Makn Memories

Celebrate the Memories Made!

Our family motto is “Makin Memories” and over the years we have made a lot of memories.  When we found out about Joel’s (dad’s) sickness we created a blog to keep everyone informed on what was going on.  www.maknmemories.com  This blog has helped hundreds if not thousands stay informed on many adventures good and sad that we have encountered through the last year.  Our wishes is that this website/blog becomes the history of Joel’s life for others to read and enjoy. 

Many people have been impacted directly or indirectly by my father and as a family we want to hear those stories.  Not just for us but for the future generations who will not know him like we all did.  These stories will help the future generations understand who he was and the life he lead.  We are calling this Joel Blackman’s Legacy Box.  Please go to the website click on Joel Blackman’s Legacy Box, and in the comment section please tell us all of the stories that you can remember about him.  A story is never too little they all mean a great deal to certain people.  If you don’t want to do this on the website you can always bring it to Joel’s Celebration of Life Ceremony.  It will be held at:

Evergreen Events

www.anevergreenevent.com

15 W Wea St

Paola, KS 66071

In lieu of flowers we are asking for people to donate to the Joel Blackman Memorial Fund at First Option Bank, Paola which will be used to help put my two young brothers through college, as well as help my father’s biggest passion which was helping build Gods Kingdom.

Again thank you all for your support and God Bless.

Brett Blackman

Evergreen Events www.anevergreenevent.com 15 W Wea St Paola, KS 66071 (785) 869-3997 Get directions

Celebration of Life

We will have a Celebration of Life Memorial Service Sunday September 13, 2009 at 2pm.  Services will be held at Evergreen Events 15 West Wea Paola, KS 66071.  In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being setup we will post the information later (with the holiday it will be Tuesday or later when we have the exact information).  The fund will be divided between the boys' college expenses and the Lighthouse church building fund.  Both were passions of Joel's. 

The family is grieving as to be expected.  This morning we said were just going moment by moment.  Your posts on our Facebook pages and this blog are very comforting.  We have had a steady stream of visitors of family and friends.  Thank you to everyone who has been bringing goodies and food.  We have been overwhelmed by everything all our family and friends are doing for us!

We are working on a website/blog for people to put stories/memories/ and how Joel has touched your life.  We want people to help us remember Joel's Legacy.  We will post when the website is ready. 

Your sister in Christ,

Kyndra J. Blackman

Mighty To Save

Joel is with Jesus in heaven for eternity.  Joel left us at 2:54 a.m. surrounded by his family and friends, while we sang Mighty To Save Joel's favorite song. 

Life is so precious and fleeting. 

We will continue to post updates and information here on the blog.  In lieu of flowers for those who wish we will be setting up a college fund for Brandon and Kyle.  I will post details later. 

I know you all are praying for us, we can feel it.  We are blessed to be surrounded by family and friends to support us through this.  We know God will get us through this.  He may have to drag us along for a while, but we can do this.  We will continue to "Make Memories" and serve Jesus like Joel would want us to do.  God has brought us this far He won't leave us behind.  If we forget we are counting on all our friends and family to remind us of what God has done for us. 

Please take a moment to let these lyrics into your heart.  Our Savior is Mighty, and Perfect in everything.

Mighty To Save

Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Savior;
The Hope of nations.

Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Savior, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Savior, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave

 

Lord, Thank you for sacrificing yourself to conquer the grave.  Because of you we will spend an eternity with Christ and be reunited with Joel in heaven someday. 

Your sister in Christ,

Kyndra J. Blackman and family

Prayerfully waiting

I just want to share with everyone.  We are beside Joel’s bedside, waiting for Joel to pass on to heaven to spend an eternity with Jesus.    We don’t know exactly how long it may take.  But it will be soon.  Please pray for a swift painless, passing.  Pray for Kim, Brett, Brandon, Kyle, and Joel's parents John and Shirley. 

Through this process we have had family and friends visiting and supporting us through this time.  Thank you.  The prayers, hugs and tears are very comforting.  God will sustain us. 

A friend shared this thought with me the other day I want to share it with you.  The day Joel was born God knew that this day would happen.  Even though our life may feel like it is spinning out of control.  God is in control of every part.  This song has been on my mind lately. 

