Visitor today

I moved my patients from today to yesterday, so I was home today. My friend Heidi and her newborn baby Isabelle came by for a visit and for me to treat Izzy. She's been a little-miss-fussy-pants. Heidi's ready to pull out her hair and I feel so badly for her. I really want to help. All I knew to do was watch the baby, try to get her to sleep, and let Heidi take a short power nap; that is until the crying woke her up. Poor new mamma. Soothing, swaddling, sucking...trying everything. Any advice anyone?

I'm working every week...pushing myself to do a little more each week. Getting more stamina, I think. The artificial lights are the biggest problem. I try to see babies right now in rooms that have windows so I don't have to turn any lights on. I'm not needing as many naps (or not taking as many) and the nausea doesn't seem to be as bad either.

I was able to go to a meeting at Gilda's Club Tuesday night. I enjoyed being able to talk with others going through similar journeys.

Keep praying! For all symptoms to be completely gone and for complete healing. Thanks. Love to all,

Laura

Working Computer

FINALLY!! I have a new computer! They finally sent me a new one after all the problems I'd had with mine. It'll be nice to have a connection to the world again on days that I'm home. I like to instant message if anyone else does that, it's a good way to communicate.

I finally got over the strep, sinus stuff and reaction to the antibiotic and am feeling as good as I have in awhile. I worked yesterday and today and feel good. Trying to ease my way back in. Treated a friend and her baby at the house today too. I think I'm getting a little more stamina back which is really encouraging. I'm still pretty tired but my naps are fewer and not as long.

I had a great weekend with my friends from medical school. We just hung out, cooked, played games and caught up on each others' lives. It was a blast. I will attempt to attach a video of one of the kids from this weekend who is a fierce dancer. He went on for over a half an hour. Oh to have the energy again!

I still have quite a bit of nausea, but it's manageable. I'd like it to be gone completely, of course. Keep praying. My next MRI ins in April and we want that to show even more healing than the one in January. And of course for there to be no trace of tumor! Thanks for your continued prayers. Life is good. God is good. Love you all,

Laura

Six Months

On Wednesday, we celebrated 6 months since Laura's surgery. I can't tell you how strange it is to say that it has been 6 months...for it seems like a few weeks ago being in AR, but at the same time so long ago. What Laura has been through, from the surgery to recovery, radiation to the elation of not having to have her experience chemotherapy, the impact of losing hair, eye brows, etc., and now the numerous side effects of the medications. All said, we are in a great place. God has been faithful, abundant, and full of blessings.

6 months...still having a tough time with that, it just doesn't seem possible, seeming both to have gone so quickly and yet the surgery being so long ago. Laura has definitely grown through this process, though weak at times, always faithful to God. In so many ways, I have too, but struggled many times in many ways. There were times where I had a drink rather than saying a prayer, bottled up what I should have let out, and didn't take my friend Tim's advice to "take care of yourself throughout." Regardless, here we are, with Laura's med school/residency friends coming in to visit this weekend, ecstatic to see her for the first time since the surgery. A good place.

Life is becoming normal again. Some eardrops here, side effects of medicine there...all in all, you wouldn't know if didn't know by looking at Laura. I thank God for my family, as I have grown to appreciate how I was raised so much in that past 6 months. I was taught to focus on moving forward, focus on the positive, and don't let the negatives weigh on your mind too much. Dad, Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Sarah, Kelly, Doug...thank you...you were always there with what I needed to hear.

On that note, the sun shined today, there is a ton of snow on the ground, so much only the box of our mailbox is showing....I am going to spoil the crap out of some kids this weekend...and probably have a Mount Gay and soda...or two...and a cigar. Sounds like a good weekend to me.

Have a good weekend everone,

Chad

Computers and a Sore Throat

I have now sent my computer in to HP for the third time...the last time it was sent back to me it still wasn't working. Argh. I wait for Chad to come home so I can use his laptop and feel linked to the outside world. I still don't LOVE talking on the phone. It's definitely better, but I prefer email.

I got a bad sore throat this week. We think it's just viral, but my throat culture hasn't come back yet. I'm feeling better...the worst is definitely over; I couldn't sleep Monday or Tuesday night because everytime I swallowed it woke me up. Ouch!

