Hi Friends,
It's New Year's Eve and we just finished a great turkey torita soup without the toritas. We will spend a quiet evening playing a game or watching a movie with the kids and end the year thanking God for 2008. We have been so blessed this year. I am healthy and back to ministry full time. The kids are doing great in school and we are growing together. Gabriela seems happy and spiritual focused - connecting with women here. We have a huge support system of friends praying for us, investing time in our kids, and have hope in the next steps of prevention.
The Stanford Doc called and spoke with Gabriela last week. After our visit he contacted the lab that did my chromosome testing and then met with the oncology staff discussing my case. Their findings where inconclusive. They couldn't tell why my chromosome 15 was missing on some of my cells. They did not think it was connected to the leukemia or an indication of a pending relapse. They denied that any previous treatment could have caused it and recommended that I continue chemo where I left off. I don't know what to think about this, but prayerful that they are right about it not being an indication of a relapse - even though this chromosome has been linked to acute leukemia. I finish up my naturopathic treatment this week and will be tested next week to see if the frequency treatments show an improvement in my immune system. It's really an amazing science. I can also test some other alternative medicines using this frequency treatment to see if they would have a beneficial effect on my immune system. This way I am not using products that don't specifically work in my body. The way it works is that every disease, medication, and substance as a frequency. So by creating a substance's frequency and directing it into your body, it as if you are taking that substance. We found seven substances out of 30 that are used for leukemia, that responded positive in my system. So bi-weekly I have been receiving these frequencies. The goal is to see if these substances will keep my immune system at peak fighting force. The body was designed to fight cancers, so the hope is that my immune system will detect the cancerous cells and kill them before they can multiple. What I am not clear about is because Leukemia is a white blood cell, can healthy white cells detect that it's cancer and kill it - and can they do it fast enough to prevent the Leukemia to over take the blood system. I'm still trying to get a clear answer, but no doctor has been able to affirm this either way. If you know anything about this, please let me know.
As a dear friend Monica wrote,"Our trust is in God" and everyday He gives each of us life, whether we have cancer or not. I know that He is good and I can trust Him regardless of what awaits my family in 2009. He has loved us well through many of you in 2008. Thank you and His blessing to you and your families. Kelly
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Stanford was a flop...
Hello
Gabriela and I headed to Stanford on Tuesday as recommended by our Oncologist. The question was if our chromosome 15 issue was an indication of a pending relapse and if Stanford would recommend a Bone Marrow Transplant at this time. My question was more about understanding the chromosome 15 issue. To make this short, the doctor said it wasn't an indication of a relapse and he would not recommend a transplant at this time with my history of Mucor.
The reason the visit was a flop in my option is that the doctor didn't have my test results and after I gave them to his medical assistant, he still hadn't read it. I had to point out information that led him to need to do a further investigation and get back to us. Gabriela asked about alternative protocols and trials. Specifically we ask about the German study using Methadone on ALL. He never heard of that study. Our local news station highlighted the story. Why didn't this doctor - an expert on Leukemia not know something that is huge in possible future treatments? I wasn't impressed and at that point felt we were talking to another narrow focused doctor that treats only with chemo and radiation with no real knowledge of other protocols. It's sad that doctors aren't more rounded. They are directing people's lives. The psalmist warns us not to trust in men, but that our trust must only be in the Lord God.
Our next step is a geneticist to address the chromosome issue. I really want to understand this before we take any action. Please continue to pray for us. It's hard to have a "specialist" tell us we need to return to chemo. We don't believe that is the right step presently, but there is always that sense that we may be wrong. We are at peace regardless, but always questioning. I know less than the doctors and they know less than I need them to know. Anyway, thank you.
We are considering a home purchase and working with a great Realtor. The market is right with the housing bottom pretty close. Interest rates are very low. It's been nice to be free from a mortgage, but having a home would be great for our family to really settle down.
Would love to hear from you. We are not having anyone commenting to the blog, so I don't know who is out there. Would love to know how to pray for you.
His blessings,
Kelly
Gabriela and I headed to Stanford on Tuesday as recommended by our Oncologist. The question was if our chromosome 15 issue was an indication of a pending relapse and if Stanford would recommend a Bone Marrow Transplant at this time. My question was more about understanding the chromosome 15 issue. To make this short, the doctor said it wasn't an indication of a relapse and he would not recommend a transplant at this time with my history of Mucor.
The reason the visit was a flop in my option is that the doctor didn't have my test results and after I gave them to his medical assistant, he still hadn't read it. I had to point out information that led him to need to do a further investigation and get back to us. Gabriela asked about alternative protocols and trials. Specifically we ask about the German study using Methadone on ALL. He never heard of that study. Our local news station highlighted the story. Why didn't this doctor - an expert on Leukemia not know something that is huge in possible future treatments? I wasn't impressed and at that point felt we were talking to another narrow focused doctor that treats only with chemo and radiation with no real knowledge of other protocols. It's sad that doctors aren't more rounded. They are directing people's lives. The psalmist warns us not to trust in men, but that our trust must only be in the Lord God.
Our next step is a geneticist to address the chromosome issue. I really want to understand this before we take any action. Please continue to pray for us. It's hard to have a "specialist" tell us we need to return to chemo. We don't believe that is the right step presently, but there is always that sense that we may be wrong. We are at peace regardless, but always questioning. I know less than the doctors and they know less than I need them to know. Anyway, thank you.
We are considering a home purchase and working with a great Realtor. The market is right with the housing bottom pretty close. Interest rates are very low. It's been nice to be free from a mortgage, but having a home would be great for our family to really settle down.
Would love to hear from you. We are not having anyone commenting to the blog, so I don't know who is out there. Would love to know how to pray for you.
His blessings,
Kelly
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Something Unexpected...
Hi Friends,
I met with Dr. Pascuzzo to find out the results of my biopsy last Monday. I had fully expected to be in remission and I am, but there was something unexpected. The biopsy testing includes a chromosome analysis. In the past this always was clear. My Leukemia was a T-cell type, not chromozonal. Well, some of my cells had abnormal chromosomes. Chromosome 15 was deleted in 8 out of 20 cells. This particular chromosome has been linked to leukemia. The Doctor wasn't sure why this has occurred but suggested that it could be an indication that a relapse was ahead. The report emphasizes that this deletion of Chromosome 15 is not an indictation of a relapse, but that it should be monitored.
My doctor recommended visiting Stanford again to get their opinion on this and if they would recommend a bone marrow transplant at this time while I am in remission. You can't be transplanted if you have active cancer. So I have an appointment this Tuesday to get their thoughts on this new development. After reading the report, I sense the analysis to be more positive - that my bone marrow is in excellent shape and that the chromosome issue is just something to watch. I do think that my doctor knows that we have loss confidence in Western Oncology and are researching other treatment protocols. I think that might be the reason to recommend a second option from Stanford.
Brianna turned 6 years old today and has lost her two upper front teeth. We had 15 girls over today and Brianna had a great time. They grow up so quickly. The rest of the family is doing well and getting ready for Christmas.
From the Rosenthal Family, we wish you His best and that you will know His love in deeper ways through the holidays. Merry Christmas!!
Kelly and the Rosenthals
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Living Thankfully
Dear Friend - May this find you well. The Rosenthal family is getting ready to start a Thanksgiving tradition. This year we are going to include our kids in the preparation of the meal, the house, and our family devotion (Ps 103). In the afternoon we will visit a local convelessient home to deliver cookies and the girls will sing a few songs for folks. Then its home to dinner, a visit to friend for dessert and home for a movie - Princess Bride. That's the plan, so we'll see how it goes. We hope your Thanksgiving is full of praise for God wonderful blessing (read Ps. 103).
On the cancer front, I had a bone marrow biopsy on Monday and will find out next Monday the results. My blood work is good and we anticipate the results will still be that we are in remission. I haven't discussed with the doctor that we are not planning at this time to continue with the chemo regiment. He wants to start on Monday with in intravenous chemo. It's called an "induction phase" which means a heavy dosage of chemo which will depleat my system. It will be a difficult conversation. The doctor will warn me of all the possible reasons we should be continuing and the danger I am putting myself in by stopping. He will tell me this is the time to stay with the treatments to ensure the best long-term results.
These possibilities are concerning to me and I waver in my heart. I don't have confidence in the Western approach to treating cancer, yet I don't know enough about the alternative approaches other than a few books and some web study. It just makes more sense to build up your body to fight disease than to kill the body with the disease and hope that the body will recover. Alternative routes to recovery have and do work for many people, but not all. Chemo works for many, but not all. It's feels like a crap shoot. I have tried the chemo and it has almost killed me with the fungus and debilitated me with radiation. It did knock out my Leukemia, but that is not a reason to continue with chemo for me.
If the Leukemia was to return, I wouldn't rule out chemo and I may be open to a maintenance dosage while using the alternative non-toxic approaches. But we feel I need to try the healthy non-toxic approach. I can tell that many friends and associates think I am wrong for stopping. It's hard because they could be right. I'm not confident of that, but as you can tell, I am still wrestling with it. I just don't know enough and haven't found a doctor that isn't biased to their training and are for the most part ignorant to alternative approaches. Therefore I don't feel I can trust them. I don't question their hearts and convictions, but they don't know enough.