                        Hope Now by Addison Road2

 If everything comes down to love
Then just what am I afraid of
When I call out Your name
Something inside awakes in my soul
How quickly I forget I'm Yours.

I'm not my own
I've been carried by You
All my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

When my life is like a storm
Rising waters all I want is the shore
You say I'll be ok and
Make it through the rain
You are my shelter from the storm

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

I am not my own
I've been carried by you all my life

Everything rides on hope now
Everything rides on faith somehow
When the world has broken me down
Your love sets me free

You've become my heart’s desire
I will sing Your praises higher
Cause Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free
Your love sets me free

Prayerfully yours,

Kyndra J. Blackman and family

What do you say?

 

Can you believe one year ago we heard the words TUMOR!  Our world seemed to stop that day and crumble into a million pieces.   And we have been picking them up slowly.   Can you believe that since that day we found out we would have a new little guy in our family!  We continued on our path of makn memories.  So much has happened in the last year! Kyle graduated 8^th grade and is now in High School.  Brandon is a senior in High School.  Jillian is in 3^rd grade and Elizabeth is now in Pre-K.  Malachi is growing like a weed and at 4 months old is soon going to be able to scoot anywhere he wants to go.  Vacations and road trips.  Happy dr. appointments and appointments that we thought we may never stop crying after.  Just a few months ago we were all living together and sharing one bathroom while Brett and I were waiting on our house to close!  Who would have guessed that this Kansas girl would ever see and take part in a hurricane evacuation? 

  It’s kinda funny how you can avoid doing something as simple as just posting how a family is doing.  We keep passing the task around and I guess it’s my turn. It seems that we could post a change almost every hour right now.   We just don’t know how to express what is happening.  It is so much easier to write a post with happy news.    Hospice is now helping Kim with the care of Joel.   They try to predict how much more time we have to share together.  Honestly there prediction is shorter than we are ready for. 

Not everyone gets to know that their end is coming.  We want to have as much peace as possible about the day Joel goes to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior.  But, can you really have peace about something like that?   There is a lot of comfort in knowing that we are all ready and we will be together again in heaven.  Comfort and peace…..strange words to use in a time like this.  But, when we give all our troubles to God there is comfort and peace.  Please pray for the comfort and peace of our family.  Pray for Kim’s strength and guidance in the daily care decisions for Joel. 

Joel is still responsive and understands and will have small conversations.  Joel mostly listens.  He is starting to experience many symptoms that are hard to discuss, the decline of someone’s body is astounding. God made our bodies’ so complex.  But Joel’s health is slowly declining.  He is on oxygen now. 

 There have been many visitors coming to see Joel. Kim said it has been very comforting. 

God you have perfect timing.   Isn’t it crazy?  Last summer we bought our boat and were able to spend the whole summer boating together. One of Joel’s favorite things to do.   If we hadn’t done that we would never have gotten the chance for those memories.  The RV trip….perfect. I like to call it our “Makn Memories Tour”.   Who would have thought everything happening to Brett and our companies would stop our world and free up all of our time consuming obligations.  So Brett can be with his family.  But yet in the back of my mind I keep thinking about all the memories that are left to make!  There is so much left to happen.  These scriptures have been comforting to me this week. 

Psalm 34:18 “the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit…”

James 1:3-4 “Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I have been listening to this song over and over again.  I think it was somehow written for us! God just pours into me through it.  A part of me just wants to hit fast forward and to look ahead and know everything is going to be ok.  Another part of me wants to hit pause and just slow the world down.  It all seems to be happening so fast.  But I also have the comfort that God isn’t shaken.  He knew that all this would happen at once.  And He knew that we all would make it through this.  Hind sight is always 20/20.  God isn’t surprised by anything.  I just have to wait (which I hate) for it all to pass in God’s own perfect timing.  Not my own.  I don’t understand it  but I don’t need to. 

You’re not shaken by Phil Stacey

I am sinking in a river that is raging

I am drowning will I ever rise to breathe again

 I want to know why

 I just want to understand

 Will I ever know why?

How can this be from your hand?

When every little thing that I would dream of being just slips away like water through my hand

 And when it seems the walls of my beliefs are crashing down like they are made of sand

I won’t let go of you now because I know you’re not shaken.

