Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I just wanted to give you an update on our team member, Brenda Bradley. Her lab results came back from the 10 lymph nodes that were taken and sent off for testing. The report showed that all 10 of the lymph nodes were cancerous. They have decided to not do a mastectomy at this time, but rather put in a port tomorrow and begin chemo treatment as soon as possible. I spoke with her yesterday and she was pretty down, I can only imagine... Several of you have asked about her address to mail her cards and care packages. I have her address, but I am not going to post her home address on the internet. If you would like to have her address to send something to her, please email me and I will email it back to you.

Let's continue to pray for her and for her family as they are all dealing with this news. Let's rally around each of them at this time.

Ariel is doing well. This begins her 3rd week of treatment. So far, other than a few hours each day of not feeling so well, she is doing really good. She has her family here with her, and they are fighting this fight together. Keep her in your prayers for this to go smoothly and quickly for her. After two more weeks of chemo each day, she will then begin a different protocol where she will be able to give herself a shot at home, and come back to Memphis once a month for the next year. I know they look forward to getting this everyday stuff behind them. I just might have to find a reason to keep them here, I will miss them greatly when they return home.

Keep the prayers going up for Jack. He is out of the hospital, and will be pushing this week's chemo back to next week to give him a little break before having to go back in. At this time, he is still in isolation so include in your prayers for this RSV to clear his little body so he can get out of isolation.

I hope that each of you are having a good week. Bless you, your the most awesome group of prayer warriors!!!

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

rebelmom528@aol.com

Thursday, February 18, 2010

The Little Things

Not to much change around the Jude.

Jack will be getting to go outpatient today. As of now, he is still in isolation, so they will be going to an isolation unit at the Griz House. Keep the prayers going up for the RSV to clear so he can get out of isolation. I know they are just ready to get out and be able to move around.

Ariel has had a good week. They manage to stay really busy, that is great and it helps to make the time pass a little faster. Keep lifting her and her family up in prayer for her to feel well during this time of treatment. Her twin, Amber returned to Memphis this week, so they are very happy to all be back together again. They are very blessed to be able to be together during this journey.

Brenda had surgery this morning to remove some lymph nodes from underneath her arm, they do appear to be cancerous from what the surgeon thinks, but they will be sent off and tested for confirmation on this. Keep her in your prayers, her attitude is AWESOME, she is not letting this get her down. She will most likely be facing another surgery for a double mastectomy and will be having chemo treatments. She will know more tomorrow. She is on Facebook, but her computer has a major problem right now, and with everything going on has not had time to worry about getting it fixed. Hopefully soon, she will be able to be back online. Send her a friend request and let her know you are keeping her covered in prayers. Brenda Bradley

Tomorrow is Friday, this week has really gone by fast! It has been a busy week for me, but I have been able to get a great deal accomplished that I have been needing to do. Take some time for yourself and take the time to do something that you have been meaning to do for a long time. It will pick you up and make you feel GREAT to accomplish something you have been putting off :) Call a friend that you have not had a chance to talk to in awhile. Send a card to someone that could use a smile. It's the little things in life that makes each of us a better person.

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

Monday, February 15, 2010

God Is In Control

God didn't go halfway when he went to work on my behalf He did it all. Even when I couldn't feel him, even when I couldn't sense him, even when I wasn't holding on to him anymore. God worked on my behalf. He didn't need me to do a thing.

When I faced far worse than my worst imaginings, something unexpected and wonderful happened. I realized that God is in control and God is good- even when bad things happen in our lives.

Even though I didn't know what I might have to go through next, I could rest and accept it. Because now I knew that when I let go, I would fall into the strong hands of God.

Text written by Jan Dravecky


This is one of the quotes that surfaces quite a bit amongst our team members. GOD IS IN CONTROL. At times I think we forget to just turn lose and let him have the wheel, we try to keep one hand on the steering wheel too.

Thank you for your prayers for Brenda. She had more test done today, she did find out that the cancer is contained to the one breast and possibly one lymph node. They will schedule surgery tomorrow to remove the lymph node and do further testing. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

For our kiddo's...

Ariel is doing well. She finished her first full week of chemo this past week and began her second week today. She and Regina (mom) met up with me and we had a beauty salon day! They both got new haircuts and some new highlights. They looked great!!! Ariel was tired and not feeling to well by the end of the afternoon, but she had a good day up until the late afternoon. Maybe after some rest and getting her meds down, she will be feeling better soon. I took some pictures at the salon, I'll post them soon. I warned them that they would be going up on the blog!!! :) They had a full and busy weekend, I am so thankful she is feeling up to getting out and doing things in between treatments. This is such a wonderful and sweet family. They went to church with us on Sunday and then out to Jim and Nick's for lunch. Keep the prayers going for her successful treatment and for her to feel good.

