Category: Updates

July 22- 28th

Wed, July 22^nd-Tues, July 28^th

July 22: Today’s the day when lots of ‘stuff’ is going to be picked up and delivered to the church for the Rummage & Bake Sale. After a couple of hours in helping load two 14 ft trucks (which someone generously donated) I arrived to at the church to help unload.

While I knew there would be lots of stuff brought in and collected, I was still pleasantly surprised and a tad nervous to see ALL this stuff everywhere. I was hoping to have just large furniture for sale in the lobby but it was clearly obvious that would not be the case. Piles & Piles were everywhere and the stuff kept coming. For my own sake I needed to reassure my boss that the lobby would be in good shape by Sunday. Needless to say it was an absolute non-issue for my boss and co-workers (who had the blessing of seeing all the stuff come in first hand). I’m so very thankful to be working with this great group of people.

As I walked through the lobby and into the rooms that were also being used I really had to fight back the tears. I’m thinking if these volunteers see me crying here they’ll think something is really wrong) In reality my heart was touched by all the people, some I didn’t even know who were there sorting, moving, and trying to organize the items in a way to make them sell.

There were people from Mountain Park Community Church (our current church and employer), from our previous church, there were teenagers there from Valley (school where McKenzie will be a junior), families and a few college students and other adults I didn’t know. As my heart was touched with emotion and fighting back tears, I thought that these folks are helping for no other reason than to love on my family by providing support (and hopefully generate additional funds for Bonnie’s medical treatments. Those helping were not earning money for a mission’s trip or getting a percentage of what they sold. There was nothing in it for them….It was purely to help…what a humbling experience. Again, I’m reminded that it’s often more comfortable to be on the giving end than on the receiving side of so much love.

July 23 –Thursday a local church, Cornerstone, graciously let us borrow 20 more tables and some signs (OK – so I need to replace some of the signs). Many folks were back sorting and arranging items for the sale. McKenzie even found some new tops that ‘she really needed’. When I was walking through I noticed some photos in a frame that looked very familiar and when I looked more closely I realized they were Bonnie’s and my baby pictures in frames (OK so we should have re-checked all the boxes we took out of storage). I reassured Bonnie that I looked through all the ‘stuff’ to be sure no other treasures of ours were displayed.

Our Yoga Director donated DVD’s to the sale, and a Tempe Police officer donated a box full of crosses to be sold as a way to generate funds. Friends from our previous small group were there until almost 11:30 PM setting up and several folks showed up by 7 AM on Friday to put the finishing touches on things, set up the bake sale and get ready for the sale to begin.

July 24,25 – It was a very long week as many trips were made from our home to the church with vans, cars, and picking up loads of ‘stuff’ emptied from our garage (and many others) to the church. Bonnie was very disappointed not to have the energy to stop by just to check things out. In fact, on Saturday she called with so much pain that I left the sale and had to take her to the ER. Basically complications from 17 units of blood are messing with her liver. So they had to transfuse another 3 units of blood and on Monday drain 4.7 liters of water from her stomach (not the weight loss program I want to be on). She came home on Tuesday and is slowly regaining strength. Continue to pray for the bleeding to stop and for her liver to do what God intended for it to do.

A special thank you to Barb, Kurt and Adair for your efforts in getting this off the ground and going. An additional 40+ people had helped throughout the week. All of their efforts and purchases from many people helped to raise the funds needed to cover over two months of IV treatments and supplements for Bonnie. We are so grateful for everyone’s help, words of encouragement, donations, and prayers.

With grateful hearts…and tired bodies.

Bonnie, Juno and McKenzie

We brought Bonnie home on Tuesday afternoon. 

• They gave her a total of six units of blood while she was there
  
• Her count was at 10 when we left the hospital
  
• She’ll have her blood checked weekly and if necessary she can receive blood and iron right at the Oncologist office
• She’ll start her IV’s again on Thursday
• She is able to get around slowly (which is a whole lot better then on Saturday night)
  

Thank you for those who are:

• praying
• providing meals
• supporting financially
• sending Bonnie notes of encouragement
• respecting our decision to use both Alternative  & Traditional approaches to healing
  
• volunteering to help with fund raisers
  

Pray for:

• bleeding to stop
• that Bonnie will be able to attend our Leadership Team Retreat this coming Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
• strength
• wisdom and discernment as we deal with decisions (sometimes daily) concerning treatment and illness
• appropriate assertiveness (when it comes to dealing with hospitals and doctors)

We have a few more specifics for fund raisers (see below).  Again more details and ideas are coming in, so click below to email Kurt as he is the idea man :).

 

If you would like to help with either of the fund raisers email Kurt, mail2kurt@cox.net.