I am trembling in the darkness of my own fear

All the questions with no answers so grip me while I’m here

And I may never know why oh I may not understand

But I will lift up my eyes and trust this is your plan

When every little thing that I would dream just slips away like water through my hand

And when it seems the walls of my belief s are crashing down like they are made of sand

I won’t let go of you now because I know you’re not shaken

When I am in the valley of the shadow of death

You’re not shaken, you’re not shaken

Your right here beside me and you would never left.

You’re not shaken, You’re not shaken. 

When everything that I would dream just slips away like water through my hand

And when it seems the walls of my belief are crashing down like they are made of sand

I won’t let go of you now because I know you’re not shaken. 

Blessings,

Kyndra J. Blackman and family

Joshua 1:9 "...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joel's Update

I want to let everyone know that we have seen a decline in Joel's health in the last 3 weeks.  He has had several challenges and for awhile it felt like a new challenge with each day.  We have a wonderful neuro-oncologist and he is available to us 24/7  (I tease him it was a BIG mistake giving me his cell #)  With each challenge the doctor & his nurses tell me what I need to do to take care of Joel.  His doctor & nurse came to visit Joel last week (got a little lost coming to Paola from the Plaza..lol).  We decided the trips to the city for the Avastin treatments would be discontinued at this time because of how difficult the trip is for Joel.   We are continuing to give him an oral chemo treatment daily.  I have met with Hospice for an informational meeting but don't feel we are to the point of bringing them in yet.

Joel has had several visitors lately and seems to enjoy the visits (& so do I...it's a nice break in the day) I also have been reading the bible to him...not sure that he is enjoying it as much as I am...some days it feels like I'm an empty cup being filled back up. 

We appreciate all of your continued prayers.  I would also like you to pray for God's guidance in my daily decisions for Joel.  It's difficult to know if I'm making them based on what's best for Joel or for myself & the boys.  I'm not ready to give up the fight but I don't know if I'm making it more difficult on Joel by prolonging things. 

God Bless You All,

Kim

Joel's update

Funny, it's soooooo much easier to post Joel's updates when the news is happy & all is good in our world.  Joel has been in the hospital the last couple of days due to some internal bleeding.  It was a very tough decision but after long discussions with many doctors, I decided not to have Joel go thru the tests that would attempt to find out where the bleeding is coming from.  The tests would be very difficult on Joel with where he is physically and it's possible that even in the end we still wouldn't know the problem in addition to further complications due to the tests.  Joel's blood counts show that the bleeding has stopped for now.  He will discontinue his blood thinner meds which he takes for the blood clots and at this point they will put a filter in that will stop any blood clots from traveling to his lungs.

We should get to go home by the end of the day tomorrow.  Joel will be VERY happy to get back home!!!  He isn't in any pain and seems to be doing well.  He was awake a few hours today for visits from his sisters and parents and really enjoyed that time.   We are both very excited that all kids & grandkids will be home for the evening tomorrow & I think the hugs will do him good.  (I know they will do me good!!!)

We appreciate your continued prayers. It does seem like the travel down this tough road is getting even tougher.  I do know that God is still carrying us through & that He will continue to bless our family with his presence.

Thanks,

Kim

Joel's recent MRI

Since my last post Joel hasn't been doing as well.  He had an MRI last night & we met today with the doctor for the results.  Unfortunately, it showed that the tumor has grown.  After a long discussion with the doctor I've decided to try the chemo treatments that he was on in October again.  Joel physically didn't do well with the chemo then but there were some other variables involved so our hope will be that maybe his body will do better with it this time.  The tumor is very aggressive & from my understanding, once it starts to grow it will continue to do so which is why I feel we need to try to give the chemo another shot. 

The good thing is that Joel is not currently in any pain.  He does sleep quite a bit & it takes alot of effort for him to get around.  He is now using a wheelchair & uses the walker around the house.  He doesn't initiate conversation very much but does converse when spoken to. 

Joel was able to get to church this past Sunday and it was such a blessing to see our church family again.  God is so funny too.  I had a pity party for myself Saturday night & then God delivered the perfect words to me through Pastor Kirk's sermon about difficult times.  Wow!!!  God knows just what to say at the perfect time.

