First off I must apologize for the long delay in a new update. We had an Internet problem (dead router) and it took a while to figure it out and then get it fixed. Quite a bit has happened since my last update so I will get right to it! I have now had 4 chemo treatments (every other Thursday) and all have gone well. A few minor side effects, but very bearable (mostly fatigue). My last MRI could not have had better results! Marked improvement around the tumor site and a very happy oncologist. The chemo appears to be working! PRAISE GOD!!!!!! I am off this week for chemo and my next treatment is Thursday 3/11/10. Every 2 weeks I get lab work done to check my white blood count and platelets. My last labs actually improved over the prior which is the opposite of what is expected. Another amazing blessing from God.

Its hard to believe another year has past! oh yea thats right, I’m another year older. This gettin old thing is rough. This years birthday was spent at the hospital getting a chemo treatment, but the nurses did bring me a small piece of carrot cake with a candle and sung happy birthday to me while I was there (pretty funny). Julie continues to study every waking minute and is doing well. She was chosen by her class to give the graduation speech (no surprise to me). A huge honor considering she joined this class late after having to drop out of her last class due to my diagnosis in January 2009. God continues to bless our family in ways that only He can. I am constantly reminded of His love, peace, and faithfulness. I am always amazed and humbled by your prayers and support. Please keep it up! Its working! He is answering them daily. In His love, Jeff

PRAISE GOD! what a great week. My first chemo treatment went well with almost no side effects, the MRI of my spine was clear of any cancer, my leg pain and numbness is almost completely gone, and my oncologist gave me the okay to go back to work which I did the day after I got the okay. I really could not ask for things to be any better. Our prayers are being answered every day. Julie is working so hard on her last semester of school and trying to balance everything else on top of that. She is amazing.

Things are pretty much back to our new normal. I will be getting my chemo treatments every other week and based on the first one it looks like I will be able to continue working through my treatments.

Thank you for following our story and for all your thoughts and prayers! We are truly blessed. In His hands, Jeff

I have been so busy with doctor appointments these last few weeks, I don’t know where to begin…. The results from the MRI of my back were negative for any structural problems. The results from the MRI of my brain were good. No signs of recurrence at this time. My oncologist ordered an MRI with contrast of my back just to rule out any issues there (the contrast highlights cancer). That MRI is scheduled for this coming Tuesday 1/19/10. I had my first chemo treatment yesterday 1/14/10. All things considered I think it went very well. I am feeling pretty good and very few side effects so far. A few days of rest and I plan to be good as new and maybe even back to work.

Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging emails and texts. They really do help! God continues to walk me through this time and I am constantly reminded of His faithfulness  to us. Glory to Him always! Jeff

Happy New Year! 2009 went by quick for me and was filled with surprises and 2010 started off with a surprise of its own. This last Sunday 1/3/2010 while having lunch with two friends, I had my first seizure. Fortunately one of them caught me before I hit the floor and the other cleared my airway and made sure I was breathing until paramedics arrived and transported me to the hospital. This was not a huge surprise to my doctors who a few weeks ago took me off anti seizure medication because I hadnt had one yet despite everything I was going through. A few hours at the hospital including a CT scan of my head and blood work to check for any serious problems and I was on my way home. Lots more tests to come the next couple weeks. Thursday (1/7) and MRI of my back due to leg pain, Friday (1/8) MRI of brain to check for any recurrence and prepare for chemo, and Monday (1/11) follow up with neuro oncologist to discuss everything (results of scans and upcoming chemo treatments). I will update as soon as possible.

Trusting God, Jeff

Well hello!

I wanted to let you know that Jeff had the porta cath put in on Thursday, and he is doing well-a bit sore-but good. A porta cath is literally a quarter size purple heart shaped device that is placed under his skin on his right chest.  A thin pliable tube connects to his vena cava and goes down quite a ways. This will be very beneficial for chemo administration because they won’t have to go through the veins in his arm every two weeks, and it helps distribute the medication well.

I am so very thankful to be finished with the semester and have a bit of weight, ok a lot of weight off of my shoulders for a month. One more semester to go and I graduate in May!

We are ready to celebrate the birth of our savior with family. My sister Stephanie and her family are coming out from Phoenix, and my Dad too. This will be the first Christmas in 20 years I have spent with my sissy!

