From Jeff - If you cant tell......
Greetings, salutations, high-fives, etc.
A brief update from Lakewood, California, where cancer ain’t welcome! Don’t even thinking about parking your dark horse in this town, pardner!
(“Pardner?!”)
Amy’s allergic reaction to the meds—the hives, the sore gums, the unsightly third eyeball growing on her elbow—HEALING with great haste! Flakey dead skin falls from her body like snow from a tree shaken by a spasmatic monkey hopped up on a box of Krispy Kremes—but we’ll take it!
Amy’s chemo and radiation—BEGUN. On the first day, the chemo pills gave her no trouble. But here on the second day, Amy’s been nagged by persistent queasiness. We’re hoping that it will subside, like, RIGHT NOW. (I just checked with her—still queasy.) Less eventful has been the daily bombardment of energy to her head, otherwise known as “Radiation.” Each of these treatments last about seven minutes. She feels nothing. “I just close my eyes because I feel like laser beams are searching my brain for cancer cells to zap,” says Amy. The long commute to LA each day is made considerably more enjoyable thanks to the Friends Of Amy (including Laura, Alicia and Mandy—thanks, ladies!) who’ve volunteered to drive her up there.
Amy has also been bothered in recent days by seizures—three alone on Monday, day one of Amy’s current radioactive moment. Now to be clear, when I say seizure, I’m not talking about all-body convulsions or loss of mental faculties. The seizures are isolated in the face. Muscles twitch like crazy. Scrambled speech. It’s kind of like Pentecost, but without the tongues of fire, and a lot more drool. (Don’t worry. I checked that joke with Jesus first.) During the whole Fun Time, Amy is alert, has control of the rest of her body, and has been even known to finish a Sudoku puzzle or two while she waits on her face to quit with the aerobics. If anything, it’s more emotionally taxing than anything. I make jokes, but it’s just not fun. Pray for her. Pray for her stamina. Pray that it stops.
Pray for our kids, too. Lauren seems to be processing all of this just fine. She’s quite verbal about it, but seems undaunted by it--pretty remarkable for a three year old. As for Ben…well, may I be blunt? My son’s being a butt right now. Lots of talking back at home. Some emotional melting down at school. His teacher thinks all of this has been affecting him. Nothing that can be seen in his academic performance—just in his attitude and interactions with classmates. Ironically, this could be just a phase that he’d be going through anyway, even without the current “special circumstances.” Regardless: pray for Ben, too. We don’t always have the energy to meet him where he’s at, don’t always have the patience to figure out what he needs. So pray for his parents, too.
We are only two days into this new phase of Life With “Thigh Meat.” From where I’m sitting, it seems like the six weeks of road ahead of us will be long and trying. But I’m confident we can handle the trip. We have some wonderful traveling companions, some yummy treats (in the form of meal after delicious meal prepared by a proverbial army of supporters—thank you for loving us this way), and a lot of gas in the tank, thanks to your prayers. Keep ‘em coming. We need them.
More to come in the days to come.
Love, Jeff and Amy
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Day 1 of Treatment
Had a quick conversation with Jeff this evening....
Day 1 of Chemo/Radiation is in the books. There were no side effects from the Chemo pill she took in the morning, and the radiation treatment went quick. On the downside for the day, was that Amy had 3 different seizure episodes. As Jeff explained in his post the other day, these are pretty draining, both physically and emotionally for Amy. Doctors told Jeff and Amy that these could happen due to 1) her brain still having some tumor cells that need to be "taken care of" and 2) her brain healing.
The seizures are very dis-heartening so please keep Amy in your prayers that the medication will be effective in preventing these moving forward. Also, pray that her days of treatment continue to go smoothly.
Jeff plans to send a more detailed update soon.
Day 1 of Chemo/Radiation is in the books. There were no side effects from the Chemo pill she took in the morning, and the radiation treatment went quick. On the downside for the day, was that Amy had 3 different seizure episodes. As Jeff explained in his post the other day, these are pretty draining, both physically and emotionally for Amy. Doctors told Jeff and Amy that these could happen due to 1) her brain still having some tumor cells that need to be "taken care of" and 2) her brain healing.
The seizures are very dis-heartening so please keep Amy in your prayers that the medication will be effective in preventing these moving forward. Also, pray that her days of treatment continue to go smoothly.
Jeff plans to send a more detailed update soon.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Party Weekend
Well, the party weekend has wrapped up. Stacey flew in from San Jose for a baby shower that Steph and her mom put on for her. They had about 20 ladies that celebrated the soon-to-be Baby Perry. Steph spent a lot of time on various aspects of the shower and it was all very much appreciated by Stacey. While they were "showering" I was at home with Bruce, Kenzie and Paul (Katie's little boy). We had a good time playing with a bunch of toys, taking naps, etc. :-) Stacey is looking like she is 6+ months pregnant...no doubt there. She is feeling good, and enjoying the pregnancy.
The party weekend continued through today with Kenzie's 2nd birthday party. We had about 19 family members over for some good ol' 2nd birthday fun. We had baguette sandwiches, salads, fruit and chips. It was a great spread. For dessert we had some fabulous heart cupcakes and ice cream. Steph made these the other night and did great job. Kenzie was really blessed to receive a bunch of great gifts...lots of clothes, books, and fun stuff. Looks like her favorite might have been the backpack and crocs from Nana and Papa J. She put those on and didnt take them off for most of the day.
Need to give A LOT of credit to Steph for all her hard work on these parties....between hand made paper booties with jelly beans, to custom party favors with Kenzie's initials....she did an awesome job!
The party weekend continued through today with Kenzie's 2nd birthday party. We had about 19 family members over for some good ol' 2nd birthday fun. We had baguette sandwiches, salads, fruit and chips. It was a great spread. For dessert we had some fabulous heart cupcakes and ice cream. Steph made these the other night and did great job. Kenzie was really blessed to receive a bunch of great gifts...lots of clothes, books, and fun stuff. Looks like her favorite might have been the backpack and crocs from Nana and Papa J. She put those on and didnt take them off for most of the day.
Need to give A LOT of credit to Steph for all her hard work on these parties....between hand made paper booties with jelly beans, to custom party favors with Kenzie's initials....she did an awesome job!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Update from Longbeach....
Jeff asked me to post this update....Hang on for the ride :-)
======================
Dear family and friends,
It’s been an emotionally arduous and physically irritating week (or so) since our last update. By “irritating,” I do mean “annoying” (but also “painful”), and by “arduous,” I do mean “arduous,” as well as “very complicated.” Having clarified exactly nothing, I will now try my best to explain.