It is becoming more difficult to get Joel out & about for visits but I would like to leave an open invitation to anyone that wants to come & visit with him.  We do have dogs that don't have very good manners so you may want to call in advance so I can put them away.

We continue to thank everyone for their prayers and support. 

Kim

Joel is enjoying his summer!!!!

Joel is doing very well and enjoying the summer with his family.  We have essentially run away for the summer on an RV trip "makn memories" with the kids & grandkids.  Joel has been without pain and only uses the wheelchair for the longer walks.  It's a very relaxing trip without a schedule so he is able to rest whenever needed.  I have attached a few pictures of Joel enjoying his summer.

We feel very blessed to have this time to spend with the kids & grandkids.  We miss you all and are praying that God is blessing everyone reading this with an enjoyable summer.

God is Good ALL the Time!!!

Kim

Joel's update

Joel is being  such a trooper thru this crazy roller coaster ride he seems to be on.    After the good news last Wednesday from the MRI, we then found out on Thursday that Joel has a blood clot in his leg.  His blood thinner medicine has been adjusted to try to dissolve it.  In addition to that,  he crawled into bed Friday afternoon & pretty much slept till Monday when I took him into the ER at our doctors request to have various tests ran to try and figure out his fatigue & severe weekness.  After  6 1/2 hours of  sitting in St. Lukes Plaza ER (Grrr!!!) he was admitted for the night.  After a night of fluids, antiobitics for a urinary tract infection & adding a small amount of the steroid that had stopped last week back into his medicine ritual...he is feeling much better this morning AND walking again...whew!!!   Joel will also have a PICC line inserted today so that I can start giving him fluids at home intravenously (our patient is not the best at keeping hydrated...lol) 

We continue to thank God for the blessings He's providing  while we travel this road of unknowns...we feel His presence each and every day in our lives.  We pray that all who read this also feels God's presence in their lives. 

Kim

Joel's Good News!!!!

Joel had an MRI today and it showed GREAT news for us!!!  The swelling has gone down considerably and even the tumor has shrunk a bit.  The doctor reminded us that the treatment Joel is on is not a cure and will not make the tumor disappear but we were greatly relieved to hear that the treatments were helping.  And since the swelling has gone down so much, they are also switching him to a different steroid which may help with some of the other challenges Joel has experienced due to the long term usage of the current steroid. 

Joel has been struggling with a couple of kidney stones for the last 3 weeks... we had them surgically removed last week and he is still working on recovering from that. 

We feel very blessed with the news today and are all looking forward to a wonderful & enjoyable summer.  

God Bless You All

Kim

Blackman's new family addition!!!

Well, most have probably already seen pictures of our new grandson if you are on Brett or Brandon's facebook, but for those of us who don't do the whole Facebook scene I've added a few on here too.  As you can tell by the pictures, Papa Joel was VERY happy that his grandson "finally" decided to join us.  For 2 weeks Joel kept telling me each night when he crawled into bed that "tonight Kyndra will have the baby".  (I personally was hoping it would be a "during the day" delivery...lol...I like my sleep)  Malachi Wendell Blackman was born on April 17th, 7lbs 2 oz , 19.5 inches long...delivery went well for mom & baby. 

Also, Joel is feeling pretty good right now.  He will go back tomorrow for another Avastin treatment.  He uses the wheelchair more for the longer distances but doesn't need it at home so that is making it easier for him & he's been gettting out to enjoy the nicer weather days.  He can't wait for the boys to be out of school for the summer; they are ALL counting down the days!!!

We are continually feeling the presence of God in our lives.  We feel like we are in the middle of the fire but it's comforting to know that with God, we are not being destroyed by it.  We love you all and pray that you also are feeling His presence in your lives.

Kim

Joel has started a new treatment

It has been a crazy few days...last Friday Joel's MRI reflected that the tumor has started to grow, a CT scan of his chest showed several small blood clots in his lungs & then to end the day, Joel had a small seizure...needless to say we were all very discouraged by the day.  This week started out with more tests...and again not great news...his cholesterol tested double what it should be & his triglycerides were off the chart.  So we had MORE tests ran today to see if they can figure out what is causing the high numbers or at least rule out some things. 

