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

Chemo #2

My mom accompanied Leanne to chemo today.

   

Thanks Karen for spending time with Leo this afternoon!

   

Leanne has her visit to Mayo Clinic next Tuesday and we are asking that you would pray for her appointment. Please pray for:

• Clear results from the tests run by the Dr.'s at Mayo
• Clear communication between Leanne and the Dr.'s & nurses at Mayo
• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, & their families
• Chemo to be as effective as possible
• Minimal side effects from chemo
• Strength for Ryan & Leo as they support Leanne
• Restful sleep for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo

Thanks for praying!

BranDisa

A family friend gave Leanne & Ryan tickets to a Brandon Heath and Mandisa (also known as BranDisa) concert for this past Saturday night. They went with their friends and had such a great time!

Our friend called Leanne and let her know that Mandisa wanted to meet her! If you don't know who Mandisa is, check out this clip of her singing to Robin Roberts when she returned to Good Morning America after undergoing treatment for a rare blood disorder. Leanne and Ryan both got to go back stage and meet Mandisa and Brandon Heath. How cool?!?!

   

On a side note, Mandisa shared with Leanne that she has a friend who is battling cancer while pregnant and is receiving chemo. Leanne was able to show Mandisa a pic of sweet Leo as a testimony of God's goodness that can come out of even the most seemingly dismal circumstances!

So thankful that God is using celebrities, concerts, & friends to encourage Leanne. And using her story to continue to encourage others too!

Care Calendar

Want to help?

There is this amazing website called Care Calendar and it is a way to organize help for a loved one who needs it. So here is the link to the calendar we have set up for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo:

http://carecalendar.org/logon/98734

When you get to the site, please use the following information to log in to their calendar:

    CALENDAR ID:   98734
    SECURITY CODE :   8797

On this website there are a few ways you can help: 

1. Bring meals (dinner or lunch)
2. Run errands (Target, grocery shopping, etc)
3. Housework

 When you get to the calendar, you can click on a particular need you would like to help meet. Then you will be asked to fill in some information. After entering your information, please scroll down and click Sign Up. Then, your name will show up on the calendar to let others know this need has been filled. You will also receive an email as a reminder that you signed up to help.

If you live far away, but would like to help here are some suggestions:

• Gift cards to Target to purchase groceries, cleaning supplies, etc.
• Gift cards to grocery stores in the area: Cub Foods, Wal Mart, and Rainbow Foods
• Continue to pray!

A plan ...

After a Google+ hangout session (We are SOOOOOO thankful for technology!!!!!!) tonight, we decided that the best way for you to pray with us is if you know all the facts.

So, in no particular order, here is a recap of what Leanne, Ryan, and Leanne's parents learned at the Dr today:

Leanne's breast cancer has returned. She has one spot on a bone in her pelvis and 2 lymph nodes in her chest that are next to her trachea and breast bone that are cancerous. They are not tumors. They are teeny, tiny microscopic groups of cells that are almost undetectable.

The cells are the same kind of cancer as before. These cells are estrogen positive so it has been decided that sometime after Leanne finishes her 90 days of chemo and when her counts are high enough, she will have her ovaries removed.

For the next 90 days she will have chemo for 3 weeks and then have a break for a week. She will have two different types of chemo. One kind she has had before (and was effective) and one new kind. During this time she will also have blood work done to show the marker levels of cancer in Leanne's system. There is no talk of radiation or surgery (other than to remove her ovaries) at this time.

After 90 days, Leanne will have another PET scan.

Leanne has a visit to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN scheduled on April 2nd. She will be meeting with a leading, world renowned Oncologist specializing in breast cancer. This visit is for peace of mind and with the hopes that a 2nd opinion will either bring to light new treatment options or reaffirm that what is already being done to treat Leanne is the best option.

Leanne will have genetic testing done to see if she, or any one in our family, carries the "breast cancer" gene and if any family history can be determined.

Dr. Bloom is "cautiously optimistic" as he put it in his own words. He did share that there is a constant stream of new research, treatment options, and techniques coming out at any given time so the options in the future are ever growing and changing.

Since her cancer came back a second time, the chances of her being completely cured are remote. The cells are so microscopically small and they move so quickly that it makes tracking them almost impossible. Dr. Bloom said that this will be treated like a chronic disease from here on out. Leanne will have more frequent scans and aggressive treatment in the future.

Enough info for you? I am sure you all have LOTS of questions right now. I will post more information on here when I know it. Know that we want to answer questions, but we are still processing through most of this as well. We appreciate your respect in that it might take us longer than usual to respond to calls, messages, and texts.

More than your questions and suggestions, we are coveting your prayers right now. Here is a list to get you started :)

• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and everyone else affected by this
• The chemo to be as effective as possible
• Leanne's blood counts to stay up and good health for her so she can continue to have the chemo she needs
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom and the Dr. Leanne will meet with at the Mayo Clinic as they make treatment decisions for Leanne
• Protection from discouragement for those close to the situation
• Ability to resist the temptation to look ahead at things God hasn't called us to face yet
• Strength for Ryan and Leo as they support Leanne
• Good, restful sleep for Leanne, Ryan, Leo, and their families

God knew that this was going to be the news we heard today. He is not the least bit worried about what will happen in the next few days, weeks, months, and years. He has a plan for Leanne and it is better than anything we could ever imagine. We are going to trust God's promise in this verse:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

And last but not least, a chemo pic for you

Prayer for Tomorrow

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

We are asking that you will join us in covering Leanne in prayer tomorrow. God has been faithful in hearing our prayers thus far and we know He will remain faithful in hearing them from here on out.