The physical stuff is the easiest stuff to chronicle. About eight days ago, Amy’s seemingly smooth recovery from surgery hit a speed bump when she suffered a mild seizure in our home after a delicious if greasy pizza parlor lunch. (I doubt the pie was to blame—one half “Primo” pepperoni and black olive, one half “Maui Zowie”-style Canadian bacon and pineapple; all freakin’ yummy!)
Many of you have asked, “What do you mean when you say, ‘Amy had a seizure?’” The answer I typically give is this: Remember that TV show “The Incredible Hulk,” when Bruce Banner would grab his head and his eyes would turn green and his clothes would split and rip as his body transformed from reedy geek to rippling mass of radioactive muscle? Well, Amy’s seizures are nothing like that. What happened in this case was that the muscles in her face began to spasm and a feeling of nausea overwhelmed her. When the twitching ceased, a portion of her face was paralyzed and her speech was slurred and scrambled. Over a period of 20 minutes, everything went back online, except her energy; the whole business left her pretty wiped out. In short, a seizure for Amy is like being really drunk, minus any of the fun. (Not that we know anything of being drunk. Make sure you emphasize that point to our grandparents and spiritual advisors. You might be lying, of course, but surely it wouldn’t be the first time, no?)
When we called our doctor, he told us that seizures such as this are within parameters and to be expected. But her medications were adjusted, and since then, Amy hasn’t had any seizures. But her week of “My body is not my friend” weirdness had just begun.
As many of you know, this was the week in which we were to meet with the chemo and radiation docs to plan her treatments. Here’s what we learned:
First, the tumor mass that was extracted from her brain was deemed a Grade 3, which is “10 million times better than a Grade 4,” according to one of our physicians. If it had been Grade 4, Amy would be facing certain death, most likely within a year. To be clear, Grade 3 isn’t all party balloons and kazoos, either—but it’s treatable, and ambiguous enough to contain cause for hope, and therefore a reason to celebrate.
Second, there’s the mysterious matter of how much cancer crud still resides within Amy’s noggin. Last week, I told you that we were dealing with a small amount of tumor (which was left in the brain because of its it delicate location) and bunch of “spider legs,” or vine-like threads from which new tumors can grow. This description remains accurate enough to be called “accurate,” but it doesn’t quite capture the tricky totality of Amy’s actual condition. This past Monday, we were shown the MRI of Amy’s brain that was taken after her surgery. What it reveals is that technically, anything that can be officially labeled “a tumor” has been removed. However, the region of the brain from which the tumor was removed remains saturated with cancer cells. On the MRI, it looks like a bank of puffy white fog. To remove the affected tissue via surgery would have meant scooping out chunks of functional brain, which would have done “damage” to Amy. It could have left her mute, or paralyzed, or worse. The hope is that with radiation and chemo, we can obliterate those cells, or at least neutralize them. In fact, according to our doctor, if that foggy region never grows any bigger, and never yields any additional tumor tissue, Amy will be here for a very long time. However, we are praying that the foggy region will disappear altogether by the time we have another MRI 6 weeks from now. THAT will be a miracle that we can all pray for.
Third, some specifics about the chemo and the radiation. The chemo treatments will take the form of a pill. One a day, every day, for about six weeks. No side effects are expected. The chemo is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very expensive—and our insurance will cover it. Whew. Amy’s chemo pill popping will begin the same day as the radiation treatments: 2/26/07. Amy requires 30 sessions of radiation—five per week, each session lasting just 10-15 minutes. The experience is akin to getting an X-ray. She’ll feel nothing, but she’ll feel pretty wiped afterward, and over time, there could be some hair loss and irritated skin in the area on her head that’s being treated. The hardest part of the radiation may actually be the commute—it’s a 70 mile round trip. We have been blessed with many offers of transportation and babysitting, and we are very grateful.
Okay. That was a lot of information. So let’s take a break for a second. Grab some popcorn, stretch your legs, take a leak—do what you gotta do, because there’s more to come.
INTERMISSION! (Cue the chipper music.)
(Don’t need to pee? Check out “scary cats” at youtube.com--or read the latest wildly entertaining yet utterly incomprehensible Lost theory by Doc Jensen at ew.com!)
Okay. We’re back. Now let’s talk about why Amy looks and feels like she rolled around in a thicket of poison ivy after a wild night of screwdrivers and smores at that outdoor fondue dive we like in South Central.
This past Friday, Amy woke up from a nap covered in itchy hives. By the next day, her face and lips were swollen and her throat had constricted. By Sunday night, her ears were inflamed and her gums were so sore it was painful to eat. She began applying lotions and taking Benadryl, but to no avail. The doctors told her that most likely, she was having an allergic reaction to her medication—but which medication? Suspicion fell on the Codeine, but in the end, the villain was revealed to be her anti-seizure medication. (Poor falsely accused prescription painkillers!) Yesterday, Amy was put on steroids to help accelerate the healing process. Please pray for immediate relief; physically and emotionally, this allergic reaction has been a royal pain for Amy. We want it taken away. Immediately.
Concurrent with the evolving experience and understanding of her physical ordeal, Amy has wrestling with the emotional aspect of her illness, as well. Last week, prior to learning the details of the pathology report on her tumor, she decided to do some Internet research and learned that people with Grade 4 tumors usually don’t survive past 13 months—and that’s AFTER surgery and chemo/radiation. For the first time, Amy began to wrap her mind around what was at stake, and it left her profoundly shaken. It was a great relief to learn she was only dealing with a Grade 3 situation, and even more heartening to hear that she’s an ideal candidate for successful treatment (her age, her strength of recovery from the surgery, the physical properties of the tumor itself). Nonetheless, Grade 3 cancer cells are formidable in their own right. Combined with the dispiriting, discouraging experience of this allergic reaction, Amy has been feeling quite low the past week. Sometimes, she feels death is imminent. Other times, she finds herself worrying over the thought of our children growing up without a mother. Of course, my inclination is to try everything I can to pull her out of those dark places, and to remind her that she has so many reasons to be optimistic about living a long, healthy life. And so I do, and I am right inasmuch as she really does have reason to be optimistic. At the same time, her fears and the experience of her fears are legitimate, and should be respected. This is scary stuff. There’s just no getting around it. And if we’re not acknowledging that, we are not preparing ourselves properly for the fight to come. Know thy enemy—then kick him in the nuts. That’s what I say.