God hasn't given me any clear guidance. Gabriela and I are in complete agreement at this stage - stop chemo and go alternatives until my condition changes, if it should change. Our hope and greater confidence is that the naturopathic and alternative cancer non-toxic treatments will address any future leukemia stem cells that might still exist in my body. Ultimately we trust the Lord and believe He has, (Gabriela believes that He has) or will heal me. So I share this with you our friends to have you continue to pray. I would like our oncologist to continue to monitor us even if we stop the chemo. He may not and I will need to have an oncologist that will. I will let you know the results of the biopsy and my conversation. I think I mentioned having a naturopathic doctor that is advising a protocol to strength and remove the heavy toxins in my body from the chemo and living in our environment. I really am feeling great! He is also working with us to build up my T-Killer cells which are part of our white cell makeup and they are what kills cancer cells in all bodies.
This update has rambled on to long. Again, His blessings to you and your loved ones.
Kelly
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Our present direction...
Hi Friends,
This is Kelly writing to give a quick update on my continuing journey. It's wonderful that you care and take the time to check the blog and pray with us. I feel blessed and loved. Thank you.
Gabriela and I feel very united and at peace about stopping any additional chemo treatments at this time. I stopped my pill regiment three weeks ago and will await a bone marrow biopsy Nov. 24. We feel confident that it will continue to show I am in remission. At this time I will hopefully have changed oncologists. I approached the Cancer Care Associate administrator two weeks ago to ask if they had oncologists that were open to alternative treatments to our western protocols. Surprisingly she answered yes and that the Association was even starting a Eastern medicine study. She had a doctor in mind that would work with me if I wanted to try an alternative approach. So I meet this doctor on the 12th.
I was also given a book to read entitled, "Outsmarting your Cancer" by Tanya Pierce. I've started many "cancer books" only to put them down, but this book really has been an answer to my prayers for guidance. It speaks of the causes and nutritional care to fight cancers like most books, but Pierce documents several alternative nontoxic treatments that have been used with wonderful results and have better results than chemo treatments. Pierce gives history and treatment development information as well as case studies and contact information to purchase or contact doctors. It's very well done and I am shocked that I wasn't told of such options by my doctor.
Gabriela may have mentioned that we have been visiting a naturalpathic MD who has also given us great insight to the body and how if functions. He is able to use my blood test results to address my fatigue and detox my body. He is also a believer and ministers to the spirit and soul with the Word and prayer. He has opened my eyes to a spiritual realm of battle that is so freeing.
So all this to say that I am hoping, with the doctors, to design a nontoxic treatment protocol that involves nutrition, a balanced supplement package based on my bodies needs, and look into a few of the alternative treatments to maintain my remission. As long as I am in remission, I see no need to consider chemo at this time. For ten months after I contracted the fungal infection I wasn't able to continue the chemo protocol and still remained in remission. We have learned that with Leukemia, the longer you are in remission,the greater likely hood you are of staying in remission. The chemo treatments initially arrested the Leukemia, but the treatments haven't done anything to keep me in remission. They have only opened me up to other illnesses and have physically harmed me. Therefore, I can not in good faith continue to put my family, friends, and church, through this up and down roller coaster of treatments. It's barbaric and there are alternatives I am now aware of and believe are a better route to sustained recovery. We have learned that the rest of the medical world has come to see this except for our western medical community. So for now we are walking forward in the faith that God has healed me and are seeking to be wise in sustaining that healing.
I still am looking for God to confirm this direction. We feel God has provided a lot of insight. I would still like to have some further direct confirmation, but He has told us through several sources that this cancer will not take my life. I know I will live and continue serving the Lord and with greater fervor and fruitfulness. There are many that would disagree with our present direction and we appreciate your prayers and input. I am cancer free and believe I will stay that way. We can all agree and pray for this together.
Thanks again for reading this and I love the responses and shared stories. God is true. He is the Greatest Good. We get to know Him as the beloved. Regardless of what we face in this broken world, He is faithful and can be trusted. He is glorified best when we live fully alive in Christ. Let's push on and live in the reality of God's Word and our identity in Christ. It's such a superior life - God is and He cares!!
His blessings,
Kelly
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thank you for your prayers! Kelly's hair and strength is returning. He has been working full weeks and is no longer dealing with headaches. His appetite is slowly returning and he is enjoying being in a smaller pant size, (I wish I could say the same.)
Kelly is still on the oral chemo and that will last another couple weeks. After that he will be having a bone-marrow biopsy. The chemo at present makes him feel yuck but... it is "doable". His blood counts all look good and we are so thankful.
Right now our biggest prayer request is that the Lord would answer our fleece. We are asking Him to give us direction regarding further treatment. We want to know if He has already healed Kelly or if we should continue on the path we are on. We don't want to be foolish either way and we are confident that the Lord has an opinion about what we should do.
We know that not continuing with treatment will go against conventional thinking and medical advise but... we also have been loosing confidence in the process. Kelly is willing to go down this path if the Lord directs that way but we also wonder if Violet Huckelberry's prayer last year proclaiming Kelly's healing was about the fungus and cancer.
I am sure that for some of you reading this will be alarming and maybe even sound foolish but I want to assure you that we are very prayerful and seeking out wise counsel from both sides of the issue before us. WE NEE PRAYER FOR DIRECTION!
We are claiming scripture that, "If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." and God has said, "Call to Me and I will answer you, I will tell you great and mighty things that you do not know."
So thank you ahead of time for your prayers for us and praise God with us that He will give us the direction that He promises.
Sincerely, Gabriela and Kelly
P.S. I had a CAT scan that came back normal and am waiting to see a Urologist to investigate why I have blood in my urine. Thanks for praying.
Kelly is still on the oral chemo and that will last another couple weeks. After that he will be having a bone-marrow biopsy. The chemo at present makes him feel yuck but... it is "doable". His blood counts all look good and we are so thankful.
Right now our biggest prayer request is that the Lord would answer our fleece. We are asking Him to give us direction regarding further treatment. We want to know if He has already healed Kelly or if we should continue on the path we are on. We don't want to be foolish either way and we are confident that the Lord has an opinion about what we should do.
We know that not continuing with treatment will go against conventional thinking and medical advise but... we also have been loosing confidence in the process. Kelly is willing to go down this path if the Lord directs that way but we also wonder if Violet Huckelberry's prayer last year proclaiming Kelly's healing was about the fungus and cancer.
I am sure that for some of you reading this will be alarming and maybe even sound foolish but I want to assure you that we are very prayerful and seeking out wise counsel from both sides of the issue before us. WE NEE PRAYER FOR DIRECTION!
We are claiming scripture that, "If anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." and God has said, "Call to Me and I will answer you, I will tell you great and mighty things that you do not know."
So thank you ahead of time for your prayers for us and praise God with us that He will give us the direction that He promises.
Sincerely, Gabriela and Kelly
P.S. I had a CAT scan that came back normal and am waiting to see a Urologist to investigate why I have blood in my urine. Thanks for praying.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Hello dear family and friends,
What a crazy and exhausting couple of months. Kelly's MRI showed that he has Mastoiditis, an infection in his mastoids. Exactly where are the mastoids, I don't know except that they are in our heads/ sinus area.
ANYWAY... on Friday Kelly had tubes put into his ears to help him hear better since the aftermath of cranial radiation caused inflammation in the tissue of his head and the fluids were not able to drain or flow properly preventing him from hearing well and also the reason for an infection in the Mastoid area. Some of the fluid was drained and his hearing improved. That's the good news... the bummer news is that now Kelly is dealing with continued fatigue, head aches, general yuckiness from the chemo, dizziness from the fluid adjustment in his head.
I am sure you can only imagine how difficult this has been on him. He has spent days in bed. I have to share with you how very amazed I am by this man I get to be married to and also amazed to see how God is using this suffering to do His good work in Kelly. The stripping process is painful but, "What Satan intends for our destruction, God will (and is) use it for our good and His glory!
Kelly went to work today and was able to take time to rest in the incredible recliner the church bought for him and is pretty much done and straight to bed when he comes home.
I am beyond tired but so encouraged by what the Lord is stirring in Kelly as well as what He is stirring in me. Oh how I love that He is always at work. Thank You Jesus!
Prayer requests
1. God's will to be accomplished both physically and spiritually
2. Kelly's healing and regaining of strength
3. The work of undoing and breaking yolks to continue, (Is. 58) Please read if you are unfamiliar with it. It will help you in knowing how to pray for us!
4. My health (There are traces of blood in my urine and I am being scheduled for a CAT scan this week or next.
Thank you is not enough expression... We love and appreciate all of you who lift us up before our Father. God bless you!
Sincerely, Gabriela
What a crazy and exhausting couple of months. Kelly's MRI showed that he has Mastoiditis, an infection in his mastoids. Exactly where are the mastoids, I don't know except that they are in our heads/ sinus area.
ANYWAY... on Friday Kelly had tubes put into his ears to help him hear better since the aftermath of cranial radiation caused inflammation in the tissue of his head and the fluids were not able to drain or flow properly preventing him from hearing well and also the reason for an infection in the Mastoid area. Some of the fluid was drained and his hearing improved. That's the good news... the bummer news is that now Kelly is dealing with continued fatigue, head aches, general yuckiness from the chemo, dizziness from the fluid adjustment in his head.