Today was also the first day of a new treatment...Joel will go in every 2 weeks & it is given intravenously..it is not a chemotherapy but it's suppose to slow down the tumor growth by shutting down the blood vessels around the tumor...if Joel does well handling this then they will add a chemo treatment with it.  Joel has an MRI scheduled for the end of May & we are very hopeful to see good results from the medicine.

On a good note, in the middle of all the tests Joel had a wonderful Easter...after a blessed church service on Sunday we spent the day with his family and our kids & grandkids & he very much enjoyed that!  AND he is anxiously awaiting the birth of his grandson...due to arrive any day now!!!!

We continue our faith & hope in God...thru this valley He continues to shower us with blessings...we know He is with us always and on many days, carries us each thru the day...we continue to pray for a miracle for Joel.

God Bless You All,

Kim

 

 

Joel is doing GREAT!!!!  His family continues to see improvement everyday in his strength, focus, memory...He also had an MRI done yesterday and the doctor reported no change from the last one done a month ago, which is wonderful...the tumor is never expected to disappear (unless of course God decides for it to disappear...smiling!!!)  but the goal is for no change in growth.  We decided not  to look into any additional chemo treatments until after the first of the year if that is the path we decide to return to.  In addition to the oncologist,  Joel has also been seeing a naturopath  and she is doing a great job building his immune system back. 

It is impossible to express in words how thankful the Blackman family is for your prayers & kindness.

God Bless You All!!!!

Kim & Joel

Joel's had a great week

Thank you to everyone for your prayers.  We received the negative test results we were praying for and Joel was FINALLY released from the hospital Sunday evening.  Joel & I were very happy to be home and back with the kids.  He also went back to the doctors on Tuesday for follow-up blood tests and his blood counts were starting to climb;  Praise the Lord!!!!  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!!

Kim

Prayer Request

Sorry it  has been so long since the last blog;  I'm finding it more & more difficult to share these days.   I'm blogging tonight for a particular prayer request.  Joel has been in the hospital since last Saturday due to a neutropenic fever.  (fever from an infection & no white blood cells/immune system)  Praise God the fever has been gone for a couple of days now.    Over the course of the week a particular infection has tested positive twice but because the cultures were processed in two different hospitals, they are reprocessing  the culture done elsewhere here at St Lukes just to verify the results.  If the test comes in negative, then Joel will get to go home VERY SOON!!! (needless to say he is not a happy camper having been here as long as he has).  If the test is positive, then it is a new ballgame because this particular infection affects the heart valve. 

Please join me in prayer that it will be God's will that the results from the test are negative tomorrow for this particular infection.

Matthew 18:19-20 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.  For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Thank you for your prayers,

Kim

Blackman Family Happenings

Joel is on the downhill side for radiation...4 weeks done & 2 weeks to go.  The oncologist did take Joel off of his chemotherapy pills yesterday due to his platelet count being too low.  He will have more blood work done on Monday & they will decide at that time if he can go back on them or maybe at a lower dose.  If his platelets drop anymore they said they will need give him a platelet transfusion.

The doctors have been watching him closing this week due to the changes in his personality last weekend.  It's difficult to explain, but there were extreme changes.  Joel mentioned at one of the appointments that he was doing alot of clock watching during the night so they have prescribed a sleeping pill for him to see if getting a better sleep will help him mentally.  In the last couple of days, I have seen the fatigue settle in from the radiation treatments...falls asleep often during the day.  Joel went to the Lake of the Ozarks on Wednesday with Brett to get the toys put away for the winter and really enjoyed his day...boating is one of his passions & it seemed to really put him in a happy place to get to go for one more ride before winter.

I am FINALLY starting to feel like I'm coming out of this pnemonia...it's been a long 3 weeks.  Brandon & Kyle are doing GREAT...they have really stepped up to help out with me being sick & they are such a wonderful source of positiveness for their mom too.  Brett, Kyndra, Jillian, Elizabeth & baby #3, due April 24th are going to move in tonight to bunk with us for a week until their new house is ready to close.  As crazy & chaotic as it will be, we are all looking forward to their company...Joel really enjoys it when the kids are all around.  Joel's parents are also in the process of moving to a maintenance free home so it has been a VERY busy week for them all.

