May 4, 2009

I am so glad there is Internet. Thank you Al Gore! Ha! I was encouraged to start a blog for our family to keep everyone informed. Great idea. It is exhausting saying the same thing over and over and this does eliminate the need for public explanation. Because I have such a close Christian "family" everyone wants to know what is going on. So here is our story. Jeff and I, Gina, have been married for almost 30 years! Just about four and a half years ago Jeff began having very bad headaches and also experienced numbness on the left side of his face. His doctor thought it was a pinched nerve and he spent a few months on anti-inflammatory drugs, and popping aspirin for the headaches. Nothing helped and he had an MRI in May of 2005. The diagnosis was a brain tumor. He had a craniotomy in June of that year. Over the next three years he has had two more craniotomies, a year of chemotherapy with Temodar and six weeks of radiation. He has an astrocytoma brain tumor in the cerebellum and brain stem. He gave up his landscaping business shortly after being diagnosed and has been working for the State of Arizona Department of Agriculture as an Industrial Hygienist. Which means that he spoke with farmers and workers about safe pesticide use. It has been a great job for him! His last day before medical disability is May 8. Most of the time during this last four years he has felt physically ok. Especially in cancer speak. He has not had too much nausea, too many headaches or too much exhaustion.
Our life turned a corner however in February of 2009. He was told by the oncologist that during the year of chemotherapy the tumor had actually grown. He also started experiencing more symptoms. March and April have been very hard. He has gone from walking unaided to almost not being able to walk at all. He has lost most of his ability to speak. He is having problems swallowing and is having headaches again. We go in for another MRI on May 7. To me he looks good, but I am not in his head. He has told me that he is ready for that new body promised to him by Christ. I am just numb. We are flying to Ohio, thank you lastminutetickets.com, on May 8 and returning May 12 for Jeff to say good bye to his mother who has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home. Liz and Josh are moving in with us to help with Jeff’s care on May 7. We are preparing for Jeff’s home going together as a family. Thank you so much for all of the help we have received so far! God's grace is truly more than enough! I have to admit though my heart is aching and my prayers are a jumbled mess. I am so glad that God knows us, loves us and will heal Jeff either here or in heaven. I ask for His patience, endurance and most of all His perfect love. Thank you again for being a part of our lives!