I am sure you can only imagine how difficult this has been on him. He has spent days in bed. I have to share with you how very amazed I am by this man I get to be married to and also amazed to see how God is using this suffering to do His good work in Kelly. The stripping process is painful but, "What Satan intends for our destruction, God will (and is) use it for our good and His glory!
Kelly went to work today and was able to take time to rest in the incredible recliner the church bought for him and is pretty much done and straight to bed when he comes home.
I am beyond tired but so encouraged by what the Lord is stirring in Kelly as well as what He is stirring in me. Oh how I love that He is always at work. Thank You Jesus!
Prayer requests
1. God's will to be accomplished both physically and spiritually
2. Kelly's healing and regaining of strength
3. The work of undoing and breaking yolks to continue, (Is. 58) Please read if you are unfamiliar with it. It will help you in knowing how to pray for us!
4. My health (There are traces of blood in my urine and I am being scheduled for a CAT scan this week or next.
Thank you is not enough expression... We love and appreciate all of you who lift us up before our Father. God bless you!
Sincerely, Gabriela
Monday, September 22, 2008
Hello dear ones,
Kelly's fatigue is beginning to pass. All of his test have come back clear and today he is having an MRI done to check the fungus in the dura of the brain. It is a check to make sure that is not the cause of the fatigue. There are no other symptoms so we feel confident that the results of today will also be clear. Our Oncologist said that his fatigue most likely due to the radiation but no one has said that Kelly had Somnolence Syndrome but we think he did. ANYWAY...
We learned today that Kelly begins a five week oral chemo. regiment tomorrow and after that he will have another bone marrow biopsy. We know that this is the next step and a forward movement but neither of us is looking forward to it. I do have to share with you that God laid Mark 16:17 & 18 on both of our hearts separately.
"And these signs will follow those who believe: They will speak with new tongues;they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."
These verses are what God lead me to in my quiet time with Him when Kelly was deciding to return to treatment and I believe it!!!!
Thank you again for you prayers and love. May God's blessing come back to you double portion. Sincerely, Gabriela
Kelly's fatigue is beginning to pass. All of his test have come back clear and today he is having an MRI done to check the fungus in the dura of the brain. It is a check to make sure that is not the cause of the fatigue. There are no other symptoms so we feel confident that the results of today will also be clear. Our Oncologist said that his fatigue most likely due to the radiation but no one has said that Kelly had Somnolence Syndrome but we think he did. ANYWAY...
We learned today that Kelly begins a five week oral chemo. regiment tomorrow and after that he will have another bone marrow biopsy. We know that this is the next step and a forward movement but neither of us is looking forward to it. I do have to share with you that God laid Mark 16:17 & 18 on both of our hearts separately.
"And these signs will follow those who believe: They will speak with new tongues;they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover."
These verses are what God lead me to in my quiet time with Him when Kelly was deciding to return to treatment and I believe it!!!!
Thank you again for you prayers and love. May God's blessing come back to you double portion. Sincerely, Gabriela
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hello Dear Ones,
Kelly's apt. went well today. His counts are looking great! The doctor said that he was very encouraged by this but he still does not know why Kelly is so fatigued. Tomorrow Kelly will start up chemo again. He will be getting spinal injection of chemo and the doctor has ordered an analysis of the spinal fluid to see if something shows up there that might explain his fatigue. One of the possibilities is that the Leukemia is in his nervous system. Kelly's type of Leukemia likes to hide in the nervous system. If it is there then we are out of remission and I'm not sure what??? The doctor did say that he didn't expect that because there would be other symptoms, like head aches, fever, blurred vision...
So...., We still think it might be Somnolence Syndrome but the doctors don't seem to be familiar with it. In any event, Somnolence Syndrome can't be treated, it just has to run it's course, (extreme fatigue for several weeks.}
Kelly has really been struggling with being so laid out. It is crunch time at work and things are mounting in all areas of his life. Very frustrating. We have talked about how God is in control and that NOTHING happens in vain, including this present trial. God knows Kelly's condition and his responsibilities and He dose not waste ANYTHING! God has a plan and will accomplish all that concerns us. Thank you Jesus for the assurance of your word. You will never give us more then we can handle.
We will know the results of the spinal test in a couple of days and will update you as we can.
Prayer requests-
Please pray for the internal work that God is doing to undo all false yolks (Is.58)
Please pray for Kelly's complete recovery
Please pray for our kids' hearts, they miss dad's presence.
Please pray that I would walk close to God and live and move and have my being in Him.
Sincerely, Gabriela
Kelly's apt. went well today. His counts are looking great! The doctor said that he was very encouraged by this but he still does not know why Kelly is so fatigued. Tomorrow Kelly will start up chemo again. He will be getting spinal injection of chemo and the doctor has ordered an analysis of the spinal fluid to see if something shows up there that might explain his fatigue. One of the possibilities is that the Leukemia is in his nervous system. Kelly's type of Leukemia likes to hide in the nervous system. If it is there then we are out of remission and I'm not sure what??? The doctor did say that he didn't expect that because there would be other symptoms, like head aches, fever, blurred vision...
So...., We still think it might be Somnolence Syndrome but the doctors don't seem to be familiar with it. In any event, Somnolence Syndrome can't be treated, it just has to run it's course, (extreme fatigue for several weeks.}
Kelly has really been struggling with being so laid out. It is crunch time at work and things are mounting in all areas of his life. Very frustrating. We have talked about how God is in control and that NOTHING happens in vain, including this present trial. God knows Kelly's condition and his responsibilities and He dose not waste ANYTHING! God has a plan and will accomplish all that concerns us. Thank you Jesus for the assurance of your word. You will never give us more then we can handle.
We will know the results of the spinal test in a couple of days and will update you as we can.
Prayer requests-
Please pray for the internal work that God is doing to undo all false yolks (Is.58)
Please pray for Kelly's complete recovery
Please pray for our kids' hearts, they miss dad's presence.
Please pray that I would walk close to God and live and move and have my being in Him.
Sincerely, Gabriela
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Hello friends and family,
A quick update before I put the kids to bed. Kelly has been sleeping about 20 hours a day. It is difficult for him to think and function. He is constantly thirsty and has no appetite. We are going to see the Oncologist tomorrow and he want us to begin chemo tomorrow. We would like to get to the bottom of the fatigue issue before we start chemo if that is possible.
Kelly's radiation ended in mid July so the fatigue at this point, after weeks of feeling well is concerning. We will keep you updated as soon as we can. Thanks again for all your encouragement and prayers. Love, Gabriela
p.s. Please include the kids in your prayers. Seeing their dad so debilitated over these last three weeks is taking it's toll. I keep reminding them and myself that God will not give us more then we can handle and we can count of that! But boy, I sure am tired... When I am weak, He is strong!
A quick update before I put the kids to bed. Kelly has been sleeping about 20 hours a day. It is difficult for him to think and function. He is constantly thirsty and has no appetite. We are going to see the Oncologist tomorrow and he want us to begin chemo tomorrow. We would like to get to the bottom of the fatigue issue before we start chemo if that is possible.
Kelly's radiation ended in mid July so the fatigue at this point, after weeks of feeling well is concerning. We will keep you updated as soon as we can. Thanks again for all your encouragement and prayers. Love, Gabriela
p.s. Please include the kids in your prayers. Seeing their dad so debilitated over these last three weeks is taking it's toll. I keep reminding them and myself that God will not give us more then we can handle and we can count of that! But boy, I sure am tired... When I am weak, He is strong!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
I am sending out a prayer request. In the last week and a half Kelly's stamina has plummeted. It has been so fast and so severe that we were sure the Leukemia was back. We went to the Oncologist on Wednesday and his blood counts were good. His blood smear was clear of cancer and his x-ray showed no difference in his lungs with regards to the Myucor. This information was a relief but we are baffled about what is going on right now. Kelly has lost his appetite and can barely stay awake. He is extremely fatigued.
We are wondering if this is an after effect to radiation treatment or if his body is fighting some other infection. The doctors have put him on an antibiotic but so far there has been no improvement, in fact, he seem to be even more tired. Today is Monday and he has been sleeping most of the day. We will call the Oncologist tomorrow as well as his general practitioner to see if we can get some answers.
It is baffling that he has been off of chemo for a month and a half and was functioning at about 75% and now he is at about 20%.
I have to say that thinking that the cancer was back was difficult for both of us. We were concerned but now we are just perplexed. ANYWAY... thank you for your prayers. Sincerely, Gabriela
I am sending out a prayer request. In the last week and a half Kelly's stamina has plummeted. It has been so fast and so severe that we were sure the Leukemia was back. We went to the Oncologist on Wednesday and his blood counts were good. His blood smear was clear of cancer and his x-ray showed no difference in his lungs with regards to the Myucor. This information was a relief but we are baffled about what is going on right now. Kelly has lost his appetite and can barely stay awake. He is extremely fatigued.
We are wondering if this is an after effect to radiation treatment or if his body is fighting some other infection. The doctors have put him on an antibiotic but so far there has been no improvement, in fact, he seem to be even more tired. Today is Monday and he has been sleeping most of the day. We will call the Oncologist tomorrow as well as his general practitioner to see if we can get some answers.