We love you all and Again I can't thank you enough for all your acts of kindness and prayers. 

God Bless You All,

Kim

2 weeks down, 4 weeks to go

Sorry it's taken awhile to post...we were out of town last weekend & I have been sick in bed with some sort of bug since Monday.  We are glad to report Joel has 2 weeks of his treatment behind him and is feeling great.   (BTW:  Joel does still have his hair...I talked him into waiting just "a bit" longer...Yeah!!!)  Last week he felt great & seemed very focused and this week he is also doing very well.  The doctor did reduce his steroid dosage on Wed so we will wait to see if that effects his focus & memory as it did before when they tried to reduce it.  There are still small things, he'll tell you what time it is & it may be an hour off one way or the other.  We found when he was playing the Nintendo DS game teasers, he would give an answer for a calculation and didn't understand why the answer was wrong. (ex: 6+3=10) I asked him to read the equation to me & he read it 7+3=10, so he had the calculation correct for what he thought he was seeing but just didn't see the correct number.  So we just let him know it's not correct & he'll look at it again & will get it right. 

We are so thankful to God that Joel isn't having any trouble from the treatments.   I do continue to pray that the treatments will stop the tumor growth and also that God will continue to give our family peace.  We all still have our moments of sadness.  I'm the worse probably.  I know in my head that God is in control, all is for His glory, He's here to protect us....but in my heart there continues to be a sadness I just can't shake so I keep thinking if I continue with God's word in my head that eventually the heart will follow.  I for one have never had a trial as this put in front of me and it is truely a test of my faith.  I continue to pray that I have what it takes to keep faith in what God has put before us.

We love you all and again I can't thank you enough for all your acts of kindness and prayers.

Love,

Kim

A bit of normal life

After all of the traveling down to

Houston

and visiting with the doctors here in KC, we started treatment today in

Olathe

.  I started my Chemo treatment for the first time last night, woke up this morning and did my morning workout, stair climbing at the stadium for ½ an hour and then came home and got ready for my first radiation treatment.  Everything went very well.  No side affects from any of the medications or treatments are expected at this point.  Although, the doctor says I may begin to experience some affects after a couple of weeks of treatment which may linger for a couple of weeks after the radiation is completed.  I am still having difficulty transferring or processing information correctly from one side of my brain to the other.  We have gone out and gotten some simple mind games for me to play with to try to redirect my thoughts through a different path of my brain.  So, if you see me playing Nintendo DS or Wii games, I really am hard at work re-routing my brain.

 

Things really are starting to shift a little back towards a normal life for us (as normal as it will get with a brain tumor). We got to go to Paola’s Homecoming football game Friday night and hang out with friends.  Spent the day Saturday with the grand kids at the pumpkin patch in

Gardner

(highly recommended, lots for the kids to do).  Attending church on a regular basis, although, we went to church with Brett’s family Sunday due to other commitments that day. We are starting to get “normalized” once again, and it feels great!

 

We still have good days, bad days.  The bad have definitely been the few and the good keep rolling in.  God continues to bless our family on a daily basis in so many ways. All of your prayers are a part of that blessing.  I want to thank everyone for the continued prayers and thoughts given for my family and I.  All of you are such a blessing to us and I can’t express how much you all mean to us.  God is in control and we leave it all in His hands.

 

Joel

Preparing for radiation & chemotherapy

Joel & I, Brett, Kyndra, Brandon & Kyle all met with the radiation oncologist in Olathe Monday morning.  As disheartening as it was to listen to it all over again, we were all very pleased with the doctor that we have chosen.  Joel will start taking his chemotherapy pills Sunday, October 4th and then will start radiation the following day.  He will go in for radiation for the next 6 weeks, Monday thru Friday and will be on the first round of chemotherapy for 42 consecutive days.  We are all very nervous about the treatment but do feel it is necessary to get it started as soon as possible with the aggressiveness of the tumor.  It has been a very difficult decision to make and we  continue to pray that we have chosen the right path.  Joel is feeling well and his short-term memory loss and processing have improved.  Just a heads  though, he has decided to do away with his hair prior to losing it from the treatment (but not before family portraits this week or he may have bigger issues than a tumor with his daughter-in-law. lol)

Love,

Kim