We remain faithful. We are hopeful. We believe God is good, even though sometimes, we find ourselves taking Him aside and saying, “Dude: what the hell?!” Then he gives us a hug. HUGE hugs. These hugs come in the form of meals brought to our homes by friends. Offers of babysitting and hang-out time. Phone calls and emails filled with wisdom and counsel from family and friends. Letters from people we don’t even know, who’ve heard of our situation and were moved to share their own survival stories. And of course, the scores of checks for millions of dollars from anonymous donors that have allowed us to endure all our suffering from the comfort of our new 25,000 square foot mansion in Malibu. Okay, that last part hasn’t happened. But the truth is, everything that’s been done for us—this wonderful windfall of blessing—has left us feeling so very secure, at a time when security is so very needed. We thank God for his goodness—and we thank God for all of you.
Please know something else: this isn’t all about us. We know that what has happened to Amy has deeply affected many of you. We know this, even if we don’t always acknowledge it, and in the days and weeks to come, we want to hear more about your own experience of all this. Please: share. We want to hear it. We want to know about it. We want to love you all as you have loved us, and are loving us.
Anyway… that’s all for now. Please know that I will never again write an update this long, unless such length is actually warranted. Clearly, what’s needed is shorter, more frequent updates instead of occasional, exhaustive, and exhausting epics. So I’ll trying harder and not trying so hard next time. J
Love you all.
Jeff and Amy
======================
Dear family and friends,
It’s been an emotionally arduous and physically irritating week (or so) since our last update. By “irritating,” I do mean “annoying” (but also “painful”), and by “arduous,” I do mean “arduous,” as well as “very complicated.” Having clarified exactly nothing, I will now try my best to explain.
The physical stuff is the easiest stuff to chronicle. About eight days ago, Amy’s seemingly smooth recovery from surgery hit a speed bump when she suffered a mild seizure in our home after a delicious if greasy pizza parlor lunch. (I doubt the pie was to blame—one half “Primo” pepperoni and black olive, one half “Maui Zowie”-style Canadian bacon and pineapple; all freakin’ yummy!)
Many of you have asked, “What do you mean when you say, ‘Amy had a seizure?’” The answer I typically give is this: Remember that TV show “The Incredible Hulk,” when Bruce Banner would grab his head and his eyes would turn green and his clothes would split and rip as his body transformed from reedy geek to rippling mass of radioactive muscle? Well, Amy’s seizures are nothing like that. What happened in this case was that the muscles in her face began to spasm and a feeling of nausea overwhelmed her. When the twitching ceased, a portion of her face was paralyzed and her speech was slurred and scrambled. Over a period of 20 minutes, everything went back online, except her energy; the whole business left her pretty wiped out. In short, a seizure for Amy is like being really drunk, minus any of the fun. (Not that we know anything of being drunk. Make sure you emphasize that point to our grandparents and spiritual advisors. You might be lying, of course, but surely it wouldn’t be the first time, no?)
When we called our doctor, he told us that seizures such as this are within parameters and to be expected. But her medications were adjusted, and since then, Amy hasn’t had any seizures. But her week of “My body is not my friend” weirdness had just begun.
As many of you know, this was the week in which we were to meet with the chemo and radiation docs to plan her treatments. Here’s what we learned:
First, the tumor mass that was extracted from her brain was deemed a Grade 3, which is “10 million times better than a Grade 4,” according to one of our physicians. If it had been Grade 4, Amy would be facing certain death, most likely within a year. To be clear, Grade 3 isn’t all party balloons and kazoos, either—but it’s treatable, and ambiguous enough to contain cause for hope, and therefore a reason to celebrate.
Second, there’s the mysterious matter of how much cancer crud still resides within Amy’s noggin. Last week, I told you that we were dealing with a small amount of tumor (which was left in the brain because of its it delicate location) and bunch of “spider legs,” or vine-like threads from which new tumors can grow. This description remains accurate enough to be called “accurate,” but it doesn’t quite capture the tricky totality of Amy’s actual condition. This past Monday, we were shown the MRI of Amy’s brain that was taken after her surgery. What it reveals is that technically, anything that can be officially labeled “a tumor” has been removed. However, the region of the brain from which the tumor was removed remains saturated with cancer cells. On the MRI, it looks like a bank of puffy white fog. To remove the affected tissue via surgery would have meant scooping out chunks of functional brain, which would have done “damage” to Amy. It could have left her mute, or paralyzed, or worse. The hope is that with radiation and chemo, we can obliterate those cells, or at least neutralize them. In fact, according to our doctor, if that foggy region never grows any bigger, and never yields any additional tumor tissue, Amy will be here for a very long time. However, we are praying that the foggy region will disappear altogether by the time we have another MRI 6 weeks from now. THAT will be a miracle that we can all pray for.
Third, some specifics about the chemo and the radiation. The chemo treatments will take the form of a pill. One a day, every day, for about six weeks. No side effects are expected. The chemo is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very expensive—and our insurance will cover it. Whew. Amy’s chemo pill popping will begin the same day as the radiation treatments: 2/26/07. Amy requires 30 sessions of radiation—five per week, each session lasting just 10-15 minutes. The experience is akin to getting an X-ray. She’ll feel nothing, but she’ll feel pretty wiped afterward, and over time, there could be some hair loss and irritated skin in the area on her head that’s being treated. The hardest part of the radiation may actually be the commute—it’s a 70 mile round trip. We have been blessed with many offers of transportation and babysitting, and we are very grateful.
Okay. That was a lot of information. So let’s take a break for a second. Grab some popcorn, stretch your legs, take a leak—do what you gotta do, because there’s more to come.
INTERMISSION! (Cue the chipper music.)
(Don’t need to pee? Check out “scary cats” at youtube.com--or read the latest wildly entertaining yet utterly incomprehensible Lost theory by Doc Jensen at ew.com!)
Okay. We’re back. Now let’s talk about why Amy looks and feels like she rolled around in a thicket of poison ivy after a wild night of screwdrivers and smores at that outdoor fondue dive we like in South Central.
This past Friday, Amy woke up from a nap covered in itchy hives. By the next day, her face and lips were swollen and her throat had constricted. By Sunday night, her ears were inflamed and her gums were so sore it was painful to eat. She began applying lotions and taking Benadryl, but to no avail. The doctors told her that most likely, she was having an allergic reaction to her medication—but which medication? Suspicion fell on the Codeine, but in the end, the villain was revealed to be her anti-seizure medication. (Poor falsely accused prescription painkillers!) Yesterday, Amy was put on steroids to help accelerate the healing process. Please pray for immediate relief; physically and emotionally, this allergic reaction has been a royal pain for Amy. We want it taken away. Immediately.
Concurrent with the evolving experience and understanding of her physical ordeal, Amy has wrestling with the emotional aspect of her illness, as well. Last week, prior to learning the details of the pathology report on her tumor, she decided to do some Internet research and learned that people with Grade 4 tumors usually don’t survive past 13 months—and that’s AFTER surgery and chemo/radiation. For the first time, Amy began to wrap her mind around what was at stake, and it left her profoundly shaken. It was a great relief to learn she was only dealing with a Grade 3 situation, and even more heartening to hear that she’s an ideal candidate for successful treatment (her age, her strength of recovery from the surgery, the physical properties of the tumor itself). Nonetheless, Grade 3 cancer cells are formidable in their own right. Combined with the dispiriting, discouraging experience of this allergic reaction, Amy has been feeling quite low the past week. Sometimes, she feels death is imminent. Other times, she finds herself worrying over the thought of our children growing up without a mother. Of course, my inclination is to try everything I can to pull her out of those dark places, and to remind her that she has so many reasons to be optimistic about living a long, healthy life. And so I do, and I am right inasmuch as she really does have reason to be optimistic. At the same time, her fears and the experience of her fears are legitimate, and should be respected. This is scary stuff. There’s just no getting around it. And if we’re not acknowledging that, we are not preparing ourselves properly for the fight to come. Know thy enemy—then kick him in the nuts. That’s what I say.
We remain faithful. We are hopeful. We believe God is good, even though sometimes, we find ourselves taking Him aside and saying, “Dude: what the hell?!” Then he gives us a hug. HUGE hugs. These hugs come in the form of meals brought to our homes by friends. Offers of babysitting and hang-out time. Phone calls and emails filled with wisdom and counsel from family and friends. Letters from people we don’t even know, who’ve heard of our situation and were moved to share their own survival stories. And of course, the scores of checks for millions of dollars from anonymous donors that have allowed us to endure all our suffering from the comfort of our new 25,000 square foot mansion in Malibu. Okay, that last part hasn’t happened. But the truth is, everything that’s been done for us—this wonderful windfall of blessing—has left us feeling so very secure, at a time when security is so very needed. We thank God for his goodness—and we thank God for all of you.
Please know something else: this isn’t all about us. We know that what has happened to Amy has deeply affected many of you. We know this, even if we don’t always acknowledge it, and in the days and weeks to come, we want to hear more about your own experience of all this. Please: share. We want to hear it. We want to know about it. We want to love you all as you have loved us, and are loving us.
Anyway… that’s all for now. Please know that I will never again write an update this long, unless such length is actually warranted. Clearly, what’s needed is shorter, more frequent updates instead of occasional, exhaustive, and exhausting epics. So I’ll trying harder and not trying so hard next time. J
Love you all.
Jeff and Amy
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Now is the time to lift them up!
(Message from Jeff and Amy)
Hello, everyone.
We can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers and expressions of love and support you've sent and continue to send during this most challenging chapter in the unfolding Jensen Family (Lakewood, CA edition) saga. To know we have what seems like a small nation standing behind us—or really, holding us up—as we grapple with all this brain tumor junk has been a source of great strength. It has helped Amy to heal, helped me to plan, and helped our children understand in a truly dynamic sense the meaning of family and friendship. We've experienced great blessing in the midst of this great trial, and while you'll never, ever, EVER hear me say, "Thank God for brain tumors!", I will declare, loudly, that "God is good." I believe this--now, more than ever.
So here's the deal.
Contrary to what we may have told you previously, the small amount of tumor that remains inside Amy's brain—located in a delicate section of her gray matter; too risky to be extracted—is NOT the scary grade 3 stuff. It's actually the more slow-growing, less-aggressive grade 1-2 material. What the surgeons removed was the faster-growing, more-aggressive grade 3 cancer. Now this is good news, because it means it's not the super-strong, super-fast, super-deadly grade 4 crud, as originally thought. If it had been, Amy would have about 13 months to live. So…. PRAISE GOD it ain't a grade 4.
The problem, however, is that tumors aren't tidy little balls that are cleanly scooped out. They grow roots—long, thin, spider-like legs—from which other tumors can grow. These "roots," for lack of a better term, aren't easily removed. In fact, in Amy's case, they weren't removed at all.
So to recap: Amy's got a mass of grade 1-2 tumor and a bunch of grade 3 spider legs in her brain. What needs to be done? Simple.
Nuclear annahilation.
We need to kill all this stuff with radiation and chemo so the tumor ceases to grow, and the spider legs become incapable of yielding new tumors. Make sense? I hope so.
We're still plotting out the radiation schedule; we'll know more by Friday. But we suspect the regimen of chemo drugs and daily radiation treatments will begin in two weeks.
To be clear, we have a long way to go. A grade 3 situation is far from ideal. The stats say that if this thing can't be killed, the median prognosis is 27 months. Yes, that's a scary number. And it's not a number we should forget. But here's the deal: that ain't Amy's story. Amy's story is very much TBD. The doc declined to apply the stats to Amy, or even give her an official prognosis. This is the time for fighting, and there's reason to hope for victory. There are many factors in her favor. Her age. Her strength. And apparently, the tumor tissue is the kind of tumor tissue that responds well to chemo. So we say, Bring it on. Let the season of hope and courage begin.
Listen to me talk tough. Here's what we REALLY need: God. And from you, prayer. Pray for the doctors. Pray for the treatments. Pray that our insurance can cover all of this. (Chemo meds: $11,000 a month. That is NOT a typo.) And pray specifically for a miracle. Ask God to just destroy this thing, either through medicine, or via supernatural means. I don't have a preference for the means--just the result.
Me am tired now, so me am going to stop. So I leave you with these two thoughts:
We love you.
Thank you for loving us.
Jeff and Amy (and Ben and Lauren)
Sent via blackberry
Hello, everyone.
We can't thank everyone enough for all the prayers and expressions of love and support you've sent and continue to send during this most challenging chapter in the unfolding Jensen Family (Lakewood, CA edition) saga. To know we have what seems like a small nation standing behind us—or really, holding us up—as we grapple with all this brain tumor junk has been a source of great strength. It has helped Amy to heal, helped me to plan, and helped our children understand in a truly dynamic sense the meaning of family and friendship. We've experienced great blessing in the midst of this great trial, and while you'll never, ever, EVER hear me say, "Thank God for brain tumors!", I will declare, loudly, that "God is good." I believe this--now, more than ever.
So here's the deal.
Contrary to what we may have told you previously, the small amount of tumor that remains inside Amy's brain—located in a delicate section of her gray matter; too risky to be extracted—is NOT the scary grade 3 stuff. It's actually the more slow-growing, less-aggressive grade 1-2 material. What the surgeons removed was the faster-growing, more-aggressive grade 3 cancer. Now this is good news, because it means it's not the super-strong, super-fast, super-deadly grade 4 crud, as originally thought. If it had been, Amy would have about 13 months to live. So…. PRAISE GOD it ain't a grade 4.
The problem, however, is that tumors aren't tidy little balls that are cleanly scooped out. They grow roots—long, thin, spider-like legs—from which other tumors can grow. These "roots," for lack of a better term, aren't easily removed. In fact, in Amy's case, they weren't removed at all.
So to recap: Amy's got a mass of grade 1-2 tumor and a bunch of grade 3 spider legs in her brain. What needs to be done? Simple.
Nuclear annahilation.
We need to kill all this stuff with radiation and chemo so the tumor ceases to grow, and the spider legs become incapable of yielding new tumors. Make sense? I hope so.
We're still plotting out the radiation schedule; we'll know more by Friday. But we suspect the regimen of chemo drugs and daily radiation treatments will begin in two weeks.
To be clear, we have a long way to go. A grade 3 situation is far from ideal. The stats say that if this thing can't be killed, the median prognosis is 27 months. Yes, that's a scary number. And it's not a number we should forget. But here's the deal: that ain't Amy's story. Amy's story is very much TBD. The doc declined to apply the stats to Amy, or even give her an official prognosis. This is the time for fighting, and there's reason to hope for victory. There are many factors in her favor. Her age. Her strength. And apparently, the tumor tissue is the kind of tumor tissue that responds well to chemo. So we say, Bring it on. Let the season of hope and courage begin.
Listen to me talk tough. Here's what we REALLY need: God. And from you, prayer. Pray for the doctors. Pray for the treatments. Pray that our insurance can cover all of this. (Chemo meds: $11,000 a month. That is NOT a typo.) And pray specifically for a miracle. Ask God to just destroy this thing, either through medicine, or via supernatural means. I don't have a preference for the means--just the result.
Me am tired now, so me am going to stop. So I leave you with these two thoughts:
We love you.
Thank you for loving us.
Jeff and Amy (and Ben and Lauren)
Sent via blackberry
Blessed
Sorry for the delay in posting...I actually had a post all typed up and ready to go, but I didnt publish it. When I logged into my laptop this AM, still 1/2 asleep, I just went to another site, and ignored the warning..then poof, it was gone, doh! So, I will do my best to remember what I had written.
First off, we are headed down to LEST for the big tournament. Got to thinking and it was 20years ago that my 7-8th grade team won the tournament! Not sure if our team this year will have the same success, but we are going to give it our all. Every game is our championship game.
Second, update from longbeach is that things are going well. Mom returned home on Monday from 10 days down there. It was hard to leave, but she really feels that Amy, Jeff and the kids have a great support network to help them through this time. Mom and Dad already have the next trip booked for Ben's b-day, so that will be coming up before they know it. Amy goes in for some pre-treatment appointments today, so we should be getting more information about what the plan is and how things will move forward. Amy is keeping busy...some might say too busy...but overall her spirits are high. In all the message that we have received she seems very positive and is looking forward to winning the battle.
We continue to be amazed about the "network" of support that has surrounding our entire family and especially Jeff and Amy. This was evident on Sunday at church as we saw a prayer request in our church bulletin for Amy, and we didnt ask for it be there...someone else did. We have been truly blessed to have such amazing support from friend, family and even people we dont know, and that they would lift Amy and Jeff up in their prayers. God is active in this for sure. Pastor's sermon on Sunday really hit home about being blessed. He conveyed, that being blessed doesnt mean that you have everything you need or want. Rather, being blessed is when you trust in God in your time of need. When you are weak, he makes you strong...When you are hungry, he will provide. During this time, WE are truly blessed!
First off, we are headed down to LEST for the big tournament. Got to thinking and it was 20years ago that my 7-8th grade team won the tournament! Not sure if our team this year will have the same success, but we are going to give it our all. Every game is our championship game.
Second, update from longbeach is that things are going well. Mom returned home on Monday from 10 days down there. It was hard to leave, but she really feels that Amy, Jeff and the kids have a great support network to help them through this time. Mom and Dad already have the next trip booked for Ben's b-day, so that will be coming up before they know it. Amy goes in for some pre-treatment appointments today, so we should be getting more information about what the plan is and how things will move forward. Amy is keeping busy...some might say too busy...but overall her spirits are high. In all the message that we have received she seems very positive and is looking forward to winning the battle.
We continue to be amazed about the "network" of support that has surrounding our entire family and especially Jeff and Amy. This was evident on Sunday at church as we saw a prayer request in our church bulletin for Amy, and we didnt ask for it be there...someone else did. We have been truly blessed to have such amazing support from friend, family and even people we dont know, and that they would lift Amy and Jeff up in their prayers. God is active in this for sure. Pastor's sermon on Sunday really hit home about being blessed. He conveyed, that being blessed doesnt mean that you have everything you need or want. Rather, being blessed is when you trust in God in your time of need. When you are weak, he makes you strong...When you are hungry, he will provide. During this time, WE are truly blessed!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Hope BBall Season
Well...the regular season for Hope Basketball wrapped up yesterday with a loss to Concordia Seattle. We played tough, but just couldnt deal with their size and execution. They played really well. For the season, we finished 4-8 on the year. Other than a couple games, we were right in every one of the losses. In the HIT tournament we played a GREAT game in our first game, but lost by 4. After winning the second game, our third game against ConcTac-B was one we should have one. We lost by 3, and had a 3-pt change to tie at the buzzer. We had a parent tape this game and I just finished watching it...we totally could have one this one! We missed 5-6 layups and had a bunch of turnovers. It is kind of cool to have the games taped, because we can review it and see all the areas for improvement.
Next week brings us LEST. The brackets are set and our first game is against Trinity Bend. We beat Trinity Bend in the consolation game last year, but that was last year and we have a very different team this year. IF we Win, we would play Faith - Las Vegas. This is a team that is historically VERY VERY good. They are big, quick and play more like a good High School team, then a Jr. High team. Oh well, if we win, we will give it our best shot and see what happens.
We will bring the laptop with us and will try to post from Portland.