It is baffling that he has been off of chemo for a month and a half and was functioning at about 75% and now he is at about 20%.
I have to say that thinking that the cancer was back was difficult for both of us. We were concerned but now we are just perplexed. ANYWAY... thank you for your prayers. Sincerely, Gabriela
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thanks for the responses...
Hello again,
I haven't spent a lot of time on the blog and have failed to check your responses. WOW, what a huge encouragement. Many of you share similar experiences with trying to make sense of your reality and what the Bible says is reality. It really helps to know that I am not alone or handling this incorrectly. I am encouraged to continue to seek Him and find greater intimacy.
Micah Foster, our Student Ministry Director sent me a link to a worship song that is really amazing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4xsWldmqAo]. The story behind the song was what encouraged me to make it a point to worship. That's one thing I have seemed to stopped doing in this battle. I am determined to pull out my worship CDs and put aside my teaching CDs, and spend more time in worship. I love to sing and I don't anymore. I notice in Church Worship, I remain silent and worship in my heart - a good thing, but I need to allow the emotions of worship and it's truth wash over me. Why haven't I been doing this? It seems so odd that I would have forgotten it's importance. Thanks Micah...
I am still awaiting the State's review process to see if the Neumega injections will be approved. I haven't seen the doctor - I think I missed my appointment this week(?). I don't think he will want to start treatments even if my count is high enough because it will only drop after the first week or so and we will need to wait another 30 to 60 days before my system recovers. The good news is I am still in remission as far as we can tell. As Gabriela said, We will do our part and trust God to keep me strong. I am really not all too excited about the treatment and if I can't take it, I'm trust that God is giving me this window of endurance and strength for a good reason.
I am enjoying the ministry; training new leaders, counseling couples in crisis, and investing in my kids with great intentionality. My wife is delusionally in love with me...I'm a very bless man, even with Leukemia. Thank you for sharing your prayer requests with us. I am looking forward to following up with you as I pray.
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NASB)
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
His Blessings,
Kelly
I haven't spent a lot of time on the blog and have failed to check your responses. WOW, what a huge encouragement. Many of you share similar experiences with trying to make sense of your reality and what the Bible says is reality. It really helps to know that I am not alone or handling this incorrectly. I am encouraged to continue to seek Him and find greater intimacy.
Micah Foster, our Student Ministry Director sent me a link to a worship song that is really amazing [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4xsWldmqAo]. The story behind the song was what encouraged me to make it a point to worship. That's one thing I have seemed to stopped doing in this battle. I am determined to pull out my worship CDs and put aside my teaching CDs, and spend more time in worship. I love to sing and I don't anymore. I notice in Church Worship, I remain silent and worship in my heart - a good thing, but I need to allow the emotions of worship and it's truth wash over me. Why haven't I been doing this? It seems so odd that I would have forgotten it's importance. Thanks Micah...
I am still awaiting the State's review process to see if the Neumega injections will be approved. I haven't seen the doctor - I think I missed my appointment this week(?). I don't think he will want to start treatments even if my count is high enough because it will only drop after the first week or so and we will need to wait another 30 to 60 days before my system recovers. The good news is I am still in remission as far as we can tell. As Gabriela said, We will do our part and trust God to keep me strong. I am really not all too excited about the treatment and if I can't take it, I'm trust that God is giving me this window of endurance and strength for a good reason.
I am enjoying the ministry; training new leaders, counseling couples in crisis, and investing in my kids with great intentionality. My wife is delusionally in love with me...I'm a very bless man, even with Leukemia. Thank you for sharing your prayer requests with us. I am looking forward to following up with you as I pray.
2 Peter 1:5-11 (NASB)
5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
His Blessings,
Kelly
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Dear Friends and Family,Thank you for your words of encouragement and prayers, they mean more then you can imagine. First let me say that we had a great time at Forest Home. Kelly was tired from the radiation but had a break from Chemo due to a low platelet count. This enabled him to participate in much of the events of the week. I could tell that the week away was good for all of our hearts. Our kids had fun and it was great to reconnect with old friends.When we returned home we celebrated our 13 year anniversary and Anneliese's 3rd birthday. Kelly made her a rice crispy treat cake since she is allergic to wheat and eggs. She loved her barbie cake! Kelly also decorated the office lunch room for us to have her party there with the church staff. It was magical. He is such an incredible Papa!
Upon our return Kelly went back to the oncologist and found out that his platelet count was still too low to continue treatment. The doctor had prescribed some shots that will help in the production of platelets but the insurance denied them. We appealed the denial and were denied again. These shots are very expensive and the insurance company normally doesn't approve them unless the platelet count is even lower then what Kelly's is. The problem is that we can not continue with treatment until the count is up. Kelly has spent hours on the phone talking to the insurance company and explained that we don't have another 45 day to wait for their appeal process, we are going on 5 weeks now without treatment.
We don't know what will happen but we know the One who does.I know that God is sovereign so my thought process goes like this, "Kelly's platelet count is out of our control, we are doing all we know to do to get things moving and are being obedient to what we feel the Lord is directing us in so, all we are responsible to do is walk with Him." When I lay the burden of Kelly's treatment and overall health on Jesus, my burden is lifted and we move on.
Right now Kelly has been working like a madman. (nothing new as those of you who know him well can attest to.) He is working long days, planning ministry, counseling people and investing in our family. I know I've said it before and I don't mean to sound corny but... I am married to an amazing man... how very blessed I am. Thank you Jesus!
We will keep you all updated as we know more. For now I would ask you to continue to pray that Kelly would hear God's voice as he follows Him daily and pray that IF it is God's will for Kelly to continue treatment then please make the way possible.Thank you dear friends and family, Love, Gabriela
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Looking to grow...
Hi Friends,
It's been a while since I've blogged about my process. We had such a long reprieve from doctors and treatment it almost felt like life was returning to some resemblance of "normal". It's been great to feel so good and pretty much back to living. With being cleared of the fungus threat we needed to return to the chemo treatment. I think Gabriela expressed the difficulty emotionally that decision was for us, but it seemed the best decision in light of the history of this cancer. So we have been back on the plan for two weeks and seeing the typical complications.
I really don't know what to write. I what to stay in touch with friends and really desire the prayer support that we felt so carried by during the critical periods of the fungus and operations. Because my health has been good, we have lost touch with many friends through the blog because we haven't consistently updated it. I trust the Lord with stir in people the need to pray as we enter this new chapter.
I would like to share a little of my mental and spiritual process. It seems difficult for me to stay "connected" spiritually and emotionally to my faith when feeling physically bad. I seem to get consumed with just enduring the situation. I feel lost to know how to pray and as I pray I feel very alone. I have been trying to understand this. It's not that I don't have faith or that I question God's love, presence, or faithfulness, but the really of these things feels detacted from my reality. So I am trying to mentally recite the truth I know and separate that from my reality. My reality doesn't determine reality. I think I have been living my faith based on how my reality aligns to what is true of God and allowing that to determine the quality or connectedness to God. I am sensing that I need to live outside my reality and accept the reality of God apart from my experience. Does this make any sense? I vaguely see that this adjustment is essential to "faith" in it's truest meaning. Believing God in spite of what I feel or am experiencing - whether it aligns with my experience. Some might call this "blind faith", but I am seeing it as a truer understanding of what it means to believe God based on His Word. Again, I vaguely am seeing my health issues as a means to develop an understanding of God and what it means to walk with God when life seems so contrary.
Something else that I am realizing at a deeper level is that God's presence is given through people. I want God to meet me, commune with me, speak to me, and when I don't sense that, I retreat to self flagellation and doubt. The reality is God speaks, encourages, and expresses Himself through people. Last week in the mist of feeling sick and alone, wrestling with accepting that this will be our life over the next year or so, two elders of our church called and wanted to meet me to pray. As I share my feeling and God's seeming distance, I realized that God was meeting my need - not in the way I preferred it- between Him and I so I could coup alone with life, but by heightening my lonilness and bringing these men to express his love in community. I'm the Community Life Pastor and want to be community for other, but don't see how vitally I need it. It's been and will be an on-going lesson for me.
I have pondered and rambled enough. I hope that I have given a window into where I'm at and how God is using all things in my life for good. We are planning a week's vacation to Forest Home Family Camp next week. There are three other families from Trinity Church that we will join from our small group community there. Our kids love the Johnson family and remain best friends with the distance. My prayer is that the Kids build lasting memories. Presently I am co-facilitating a group of twenty men through the "raising a modern day knight" curriculum that focuses on calling boys into manhood. I hope to gather the dad's in our fellowship to spend some time going through this material.
As always, thank you and keep praying. If you respond with a comment, tell me how our family can pray for you. It would sure help us feel like family with you.
His blessings,
Kelly
It's been a while since I've blogged about my process. We had such a long reprieve from doctors and treatment it almost felt like life was returning to some resemblance of "normal". It's been great to feel so good and pretty much back to living. With being cleared of the fungus threat we needed to return to the chemo treatment. I think Gabriela expressed the difficulty emotionally that decision was for us, but it seemed the best decision in light of the history of this cancer. So we have been back on the plan for two weeks and seeing the typical complications.
