We head to the metroplex tomorrow afternoon. Mark sees the colorectal surgeon late tomorrow afternoon and the heart surgeon early on Tuesday morning. We have lots of questions and are hoping for all the right answers. Thanks so much for your continued prayers.
Sean and Kristi met Sena yesterday in Ethiopia. Please keep them in your prayers as they work through getting to know her and bringing her back to her new home in the states.
We have made a huge breakthrough at the Brown house!! One of the kids actually wants to learn something from a parent. WOOOHOOOO!!!! Austin was behind the wheel (of a car) for the first time yesterday on the streets of Scotland. He did great and even said he might get up and wash the car today!! Landon thinks he should get a turn next. I am sure that surprises no one. And, Abby thinks she gets the mule now. Let's just slooooowwwwww down everybody!
Love to all, Missy
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Good News!!!!!!!!
Preliminary scans are clear. I got a call yesterday evening with the report of Mark's PET scan. There was no evidence of metastasis, no lymph nodes visible, and clear liver and lungs. WoooHooo!!!! While we don't have a written report, that pretty much confirms our trip next week to see the surgeons and move on with the rest of the agenda. We are so blessed by all of the good outcomes we have seen. We are always realistic and yet still have high expectations. While we understand the worst of it, we focus on the best and we know that God will provide whatever is best for us.
So we begin a whole new journey! While our specific intentions may change slightly, ultimately our prayer is for God to carry Mark through each day closer to optimal health. Only He knows the way. We allow Him take the lead and what an awesome job he has done thus far!. (Whew, that control thing can be so hard to give up!!!!!)
Mark has appointments in metroplex on Monday and Tuesday. We are expecting to have a date for heart surgery when we return. Everything is subject to change, however.
Thank you so much for the constant prayers that continue to carry us through all of this. That is quite a heavy load to carry and we love you all for being there for us.
Missy.
So we begin a whole new journey! While our specific intentions may change slightly, ultimately our prayer is for God to carry Mark through each day closer to optimal health. Only He knows the way. We allow Him take the lead and what an awesome job he has done thus far!. (Whew, that control thing can be so hard to give up!!!!!)
Mark has appointments in metroplex on Monday and Tuesday. We are expecting to have a date for heart surgery when we return. Everything is subject to change, however.
Thank you so much for the constant prayers that continue to carry us through all of this. That is quite a heavy load to carry and we love you all for being there for us.
Missy.
Friday, August 21, 2009
It's Friday!!
Not sure why that is so exciting when we are working tomorrow, but I still love Fridays.
I think I can gather my thoughts to rewrite that last post that disappeared into space - AAGGHH!!
It was originally titled still waiting because that is pretty much what we are doing. Mark saw the oncologist on Wednesday, and as expected, we had to wait that "magical two weeks to go in and get the script for the scan he will have next week. We had many questions, and he basically had one general answer. He expects everything to get better without the chemo. IT is very difficult for us and I am sure for them as well to have several different systems involved in this process. The oncologist can't really answer the GI questions and the GI guy doesn't have all the heart answers, and so on and so on, so there is a lot of going in between which leads to a little bit of frustration. I know you would never guess that! Aaaaannnnyway. PET scan is next Tuesday in Wichita Falls. There is a lot riding on good results from this test. We really need only positive results so that we can move forward with his heart surgery. The oncologist will write some sort of release from the cancer standpoint that we are supposed to deliver to the heart surgeon on September. We actually see the colorectal surgeon and the heart surgeon on the 31st and 1st. Also on one of the burners is the possibility of getting Mark's port removed prior to the 31st. But, first things first, scan on tuesday and we will have a few more definites.
Just FYI, it seems that Landon has somehow obtained a facebook. The way I hear it, his yahoo information was used to create a facebook??? I wasn't sure I believed him, but I have since heard of others who have reportedly had a facebook when they never knew they did. Anyway, not my intent for my 10 year old. Thanks to Heather for the great idea of limiting his friends. He is allowed to have family and classmates for friends. I am sure many have already heard from him. What is this world coming to????
I am requesting lots of prayers for our new great niece and her wonderful parents Sean and Kristi. They will be traveling to and from Africa over the next couple of weeks. Sena Anne was abandoned in Ethiopia Sean and Kristi will be adopting her out of an orphanage and bringing her home to join their wonderful family. There couldn't be a family better suited for bringing lots of love to a special little girl. I am so proud of them for their commitment to provide a loving home and wonderful opportunity to a beautiful little girl in need of special attention. I know they will all be blessed by the company of each other. Sean and Kristi have also just moved and made a new home in New Mexico. They are needing to sell their home in Arlington as well. They have a lot on their plate and God on their side, but I know they would welcome many prayers of support for them.
