Chemo #5

Thankfully Leanne had high counts again today so Leanne was able to have chemo. Aimee went to chemo with Leanne today!

 

Grammie got to hang out with Leo this afternoon :)

Please keep praying for:

• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and their families
• Quick recover from the side effects of chemo
• Leo to get back on his night sleeping & napping schedule

Check back tomorrow for info about a fundraiser for Leanne & Ryan!!!!

Chemo #4 (finally!!!!)

Leanne was able to have chemo today!!!!!!!!!!!! Karen was supposed to watch Leo while my mom went to chemo with Leanne, but Leo had other plans in mind :) He had quite an unhappy morning, so Grammie Fran stayed with Leo this afternoon while Karen went to chemo with Leanne.

 

Please keep praying for:

• Strength and endurance for Leanne as she continues to fight her cancer battle
• Quick recovery from the fatigue and other side effects from chemo
• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, Leo, and their families 

And a HUGE thank you to all who are bringing meals, cleaning, running errands, calling Leanne and Ryan, doing laundry, watching Leo, visiting with Leanne, praying, supporting financially, and sending numerous texts, emails, care packages, Facebook messages, and encouraging cards. You are WONDERFUL!  Your help and support is appreciated more than you could ever know. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now." Philippians 1:3-5

Chris Tomlin

Last Sunday, Leanne & Ryan went to a Chris Tomlin concert with Leanne's parents and some friends of theirs, Ben and Jennifer. Jennifer was the one who gave Leanne and Ryan the sweet tickets and backstage passes to the BranDisa concert a few weeks ago.

   

   

It was a super encouraging and fun night!

   

In other news, Leanne's counts were high enough this morning that she didn't need a shot to boost her counts! They will be high enough for her to receive chemo tomorrow. Please pray for Leanne as she has chemo tomorrow. Check back tomorrow for an update!

Not Chemo #4

Leanne met with Dr. Bloom this morning. He had some great news for her; the spot on one of the lymph nodes on her chest has shrunk in size. Based on that shrinkage, he is confident that the other spots are shrinking too! What awesome news!

However when they did blood work before chemo, her counts weren't high enough today to get chemo. She was able to get one of her meds that cuts off the blood supply to the cancerous spots. She will have to go in next Monday to have her counts checked before chemo on Tuesday. The chemo she missed today will be added on to her treatment schedule in June.

On the upside, she had two cute visitors at what was supposed to be chemo :)

   

 I also got to go! Don't you like our matching half zips?!

 

Please keep Leanne in your prayers over the next few days. Pray for:

• High counts next Monday & Tuesday
• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo
• Continued effectiveness of the chemo
• Good sleep for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo

Thanks!

To whoever dropped these off today ...

   

Thank you! We appreciate your generosity!

Bye, Bye, Bye

It was time to shave her head.

Again.

I don't think it would ever be easy for a woman to do this, but Leanne was as ready as she could be. Her hair was falling out like crazy and really bugging her.

Leanne took the first snip with the scissors.

   

Then her stylist, Ryan, took over. Doesn't she look confident?!

   

First, Ryan created a mullet. Bret was happy :)

   

 Next, was the shaved/bowl cut combo.

   

 Finally, we had to even it out.

   

 A picture of true beauty.

   

Hat twins!!

 

I know I can speak for many when I say that I am continually amazed at the strength of this woman. If you can, take a minute to tell Leanne how beautiful she is and how encouraged you are by her. We are thankful for you support!

1 Peter 3:3-4 "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight."

Chemo #3

Thanks so much for praying for Leanne's counts to be up. God head our prayers today and answered them just as we asked for! Leanne's counts needed to be at a 1.3 and that is exactly where they were!

Mary (my parent's next door neighbor and a mentor of Leanne's (and me too!)) went to chemo with her today.

   

Leo got to spend another afternoon with Grandma!!

Leanne has a week of from chemo next week. In the mean time, please be praying for:

• Continued effectiveness of the chemo
• Peace and stamina for Leanne, Ryan, Leo, and their families
• Minimal side effects from the chemo

Thanks!!

Mayo Visit: Results

Leanne, Ryan, Chris, & Fran spent the majority of the day here:

 

 Oh, they did leave for a trip to Hobby Lobby and to get some lunch :) Leo got to spend his day with Grandma! I am not sure who enjoyed their day more, Leo or Deb.  Grandma time is the best!

Leanne had some blood work and a chest x-ray done this morning so the Dr. could look over those in addition to all of the paper work, scans, tissue samples, and biopsy results Leanne brought with her. After the testing, Leanne had a break in between appointments (which is where the trip to Hobby Lobby fit in!) so everyone had some iPad time.

 

They met with the Dr. at 1:30.

   

Here is a recap of what the Dr. said:

• The goal: To shrink the cancer as much as possible and hold it at bay forever. Her cancer probably won't be completely eradicated, but they can keep it from growing.
• I think the biggest praise from today was that this Dr. (a world renowned breast cancer specialist) is in agreement with the current treatment plan Leanne is receiving. What a relief and a HUGE answer to prayer that was!!!
• He confirmed that this is a very small amount of cancer. Leanne's original tumor measured 4 inches across. The spots Leanne has now are about 1/3 of an inch in size.
• Praise! Leanne is at a healthy weight and in good health which makes treating this a little easier.
• Praise! Leanne has a great support system! We have you guys to thank for that!!!!!!
• Her cancer is highly estrogen positive which is a good thing because we know it will respond to the meds she is getting now because it responded well to them in the past.
• He agrees with taking out her ovaries. One of the medicines she is taking right now stops about 85% of the estrogen production in her body. By removing her ovaries, it will reduce the amount of estrogen remaining in her body by about 90%, thus starving her cancer of its food source.
• Leanne will most likely have PET scans every 90 days.
• There are LOTS and LOTS of new treatments coming out for whatever the future holds.

While there was anxiety with what today would hold, God brought relief and some hope to Leanne, Ryan, and their families. We are not out of the woods by any means, but there are options ahead of us and we are very thankful for that. We are grateful for medicine and what it offers, but we hold unswervingly to the hope we have in Christ and His power to heal.

Please keep us in your prayers:

• Pray for Leanne's counts to be high enough for her to receive chemo tomorrow (April 3rd)
• Pray for peace and stamina for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo
• Pray for a miraculous healing of Leanne
• Pray against discouragement and fear

Thanks for partnering with us! We are so grateful for the encouragement and love each of you provide. You are a blessing to us!

Mayo Visit: Prayer Requests

As you know, Leanne has her visit to Mayo Clinic tomorrow. Here are some specific prayer requests:

• Clarity for the Dr. Leanne will meet with tomorrow. That the treatment plan this Dr. recommends would be made clear to him and to Leanne and Ryan as they make any necessary decisions.
• Emotional stamina as she has a long day of tests, scans, and appointments ahead of them tomorrow.

"The Lord gives His people strength; the Lord blesses His people with peace." Psalm 29:11