer warriors out there.

My dear friend Reggie, was recently diagnosed with a rare skull base tumor.  I know, we are a mess, what are the odds?  Hopefully he will be seeing my neurologist, Dr. Chandler at Piedmont, for treatment.  Dr. Chandler does amazing work.  Several doctors have suggested the Gamma Knife as treatment but possibly surgery.  Reggie needs our prayers very much right now.  He has been there for me since day one (along with Amanda, Brad, Mandy, Sam, Poppy, Stephen, John, Terri, my parents and lil sis who all have gone out of there way to be by my side).  He's even gone to appointments with me.  I love him very much and know the power of prayer and God's work can heal him successfully.

Additionally, please pray for Dylan Rosier and his family (Karley's cousin).  He has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is going through chemo.  He's going through a lot for a 4th grader.  He needs our prayers for strength and healing.

Finally, please continue praying for Tim Gravitt as he fights his own battle.

Thank you all for your continuous prayers and support for my family and me.  I still have complete faith that He can heal me.  I love all of you for following my story and keeping me in your thoughts.  Unless something drastic happens, my next post will probably be the day I get the PetScan results (March 12th).

In the meantime, words I live by:

Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ."