Saturday, June 30, 2007

Hello dear friends and family,
Effects of chemo are starting to set in a little. Kelly has been feeling very tired. This particular round of chemo is every other day and is hitting his body hard. Due to the 4th of July holiday, next week he will be getting treatments Mon., Tues., and Fri..
Please pray that Kelly will stay clear of infections, for stamina and that the chemo will hunt down those nasty cancer cells and KILL them ALL!!!

Next week we hope to get a road map of treatment for the whole year and also get the results of a bone marrow biopsy that will tell us what the likelihood is of remission. We will also hear from our doctor as to the possibility of going to Forest Home Family Camp. This has become a tradition for our family over the last 4 years and we really want to go.
We are still being uplifted by your prayers and can't tell you how much we appreciate them. Please keep it up. Sincerely, Kelly and Gabriela

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

So far, so good

Hello dear friends and family. Thank you for your prayers, please do not stop! Kelly is receiving the second of seven rounds of this new Chemo today. Monday's treatment went well. The only side effect was a little tiredness due mostly to the Benadryl they give in conjunction with this Chemo. Kelly continues to feel very well, going to work and is positive, motivated and full of praise to God for His goodness and faithfulness. As we reflected on this, we were moved to see how God's principles are true and that His blessings in our lives have nothing to do with us or our service to Him rather they are entirely a reflection of who God is and how great His love is.
Our family is doing very well also. The kids are enjoying their summer vacation, especially in light of my summer "plans" for the kids of reading, math facts, and journal writing have been put on hold. We are getting into our new "normal". We hope to still be able to go to Forest Home Family Summer camp and are waiting to talk to the doctor about it.
Thank you for your love and concern. We thank God for you!

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Quick update. Praise God Kelly is still feeling well. He is a bit tired but doesn't feel sick at all!!! The doctor said that he is doing better then expected so far. He begins a different chemo on Monday and it will be an every other day thing for about two weeks. Please continue to pray that he will be kept from infection and that he will be able to tolerate the new chemo well. Please also thank God with us for His extravagant love and for how He demonstrates His love to us through His church! We love and appreciate you all and your notes of encouragement. Love, Kelly and Gabriela

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Prayer

Dear friends and family~

Kelly is back in the hospital this late afternoon due to an infection which causes delirium. Please pray for Kelly, Gabriela, the kids, and also for wisdom for the doctor's & nurses that are caring for Kelly.

Thank you...

In His embrace

Prayers

Dear friends~

Kelly is back in the hospital this afternoon due to an infection which is causing delirium. Please pray for Kelly and Gabriela as well as wisdom for the doctor's.

In His embrace
Thursday June 21, 2007 Summer Solstice:


Tomorrow Kelly will be receiving his third Chemotherapy treatment. He has had low blood counts and may also need a blood transfusion. He has felt worn-out and is trying to keep pace with the life as best as possible.
Thank you for your friendship, support, concern, and prayers.

In His embrace

Note from Kelly

I sit at my keyboard just whelmed by the presence of God that has enveloped me through your prayers and encouragement. Your blog comments touch me so much. God is transforming my heart through you. I have never known such a trial or such love. You all are beautiful expressions of Jesus. I have cancer, but it so much not about the cancer. This is about God being God and His church being a family. It is so inspiring to me. I exalt in the Lord and the mightiness of His character and the power of His Word, and His faithfulness to His children!!! I am whelmed by His presence and love you all.
For His Glory, Kelly

Sunday, June 17, 2007

We are so blessed! Kelly had a great Father's Day. He is still feeling well, no side effect from Chemo yet. He goes in Monday, Wednesday and Friday to have his blood checked and third Chemo on Friday. Thank you for your prayers. Keep them coming. Sincerely, Gabriela

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Saturday June 15, 2007

Kelly received his second chemotherapy treatment yesterday morning. So far so good, there have been no major adverse side effects and he has energy along with his appetite. He has said several times that he, “needs to loose a clump of hair or something to justify all this attention!”
On Thursday the Oncologist told us that Kelly has no immune system right now. His greatest current risk is contacting any sort of infection that his body will not be able to fight against. We are trying to live life as normal as possible, but also need to be wise about social outings and public interaction. Please pray for wisdom for Kelly and I as we work together to make the best decisions for his wellbeing.
My sister and her family are going home today. We are so thankful for their time here.
We are also thankful for your continued prayers.

1 Thessalonians 3:9 “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”


In His embrace

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Thursday June 14,2007
Hello dear friends and family. I wanted to thank you all for praying for
Kelly and our family. You have no idea how much it means to us.
I wanted to let you know that Kelly is doing great today! He is feeling
well, has his appetite and is actually at the office for a couple of
hours today.
I asked him yesterday how his heart was and his reply was that he was
incredibly thankful. His response caught me by surprise and I asked, “Why
are you thankful?” He said he was thankful that he is not in a third
world country. He is thankful that he is receiving excellent medical care
and that he has the blessing of medical insurance.
We realize that his cancer is a result of sin in the world; people get
sick. What we know is that God directs our steps, even through the darkest valley's. How thankful we are to be known, and loved by Him at this time.
Kelly is very positive and is leading our family in truth. He told me
this morning that he is sure God will use this for His glory and our good.
It is up to us to keep on doing life as normal as possible. So our plan
is to keep loving God, each other, and the people He brings into our
lives. We are confidant this journey will expand our ministry and give us
greater understanding for people who suffer. It is not exactly accurate
to say that we are excited about this, but we are honored for the
opportunities that God will bring.
Kelly goes in for his second chemotherapy treatment tomorrow morning from
8:00AM- 11:00AM. Please pray that he will continue to respond well to
treatment but more importantly that God will strengthen us and continue to
draw us close to Himself.


Love,
Gabriela

Wednesday, June 13, 2007





Wednesday June 13, 2007

Great news… Kelly came home this afternoon! The kids are very happy and Gabriela is full of emotions (mostly joy). We are very happy to have him home and although uncertain about the journey ahead, are thankful for the gift of today... also for the gifts of faith, hope, and love.
Thank you for your prayers… please keep praying and believing.

In His embrace

Tuesday, June 12, 2007



Tuesday June 12, 2007

Kelly is still in the hospital. There had been a hope that he would be able to come home today (Tuesday), but he has needed numerous blood transfusions and the doctor’s are uncertain as to why. They have been doing testing to try to figure the cause of his need for blood—he has had a total of six transfusions in three days. Please continue to pray.

The good news is that up to date, aside of the diabetes and inability to maintain the normal “counts” in his white and red blood cells, Kelly feels well. Kelly & Gabriela have an amazing support group of friends who are rising up like pillars around them and are blessing them through their prayers and love. On Sunday afternoon, their church elders came to the hospital and anointed Kelly and Gabriela with oil and prayed over them and their family and for total healing. James 5: 14b “…Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick well.”

Our hope is that there would be continued prayer for total healing for Kelly; prayer for Gabriela, courage and strength; prayer for their children—that they would be ministered to through the heavenly servants of God. The kids have been away from both parents quite a bit and are internalizing and processing. Please hold the four of them up (ages 1 ½ years, 4yrs, 6 yrs, 8 yrs.).

Over the last five years God has been weaving the following verses into Kelly’s life’s passion: The book of John chapter 17 of the bible, verse 20:

Jesus is praying, “I pray for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world will believe that you have sent me… may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”?

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Sunday June 10, 2007

We received discouraging news yesterday afternoon- that Kelly has “temporary” diabetes due to the Prednisone (medication for the cancer). What this means is that Kelly will be having to test his insulin (blood sugar) levels four times a day and will have to begin top learn how to adjust his overall diet. There is much to learn and life continues to move ahead one step at a time.

The children are well—visiting with cousins and friends at home. At this point in time we are all waiting through the numerous tests and procedures for Kelly.

We will keep posting as things slowly become clear.

~In His Embrace

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Saturday, June 9th Kelly Rosenthal Update

On Thursday, June 7, 2007 Kelly was diagnosed with Leukemia: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer of the white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that the body uses to fight infections. In ALL, the bone marrow makes lots of unformed cells called blasts that normally would develop into lymphocytes. However, the blasts are abnormal. They do not develop and cannot fight infections. The number of abnormal cells (or leukemia cells) grows quickly. They crowd out the normal red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets the body needs.

To find out more check out the following links:

http://www.marrow.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acute_lymphoblastic_leukemia

The doctors have been very encouraging. On Friday morning one of the doctors told Kelly that he was going to do just fine. Of course, we assumed that a doctor was likely to something like this to any patient facing a difficult challenge. But the doctor, sensing that his message was not strong enough, clarified his statement by explaining that Kelly’s CAT-scan came out clear (nothing has spread into the spine, lungs, or brain). Kelly is young and his health is good; increasing his odds greatly of coming through this challenge with positive results.

By Friday afternoon, June 8th, 2007 Kelly was given his first chemotherapy treatment, an aggressive dose that was sent directly into his spin in hopes of “shocking” the cancer into remission. Then late Friday he began chemotherapy intravenously. He is tired and now is the time to keep him protected from any possible infections.

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Live Strong

The Moment--Kelly Rosenthal

In life, there are defining moments--events that shape and impact the legacy we will leave on this world with the short time we have here. For the Rosenthal family, one of those moments came this week when Kelly was diagnosed with cancer (details to come). Kelly and Gabriela Rosenthal have been called to this occasion and we look forward to the amazing testimony that will be forged over the coming years through their faithfulness, dedication, perseverance, and love of life, family, and friends.

Over the course of Kelly's battle, this website will serve as an information resource for all of those who are dedicated to walking with Kelly on this epic journey. Please check in regularly for updates from Kelly, Gabriela, and the family as a means to channel communication and ease the burden of exhaustively communicating where Kelly is in his process. Also, please feel free to leave the Rosenthal family any words of encouragement in reply messages.

Live Strong