I really don't know what to write. I what to stay in touch with friends and really desire the prayer support that we felt so carried by during the critical periods of the fungus and operations. Because my health has been good, we have lost touch with many friends through the blog because we haven't consistently updated it. I trust the Lord with stir in people the need to pray as we enter this new chapter.
I would like to share a little of my mental and spiritual process. It seems difficult for me to stay "connected" spiritually and emotionally to my faith when feeling physically bad. I seem to get consumed with just enduring the situation. I feel lost to know how to pray and as I pray I feel very alone. I have been trying to understand this. It's not that I don't have faith or that I question God's love, presence, or faithfulness, but the really of these things feels detacted from my reality. So I am trying to mentally recite the truth I know and separate that from my reality. My reality doesn't determine reality. I think I have been living my faith based on how my reality aligns to what is true of God and allowing that to determine the quality or connectedness to God. I am sensing that I need to live outside my reality and accept the reality of God apart from my experience. Does this make any sense? I vaguely see that this adjustment is essential to "faith" in it's truest meaning. Believing God in spite of what I feel or am experiencing - whether it aligns with my experience. Some might call this "blind faith", but I am seeing it as a truer understanding of what it means to believe God based on His Word. Again, I vaguely am seeing my health issues as a means to develop an understanding of God and what it means to walk with God when life seems so contrary.
Something else that I am realizing at a deeper level is that God's presence is given through people. I want God to meet me, commune with me, speak to me, and when I don't sense that, I retreat to self flagellation and doubt. The reality is God speaks, encourages, and expresses Himself through people. Last week in the mist of feeling sick and alone, wrestling with accepting that this will be our life over the next year or so, two elders of our church called and wanted to meet me to pray. As I share my feeling and God's seeming distance, I realized that God was meeting my need - not in the way I preferred it- between Him and I so I could coup alone with life, but by heightening my lonilness and bringing these men to express his love in community. I'm the Community Life Pastor and want to be community for other, but don't see how vitally I need it. It's been and will be an on-going lesson for me.
I have pondered and rambled enough. I hope that I have given a window into where I'm at and how God is using all things in my life for good. We are planning a week's vacation to Forest Home Family Camp next week. There are three other families from Trinity Church that we will join from our small group community there. Our kids love the Johnson family and remain best friends with the distance. My prayer is that the Kids build lasting memories. Presently I am co-facilitating a group of twenty men through the "raising a modern day knight" curriculum that focuses on calling boys into manhood. I hope to gather the dad's in our fellowship to spend some time going through this material.
As always, thank you and keep praying. If you respond with a comment, tell me how our family can pray for you. It would sure help us feel like family with you.
His blessings,
Kelly
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Hello friends,
Kelly is doing well. He seems to be handling the treatment okay. He is obviously tired and feels yucky (my word, not his description) a lot of the time. He has told me that it is his goal to not get grumpy as he struggles feeling sick.
He has had his first complication already. (this has been a discouragement for us both) After his spinal injection of chemo this last Friday, he developed a headache that floored him. He spent about four and a half days in bed because being upright worsened the headache. The headache was due to some spinal fluid leaking out into the injection site and when the spinal fluid is off, even a tiny bit, headaches occur.
We made two trips to the E.R. this week. The first trip Kelly was treated with an IV bag of caffeine. We asked the attending doctor how that works and he said, "no one really knows" Well, it did work and then Kelly was wired on caffeine so he started to walk home from the hospital rather then wait for me to come get him. Mind you, it is June, in Fresno, hot, smoked filled air and he has just left the E.R.. Can you say, crazy, caffeine driven man? When I picked him up he was more than half way home.
Well, the caffeine worked for several hours but the headache came back that evening. We went back to the E.R. and were sent home after no anesthesiologists were available. So... we went back this morning to the out-patient area and Kelly was treated with a blood patch and released after several hours. He came home, rested, ate, got dressed and off he went to get his radiation treatment, do a hospital visit and to work!
I don't know weather to strangle him or just appreciate and admire him all the more. He is an amazing man and I am such a blessed woman.
Thank you for your prayers sounds redundant but believe me that knowing you all are praying is one of the most comforting things to us right now. We feel Jesus loving us as He moves in the hearts of His people to pray for us. So, we are truly thankful.
Sincerely, Gabriela
Kelly is doing well. He seems to be handling the treatment okay. He is obviously tired and feels yucky (my word, not his description) a lot of the time. He has told me that it is his goal to not get grumpy as he struggles feeling sick.
He has had his first complication already. (this has been a discouragement for us both) After his spinal injection of chemo this last Friday, he developed a headache that floored him. He spent about four and a half days in bed because being upright worsened the headache. The headache was due to some spinal fluid leaking out into the injection site and when the spinal fluid is off, even a tiny bit, headaches occur.
We made two trips to the E.R. this week. The first trip Kelly was treated with an IV bag of caffeine. We asked the attending doctor how that works and he said, "no one really knows" Well, it did work and then Kelly was wired on caffeine so he started to walk home from the hospital rather then wait for me to come get him. Mind you, it is June, in Fresno, hot, smoked filled air and he has just left the E.R.. Can you say, crazy, caffeine driven man? When I picked him up he was more than half way home.
Well, the caffeine worked for several hours but the headache came back that evening. We went back to the E.R. and were sent home after no anesthesiologists were available. So... we went back this morning to the out-patient area and Kelly was treated with a blood patch and released after several hours. He came home, rested, ate, got dressed and off he went to get his radiation treatment, do a hospital visit and to work!
I don't know weather to strangle him or just appreciate and admire him all the more. He is an amazing man and I am such a blessed woman.
Thank you for your prayers sounds redundant but believe me that knowing you all are praying is one of the most comforting things to us right now. We feel Jesus loving us as He moves in the hearts of His people to pray for us. So, we are truly thankful.
Sincerely, Gabriela
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Here we go again...
Dear friends and family,
It is hard to begin this blog because there is so much to say and it is hard to know where to start. Kelly begins chemo treatments tomorrow. Actually he took his first chemo pill tonight and begins radiation and spinal chemo tomorrow.
You might be wondering how we got here. This is the long part of the story but a Readers Digest version is that after learning more about this disease, collecting wise counsel from many and with much prayer, here we are. Kelly feels strongly that the words of healing we received from Violet Huckelberry (see blog from Nov. 3,2007)were about the fungus. His treatment of the fungus ended 9 months short of what the specialist said it would and that fell in line with the 6 month time frame that Violet had shared with us as a word from the Lord. We truly feel that God has spared Kelly's life and now understand that the fungus should have killed him. Thank you Jesus!
As Kelly has sought the Lord in this, the Lord has been very quiet. I am amazed at my husband's courage, integrity, wisdom and faithfulness to the Lord. I personally am at rest following his leadership and consider it as such an honor to be married to such an amazing man!
Kelly's regiment will be very tough for a while and will last one and a half years. He begins with radiation every day for 12 days while taking oral chemo every day for 40 days and spinal chemo treatments every Friday for 9 weeks. It sounds daunting to us and we have no idea what to expect, except that Jesus will be with us every step of the way. Oh, how I love His presence!
I have to share with you all that as I struggled in coming to this point I told the Lord that I love Kelly's body, it's mine, I am one with him and although chemo felt like medicine this first time around, this time it feels like poison. As I poured my heart out to Him, He lead me to Mark 16. I vicariously opened up to this passage and my eyes caught the red lettered words of Jesus. He was speaking of things that are true of believers and in His list it says, "and you will drink poison and it will not harm you..."
Now, I told Kelly that I certainly don't want to make scripture say what I want it to say but, what are the chances that I would open up to something like that at this point in my life? All I can tell you is that it wasn't emotionally satisfying but my heart was filled with His peace. God's word is alive and active. What an amazing blessing to have it.
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
We are certainly not looking forward to this next season and the hardship it will be for our family as well as our church family and the ministry, but we know our Redeemer lives and that He will faithfully walk with us. All glory and praise to Him!
Please pray for our kids. You might remember that last year we were not able to go to our Family Camp vacation at Forest Home, which has been our tradition. This was very hard on the kids because they were looking forward to seeing old friends that they desperately missed. I am not sure what will happen this year. So, please pray that we can go and if we are not to go, pray that their little hearts will be prepared.
I covet your prayer for our family, we love and appreciate you more than you will ever know.
Love in Christ, Gabriela
It is hard to begin this blog because there is so much to say and it is hard to know where to start. Kelly begins chemo treatments tomorrow. Actually he took his first chemo pill tonight and begins radiation and spinal chemo tomorrow.
You might be wondering how we got here. This is the long part of the story but a Readers Digest version is that after learning more about this disease, collecting wise counsel from many and with much prayer, here we are. Kelly feels strongly that the words of healing we received from Violet Huckelberry (see blog from Nov. 3,2007)were about the fungus. His treatment of the fungus ended 9 months short of what the specialist said it would and that fell in line with the 6 month time frame that Violet had shared with us as a word from the Lord. We truly feel that God has spared Kelly's life and now understand that the fungus should have killed him. Thank you Jesus!