Next week brings us LEST. The brackets are set and our first game is against Trinity Bend. We beat Trinity Bend in the consolation game last year, but that was last year and we have a very different team this year. IF we Win, we would play Faith - Las Vegas. This is a team that is historically VERY VERY good. They are big, quick and play more like a good High School team, then a Jr. High team. Oh well, if we win, we will give it our best shot and see what happens.
We will bring the laptop with us and will try to post from Portland.
Feeling better
Talked to Mom the last two nights. Amy continues to do well. Yesterday she had an outing with a friend for a movie, and today some friends came by and delivered dinner and helped them with yard work. Jeff is still not 100% so that help was much appreciated. The kids were back in school the last two days and are doing well.
Word is that Amy goes in next week for some follow appointments to start learning about the next steps. We can only imagine that there is some signifcant analysis and testing that has to occur before all the treatment starts. Mom mentioned tonight that Amy and Jeff really enjoy reading the blog and everyone's comments. It means a lot to them to see all the well wishes and support. We will post updates as we have them.
Word is that Amy goes in next week for some follow appointments to start learning about the next steps. We can only imagine that there is some signifcant analysis and testing that has to occur before all the treatment starts. Mom mentioned tonight that Amy and Jeff really enjoy reading the blog and everyone's comments. It means a lot to them to see all the well wishes and support. We will post updates as we have them.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Out and about...
Update from Longbeach today....
Amy continues to start feeling better. Clearly evident by adventures out to dinner tonight, as well as time with the MOPS group. Sounded like Amy really enjoyed getting out and visiting with friends. Amy is also embracing the temporary "style" of hats. Below is a picture of her latest edition. Who would have guessed she had this major surgery less than a week ago!
The rest of family are feeling better. The kids are set to go back to school tomorrow barring any night time set backs. Freezer arrived today and meals are getting frozen tomorrow so they can enjoy them.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Pictures of "thigh meat"
As I was eating my chicken salad at lunch today, I saw an email come through. It was from Amy!
First off, she expressed how she enjoyed reading the blog and everyone's comments. Second, she explained to us how they named these tumors "thigh meat" because neither Jeff or Amy care for thigh meat when having chicken. I thought that this was a cool, psychological game where they directed all their negative energy towards these pesky tumors. However, I got the impression that is wasn't that "deep." They just thought that the tumors looked like a piece of thigh meat...that simple! Amy actually requested pictures of removed tumors to see if their images were on target. So, if you are a interested in this kind of thing, they are happy to share. Just drop them an email.
Alrighty then....On the positive side of this odd twist, Amy and Jeff clearly have their quirky sense of humor in full swing less than a week since major surgery. We are thankful for this as laughter can be the best medicine. On the home front, Jeff and Ben seem to have caught the crud that Laruen had. So they have been down for the count all day. Mom is keeping everyone in their own plastic bubbles so the germs stay contained :-) On the positive side, Lauren is doing better. Mom is training her to be able to take care of Amy in case Jeff doesn't recover quickly. The new freezer is on it's way. After a delivery of a load of California Pizza Kitchen food from the producers of Lost, they pulled the trigger so they will be able to enjoy all the great generosity from friends and family.
It was great to see an email from Amy today. Hopefully she can/will send more emails that I can post up here for everyone.
Leaves me wondering, what part of the chicken was my chicken salad made of......
First off, she expressed how she enjoyed reading the blog and everyone's comments. Second, she explained to us how they named these tumors "thigh meat" because neither Jeff or Amy care for thigh meat when having chicken. I thought that this was a cool, psychological game where they directed all their negative energy towards these pesky tumors. However, I got the impression that is wasn't that "deep." They just thought that the tumors looked like a piece of thigh meat...that simple! Amy actually requested pictures of removed tumors to see if their images were on target. So, if you are a interested in this kind of thing, they are happy to share. Just drop them an email.
Alrighty then....On the positive side of this odd twist, Amy and Jeff clearly have their quirky sense of humor in full swing less than a week since major surgery. We are thankful for this as laughter can be the best medicine. On the home front, Jeff and Ben seem to have caught the crud that Laruen had. So they have been down for the count all day. Mom is keeping everyone in their own plastic bubbles so the germs stay contained :-) On the positive side, Lauren is doing better. Mom is training her to be able to take care of Amy in case Jeff doesn't recover quickly. The new freezer is on it's way. After a delivery of a load of California Pizza Kitchen food from the producers of Lost, they pulled the trigger so they will be able to enjoy all the great generosity from friends and family.
It was great to see an email from Amy today. Hopefully she can/will send more emails that I can post up here for everyone.
Leaves me wondering, what part of the chicken was my chicken salad made of......
Monday, February 5, 2007
First Full Day at Home
Talked to Mom tonight and got the scoop from Today. Today was a good day. The weather has been warm, so Mom had to go buy flip flops..boo hoo :-) That has made it very comfortable for Amy. She was up and about a number of times today. Per Doctor's orders, she needs to be up to get circulation going and reduce the risk of clots, etc. Amy was super excited to wash her hair! It had been a few days, so I can see how that was a highlight. Jeff and Amy even got out of the house today for a road trip to Old Navy and other shopping.
The kids are adjusting to Mom being back home too. Big Ben is getting back into a groove, but Lauren has a little bug. So she is on the BRAT diet...no she isn't a brat..it stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. So while everyone else was enjoying all the great meals being provided by friends, poor Lauren is stuck with Applesauce and Toast. Speaking of the meals, their fridge is overflowing with food. They actually had to start spacing out the deliveries so they could get to it all. Mom actually mentioned that they may get a new freezer to hold all the food....I guess they are on sale at Sears if you are interested. Steph and I actually have the same model that used to be the old family freezer...works like a charm!
Sound like one of the biggest challenges Amy has is juggling all the meds. Each one has it's own set of directions, may or may not require food, etc. She is having to have a lot of smaller meals to keep food in her stomach to try and avoid not feeling well.
That's all for tonight. Mom made the comment that they are checking the blog, so keep those well wishes coming :-)
The kids are adjusting to Mom being back home too. Big Ben is getting back into a groove, but Lauren has a little bug. So she is on the BRAT diet...no she isn't a brat..it stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. So while everyone else was enjoying all the great meals being provided by friends, poor Lauren is stuck with Applesauce and Toast. Speaking of the meals, their fridge is overflowing with food. They actually had to start spacing out the deliveries so they could get to it all. Mom actually mentioned that they may get a new freezer to hold all the food....I guess they are on sale at Sears if you are interested. Steph and I actually have the same model that used to be the old family freezer...works like a charm!