Jack is still inpatient, but thankfully he is beginning to feel better. He had lots of family come to visit for the weekend and that really perked him up. I know that had to help Katie feel better to see him better. His counts are coming up, so keep praying for him to get better and for the next test for RSV to show that it is gone! He needs to get out of isolation soon. Keep the prayers going up for him and for the family.

Little Trevor was in last week, he was not feeling very well even before treatment. I have not talked to Melinda since they returned home, so I am not sure how he was feeling after treatment. If I remember correctly, when he comes back next, they will be doing another MRI to see how his tumor is responding to the chemo. Please keep him in your prayers for the MRI to show definite reduction in the tumor. This should be in the next week or two.

Jordan was in all week last week for his 2 year post transplant check up. I am so very thankful to say "Thank You Lord, we give every single ounce of the glory to You Lord for another CANCER FREE checkup!" Jordan is so amazing, he is growing up so fast. I can't tell you how much fun it was to spend the week with him and Chancelly. He is just an amazing little 2 and half year old. One of the highlights of the week, was getting to watch him with the camera guys. He is going to be the featured patient in the next issue of PROMISE magazine for St Jude. They met up with Chance and Jordan a couple of times to get photo's to use in the magazine... he ate it up!!!! He is definitely quite the social one. Please pray a prayer of praise for the miracle that Jordan received. Pray for God to continue to show his mercy on Jordan and that he will remain cancer free. Chancelly graduated from the University in December, please include her in your prayers for her to be able to find a job. She is an awesome young lady, very talented and definitely a hard worker. Pray for her to find a job soon where she can have good insurance and provide well for herself and Jordan. They truly deserve to be happy. Jordan was able to meet Ariel, they hit it off. He bought her a teddy bear for Valentines Day.... I did remind her that he is MY VALENTINE!!!! LOL Let's see, she is 16 and he is 2.... he was so cute trying to say her name. She enjoyed seeing him be quite the comedian. Good medicine for both of them.

Happy belated Valentine's Day to each of you. Praying for all of the families of our sweet Angels in Heaven. Each of you are loved so much and missed terribly.

If you are on Facebook, look up Cherish Every Moment and join this group. This is a page dedicated to Dax to raise awareness and money for St Jude. Austin and Julie's goal is to raise enough money to run the hospital for one day in Memory and Honor of Dax. This is a wonderful goal and I know with the help of everyone passing the word and making a donation regardless of how large or small, they will be able to accomplish this goal. CHERISH EVERY MOMENT!!!

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Prayers Needed



Brenda and Lenzy

Our friend, sister prayer warrior, and Team Believe member Brenda called me today to let me know the results from the test she has been undergoing for the past week had come back. The news was not what we had hoped to hear, but test show that Brenda has Breast Cancer. She will be having more test run on Monday to determine if and where it may have spread and if it involves the lymph system. I have talked with her several times, she has a really good attitude and spirit. She says she has complete trust in her doctor, and is ready to face whatever comes and ready to fight this. We stand behind and beside Brenda. We will walk with her and her family through this journey. I ask that you join us in prayer for Brenda. Our immediate prayer request is that the test on Monday will show that this cancer is contained and has not spread anywhere else or into the lymph nodes. Pray for Brenda's peace of mind and comfort, pray for her doctors and their wisdom to make the best decisions in her treatment. Thank you for supporting her. She is very much a part of our lives and has been with Team Believe from the beginning. She has made several trips to Memphis and to St Jude to visit some of our kiddo's in the past. She loves this prayer family very much and we love her. I will keep you posted as she gets results.

I will make an update post about our kiddo's from this week sometime tomorrow or Saturday morning. I have some pictures to post too. I just wanted to let you know about Brenda tonight.

Please pray for Jack He is very sick at this time. I saw Katie today, she looked so tired and worn down. Please pray for Jack, Katie and Ma. Check his CB page for more info.

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

Monday, February 8, 2010

God's Best Surprises



Happy Birthday sweet ^Elizabeth Grace Dunford^! The angels are having a Pink Party with beautiful yummy heavenly pink cupcakes today. Elizabeth would be 3 today. Please keep her family and her St Jude family in your prayers today. She is so loved and so missed.


Sometimes when you least expect it, God sends us the most beautiful reminders that He is in our lives. This morning was one of those mornings for us. We went to bed last night expecting rain today.... this is what we woke up to early this morning




Later after the sun came up... this is the beauty around us. Thank You God for the surprise gift you sent to us today.