As Kelly has sought the Lord in this, the Lord has been very quiet. I am amazed at my husband's courage, integrity, wisdom and faithfulness to the Lord. I personally am at rest following his leadership and consider it as such an honor to be married to such an amazing man!
Kelly's regiment will be very tough for a while and will last one and a half years. He begins with radiation every day for 12 days while taking oral chemo every day for 40 days and spinal chemo treatments every Friday for 9 weeks. It sounds daunting to us and we have no idea what to expect, except that Jesus will be with us every step of the way. Oh, how I love His presence!
I have to share with you all that as I struggled in coming to this point I told the Lord that I love Kelly's body, it's mine, I am one with him and although chemo felt like medicine this first time around, this time it feels like poison. As I poured my heart out to Him, He lead me to Mark 16. I vicariously opened up to this passage and my eyes caught the red lettered words of Jesus. He was speaking of things that are true of believers and in His list it says, "and you will drink poison and it will not harm you..."
Now, I told Kelly that I certainly don't want to make scripture say what I want it to say but, what are the chances that I would open up to something like that at this point in my life? All I can tell you is that it wasn't emotionally satisfying but my heart was filled with His peace. God's word is alive and active. What an amazing blessing to have it.
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
We are certainly not looking forward to this next season and the hardship it will be for our family as well as our church family and the ministry, but we know our Redeemer lives and that He will faithfully walk with us. All glory and praise to Him!
Please pray for our kids. You might remember that last year we were not able to go to our Family Camp vacation at Forest Home, which has been our tradition. This was very hard on the kids because they were looking forward to seeing old friends that they desperately missed. I am not sure what will happen this year. So, please pray that we can go and if we are not to go, pray that their little hearts will be prepared.
I covet your prayer for our family, we love and appreciate you more than you will ever know.
Love in Christ, Gabriela
Friday, May 16, 2008
A Week of Questioning
Dear Family and Friends,
First let me thank you for your faithful prayers for Kelly and his time away. He will give an update on his time away on a later blog.
When Kelly came back he made an appointment with our Oncologist to talk about taking out his meda-port and let him know that we are taking his present condition as a healing from the Lord and will not be continuing on chemo.
Upon receiving his preliminary blood work back, we were surprised that he had lost an entire unit of blood over the last month and a half. Dr. Pascuzo also expressed some alarm over seeing immature white blood cells in the sampling (all possible signs of cancer). A bone-marrow biopsy was scheduled to determine if the Leukemia was back.
Well, what can I say... we were shocked, totally didn't expect that news. Kelly has been felling great, looks great and has been working hard. Personally, my mind was reeling. "What was it that the Lord had spoken to us and what does all that mean if the cancer is back?"
I had that old fear grip my heart again and then... I heard the Lord speak to my heart, gently and softly, "Hang on... don't loose faith." I spent a couple of days with a heavy cloud over my spirit but as I spent time in God's word, He brought me to passages that led to some beautiful times of personal repentance. Then He encouraged me with Isaiah 58. He lifted my burden and filled me with peace, confidence and a call to arms! I love how faithful He is and how very personal He is. I just LOVE Him so much!!!
My call to arms was to wake up from the sleeping state of "regular life" and remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness... God spoke my identity to me about three years ago and that is that I am His warrior princess - so the battle is on and I need to fight on my knees! I am so thankful for this wake-up call.
Good and surprising news! Kelly's biopsy showed that there is no cancer! He is still in remission. The low blood count is his body still recovering from heavy chemo and fungus medication. The count had come up a half of a unit in the week and a half between readings. The immature white blood cells were not abnormal. The doctor wants him to begin radiation and chemo right away and begin on his spin and brain. I asked how that might effect the fungus and we were told that it might get reactivated and then we would do both treatment of cancer and fungus.
You might be asking why more chemo if he is in remission. We have been told that there is still a year and a half or more chemo treatment that is standard for Leukemia and that Kelly must finish this regiment.
So our questions are many to the Lord. Is Kelly in fact healed? Will You please give us another confirmation Lord? Are we supposed to finish the chemo regiment? What will that do to Mucor Mycosis Fungus? This fungus, as you might recall, was located in the dura of Kelly's brain and if it crosses that barrier and enters the central nervous system, it will kill him. If the cancer comes back, it can kill him.
All I can say is that I am so thankful that God is personal and cares about these things and above all that He is sovereign and I can trust Him. I honestly and not worried (a miracle in and of itself!) and I believe that Kelly will live many more years on this earth serving the Lord and continuing to grow in his Christ-likeness.
Thank you for taking time to read this. I feel a bit awkward in sharing all of this, it is only my perspective and I am sure you are all wondering were Kelly is at in his process. He presently is on a camping trip with our son Andrew (Bass Lake!) and will be back in a couple of days. He will be writing his update soon.
We would still covet your prayers as we continue on in the Lord. I know our enemy is real and even more, I know that in Christ we, "overwhelmingly conquer". This life is not "It" We are a part of His story and it is much bigger and grander than what we can imagine. As for me, I am holding on to Jesus for the ride!!!
With much gratitude for all of your prayers, Gabriela
First let me thank you for your faithful prayers for Kelly and his time away. He will give an update on his time away on a later blog.
When Kelly came back he made an appointment with our Oncologist to talk about taking out his meda-port and let him know that we are taking his present condition as a healing from the Lord and will not be continuing on chemo.
Upon receiving his preliminary blood work back, we were surprised that he had lost an entire unit of blood over the last month and a half. Dr. Pascuzo also expressed some alarm over seeing immature white blood cells in the sampling (all possible signs of cancer). A bone-marrow biopsy was scheduled to determine if the Leukemia was back.
Well, what can I say... we were shocked, totally didn't expect that news. Kelly has been felling great, looks great and has been working hard. Personally, my mind was reeling. "What was it that the Lord had spoken to us and what does all that mean if the cancer is back?"
I had that old fear grip my heart again and then... I heard the Lord speak to my heart, gently and softly, "Hang on... don't loose faith." I spent a couple of days with a heavy cloud over my spirit but as I spent time in God's word, He brought me to passages that led to some beautiful times of personal repentance. Then He encouraged me with Isaiah 58. He lifted my burden and filled me with peace, confidence and a call to arms! I love how faithful He is and how very personal He is. I just LOVE Him so much!!!
My call to arms was to wake up from the sleeping state of "regular life" and remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of darkness... God spoke my identity to me about three years ago and that is that I am His warrior princess - so the battle is on and I need to fight on my knees! I am so thankful for this wake-up call.
Good and surprising news! Kelly's biopsy showed that there is no cancer! He is still in remission. The low blood count is his body still recovering from heavy chemo and fungus medication. The count had come up a half of a unit in the week and a half between readings. The immature white blood cells were not abnormal. The doctor wants him to begin radiation and chemo right away and begin on his spin and brain. I asked how that might effect the fungus and we were told that it might get reactivated and then we would do both treatment of cancer and fungus.
You might be asking why more chemo if he is in remission. We have been told that there is still a year and a half or more chemo treatment that is standard for Leukemia and that Kelly must finish this regiment.
So our questions are many to the Lord. Is Kelly in fact healed? Will You please give us another confirmation Lord? Are we supposed to finish the chemo regiment? What will that do to Mucor Mycosis Fungus? This fungus, as you might recall, was located in the dura of Kelly's brain and if it crosses that barrier and enters the central nervous system, it will kill him. If the cancer comes back, it can kill him.
All I can say is that I am so thankful that God is personal and cares about these things and above all that He is sovereign and I can trust Him. I honestly and not worried (a miracle in and of itself!) and I believe that Kelly will live many more years on this earth serving the Lord and continuing to grow in his Christ-likeness.
Thank you for taking time to read this. I feel a bit awkward in sharing all of this, it is only my perspective and I am sure you are all wondering were Kelly is at in his process. He presently is on a camping trip with our son Andrew (Bass Lake!) and will be back in a couple of days. He will be writing his update soon.
We would still covet your prayers as we continue on in the Lord. I know our enemy is real and even more, I know that in Christ we, "overwhelmingly conquer". This life is not "It" We are a part of His story and it is much bigger and grander than what we can imagine. As for me, I am holding on to Jesus for the ride!!!
With much gratitude for all of your prayers, Gabriela
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Join me
Hello Dear Friends and Family,
Please join me in prayer this week.
No knew news. Kelly is feeling well. The reason for this entry is to ask for prayer. Kelly is on a solitude retreat out at the coast for the next four days. Our gracious friends, the Shamshoians, lent Kelly their beach house and he left this morning, bible and journal in hand. Kelly has been sharing with me that he feels a disconnect internally and wants to seek the Lord with this focused time away.
It is my prayer that as Kelly processes this last year, God would heal his spirit. I believe that God has performed a miracle in healing Kelly's body and I feel confident that He will be glorified through the internal work that He will do in Kelly's spirit.
Please join me in prayer for Kelly. Pray as the Lord leads you. I am confident in your love for Kelly and I appricitae you.
Love, Gabriela
Please join me in prayer this week.
No knew news. Kelly is feeling well. The reason for this entry is to ask for prayer. Kelly is on a solitude retreat out at the coast for the next four days. Our gracious friends, the Shamshoians, lent Kelly their beach house and he left this morning, bible and journal in hand. Kelly has been sharing with me that he feels a disconnect internally and wants to seek the Lord with this focused time away.
