Surgery Update.

Her surgery went well...everything is okay. They implanted the port and we go to the cancer doctor tomorrow for a treatment...at least we think. She is doing well. Sleeping TONS and very sore.

ONE MORE THING!

May 2nd is SOON approaching...this is the day of the pancreatic cancer walk in Chicago. We would love to have as many people go as possible but also understand that many of you are unable to attend this day. However, I am wanting to get an idea of how many people will be there walking with us, so if you could leave a comment on this post with your name, if you are coming, and how many people will be coming with you...I would appreciate it. Thank you! In addition, I am going to be having shirts made that say Brenda's Believers on the front and some other type of message or picture on the back. Most likely the shirts will be purple (the color for pancreatic cancer) with white font. However, we could always do white shirts with purple font. We will see. ANYWAYS...even if you can NOT attend the walk...let me know if you would possibly be interested in purchasing a shirt. Proceeds will go to paying for the shirts, pancreatic cancer research, and possibly to help Mom pay bills. Again...leave your name, and how many shirts you would be interested in purchasing. THANK YOU!

Sorry for the late update. :(

Ok...well its Friday April 10th and I am in Gulf Shores with my grandma and Mom and Nichole are in Jasper visiting Judy and Rhonda. We leave in the morning to pick them up and head back home. It was a relaxing week but I am definitely ready to be home and see Mom again. :)

In other news...Mom is having surgery on Monday. I am not sure of the time of her surgery but i will post it on Sunday when I find out. She is having outpatient surgery to have her port put in to do her chemo treatments. Then on Wednesday she will have her first treatment. Again I will update you on the details of the time of the surgery on Sunday and then I will update you on how the surgery went and details of what chemo treatment will take place as soon as I can...hopefully Monday night. :)

Until then...pray that we get home safely and that the surgery is a success. If you have specific questions, give me a call or text me on my cell phone. (Melissa- 309.657.2340) Thanks!

P.S. Maybe later tonight after dinner I will get on and update you with some of the "fun" that has been going on in our lives! haha. :)

Mom just called...

Well...

My mom just called from Chicago...no good news. We are done taking trips to Chicago. The treatment is NOT working, so they feel that we are just wasting our time to keep going up there. :( However, when she gets back to Peoria, she is going to meet with her cancer doctor here to try a different kind of treatment. From what my mom told me on the phone, I think its going to be some type waistband that will give her a more concentrated dose of chemo. (But again, I could be completely wrong...I will talk to her more and update you all.) She has been having a spot on the left side of her abdomen and they believe thats a new tumor. Although the last treatment did not work, we are still not going to give up hope. Not yet!

However, one thing that I may ask of everyone right now...please don't bombard my mom with phone calls asking her details about how shes feeling and what is going on...I will update you here. I am sure that she is struggling with knowing that what we have been trying is not working...after all the money and time we have spent on our trips to Chicago. :( I can't imagine all of the pain and stress that she is going through right now, but one thing I do know is that my mom is a fighter and she is NOT giving up without a fight. Even though this cancer is taking her down physically, we don't want it taking her down mentally too by having to think about it all the time with everyone questioning her and feeling sorry for her. I know thats not what my mom wants...its not her!

KEEP PRAYING! Leave her comments of encouragement, love, and things to hope for! She reads this frequently!

Update 3/17/09

Hello everyone...

First off I want to thank EVERYONE from our NAC church family in Peoria, IL for all of the cards and monitary donations my mom received from you on Sunday. Many of you know that we are definitely going through some rough times right now with her being sick and not being able to work, so this lifted a huge stress off of her shoulders. I don't think I could even explain to you the glow I saw in her eyes when she knew she wasn't going to have to struggle to make the house payment and other bills this month. I, along with my mom and brother and sister, definitely appreciate all of the thoughts, prayers, and cards you have sent our way over the past months, weeks, and days. Although this is a terrible cancer and one that is yet to have a cure, my family has not given up hope and neither has she. We continue to fight this cancer and pray each and every day. If there is going to be a cure to this cancer, it is going to be God hearing all of our prayers and working a miracle. :) It can happen!

In other news...HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL! I am currently in St. Louis visiting my family (my grandma, Uncle Wayne, Aunt Joyce, and Tyler and Brittany), and my mom is in Chicago meeting with doctors, getting test results from last week's CT scan, and having another treatment. As soon as I hear from you, I will update you with the results...

All I can ask from everyone that wants to help in any way at all is to KEEP PRAYING! If enough of us send prayers her way, I think we might make a difference! :)

Thank you again to everyone who has sent cards, thoughts, prayers, money, and food our way! :)

Back from Chicago

Well we are back! I KNOW! ITS ONLY 5:30!!! Things went well today...roads were clear, didnt have to see any doctors, bloodwork was not as much as usual today, and the chemo shot went well. (even though we were sitting back there for an hour and a half)

Next week is the CT scan...

Its been 2 weeks ALREADY....

Well I guess 2 weeks has ALREADY passed...I cant believe it! Anyways...mom and I are off to Chicago in the morning for another treatment. We dont have to be there until 11 tomorrow so we are planning on leaving around 7. YAY! I get to sleep in...at least more than usual. Well...I guess I should head off to bed. Another long day tomorrow...leave us comments if you wish! :)