What's next????

First of all...THANK YOU for all the wonderful comments about my strength...I don't feel strong at all, so when I hear that others think so, I am encouraged and reassured that God is with me!!!

Now, for our upcoming schedule...

Next week Tuesday we have an appointment with the Oncologist, he will take a blood test to check the white cells and then let us know if Jeff has to take more chemo pills. He really hasn't had a full course of chemo, so he may have to start taking them again.

Wednesday we are going to have an evaluation done with cognitive therapy...this is for his memory...it is used most often with stroke victims and any other brain damage victims...we don't believe his memory loss is because of brain damage, but this may help him to get his memory back sooner and it could enhance it as well...I was thinking that I might also benefit from a memory enhancement!

Thursday we have the appointment for the MRI with contrast...it won't hurt him at all but it still makes him nervous. I am a little nervous as well...I really don't know what the next step will be after the results of the scan.

Then the next week we have an appointment at Cedar Sinai to discuss the results of his MRI.

From Sept 30 to Oct 3rd we want to try to go to San Diego for a few days and take Dalaynee to the zoo...we need to get away!

Please continue to pray for the cancer to be gone, patience and grace for me, and a new prayer would be for God's direction...the immediate future seems so uncertain right now...our disability and family leave will be exhausted in a few weeks and I'm not exactly sure what I will do if we need more time.

Thank you again for the unbelievable encouragement and prayer...we are SOOOO blessed!!!

~Jayne~

Scan?!?!?!?!?!?!

I know everyone is wondering what the results of Jeff's brain scan was...and...it looks like somewhere I got my wires crossed...I could have sworn they said that 2 weeks after radiation was complete they would do another MRI...as it turns out, they like to wait 6 weeks...apparently the radiation keeps working after the treatments are complete...hooray! Anyway, the appointment we had this past Thursday was just a follow-up consultation with the Radiologist, which initially was the same as the once a week meetings we had during treatments...and then, this Doctor, who is one of 2 doctors that we've seen off and on during treatments, tells us that, contrary to what we've been told all along, the memory loss that Jeff is experiencing is damage from the tumor and not a side affect of radiation...which means that it is permanent!!! We were floored, to say the least! I don't mind telling you, I raised my voice to the doctor and he raised his right back to me insinuating that I must have misunderstood what I was told before and that he wanted to make sure I was understanding what he was telling me now...anyway, the meeting ended friendly, but it was a little heated for a few minutes! Because we have been told different all along, because we have heard from brain cancer survivors that memory loss goes with radiation, and because we serve a God that is bigger than all of this, Jeff & I have chosen to believe that this is just this doctor's opinion and he is entitled to his opinion...however, we are looking into an out patient cognitive therapy program offered by the hospital that will help get his memory back sooner as well as enhance it...which will help him to be more positive and feel productive.

Just in case you're not sure what is involved in "short term memory loss" I thought I'd give you an example...from the time Jeff gets out of bed in the morning until he goes to bed for the night he will ask me 20-40 times what day it is. When we left to meet my family for dinner at 6:15p tonight, he had no idea what we did today...one thing we did is get his head shaved again...he doesn't even remember being at the barber shop! Basically, right now I can't have a normal conversation with my husband, my partner...when I am telling him things that are going on with me or something cute that Dalaynee did...he interrupts me to ask what day it is or what are our plans for the evening etc...it is very frustrating, but because of all the prayer being lifted up for us I am able to answer his questions in a calm voice to reassure him and help him not to feel so lost, and also, hold in my sharing or venting until I am able to talk to my mother or sister, who have been wonderful support and strong shoulders for me.

Basically, Jeff & I both feel that this tumor is not going to kill him...but...our uncertainty about what is next brings on fear! Please continue to pray for strength, patience for me, and comfort for the fear!

As always, we would have nothing without our church, family & friends...Bless you!!!!
~Jayne~

Quick Update...

I just heard that my cousin, Lanette, had a miscarriage...please continue to pray for them, but now for her strength, & comfort in this loss.

You are the BEST!!!!
~Jayne~

Prayer for the little one..

Hey all,
I have a quick prayer request for cousins of mine in Arkansas...Tim, Lanette & James denHollander...

Here is an email we received...

This past week we found out that we are expecting our second child. Yesterday Lanette started bleeding. She is now on bed rest until at least 24 hours after the bleeding stops. Please pray that it might please the Lord to do a mighty work and allow this child to be born healthy and strong. Also pray for strength for us as we go through this trial and that the Lord would bless this and do all things to His honor and glory.

Please add them to your prayer lists...Thanks!!!!
~Jayne~

School Days...School Days!!!

Our little girl is growing up!!!! Today was her first day of preschool!!

This is her and her teacher, Mrs. Lisa (we did kid's klub with Lisa for quite a few years...we love her!!!)

After the bell is rung, all the kids get in a circle and hold hands to pray
"Heavenly Father, hear our prayer. Thank you for your loving care. Guide us through our preschool day, as we learn and as we play. Help us to be kind and true in everything we say and do AMEN"



Dalaynee was very excited! It wasn't too hard for me to let her go...and since she knows the surroundings well (it's at our church) it wasn't hard for her at all!!!

Bye Mom!!!!

They are trying to raise money to remove the sand from the sand box (it's fairly large)...it seems that some of the neighborhood cats are mistaking it for a big litter box...so probably a good thing to get the sand out...anyway, this means that we already have a fund raiser in preschool!!!! I told Dalaynee that she had to ask our neighbors if they would like to buy something for her school...although she says borrow for buy.


Well, other than that...Jeff's memory is a tad bit better, keep praying for restored memory and a clean scan on Thursday (shrunk or gone). Thank you all!!!! Blessings!!!
~Jayne~