Please pray for us tomorrow in the following ways:

• Peace for Leanne as she begins chemo and meets with Dr. Bloom tomorrow
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom as he meets with Leanne, Ryan, and their family tomorrow to answer questions
• Peace for Ryan and the Miller & White families as they love and support Leanne through the next part of her journey
• Good sleep and rest for Leanne as her body adjusts to the new medicines she is on
• The side effects of chemo to be minimal
• Leo to have peace as he is cared for by new people over the next few weeks

Thanks for all the texts, messages, phone calls, letters, & packages you have sent Leanne and Ryan over the past two weeks. Your encouragement and support are much needed! Keep them coming!

Port

Since Leanne will be having chemo once a week, the decision has been made to have a port put in so Leanne does not have to have an IV put in every week. The port will be placed on her chest and will have to be put in surgically.

Please pray for:

• Skilled hands for the surgeon as Leanne's port is put in on Friday
• Peace and rest for Leanne
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom as he determines the treatment plan

Thanks to all who prayed for Leanne, Ryan, and Leo's time away last week! They all arrived safely in Iowa (who doesn't want to visit Iowa in March?!?!) and had a wonderful visit with family. All the cousins were together and the adults loved every single minute of it! 7pm bedtimes were a welcomed relief at the end of busy, fun days :)

Enjoy some pics from the week!

What we know ...

Leanne had her PET scan yesterday and it showed more cancer.

We know there are a few lymph nodes in her chest that are cancerous.

We know there is a spot on her tailbone that is cancerous.

We know that God chose to allow this to happen and it was in His plan from before time began.

We know that God walked alongside Leanne, Ryan, and their families every single step of her journey this far and that He will be faithful to do it again.

We know Leanne has started a new, stronger chemo drug that she takes in pill form.

We know that starting on March 20th Leanne will have chemo weekly for 90 days.

We know Leanne will also meet with her Oncologist, Dr. Bloom, on March 20th to figure out what this journey will look like and to, hopefully, get some answers to her questions.

There is still a lot we don't know. But we are going to focus on the known for now. We are going to cling to God's promise of peace (Philippians 4:6-7). We are going to cling to God's promise to work good in this (Romans 8:28). We are going to cling to the fact that God is close to us now (Psalm 34:18).

Please partner with us in prayer again.  Pray for:

• Leanne, Ryan, and Leo to safely travel this week and arrive on time regardless of the weather
• Peace for Leanne 
• Good sleep for Leanne
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom and his team as they decide how to treat the cancer this time
• Peace and trust for Leanne and Ryan's families
• God to faithfully provide what Leanne, Ryan, and Leo need when they need it

We cannot do this without you. God was so good to provide faithful teammates last time around and we know He will do it again. We love each of you!

Again

 

These three need your prayers again.

Leanne's pathology report came back with some news that none of us EVER wanted to hear again. The spot that Dr. Johnson removed on Tuesday night was cancerous. It was a stray cancer cell that grew on her skin.

Dr. Bloom (Leanne's Oncologist) called this afternoon and scheduled a PET scan for Monday. She will meet with him on March 20th to discuss the plan of action. Leanne, Ryan, and Leo are getting out of town next week for a much needed getaway before they jump back into the world of treatments, appointments, and trusting God for the next step.

Please pray with us. Pray for:

• Peace for Leanne, Ryan, and their families
• Strength for Leanne to fight against whatever lies ahead of her
• A clean PET scan that shows no signs of cancer
• Wisdom for Dr. Bloom and the rest of the team as they make decisions regarding Leanne's care

God proved to faithfully provide in every step of Leanne's cancer journey in the past and we trust that He will do the same again. We never thought we would be here again, but God knew we would. He knows what lies ahead and we are choosing trust His plan.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30

Surgery is done!

Leanne is out of surgery and Dr. Johnson is confident that he got everything. Leanne is in recovery now and will, hopefully, be going home tonight. Pathology reports will be back by Thursday.

Please be praying for:

• Cancer free results on the pathology report
• Peace for Leanne and her family as they wait

Thanks for your prayers!

Surgery Today

Yes, you read that right. Leanne is having surgery at 3:30pm today to remove a spot on her skin. She noticed the spot a few weeks ago and had an ultrasound this morning to try and figure out what it is. The ultrasound didn't give the radiologist a clear picture of what it is, so Leanne's surgeon, Dr. Johnson,   is going to do surgery this afternoon to remove the spot and do some testing.

Just as you have faithfully prayed with us in the past, please pray specifically for:

• Skilled hands for Dr. Johnson that he would get the entire spot without difficulty
• The spot to be cancer free
• Peace for Leanne

God has been faithful to provide peace and we trust that He will again. I will update when I know more. Thanks!

"May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

Happy Birthday!!

It is hard to believe that a year ago we were anxiously awaiting Leo's arrival. A year has passed and it is clear, yet again, that God has faithfully provided all that we needed.

Happy 1st Birthday Leo! You are loved more that you will ever know. We will celebrate your birthday today, but will celebrate the gift of your life giving thanks to God always.

 

In honor of Leo, have some cake today :)

Christmas Blessings

Leanne spoke at my church this weekend. Check it out HERE. So thankful she is willing to share her story and to give God all the credit.

Thankful