It is my prayer that as Kelly processes this last year, God would heal his spirit. I believe that God has performed a miracle in healing Kelly's body and I feel confident that He will be glorified through the internal work that He will do in Kelly's spirit.
Please join me in prayer for Kelly. Pray as the Lord leads you. I am confident in your love for Kelly and I appricitae you.
Love, Gabriela
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fungus Farewell...
Hi Friends,
Well as we hoped, the fungus seems to be well under control and we are stopping the medication. The MRI and CAT SCAN still showed some pots, but they don't know if this is past scaring, just dead cells, or something else. Therefore we are going to stop the medication and see. This is great news and we are thanking God for this victory.
Still no word or sense of direction on the chemo, but we will wait until the end of the month and then decide what is next. I would appreciate your prayers at this time. It's just started to hit me that we can begin to live again. What I mean is, life felt on hold while dealing with the illness. Though I had the peace that God was going to deliver me, I still stopped in some respects progressing life. I don't know if I can explain it.
What was an uncomfortable wake up call this week was the realization that I have been living day to day in the way I parent, pastor, dream, etc. Because of this I have been very short sighted in my efforts. Now that I am coming more into the reality that I have some time, I am seeing the state of things and it is a bit overwhelming -- what I need to do to "get back on my game". I need to give myself some grace, but at the same time, I feel the urgency to correct these areas that are lacking. I am wrestling with shame, embarrassment, frustration, and inadequacy. It's a new walk or deepening walk of dependence and trust in the Lord. Thanks for your prayers.
The family is doing well. We have family in from Mexico and San Diego today and are planning a trip to Yosemite. Gabriela is dealing with back trouble that may be kidney stones (she has been suffering with this for almost a month). We are again looking to the doctors for a clear diagnosis to treat her. the Kids are well and on Easter break this week. Gabriela is making each day a special event for them. She's a good lady, wife and wonderful mom!
I hope this finds you well. We would love to hear from you and know how to pray for you. We aren't receiving many log entries and feel a bit lost on our friend's life at present. May you be experiencing God's peace in whatever you are facing today, and know His love for you. Have a blessed Easter Celebration as you reflect on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
His blessings,
Kelly
Well as we hoped, the fungus seems to be well under control and we are stopping the medication. The MRI and CAT SCAN still showed some pots, but they don't know if this is past scaring, just dead cells, or something else. Therefore we are going to stop the medication and see. This is great news and we are thanking God for this victory.
Still no word or sense of direction on the chemo, but we will wait until the end of the month and then decide what is next. I would appreciate your prayers at this time. It's just started to hit me that we can begin to live again. What I mean is, life felt on hold while dealing with the illness. Though I had the peace that God was going to deliver me, I still stopped in some respects progressing life. I don't know if I can explain it.
What was an uncomfortable wake up call this week was the realization that I have been living day to day in the way I parent, pastor, dream, etc. Because of this I have been very short sighted in my efforts. Now that I am coming more into the reality that I have some time, I am seeing the state of things and it is a bit overwhelming -- what I need to do to "get back on my game". I need to give myself some grace, but at the same time, I feel the urgency to correct these areas that are lacking. I am wrestling with shame, embarrassment, frustration, and inadequacy. It's a new walk or deepening walk of dependence and trust in the Lord. Thanks for your prayers.
The family is doing well. We have family in from Mexico and San Diego today and are planning a trip to Yosemite. Gabriela is dealing with back trouble that may be kidney stones (she has been suffering with this for almost a month). We are again looking to the doctors for a clear diagnosis to treat her. the Kids are well and on Easter break this week. Gabriela is making each day a special event for them. She's a good lady, wife and wonderful mom!
I hope this finds you well. We would love to hear from you and know how to pray for you. We aren't receiving many log entries and feel a bit lost on our friend's life at present. May you be experiencing God's peace in whatever you are facing today, and know His love for you. Have a blessed Easter Celebration as you reflect on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.
His blessings,
Kelly
Friday, March 14, 2008
The wait continues...
Hey Friends,
The picture is of the kids and friends on our recent Disneyland trip. They really had a wonderful time and we enjoyed them enjoying themselves with the Johnsons.
I don't have any new news other than I had hopefully my last CT Scan and MRI today to verify that the fungus is cleared up. I will meet with the Doc on the 19th and know for sure. We feel pretty confident that the fungus in nolonger a threat. It is amazing that the Lord delivered me from what should have killed me. The cancer is still in remission and our hope is that I have been delivered from that as well. Still no word from the Lord confirming this. I believe we will wait for specific guidance the rest of March and if I don't hear from the Lord, we'll make our best decision based on wisdom. If this is the case it really is a crap-shoot. There is no assurance that the chemo will treat the cancer for good and there's nothing to determine if the remission isn't for good. Of course the docs say the remission will end without further chemo, but I should have come out of remission already. I hope the Lord will give me the specific direction to take.
So keep praying for healing and for the Lord's direction.
His blessings,
Kelly
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Hello Dear Family and Friends,
Kelly's last doc. apt. went well. It still looks as if March will be the end of the fungal treatment. We are still in the process of seeking the Lord's direction for further treatment. I(Gabriela) feel as if the Lord has asked us to purify ourselves as we seek His direction. We are both spending time in prayer and Kelly has set out a flees to the Lord. (Old Testament practice in seeking out God's direction). We are new to this practice and eagerly await God's response.
Please continue to pray for our direction and also for the pain in Kelly's shoulders and upper arms. It's getting really bad and the doctors are not sure what the cause is. We are trying some natural methods of treatment to see if the pain might be linked to the toxicity levels in his body.
A praise to report is that through this flu season, although Anneliese, Andrew, Brianna and I all got sick, Kelly and Sarah remain healthy!! I have been hit hard by a number of things and Kelly has had to pick-up the extra load and has done GREAT! I truly am married to an amazing man, (almost 13 years and he still makes me laugh and makes my toes curl!)
Thank you for your prayers, love and support. It truly means more to us than we can express. Thank You Jesus!!!
Kelly's last doc. apt. went well. It still looks as if March will be the end of the fungal treatment. We are still in the process of seeking the Lord's direction for further treatment. I(Gabriela) feel as if the Lord has asked us to purify ourselves as we seek His direction. We are both spending time in prayer and Kelly has set out a flees to the Lord. (Old Testament practice in seeking out God's direction). We are new to this practice and eagerly await God's response.
Please continue to pray for our direction and also for the pain in Kelly's shoulders and upper arms. It's getting really bad and the doctors are not sure what the cause is. We are trying some natural methods of treatment to see if the pain might be linked to the toxicity levels in his body.
A praise to report is that through this flu season, although Anneliese, Andrew, Brianna and I all got sick, Kelly and Sarah remain healthy!! I have been hit hard by a number of things and Kelly has had to pick-up the extra load and has done GREAT! I truly am married to an amazing man, (almost 13 years and he still makes me laugh and makes my toes curl!)
Thank you for your prayers, love and support. It truly means more to us than we can express. Thank You Jesus!!!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
GOOD NEWS...Fungus clearing
Hi Friends,
That's right! My recent CAT scan and MRI showed that the fungus in the lungs was clearing up and the swelling in the Brain Dura was significately improved. I imagine another month and Mrs. Huckleberry's prophesy will be comfirmed as the Cancer is in remission and the fungus will be completely gone from my body (March will be 6 months from the time Mrs. Huckleberry prayed that in 6 months you will be healed). This is a new experience for me of God's speaking into our situation. At the time the words and prayer was very comforting, yet now it stretches my faith and brings me joy. So praise God with us for His glorious, gracious, and healing work in our lives!!! (Picture is of Andrew on his 9th birthday - January 7, 2008)
What's next? That is the question I am now seeking God's direction on. Continuing the chemo treatments while in remission is the doctors recommendation. I'm not afraid or unwilling to complete the treatments. My posture has been to take their advice unless the Lord makes it clear that I should not. Gabriela has asked me to not do anything until God makes clear which way to go and not to do anything until that happens. I am still unsure of the posture to take and figure God will direct. It's not like He doesn't have an opinion or wouldn't want me to know, but He may want me to grow in my understanding or faith in some way. So I am waiting and listening the best I know how.
This week Gabriela and I have been asked to speak at a Marriage Event on Valentine's Day. We are speaking on the topic of Trusting God in Marriage. This will be a first for us and I am excited to have this opportunity to expand our ministry experience and I pray, minister to couples. I guess we are entering the years where we have enough life experience to have something to share. Pray for our success in ministering to couples by encouraging them to trust God personally, together as a couple, and for oneanother when one's trust wavers. Pray also that we would be healthy (Gabriela has walking pneumona), and protected from the evil one's scemes - we would see them and counter them. His blessings to you.
In my next blog entry, I'll update you on how our time went. I hope you know how your prayers have shore us up these past 8 months. It's a very new experience to sense the spiritual support - I can't explain it yet. It's as if we have been surrounded by a heavenly host. I must keep intercessory prayer central in my life. It has power, influence, and brings God's peace to those prayed for. Thank you. I am learning and seeing God in so many new ways...