Sound like one of the biggest challenges Amy has is juggling all the meds. Each one has it's own set of directions, may or may not require food, etc. She is having to have a lot of smaller meals to keep food in her stomach to try and avoid not feeling well.
That's all for tonight. Mom made the comment that they are checking the blog, so keep those well wishes coming :-)
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Amy's Home!
Got in touch with my Mom today around Noon and Amy was already home and resting in her own bed. Jeff went up to the hospital this AM to pick up Amy's mom and they said that Amy could go at any time...and she was ready. They are looking forward to being at home now and starting on the next phase of the recovery/treatment process. At the time I called, Amy was asleep and Mom was just hanging out in case she needed anything. Jeff was out with the kids getting all the prescriptions filled and taking the kids on a Target run. The vicadin (sp?) has been a little tough on Amy's stomach, but she is getting through it. The had already been through the mail and other things. It of course makes her sleepy too, so she is getting lost of rest. The big advice from the doctors was to avoid any bending over....I can only imagine how uncomfortable a head rush would be right now.
That's is for now. If we get any new news later today, we will pass it along.
That's is for now. If we get any new news later today, we will pass it along.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Saturday Amy Update
Thought I would get another update out tonight. I didn't have a chance to talk to Jeff today, but I did touch base with Mom. Today the plan was for Jeff to return to Longbeach and get the kids to go visit Amy in the Hospital. However, after a day a feeling better, Lauren was still a bit under the weather. So, Ben was the only one able to go up and visit Amy. Mom actually had a chance to speak with Amy as she called to check in on Lauren. Amy indicated that she was doing good and looking forward to coming home. At that point, she was just waiting for one of those great Hospital meals so she could take some pain medicine. She indicated that her face was a bit swollen from the surgery, thus it was hurting a bit. The plan still remains for Amy to be released tomorrow. Everyone is excited for her to come home.
Another example of the kind of support Jeff and Amy are receiving.....As you may (or may not know), Jeff writes for Entertainment Weekly and is one of the primary writers covering Lost (http://www.ew.com/ew/allabout/0,,20000067,00.html). Jeff has traveled a number of times to the set, and has visited with the producers of Lost many times. We heard today that the producers for Lost personally called Jeff after hearing about their situation. Jeff thought that was pretty cool. According to Mom, they also sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the house.
Another example of the kind of support Jeff and Amy are receiving.....As you may (or may not know), Jeff writes for Entertainment Weekly and is one of the primary writers covering Lost (http://www.ew.com/ew/allabout/0,,20000067,00.html). Jeff has traveled a number of times to the set, and has visited with the producers of Lost many times. We heard today that the producers for Lost personally called Jeff after hearing about their situation. Jeff thought that was pretty cool. According to Mom, they also sent a beautiful bouquet of flowers to the house.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Messages for Jeff, Amy and Kids
Please post comments to this blog directed for Jeff and Amy. Consider this an online "well wishes" board. Thanks!!!
Amy Update Day 2
The first full day after surgery has been filled with a lot of information and emotion. I will do what I can to relay the info that both Jeff and Mom have passed along as accurately as possible.
First off, Jeff indicated that Amy continues to recovery very very well. She has actually been up and around, is eating, and is feeling better. She still has that headache, but that is expected, right? The doctors are really happy with how well she is responding and the plan is still to be released on Sunday.
The tough part of today was the fact that Amy was finally debriefed on the status of the surgery and what they could and couldn't do. Prior to surgery, she was the most fearful of the need to do radiation, and that is now a reality. Clearly, she and all, had hoped that what they saw, was what they got, and there would be nothing more. So, to hear that there was another tumor that required additional treatment, was difficult to hear.
They had the opportunity to speak with the oncologist and this is where they are at:
The surgery was successful in removing the tumor what was rooted in two places. This was determined to be a "Grade" 1-2 tumor. However, while in surgery they discovered another tumor that was diagnosed as a "Grade" 3-4 tumor. (Both were the size of Golf Balls, if you can imagine that!) They couldn't remove it all and the Doctor had to make a tough decision of not doing more due to the risk of possible long term side effects.
Real quickly, Jeff wanted me to clarify "Grade". In previous posts, I used the term "Stage" and in fact that was not correct. "Stage" is used to define a different kind of tumor. However, with brain tumors, the term "Grade" is used. Grade 1-2 means that the tumor is slow growing, less aggressive and very likely benign. This was the tumor that they successfully removed. Grade 3-4 means that the tumor is faster growing, more aggressive and very likely malignant. This is the tumor that could not be completely removed.
So, with the diagnosis of a Grade 3-4, the doctors are moving forward with a very aggressive treatment plan. Amy has shown tremendous signs of fight and strength, so given her young age, they feel this is the right course of action. She will undergo both Chemo-therapy as well as radiation treatment. The Chemo will be in the form of a pill that has very little side effects. The radiation, will be 5 days a week, for 30 minutes, for 6 weeks. This treatment will likely start in about 2 weeks.
Everyone has asked, is there anything they need? At this point, Jeff says to simply continue to keep their Family, and especially Amy in your prayers. Their "local" friends have been tremendous, and the Moms have been there as well. However, he specifically said that they can truly feel the presence of everyone's thoughts and prayers through this process. In fact, Jeff told me that it is that support that is keeping them strong, and faithful that they will make it through this difficult time. Without this support, he really is not sure where they would be.
As I mentioned earlier, Amy will be coming home on Sunday. If you would like to send a card or note to her and the family, I am sure they would love it. If you don't have their home address handy, feel free to email us at mjandsj@comcast.net and we will send it to you. Also, feel free to pass along the blog address to others wanting to stay updated.
I think that is all for tonight. We ask that you continue to pray for Amy, Jeff and the Kids that they stay strong. I will be posting another blog post shortly and ask that anyone that is reading the updates post some thought, well wish, favorite verse, etc. for them. This way Jeff and Amy can see all comments in one place and also see the power of their "network."
First off, Jeff indicated that Amy continues to recovery very very well. She has actually been up and around, is eating, and is feeling better. She still has that headache, but that is expected, right? The doctors are really happy with how well she is responding and the plan is still to be released on Sunday.
The tough part of today was the fact that Amy was finally debriefed on the status of the surgery and what they could and couldn't do. Prior to surgery, she was the most fearful of the need to do radiation, and that is now a reality. Clearly, she and all, had hoped that what they saw, was what they got, and there would be nothing more. So, to hear that there was another tumor that required additional treatment, was difficult to hear.