Take every opportunity to find God's beauty all around you. It is everywhere every day. Some days it is just more apparent than others. In the south, days like today are few and far between so we do get really excited about them. Yes, it's true what you hear... all of the people rush to the stores and buy up all of the milk and bread and bottle water on days like this. At my house, we stock up on hot cocoa and stuff to make snow cream!!! Enjoy your day whatever you find yourself doing, give God the praise and the glory for His beautiful day.

Lot's going on this week around St Jude. Ariel is back in Memphis after a weekend at home with her family and friends. She begins treatment today. Please keep her in your prayers. It's always tough the first week since you have no idea what to expect. Pray for her peace and an easy time with the treatment. Pray for no sickness.

Little Trevor and Jordan will both be coming in tomorrow (weather permitting). Trevor has his treatment, Jordan begins his week long process of the 2 year post transplant check up. Please pray for safe travel for both of them. Pray for another ALL CLEAR NO CANCER for Jordan!!!

Jack will be braving the elements to get back and forth for his radiation treatments this week. I would love to have seen his face this morning when he saw all of this snow!! Pray for him to have a good week with his radiation.

Pray for all the St Jude kiddo's and families.

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

Thursday, February 4, 2010



Ariel and Mrs. McBride with the handmade quilt
Mrs. McBride and her husband are the sweet couple that make the handmade quilts for our "adopted" St Jude kids. Wonderful couple, and they get so much joy from doing this for the kids.

All praise and glory to God for a good report from Ariel's pathology reports. There is no sign of cancer in any of the tissue that was sent off. Thank You Lord! She will now begin a Clinical Trial with chemo treatment everyday for the first 4 or 5 weeks, then it will be more spread out over the next year. At this time, it looks as though they will be here at the Ronald McDonad House during the time of daily treatments. I will know more as they go along. After a few test today, she will get to go home for the weekend, then return to Memphis on Sunday to begin outpatient treatment Monday. Please continue to keep her in your prayers and add her to the prayer list at your home church and among your prayer groups.

Jack is having a rough time, let's lift him and his family up in prayer for him to feel better soon.


Keep all of the kids and their families in prayer, and leave messages to let them know you are praying for them. God is AWESOME and does hear our pleas.

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~

Monday, February 1, 2010

Great Day - New Friends


Amber, Gage, Lindsey, Cody, Ashley and Ariel

Good Evening! Today has been a really awesome day. School was closed again today for the ice/snow, so I was able to take some of our wonderful kids from our youth group with me to "The Jude" to visit Ariel. They got a double treat because they also had the privilege to meet big Trevor. I think I am in a little bit of trouble with Trevor because I did not ever bring them down with me when he was here...:( I'm so sorry Trevor, I will do my best to make it up to you. The kids all seemed to hit it off and enjoy being together. Ariel and Amber are very sweet and do not seem to meet a stranger. They are very friendly and outgoing. Hopefully these kiddo's can get together more while Ariel is here for treatment. Trevor got to meet up with Ariel and Amber too, I know they will be St Jude buddies now and Trevor can really show them "the ropes" around St Jude. I love to see new friendships forming!! No pathology reports for Ariel yet, hopefully soon. Keep praying for those excellent reports.

Big Trevor had his MRI done today, they will not get any of his results back until his appointments tomorrow. As with each check up, they are on pins and needles, so to speak, until the results come back. Pray for his ALL CLEAR.

Garrett Hearn, family member of our Grannycad from the prayer room, will have his FINAL CHEMO treatment tomorrow!!!! What an awesome thing for me to get to type!! I can only imagine how excited Garrett and his family are. I hope to get by the Med Room to give him a hug, and join some of the No Moe Chemo party. Pray for Garrett to remain CANCER FREE forever!!!

Jack is doing great and feeling great. He will go inpatient tomorrow for his next round of chemo if there is room for him inpatient. The hospital is full right now. That is not a good thing :( Pray for Jack as he goes through this next round. With it on top of his radiation, this will be a hard week for him. He is just to dog gone cute to not feel good! Pray that he will do well and continue to feel good.

I got a message today from a friend in Mississippi, she is asking for prayer request for a young teen girl involved in a car accident recently. She is in The Med here in Memphis in ICU in very critical condition. She really needs all of the prayers she can get. I told her that we sure had the prayer warriors to send up prayers on her behalf. I am asking you to join me in praying for Rikki Thompson and for her full recovery. I will check to see if the family has set up a caringbridge site for her.

I hope you all have started off the week with a wonderful day. Enjoy your week!

BELIEVE PRAYER WORKS~