Good Morning

I wanted to update those of you who have been following my blog. Thank you so much for your prayers. Please keep them coming.

Some special summer fun with Grandpa. My father-inlaw Gene & My Daughter Natalie

My Father-inlaw Gene had his surgery. Thank you all for your prayers. He came through the surgery fine. A few days later he was sent to a special rehabilitation facility. There were some complications that set in a few days after he arrived. It seems the staff at the facility gave him an overdose of a very strong pain medicine. He almost died it was a really close scare. They rushed him back to the hospital and they managed to get things back under control. He is at home now recovering. He has no plans to go back to that rehab center. Please keep him in your prayers. He has quite a bit of recovery ahead of him from this surgery. He continues to battle his cancer and is on oxygen now pretty much 24/7. He also has another surgery coming up in a few months.

My brother-inlaw Craig was able to get some leave time and is down in Florida visiting Gene this week. I'm glad they will have this time together before Craig leaves for Mississippi for training and then he's off to serve his time in Iraq.

Amy on a MSWalk in 2005

My friend Amy gave us an update on Friday. She had finished her radiation treatments and was in for a follow up appointment to review the results and plan the next step on her road to recovery. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues to face her giants.

Amy’s Update:

I had a good doctor's appointment this morning. The tumor has not shrunk, but it has not grown either. Good news. I will begin chemotherapy at xxxx Hospital on Monday (today). I will be there until Wednesday. They are going to attack it with all they have at this point (we were given 3 options - the doctor thought this was the best option for me) - then I will be sent home to rest. I will get my blood drawn the next week and continue this cycle of chemo/rest/blood draws for up to 12 months. If we see that this is NOT working as well as we hope it will, then they have the option of breaking down my blood/brain barrier for 45 minutes while administering the chemo. This is dangerous and hopefully we won't have to do it. There will be no more surgery, as my tumor is located on both sides of my brain, and more surgery would alter my personality - basically changing who I am. Please continue to pray for me - I'm nervous, but anxious to get started.

Update: I just heard from Amy's Sister Nanci.

Nanci Said:

Amy is resting in the Oncology Unit. Amy and I watched a Will Ferrell dvd that I brought and laughed a lot. I also got a chance to practice Reiki on her, which I was just trained in this a.m. It is a form of healing that my friend Olivia taught me. Might as well turn to the ancient masters, I figure.. can't hurt.

Amy's on an I.V. and will start her chemo late tonight. They have to insert an angioplasty into her and then drip the chemo all the way up to her brain. Hopefully all will go well. If she 'takes' to this chemo, without complications, she will rest and be watched and then leave on Wednesday morning.

But this stuff is really hard core, and it is really going to be hard on her immune system. We have to be extra cautious of any kind of sickness when Amy returns home. Amy cannot be exposed to any kind of illness, no matter how slight.

Please continue keeping Amy in your prayers

My heart goes out to Amy and her family. I'll be praying for her treatment to go well tonight. Her family is so supportive of her. I love how they keep us in the loop as well so we can pray specifically for her needs. Amy continues to inspire me with how open and honest she is with her feelings.

They set up a fund for her family to assist them. Her insurance only covered so much and there have been so many unexpected expenses. A new meal plan was set in place and every day family and friends deliver meals to them to help her and her husband Jim. Her meal calendar is filled through June already! :) Amy has a nanny that stays in her home now during the day to care for the kids. They are well cared for as well by their grandma and by the night time caregiver (friends and family on rotation) and their wonderful daddy.

Amy has been so weak with the radiation and chemo. It's a blessing that despite that she can enjoy her children as much as possible. The kids are happy to be home with her as well. It's heart-warming that there have been so many blessings from family and friends.

I know that God hears our prayers and they make a difference.

God’s blessings to you all and thank you again for your prayers.

Meesh