They had the opportunity to speak with the oncologist and this is where they are at:
The surgery was successful in removing the tumor what was rooted in two places. This was determined to be a "Grade" 1-2 tumor. However, while in surgery they discovered another tumor that was diagnosed as a "Grade" 3-4 tumor. (Both were the size of Golf Balls, if you can imagine that!) They couldn't remove it all and the Doctor had to make a tough decision of not doing more due to the risk of possible long term side effects.
Real quickly, Jeff wanted me to clarify "Grade". In previous posts, I used the term "Stage" and in fact that was not correct. "Stage" is used to define a different kind of tumor. However, with brain tumors, the term "Grade" is used. Grade 1-2 means that the tumor is slow growing, less aggressive and very likely benign. This was the tumor that they successfully removed. Grade 3-4 means that the tumor is faster growing, more aggressive and very likely malignant. This is the tumor that could not be completely removed.
So, with the diagnosis of a Grade 3-4, the doctors are moving forward with a very aggressive treatment plan. Amy has shown tremendous signs of fight and strength, so given her young age, they feel this is the right course of action. She will undergo both Chemo-therapy as well as radiation treatment. The Chemo will be in the form of a pill that has very little side effects. The radiation, will be 5 days a week, for 30 minutes, for 6 weeks. This treatment will likely start in about 2 weeks.
Everyone has asked, is there anything they need? At this point, Jeff says to simply continue to keep their Family, and especially Amy in your prayers. Their "local" friends have been tremendous, and the Moms have been there as well. However, he specifically said that they can truly feel the presence of everyone's thoughts and prayers through this process. In fact, Jeff told me that it is that support that is keeping them strong, and faithful that they will make it through this difficult time. Without this support, he really is not sure where they would be.
As I mentioned earlier, Amy will be coming home on Sunday. If you would like to send a card or note to her and the family, I am sure they would love it. If you don't have their home address handy, feel free to email us at mjandsj@comcast.net and we will send it to you. Also, feel free to pass along the blog address to others wanting to stay updated.
I think that is all for tonight. We ask that you continue to pray for Amy, Jeff and the Kids that they stay strong. I will be posting another blog post shortly and ask that anyone that is reading the updates post some thought, well wish, favorite verse, etc. for them. This way Jeff and Amy can see all comments in one place and also see the power of their "network."
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Talked to Jeff
Had the chance to speak with Jeff on the ride home from Snohomish tonight (we lost the bball game by 4 points by the way)....
He sounded (actually admitted) tired. It has been a long day that started at 4am, and is still going. The latest update is that Amy is stable, in and out of sleep, but comfortable and responsive. Jeff mentioned that she even said she had a headache...imagine that, who wouldn't! They are still in a "recovery room" and as of 9pm, were 2nd in line for an ICU room. They are anxious to make this move as the general recovery rooms are not the most private and there is a lot of activity. Even as we talked, it sounded like nurses were coming and going, and there were a lot of distractions.
Jeff was very thankful to have a good friend, Steve Porter, up at the hospital most of the day. In fact, he was there when the doctor delivered the news of the surgery. Steve and Jeff have been good friends for a long time, and I am sure that he greatly appreciated his presence during this time. Steve and his wife have coordinated efforts to be sure that Jeff and Amy's fridge was packed with food all week as they prepared for this day. Amy's Mom Rhonda was also at the hospital, while our Mom (Charl) was back in Longbeach with the kids. Unfortunately, Lauren has also had a tough day battling flu symptoms. We are hopeful that this is just nerves and she will be better tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a new day, and the start of some new challenges. They will be eager to work with the Doctors to determine the next steps to getting Amy back to herself. Again, the plan is that she could go home as early as Sunday, so we pray that she remains strong so that can happen. I think we can all agree that home is a better place to recover! We plan to be in touch with Jeff and/or Mom every day to get the latest updates. As we get them, we will post it! We just discovered a cool way to post updates via email, so it will be near real-time...thanks to Blackberry :-)
Continue to pray for Amy, Jeff and Family that they have faith that God will be with them through this time.
He sounded (actually admitted) tired. It has been a long day that started at 4am, and is still going. The latest update is that Amy is stable, in and out of sleep, but comfortable and responsive. Jeff mentioned that she even said she had a headache...imagine that, who wouldn't! They are still in a "recovery room" and as of 9pm, were 2nd in line for an ICU room. They are anxious to make this move as the general recovery rooms are not the most private and there is a lot of activity. Even as we talked, it sounded like nurses were coming and going, and there were a lot of distractions.
Jeff was very thankful to have a good friend, Steve Porter, up at the hospital most of the day. In fact, he was there when the doctor delivered the news of the surgery. Steve and Jeff have been good friends for a long time, and I am sure that he greatly appreciated his presence during this time. Steve and his wife have coordinated efforts to be sure that Jeff and Amy's fridge was packed with food all week as they prepared for this day. Amy's Mom Rhonda was also at the hospital, while our Mom (Charl) was back in Longbeach with the kids. Unfortunately, Lauren has also had a tough day battling flu symptoms. We are hopeful that this is just nerves and she will be better tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a new day, and the start of some new challenges. They will be eager to work with the Doctors to determine the next steps to getting Amy back to herself. Again, the plan is that she could go home as early as Sunday, so we pray that she remains strong so that can happen. I think we can all agree that home is a better place to recover! We plan to be in touch with Jeff and/or Mom every day to get the latest updates. As we get them, we will post it! We just discovered a cool way to post updates via email, so it will be near real-time...thanks to Blackberry :-)
Continue to pray for Amy, Jeff and Family that they have faith that God will be with them through this time.
Amy Update
I received word from Longbeach that Amy has made it through surgery successfully. The doctors were able to remove the tumor that was rooted in two places. The doc said that there should not be any issues with this tumor. However with this tumor removed they found another tumor deeper in the brain and were unable to remove it completely. The doc told Jeff that Amy will likely have to undergo radiation treatment to completely eliminate the tumor. The doctors are impressed with how stable Amy is and are optimistic that she will be able to go home as early as Sunday. Jeff was on his way in to see Amy. I look forward to talking to him more tonight and will post more info. Please continue to lift them up in prayer.
Preliminary Amy Update
As of 4:30pm, we've heard that the surgery was delayed about one hour, so they started a little bit after noon. Jeff did get an update at about 3:30pm that everything was going as planned and that Amy was in stable condition. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers. We'll update as soon as we hear more.
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