Merry Christmas!

Unfortunately, Leanne's Christmas has been pretty eventful. On Christmas Day, she was having a lot of back pain and some digestive issues. They headed back from Ryan's families house and Leanne went to see Dr. Bloom the next morning for some blood work and to get some fluids. The blood work showed that she has shingles ... YUCK. She was put on an antibiotic and given some meds for the pain. While her digestive issues have cleared up, she is still in significant pain at times.

Will you please pray for relief from the pain for Leanne and the shingles to go away completely. Thanks for partnering with us!

Update and A New Member

Leanne's mouth sores were worse on Friday so she called the oncologist to ask what else they could do.  She has "magic mouthwash" and has been doing other rinses and still was not feeling any relief.  Eating and drinking were getting harder.  Dr. Bloom decided on Friday to hold Leanne's one medicine for at least a week in order to let her mouth heal.  She was pretty frustrated about this but Dr. Bloom said it was pretty common and not a big deal.  He said it does not mean the medicine isn't working, it is just the thing about this medicine.  He also prescribed some pain medicine to help her feel better and eat and drink easier.  All of that said, Saturday was a tough day.  Leanne took pain medicine because she needed it but due to not eating and drinking a whole lot, it made her very nauseous.  Please pray that the mouth sores heal quickly and we find a balance of pain medicine that does not make her sick.

On a much lighter note, Team Chin gained a sweet, new member on Tuesday.

Claire Leanne Euken was born to Katie (Leanne's older sister and the blog's usual author) and Bret.  She weighed in at 6 lb 13 oz.  Mom, dad, Claire, and big sister Mollie are all doing wonderful! 

 The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy!

Psalm 126:3

If you ever have any questions about our faith and would like more info, please email us at teamchinny@gmail.com and we would love to talk more.

Prayer!

Leanne has a specific prayer request that she would like to share with everyone. One of the side effects of the medicines she is on is severe mouth sores. She has several right now and would like you all to pray for relief from them.

Thanks for being such wonderful, willing prayer partners with us!

2 steps forward, 1 step back

I have nothing to compare this cancer journey to, but it sure feels like every time we are moving ahead, we take a step backwards.

Leanne's appointment with Dr. Bloom today showed some new cancer spots. The cancer that was previously in her lymph nodes is growing and there is cancer in another lymph node as well as a new spot on her liver.

Due to the results of this scan, Dr. Bloom has decided to turn Leanne's ovaries off again to stop estrogen from being produced in her body. She is also starting two new, oral medicines on Thursday. One will block the cancer cells from producing estrogen to feed on and one is a new type of chemo medicine. There is a high probability of some nasty side effects of the medicines, so we will covet your prayers against those side effects.

We also learned that the reconstruction process is on hold for now.

Leanne will meet with Dr. Bloom again in January and will have another scan in February.

Here is where we need you. Please join with us in prayer for:

• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and their families 
• Contentment for Leanne 
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom as he makes treatment decisions for Leanne
• Strength for Ryan as he leads his family
• God to continue to reveal Himself and His plan to Leanne
• God to continue to equip Leanne for the road He is calling her to walk down
• Against loneliness for Leanne
• Minimal side effects from the new medicines

As I sit here tonight and write this, it is easy to be tempted to think of all I/we should do and how to shoulder this burden. But, I am reminded of Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Never once in God's Word does He command us to rely on ourselves and shoulder the burdens of this life on our own. Instead, He promises us that if we lay our burdens at His feet He will give us rest. We are to take up His yoke and find rest because He already paid the price and overcame any burden this world will throw our way. God is big enough to handle this. I am praying we are reminded often to take this specific burden to God and lay it down before Him and to experience His peace and rest in return.

If you ever have any questions about our faith and would like more info, please email us at teamchinny@gmail.com and we would love to talk more.

Thankful!

 After spending a week together, we have much to be thankful for! Thankful for the peace and comfort that we can only find in God.

Leanne has a scan tomorrow (December 2nd) and then an appointment with Dr. Bloom on Tuesday December 3rd.

Please be praying for us over the next few days. Some specifics:

• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and their families
• Clear results from the scan on Monday
• Leanne to be free from aches and pains (she has been having some back pain lately)
• God's wisdom and guidance for Dr. Bloom