July 24, 2007

I had my first radiation treatment yesterday afternoon, and it went really well. It’s a painless, needless procedure, so I couldn’t have it any better!!! PTL. (God knows that I’m very tired of needles.) The treatment only takes 5 minutes, and the whole visit can get done in 30, so it’s not bad.

They created a mask of my whole head that fits tightly to guide the radiation field. That is put on my face and I lay in a big machine for the treatment from left to right in my brain. This will take place 10 times in the next two weeks, and then we’ll repeat the scans to see what things look like. We may still be having a cyber knife spot treatment to get the remaining tumor after this radiation. I’ll also lose my hair after this radiation is over, so Mark is already planning to get me a new wig. (He never liked the one that I had 3 years ago, and we want something nicer for Whitney’s wedding.)

Whitney and I are going to have her bridal potraits taken before I lose my hair, so we can have some pictures together. I’m really excited about this and looking forward to this special time next week.

So many people are asking to help us, that we’re overwhelmed and not sure how to answer. Please be patient as we talk through the ideas and thoughts. We’ll try to share with you how you can help, but we’re still in shock. Right now, we’re getting all the help we need with transportation to treatments from our family. We could probably use some meals over the next two weeks, but it would be best to call me or Mark and talk with us about where to bring them and what might work. Snacks and drinks for the kids would be helpful…easy stuff that little girls enjoy and are easy to take with us anywhere we go.

I’m not working for the next two weeks, but I’ll be doing some teaching from home on my computer to finish a class that I started with 13 students in July. I have always loved to teach, and having my class online makes it possible to finish the work without jeopardizing all the hard work my students have put in.

I’ll be having treatment today at 11:50, and most days it will be 10:10 a.m.

Thanks for your prayers and support. We have not lost hope that we will see a complete recovery from this tumor, and we are still trusting OUR BIG GOD to carry us.