Heading Back to Work

I wanted to let all of you know that I am returning to work on Friday, March 21st. I am feeling a lot stronger and by then I hope to have built up my stamina for a full day's work. Conveniently, the next day is Spring Break, so I will have week to recover from my one day back at work!

Thank you for all your prayers, kind notes and supportive words. Also, thank you for the generosity you have shown me. The Lord has used all of you to help me get through this difficult time. I appreciate it.

No chemo or radiation

That's the good news that I received yesterday. I am thankful, as recovering from the lingering effects of the surgery are enough at the moment. My oncologist does want me to have an MRI and I will be having regular check ups for a while, but it looks like they got everything and the prognosis, in terms of cancer, is good.

Thank you for your prayers and generous support. I have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from all of you.

next steps

I clearly do not have a promising future as a blogger! Sorry for the lack of updates. Steve is healing but his days are not full adventures that demand his sister's story-telling abilities. Tomorrow he meets with the oncologist which will help to make the immediate future a bit clearer in terms of what sort of treatment will be necessary.

As you probably are aware, he is one of the gentlest souls there is and he is walking this road with great grace and candor too. I want to offer yet another insufficient thank you for all of the support you have given Steve and my parents in the midst of this. My mom will be with Steve until February 16th. Then my brother Mark will come spend five days or so hanging out with Steve. That's it for now - we'll let you know what happens with the oncologist. Blessings.

Home again

Well, I am finally home. The doctors and nurses were great, but it is nice to be back in my apartment after 8 days in the hospital. I still have a long road to recovery, and in many ways will never really be the same, but I am grateful for the way the Lord has protected me these past weeks. Even though it's sometimes hard to see, I know that His plans for me are good:

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you all for your prayer, kind notes, and generous gifts. I am humbled by the love and concern you have expressed to me and my family.

I will continue to keep you updated.

Steve

Pathology

To me, pathology sounds ominous but today it announced very good news. There is no sign of any spreading of the cancer in the colon to the lymph nodes - which is definitely worth celebrating! There were some complications during the surgery, the details of which Steve will share if and when he is ready - thank you for your respect of this in advance.

While recovery will still be a long process, we are thanking God today for the clean reports. And as a family, we are again and still so grateful for all the support and care that you have shown Steve and our family. I will let you all know when he will be leaving the hospital and heading home.

recovering

Thanks so much for all of your prayers and concern for Steve! I apologize for lack of updates. There is not much new news at this point. The surgery went relatively smoothly but as it is major surgery the recovery seems almost as complicated and intense - at least to this novice! All things considered, Steve is doing well - though I think he is more than ready to be able to eat real food and sleep without monitors, etc.

He will likely be in the hospital until Wednesday though it largely depends on when his body can handle food. My mom will be staying with Steve for several weeks. Again, thanks so much for all the expressions of love and concern for Steve and our family - it means a great deal!

surgery is done

Steve is out of surgery and in recovery. As you saw in his earlier post, the pathology reports won't be back until Monday or Tuesday. For those of you in the Wheaton area - I will also post to let you know when he is feeling up to visitors. Thanks for your continued prayers and I will update details as we have more information.