Tomorrow Chad and I are going to a new member meeting at Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids. I'm excited to get to know some people going through the same thing that we are. They have a meeting and we'll figure out how to get involved (i.e. brain tumor support group, etc.) then they have a new member brunch. I think it'll be fun. Not sure if Chad's looking forward to it or not, but he's willing to go and I appreciate that. He may not go, though, because he has a b-ball game at the same time. We'll see.

Otherwise we are surviving the snow. I think it's fnally going to stop tonight (after 7 inches). Chad's out snowblowing the driveway. When he gets in we will eat and watch a movie or two. We just went and rented several.

Please continue to pray for me even though we got great news at the 3-months follow-up MRI. I have an MRI every 3-months to check for recurrence and each will be nerveracking. Dizziness is gone, nausea is better, no headaches, still tired. Can't complain. Love to you all,

Laura

Inspiration from a friend

I was just reading the blog of one of my sisters in Christ, who went in Friday for her 2nd mastectomy prior to starting radiation. She has already received chemo. Here are some Biblical truths that all should hear:

Oh it is easy to follow Jesus when life is rosy and the sky is blue, and it is easy to sit here and type, but it is a continual choice to tell my soul the TRUTH as I think about tomorrow.
Psalm 103 tells me this: He has redeemed my life from the pit. He has crowned me with lovingkindness and compassion. He heals all my diseases(hey, it's either here on earth or Heaven)
II Peter 1 vs 3 tells me that He has granted to me everything pertaining to life and godliness..
Matthew 6: 34 tells me to not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself
Isaiah 43:1 tells me ..Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are Mine!"
Psalm 116 :1 says, "I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my supplications.Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore, I shall call upon Him for as long as I live.."
Psalm 91:15 says God will answer me when I call upon Him, He will be with me in trouble,He will rescue me and honor me.."

How awesome is that! Words from a woman the day before her second mastectomy. It makes worrying about those little things seem silly, huh?

On a quick note about me, dizziness is essentially gone. Nausea is much better since I've switched timing of taking my anti-seizure med. Praise God for that! Please pray for me Monday as I will be working my first full day and am usually quite fatigued after a half day. Pray for energy and that I am not bothered by the stimulus (the lights and talking).

Love,
Laura

Can't Sleep

It just turned 5:30AM and I haven't been able to sleep. I finally got up so I wouldn't disturb Chad anymore. He was being very sweet and not getting outwardly irritated with me for tossing and turning and waking him up. I was up first at 2am, which seems to be when i wake up each night...then again at 4am until now. I took a great long nap yesterday, but that usually doesn't affect my sleep like this. It's a winter wonderland outside, and I'm sure Chad will be getting up soon to snowblow before work as we've accumulated quite the drifts on the driveway. Still battling the nausea...taking 2 anti-nausea meds to cope. I'm tired of medicine! Well, now that I've been able to talk to someone, maybe I'll try going back to sleep for a bit.

Love,
Laura

'07- A Year of Blessings

I know, I am about three weeks behind in putting this out, but better late than never.

I do not know what happened to '07, as it passed so quickly. Looking back, it is truly a year of blessings. I am so grateful that Laura began having seizures, for had she not, who knows what that Stage 3 portion of the tumor could have mutated into by now. The compassionate care provided to Laura throughout the appointments leading up to and following the surgery made the journey so much easier. To all of the doctors, nurses, PA's, thank you for your warm hearted care.

In looking back, Laura and I have both said that while we wouldn't wish this on anyone, we feel blessed to have gone through it and be where we are. It was an intimate journey with Christ that is difficult to explain; he was faithful through out the journey and continues to be. The journey was made much smoother and easier to handle through the support of family, friends, and colleagues. Both sides of our family went out of their way to assist and support in every way possible. Friends were begging to find out how they could help, provide support, and do things that I never would have considered. People we work with have been so supportive, understanding, and eager to do anything they could for us.

We feel so blessed to be where we are and have an incredibly clean follow-up MRI, so much so our local neurosurgeon said he would be "shot dead" if anything grew back. A special thank you to Dr. and Mrs. Yasargil for their incredible God-given gifts. Thank you for doing what you have in the past to make people like Laura have such an amazing post-surgical recovery. Save the side effects of the seizure meds and radiation, the recovery process has been incredible. We feel as though we have gone through an incredible challenge, guided by Christ every step of the way, and now are on the other side, free and clear of any cancer. It's still hard for me to say that word.

I have thanked you all so many times, but we are truly humbled by what everyone has done during the past five months. God bless you all.

Chad