June 14, 2009

Bonnie has completed six IV treatments, so that means we are down to 97 treatments left!  It’s great to be in doubt digits  – just like the temperature in AZ :).  The treatments are going very well.  The ‘itching’ is basically gone (YEA).  A week ago Sunday was the first Sunday since Easter that Bonnie made it to church. We are thankful.  We’ll continue with the IV’s on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sat.  So that means were down to 97 treatments left!  It’s great to be in doubt digits  – just like the temperature in AZ :)

Despite all the good news this weekend took a surprising turn of events.  Last night Bonnie started to feeling increasingly weak, dizzy and nauseous (often a sign of dehydration or Juno’s cooking).   She was only able to take a few steps, so after some dialog on what to do, we decided to call the fire department and after they arrived and further consultation they called an ambulance to transport Bonnie to the hospital.

Bonnie’s blood count had dropped to 8.0 so she was given 2 units of blood on Sat night and is currently receiving another two this evening (Sunday June 14th).  She is able to walk around and is starting to feel a lot better (I guess that’s what 4 units of blood and several IV’s of fluid will do to you).

Some friends are working on a couple of fund raisers to help with expenses.  One being a huge garage sale and the other a benefit concert.  Email Kurt at, mail2kurt@cox.net to inquire or check out joining one of the teams.  A lot of help with be needed.

This verse has been on my mind the last couple of days…
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made know to God, and the peace of god which surpasses all understanding shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

We are grateful for God’s faithfulness which is most evident in your love, prayers and support.

Love,

Juno, Bonnie and McKenzie

here’s the new, more user friendly, electronic calendar if you should decide to help with a meal.

http://foodtidings.com/SignUp.aspx?ScheduleGuid=296d93ed-6336-4b34-8a38-8a3bdcf41ecf

If the link doesn’t work, try cutting and pasting it into your brouser.

June 2, 2009

Bonnie had her first IV yesterday and it went very well.  Her blood work came back from Monday and she is at 11.  Which is also GREAT news.  That means since her release from the hospital 10 days ago her ‘numbers’ have gone verses down – we are grateful for this.  While the ‘itching’ has not gone completely away, it is much much better.

For the most part it appears we’ll (she) will have the IV’s on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sat.  So that means were down to 102 treatments left!  No doubt 8 months is a long time.  We’ll get into a routine and before you know if we’ll be having one major party in the new year – we may have to move the Super Bowl to another weekend.

We are grateful for God’s faithfulness which is most evident in your love, prayers, and support.

May 2009

Until three months ago (February 2009), Bonnie (50) was doing incredibly well (a three time ovarian cancer survivor) health wise. She was feeling great, and for the past two years she was walking 45 minutes a day.

This past February 13, Bonnie had a severe allergic reaction to a very common antibiotic (z-pack).  She was very fatigued, unable to sleep, restless, and lots of itching, and evidently having some internal bleeding.  Mid May Bonnie saw her allergist in hopes of finding something she was allergic to. Hence, her allergist ordered some blood work in hopes of identifying the itching.

On May 16th at 7:30 AM we received a call indicating that her hemoglobin was 4.9, and we were instructed to take her into ER ASAP.  They admitted her, gave her 7 units of blood throughout the week and ran numerous tests.  They installed a stint for the bile duct. While being cancer free for over 8 years (the last 8 years using alternative medicine), a cat scan revealed that the cancer had returned.  Bonnie returned home from the hospital on Saturday, May 23rd.

The ‘mass’ that we have been watching for several years, behind her liver, is the spot where she is losing blood.  To remove it surgically, is too ‘invasive’ (so two specialists tell us).  There is also some cancer on her small intestine. After investigating several doctors we have decided to stick with alternative medicine since that had worked for Bonnie for so many years.  This time the protocol will consist of Bonnie receiving three IV’s each week and additional supplements for approximately eight months.

The question most everyone is asking is what’s the cost of this treatment? We anticipate the cost will range between $2,400 and $3,000 (maybe more depending on supplements) per month. While chemo would have been covered by our health insurance carrier we feel sticking with what has worked in the past is in the best interest of Bonnie.

We are grateful the doctor’s office is less than 20 minutes from the house.  Each IV will take up to 2 hours to administer.  Her doctor is also evaluating Bonnie’s current regimen of supplements and will be providing overall care and direction on what supplements to continue, change, or stop while she is doing the IVs. The doctor was very pleased to see what Bonnie had been doing and very pleased to see how well Bonnie’s general health was.

As many of you know, we still have significant debt from what she is currently doing (most of the interest free charge cards are now interest bearing).  While the naturopathic approach (Alternative medicine) has not been covered by insurance we do not regret our decision nine years ago to partner with both traditional and alternative approached to healing. We are currently investigating some creative financial options concerning our home with hopes of either reducing current medical debt or paying for her new treatments.

Be in prayer for wisdom, healing, hope and provision’s as we move forward.

For details on how to donate to assist with the health care for Bonnie click here.