Halfway Point

Lindsey here. We're at the halfway point! Mom had her fourth treatment last Friday. That marked the end of her first type of chemo and now she'll start her second type of chemo on Friday May 4th. She saw the doctor today and got some good news. She's been having chemo every two weeks, but generally this second kind of chemo is usually given every three weeks.Because she did so well with her chemo so far, the doctor said that she can have this second kind of chemo every two weeks instead of every three. So, if everything goes on schedule, she'll be done with this second kind of chemo on June 8. Then she'll have an MRI to see her progress. Then she'll have her double mastectomy and lumpectomy.

Pray for mom as she goes through this second kind. It's not supposed to make mom as sick, but it is supposed to be painful. The doctor said that she'll probably have pain from her elbows to her hands and from her knees to her feet. And pray that this chemo will kill all the cancer. Mom's hopes to have her surgery over by her birthday on July 24. The doctor says that it could be possible by mid-July. So that's what we're praying for! Thanks so much for all your support so far. Mom has a lot of good friends behind her. God is answering our prayers everyday.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

April 6, 2007 Update

I went to see my surgeon, Julie Kepple, at St. Vincent Hospital on Tuesday the 3rd. She is great! She set up an appointment for me to see a plastic surgeon on April 13th. So here's the good news. Dr. Kepple will do an MRI mid July after all my chemo treatments are complete and IF the cancer is all dead they will go complete reconstruction at the same time they remove my breasts and I will NOT have to have radiation treatments. However, if all the cancer is not dead, they will reconstruct the right breast but not the left as I will have to undergo radiation on that side and wait a year for reconstruction.

Lindsey and Ben and I went to breakfast and then to my chemo treatment on Friday the 6th. It is such a peace to have great support from my kids. They have been a true comfort. I don't know how people get through difficult times without this kind of support and God. As usual, I slept most of the day and evening on Friday. A little sick again, but that means the chemo is working so I guess it's a good thing. By Thursday, I should be back to myself though.

Okay guys, here's my prayer. I'm asking God to touch my body and kill all the cancer so radiation won't be necessary. What a testamony that would be for Him! I'm also praying that the next set of chemo treatments will not be too painful. I have one more of this kind. The next type causes numbness in the hands and feet. Some people report terrible pain in their bones with this treatment. I really want to continue to work until I have to be off for surgery in August.

Thank you all for you cards, calls, letters, gifts, visits and prayers. I get cards from people I don't even know letting me know they are praying for me. My staff at work is so wonderful. As I look back I can see how God led me to Sycamore Village. At the time I couldn't see it, but God knew what I would be going through and knew where I needed to be. Dawn Eaker is our Unit Manager on the Alzheimer's unit and she has been a source of encouragement beyond belief (and I don't think she even realizes it) it's just the way she is. I love her to pieces and don't know what I would do without her. Isn't God just too good to us?

Support my momma in Relay for Life!

Lindsey again. World Gospel Mission (where I work) has formed a team for Relay for Life. It's an event put on by the American Cancer Society to raise money for cancer research. Mom, Ben (my husband), and I have joined this team and are blazing the fundraising trail! We'll be participating in this relay on June 2. We want to raise $100 per person, but I think that's an awfully low number and would love to raise so much more than that! Now I can only assume that you're sitting there wondering, "What can I do to help them?" Well you're in luck because I have just the thing!

We are selling a couple things. First, we're selling luminaries. These are little bags that will have the name of someone you are honoring or remembering. These will be lined around the track during the relay and lit once it's dark. If you would like to purchase a luminary in honor of someone (mom would be a great choice!) or in memory of someone, please send me an e-mail to lhawkphotodesign@yahoo.com. It costs $10 per luminary.

We are also selling CHOCOLATE. I'll get some candy bars to mom to take to work with her. I don't think these will mail well, so these will probably be onsite sales only. They are $1 per candy bar.

And, of course, you can just send in your donation. Again, contact me at lhawkphotodesign@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Thank you ahead of time for your support in our quest to help fund cancer research. I know mom appreciates it too!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Beautiful Lady

Lindsey here. Don't you just hate it when people are beautiful all the time, no matter what? Well, all I can say is that I hope I look as good as mom when I'm her age WITH hair! She had some super-sweet friends bring her a fun package all the way from Ohio. Here she is enjoying some of those things:



Yes, she is crazy. But I know we all love her for it. Thanks for your continued encouragement to my mom...it helps to know that she has wonderful friends!