Love to all, Missy
I think I can gather my thoughts to rewrite that last post that disappeared into space - AAGGHH!!
It was originally titled still waiting because that is pretty much what we are doing. Mark saw the oncologist on Wednesday, and as expected, we had to wait that "magical two weeks to go in and get the script for the scan he will have next week. We had many questions, and he basically had one general answer. He expects everything to get better without the chemo. IT is very difficult for us and I am sure for them as well to have several different systems involved in this process. The oncologist can't really answer the GI questions and the GI guy doesn't have all the heart answers, and so on and so on, so there is a lot of going in between which leads to a little bit of frustration. I know you would never guess that! Aaaaannnnyway. PET scan is next Tuesday in Wichita Falls. There is a lot riding on good results from this test. We really need only positive results so that we can move forward with his heart surgery. The oncologist will write some sort of release from the cancer standpoint that we are supposed to deliver to the heart surgeon on September. We actually see the colorectal surgeon and the heart surgeon on the 31st and 1st. Also on one of the burners is the possibility of getting Mark's port removed prior to the 31st. But, first things first, scan on tuesday and we will have a few more definites.
Just FYI, it seems that Landon has somehow obtained a facebook. The way I hear it, his yahoo information was used to create a facebook??? I wasn't sure I believed him, but I have since heard of others who have reportedly had a facebook when they never knew they did. Anyway, not my intent for my 10 year old. Thanks to Heather for the great idea of limiting his friends. He is allowed to have family and classmates for friends. I am sure many have already heard from him. What is this world coming to????
I am requesting lots of prayers for our new great niece and her wonderful parents Sean and Kristi. They will be traveling to and from Africa over the next couple of weeks. Sena Anne was abandoned in Ethiopia Sean and Kristi will be adopting her out of an orphanage and bringing her home to join their wonderful family. There couldn't be a family better suited for bringing lots of love to a special little girl. I am so proud of them for their commitment to provide a loving home and wonderful opportunity to a beautiful little girl in need of special attention. I know they will all be blessed by the company of each other. Sean and Kristi have also just moved and made a new home in New Mexico. They are needing to sell their home in Arlington as well. They have a lot on their plate and God on their side, but I know they would welcome many prayers of support for them.
Love to all, Missy
Still Waiting
I cannot believe this. 1 AM, a huge post, click the post button and it is all gone. I could scream at this thing sometimes. Sorry, I am tired and I will try to remember it all again tomorrow. Love to all, Missy.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
We're Done
Here is a picture confirming the end of the very last treatment. Not a great picture, but definitely documentation of finishing this leg of the race! He is so excited, and when he is feeling a little better, he will be anxious to tell the world. Just waiting now for more good news to come from final scans. Enjoy the last day of your weekend everybody. Much love, Missy.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
WoooooHoooooo!!!!
Oh joyous day!!!. Everybody do the happy dance. Today is the beginning of the end of chemo. Just 48 hours away and we can celebrate!!!. Mark says we are going to celebrate with a bonfire. to burn the "bag" that carries his pump!!! God is good. We have been so fortunate through all of this. Even through the up and down and good and bad, we have always been able to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel. Every now and then we felt like we needed a little better perscription glasses to see it, but we could always count on a brighter day. Those days came and went for several months now, but Mark is so looking forward to them being here to stay. A couple of new updates. ....
The final oncology appointment is August 19th. Praise God. There will be no love lost in walking away from there. We do really appreciate the wonderful girls in the infusion area, and Shannon has been a Godsend. Thanks to all of you. The doctor will give orders for his final scans (which I have tentatively on the schedule for August 25th.) Dr. Kourlis's office at Baylor has been so wonderful in scheduling and changing and ordering. Many thanks to Yolanda at his office. We see him on September 1st and figure we will get a surgery date at that time.
It has been so long since I have been on here. Like "Aunt Nelda" said no news is good news. Treatment #11 was fairly unremarkable. Mark was drained and rested most of the weekend. While he rested, the kids got to enjoy a few days with mom and dad in the metroplex. They had a great time bowling, going to the omni theater and the botannical gardens. A huge thank you to mom and dad for helping them get away for a little while.
Austin finished conditioning camplast week and started high school football this week. No sleeping in any more. He is doing so well and is becoming a young mand right before my eyes. He hasn't complained about the workout yet. Today is day three. We will see??? Landon has decided to play football as well. He is a little anxious about football as an organized sport. I am just glad he runs pretty fast. I told him that was key to not getting hurt - don't let them catch you! Abby has taken up shopping! She loves to try on clothes. I enjoy shopping for her way more than myself. The only trouble she has is accepting that I get the final say!
Miss hearing from you all. Hope all are well. Believe me, I know how hard it is to keep up. PRay for good test results in two weeks, Missy
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