Doing better

Thank you so much for praying. Though my surgery site looks about the same at this point, I am doing much better emotionally and am not feeling so tired. Thank you for lifting me with your prayers. You are awesome!

Thank you too for the wonderful meals that many of you are providing for our family. It is difficult to overstate what a help and blessing these meals are to our family. They take such a load off of Ron and are such an encouragement as well as nourishment to us.

We have received so many precious cards, notes, flowers and gifts to help encourage and help financially that we are filled to overflowing with gratefulness to you and to the Lord. Bless you!!

Surgeon Update

I was able to see both of my surgeons yesterday, both appointments went well. The plastic surgeon who is doing the breast reconstruction is going on vacation and will be back in two weeks. The timing works well because my healing is slow and he just wants me to rest and heal for now.

Dr. Kerlin, who did the cancer removal part of the surgery, wants me to wait at least two weeks before starting chemo. She will check me next week to see if the healing process is moving forward. If not she may change a couple of things that we are doing as far as treating the wound or worst case scenario take me back into surgery and try to clean out the area where the skin has died. I am, obviously, holding onto the Lord for His healing rather than go back into surgery! Would you continue to join me in that prayer for the surgery site on the left side to heal, thank you so much!!

I rested over the weekend and that helped some with the pain level. I think it is coming from the stretches that I have to do three times a day. I am happy to say that I am slowly regaining some of the range of movement in my left arm, my right arm is doing great.

Yesterday was a tired and weepy day for me. I think the pain and tiredness were getting to me and I was feeling a bit of discouragement from the slow healing on my left side. I am doing better today.

I can't thank you enough for your generosity in giving of yourself to pray for me. You are a gift.

Having a couple of tired and painful days

It seems that in the process of healing after surgery there seems to be good days and bad days. I have been doing really well, but yesterday and today (Sat/Sun) I have been particularly tired and my surgery sites have been more painful as well.

I will keep this short as I am trying to rest more today to see if that will help, but wanted to let you know and ask you to please pray for me that the pain would lift and I would have more energy.

I see both of my surgeons tomorrow (Monday). I'll update you after I see them. Thanks so much for praying.

Please Keep Praying for healing of the incision on the left side

As you know, the surgery on the left breast and under arm was pretty extensive what with removing the cancer and the breast tissue and the 18 lymph nodes! As a result of all that trauma to the area, the healing is "delayed" on that side.

I went to the doctor on Thursday and will go again on Monday to check the progress. Right now there is still some "necrotic" skin on the vertical part of the scar on the left side. Basically, it is black and not getting any blood supply still. Please continue to pray that the blood will begin to flow to that area. (It is the physical and spiritual principle that that there is life in the blood, where the blood flows, there is LIFE!) The good news is that the area is not infected. The surgeons said the necrotic skin will scab over and then heal, it will just take longer. As a result of the delayed healing, there is still quite a bit of pain on that side. The right side continues to do well, thank the Lord!!

Other than the delayed healing of that scar, I am continuing to get stronger almost every day. The doctor gave me some stretches so that I can begin to regain the full range of motion in both of my arms. I probably only have about 50% on the left side. I am diligently doing my stretches while saying, "Ow-ee, ow-ee, ow-ee!"

I should find out Monday how long the surgeon thinks the chemo treatments will have to be delayed due to the slowed healing. I am trusting that God knows the exact time table that will be best for me and so am not feeling anxious about the delay. I know some of you are praying for that, so I am reaping the fruit of your faithful prayers! Thank you!! with much love, Leslyn

Karyn and Ron are off to Biola

Wow, what a difference your prayer makes! We noticed a significant increase in grace in our home after you all started praying. Our time as a family last night was so sweet and there was great grace on all of us as Karyn and Ron headed off to Biola today. Thank you so much for your prayers, they are availing much!! "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." James 5:16 That would be you!! Thanks!!!

Karyn is heading back to Biola University on Friday

Hi my friends! I just wanted to ask if you would be praying for our oldest daughter, Karyn, as she heads back to Biola University for her sophmore year in film school and the Torrey honors program. Ron will drive her down to school; they leave tomorrow, Friday, August 15.

Karyn is helping to lead the freshman orientation for the incoming honor students and will also be starting her new job in the bookstore. Leaving her Mom sick at home is hard for her but she does so with our full blessing and support. Would you please pray for her as she makes this transition? Thank you!!

Hannah will stay home and help take care of me. Hannah needs prayer as her sister leaves, they are very close, and she is having a hard time thinking about going through all that this year holds with her big sister away. I know that God will be faithful and meet her. Would you please be praying for her as well?

Ron and I are so glad that Karyn loves her school, has wonderful friends and loves the programs she is in at Biola, but we will miss her terribly. She is a wonderful and precious daughter. Thank you for your prayers for us...we need them. Thank you so very much!!

Treatment update

Just got back from the oncology appointment, we got some good news but also a very sobering picture of the very long road ahead.

All I can say is THANK THE LORD for herceptin! The addition of the herceptin drug to my therapy improved the statistics on the chance of recurrence by 50%, pretty amazing. This brings the recurrance rate down from 68% to 34%. This is, of course, in the natural, we are believing and seeking God for complete healing from the Lord.

So, essentially I will have chemotherapy for 6 months (given every two weeks), probably starting the beginning of September (due to the delay in healing on the left side, they want to make sure my surgery sites are well healed before starting chemo). At about 3 months into chemo, they will add herceptin to deal with the HER/2 receptor positive issue (see previous posts for info), which will be infused every week for one year. Once chemo is finished they are going to do radiation on my chest wall, neck and possibly my left underarm (a Radiation specialist will be brought onto the team to direct that part of the therapy). About that same time, after chemo, they will start the tamoxifen to deal with the hormone postive issue. After I am recovered from chemo and radiation, I will have breast reconstruction surgery. Once I am recovered from that, I will have surgery to remove my ovaries and possibly my uterus as well.

I will hopefully be through with all of the medication by January 2010. The remainder of this year and the next will be dedicated to getting through treatment and getting completely well and healthy!!

I know that this is a long road ahead and I would ask you to join me throughout this journey to healing through your prayers and continued encouragment. Your partnership with me and my family helps to give us courage to press forward and face what lies before us. We need you and are so very grateful for you. with much love and a thankful heart, Leslyn