I do have a prayer request for myself actually. Turns out I have a stress fracture in my back.  My low back became increasingly painful this past month, especially when I was on my feet treating patients all day. I am actually gratful there is a reason for the pain which a brace and PT should take care of. Please pray for fast healing before next semester begins.

Thank you for supporting our family and for all the prayers. They truly work because our home is full of joy and peace.

God bless you – Julie

Okay back from the doctor appointment. It went very well with lots of information from the doctors. Stitches are out and we talked about my treatment schedule in detail with my neuro oncologist. I will start my new chemo regimen early January. I will be getting one small procedure done prior to the first of the year which will  be an outpatient thing (porta cath for chemo administration). I got the okay to return to work light duty so I am going in tomorrow. When I asked if I could go back to work, the nurse practitioner looked at me and laughed. He said “when do you want to go back?” and I said “tomorrow” his reply was: “you’re crazy, no one does that.” He called my surgeon who also laughed and said okay he can go back if he wants. God has blessed my recovery and is holding me in the palm of His hand carrying me through this. 

In His love, Jeff

Hi Friends. Just wanted to leave a quick update to let everyone know my recovery is still going really well. I truly don’t feel like I had another surgery. The recovery has been so much better this time around and I’m hoping to return to work soon. My next appointment with my neuro surgeon and neuro oncologist is this coming Monday (12/7/09) to remove the stitches from the side of my head and discuss my new upcoming treatments. I will update after the appointment with any new info. Thanks so much for all the prayers, encouragement, meals and goodies, cards, and offers of help. You all are really making this too easy on me. God has blessed this journey and He has led me through this recovery with His strength and faithfulness. In His love, Jeff

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! My recovery continues to improve daily and the visits yesterday lifted my spirits even more than I expected. It is so nice to be feeling like myself again so soon and in time for today. This day has so much meaning to me and to think about how much I have to be thankful for. We are so blessed and to have this day to be together as a family. Julie is doing great in school and will finish her 3rd semester on 12/16/09. She has been amazing through this and somehow managed to care for me and ace all of her tests and assignments. Kayla and Nat have been helping out so much around the house and have been such a blessing to Julie and I through this. In His love, Jeff

Hello friends, I just finished reading your latest emails and comments and it warms my heart and puts a smile on my face to hear from you and to know that you are following my story. Recovery is going well at home and my first post op visit is today at 4pm. As I have said before with all the support I have from all of you, it makes this all seem pretty easy. I can’t even begin to explain how much it helps for me and my family to know that all of you are so willing to help that all our needs during this time are taking care of. I went into this knowing that God would only give me what I could handle and He was faithful to that as always.

In His love, Jeff

I have him home!!! 

THANK YOU for all of your prayers! Jeff is doing well and we are thankful this recovery is going better than the last one.  To give you a summary of the last 4 days, Jeff and I arrived at the hospital at 6am (Wed)but he actually didn’t have surgery until close to 2pm…lots of waiting in pre-op.  However I am thankful the anesthesiologist gave him enough medication before they wheeled him down the hall for surgery that he doesn’t remember going to the OR.  Then I took a sigh of relief that he wasn’t worried anymore, just sleeping away while the surgeons did their work.  Once I was able to see him at 7pm he said “I’m OK” and I was just so thankful that God took such good care of him and protected Jeff from any neurologic damage. The night was long, however the pain medication worked this time and his pain was managable.  The next morning he was doing laps in the hall! Thurs night we got a bit more sleep, then we were home at 11am on Friday. He looks really good, hardly any swelling this time, and there truly does not seem to be any complications from the surgery.

The surgeon did place chemo waifers in the cavity in his brain that will dissolve in 4-6 weeks. The long term plan is for him to rest for a month, then begin IV chemo, which means we will go to USC for 1/2 a day every two weeks.  Probably for a long time.

Kayla and Natlaie took great care of Jeff this morning since I had to begin my medical/surgical rotation for school at 6:30am. 

Anyway I want to get back to Jeff but wanted to let you know we are doing well and so very relieved this one is behind us. Thank you thank you thank you for your continued support and love…you really do lift our spirits.

Jeff was really sweet on our way home from the hospital, he said ”You know what, I think God just wanted us to spend more quality time together again” Sounds really good to me:)

Julie