We love you,
Kelly
P.S. My spell check isn't responding - I hope you had a good laugh!!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Still Waiting...
Hi Friends,
We just returned from a wonderful week away visiting friends and spending three days at Disneyland. The kids were beside themselves waking each day to explore the parks. I'll let Gabriela fill you in on the specifics. It was great to see the kids laugh and play after having to deal with so much this year.
On Monday I will have an MRI of the head and a CT scan of the chest to determined where the fungus is (or prayfully isn't). My hope is that it is gone in the brainlining and we can hopefully stop the medication. I believe the Doctor wants me to continue the fungal meds for a while, but the dosage should drop. I am still not feeling any real illness from the fungus. I have soreness from the medication, but that is doable. I am expecting the fungus to be gone.
Having a week away on vacation sounds relaxing, but it really is not a time to reflect or pray much - not with 4 kids at Disneyland. Gabriela and I both feel a bit dry spiritually. We need a vacation now that we have been on the "kid's vacation." As our week returns to normal I'm sure we will fall back into our disciplined times of devotion and prayer. I do hope to hear from the Lord regarding the next step. I would like to know something either way, but if the Lord is silent, I will continue as the Doctors say. I can't chance the cancer getting an advantage and placing me in a worst state. My family needs me and unless the Lord tells me differently, I will continue the treatment.
I am so thankful for those that follow this blog and pray for us. I wish I had more to share and could be more specific with how to pray and what, but the facts are, we are still waiting...
I would ask you to pray with us about:
1. Gabriela and I have been asked to speak at a Marriage Dessert on Feb. 14 in So. Cal on the topic of Trusting God in marriage. We need wisdom, creativity, and an outline.
2. Time to refresh our hearts with the Lord amist the busyness of life.
3. Guidance with training up our kids...consistency, character, and transformation.
Thank you and His blessings,
Kelly
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Life is never boring!
Hello All,
Stanford is the Nordstroms of Cancer treatment centers! Wow! Although the wait and drive were long, we were thankful to get even greater clarification about T-Cell, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. And thankful for a new friend that we met there who shared with us that she is a witch. She gave us her e-mail address and I look forward coresponding with her.
Kelly was a bit discouraged in that there really are not many conventional methods of treating this disease. Same drugs, different combinations and/or sequences. Although his bone marrow biopsy was clear and he is considered to be in remission, according to protocol, he is far from cured and it is far from even being something to rejoice over.
Don't get me wrong, the doctors all concur that it is "good" that Kelly is in remission in light of the fungus (if he were not, he would be dead). But the doctors believe that Kelly is far from being done with treatment (about 2 more years of chemo).
At this point our biggest request is that prayers are lifted up asking our Father to give clear direction at to what He wants us to do. Personally, I cant' explain why I have such a confidence in what Violet Huckelbarry and Claudia Eller said, (see previous blog entries.) I believe that some time in or after March Kelly will again baffle the doctors with the miraculous recovery they witness and they will not be able to say that Kelly is a poster child for any medications or procedures but that his recovery is nothing but a clear sign that God is alive, involved and desires to show Himself strong on our behalf and sometimes He heals our physical diseases!
My heart longs to have the Lord speak directly to Kelly. He has been through so much this last year and for those of you that know him, you know that he is a work horse and lives, very much in the present. I believe that his heart needs an extended time of solitude in order to process what he has gone through and "feel" it. Then I believe that he will hear from the Lord. Now I know that the Lord can speak whenever and however He desires but I also know that scripture gives us this pattern of the discipline of solitude as we seek His voice.
I have shared this with Kelly and he thinks that a time away would be nice but that there is not time for it. I told him that we just need to ask Jesus if that is what He wants and if it is... He will make the way.
Thank you for your continued love and support through this journey we are on. Praise be to God who is faithful beyond belief, gracious and merciful and is able exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we ask for or even think!! We serve and awesome God.
P.s. Another praise!!! We had a huge scare last night. Anneliese was coming down with, what seemed to be, a cold and was restless through the night. I brought her to our room at about 1 in the morning and at about 2 o-clock I felt her jerk her little body and then stop breathing. Kelly turned on the light and our precious little Anneliese was staring up at the ceiling, pupils dilated, not blinking, stiff body and not breathing. We called 911 and as her lips turned blue, I breathed some breaths for her and then prayed life over her and that if there was any demonic activity that they would be sent to the feet of Jesus for their judgment. She slow began to breath again then the ambulance took her to Children's Hospital (just so happens to be the very next exit from our house. Amazing!) The doctors told us that she had a Febrile Seizure. Her temperature was at 105 and had spiked too quickly that her little body didn't know what to do, consequently, the seizure. We learned that this is not so uncommon for young children, (5 and younger 1 in 200 chance) but that now she will have a 1 in 25 chance of seizuring again. Scary at first then the Lord reminded me, through my dear friend, Tammy Delisle, that God is still on His throne and in control and I refuse to bow to fear. I will only bow to Jesus!! Thank you Lord!
Stanford is the Nordstroms of Cancer treatment centers! Wow! Although the wait and drive were long, we were thankful to get even greater clarification about T-Cell, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. And thankful for a new friend that we met there who shared with us that she is a witch. She gave us her e-mail address and I look forward coresponding with her.
Kelly was a bit discouraged in that there really are not many conventional methods of treating this disease. Same drugs, different combinations and/or sequences. Although his bone marrow biopsy was clear and he is considered to be in remission, according to protocol, he is far from cured and it is far from even being something to rejoice over.
Don't get me wrong, the doctors all concur that it is "good" that Kelly is in remission in light of the fungus (if he were not, he would be dead). But the doctors believe that Kelly is far from being done with treatment (about 2 more years of chemo).
At this point our biggest request is that prayers are lifted up asking our Father to give clear direction at to what He wants us to do. Personally, I cant' explain why I have such a confidence in what Violet Huckelbarry and Claudia Eller said, (see previous blog entries.) I believe that some time in or after March Kelly will again baffle the doctors with the miraculous recovery they witness and they will not be able to say that Kelly is a poster child for any medications or procedures but that his recovery is nothing but a clear sign that God is alive, involved and desires to show Himself strong on our behalf and sometimes He heals our physical diseases!
My heart longs to have the Lord speak directly to Kelly. He has been through so much this last year and for those of you that know him, you know that he is a work horse and lives, very much in the present. I believe that his heart needs an extended time of solitude in order to process what he has gone through and "feel" it. Then I believe that he will hear from the Lord. Now I know that the Lord can speak whenever and however He desires but I also know that scripture gives us this pattern of the discipline of solitude as we seek His voice.
I have shared this with Kelly and he thinks that a time away would be nice but that there is not time for it. I told him that we just need to ask Jesus if that is what He wants and if it is... He will make the way.
Thank you for your continued love and support through this journey we are on. Praise be to God who is faithful beyond belief, gracious and merciful and is able exceedingly, abundantly beyond what we ask for or even think!! We serve and awesome God.
P.s. Another praise!!! We had a huge scare last night. Anneliese was coming down with, what seemed to be, a cold and was restless through the night. I brought her to our room at about 1 in the morning and at about 2 o-clock I felt her jerk her little body and then stop breathing. Kelly turned on the light and our precious little Anneliese was staring up at the ceiling, pupils dilated, not blinking, stiff body and not breathing. We called 911 and as her lips turned blue, I breathed some breaths for her and then prayed life over her and that if there was any demonic activity that they would be sent to the feet of Jesus for their judgment. She slow began to breath again then the ambulance took her to Children's Hospital (just so happens to be the very next exit from our house. Amazing!) The doctors told us that she had a Febrile Seizure. Her temperature was at 105 and had spiked too quickly that her little body didn't know what to do, consequently, the seizure. We learned that this is not so uncommon for young children, (5 and younger 1 in 200 chance) but that now she will have a 1 in 25 chance of seizuring again. Scary at first then the Lord reminded me, through my dear friend, Tammy Delisle, that God is still on His throne and in control and I refuse to bow to fear. I will only bow to Jesus!! Thank you Lord!
Monday, January 14, 2008
Oh dear friends and family,
We are so sorry to not have updated our blog recently. Right now we are about to leave to speak with a Leukemia specialist at Stanford. We don't have any updates with the fungus or the cancer. Things have actually been busy with "normal life" kind on stuff. Birthday for Andrew, kick off or community groups new session, homework, play dates for our kids... oh how sweet life can be. We love all of you and appreciate your prayers. We will let everyone know what the specialists say.
OH!!! Side note... A family from our church has given us a 3 day trip to Disneyland!! We hope to go the week on Jan. 20th. Pray for Kelly, (stamina, endurance) Lots of Love, Gabriela
We are so sorry to not have updated our blog recently. Right now we are about to leave to speak with a Leukemia specialist at Stanford. We don't have any updates with the fungus or the cancer. Things have actually been busy with "normal life" kind on stuff. Birthday for Andrew, kick off or community groups new session, homework, play dates for our kids... oh how sweet life can be. We love all of you and appreciate your prayers. We will let everyone know what the specialists say.
OH!!! Side note... A family from our church has given us a 3 day trip to Disneyland!! We hope to go the week on Jan. 20th. Pray for Kelly, (stamina, endurance) Lots of Love, Gabriela
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