By His Stripes

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

 

   Jeff started his radiation therapy today to shrink what is left of the tumor.  He has to go everyday Monday through Friday at 10:40am.  The treatment only takes about an hour.  The radiation is being focused on his brain and spine (as a precaution). 

   With gas prices so high it was another answered prayer that he is able to receive the radiation at the Johnson Cancer Center in Muskegon so they do not have to drive to Grand Rapids everyday! He will still have appointments with his Oncologist in Grand Rapids.  

   Radiation therapy is in itself painless.  Most side effects are predictable and expected. Side effects from radiation are usually limited to the area of the patient's body that is under treatment. One of the aims of modern radiotherapy is to reduce side effects to a minimum, and to help the patient to understand and to deal with those side effects which are unavoidable.

   The main side effects reported are fatigue and skin irritation, like a mild to moderate sun burn and hair loss. The fatigue often sets in during the middle of a course of treatment and can last for weeks after treatment ends. The skin irritation will also go away, but it may not be as elastic as it was before. ** 

   The radiation therapy will last about 4 to 6 weeks after which they will re-evaluate and determine if and when chemotherapy will start to completely demolish the cancer!!  We appreciate all the love, support and prayers from everyone!

Jeff and his girlfriend Ashton helping his niece Makayla color on Easter.

God is Good

     Jeff and the rest of his family returned home late on Friday, April 1st. The Marine Corps arranged the flights home for the four of them and because of the busy season they were separated into two separate flight schedules. Jeff and Patti had angels watching over them because they just barely made one of their connecting flights! All four of them met in Denver, CO and took a connecting flight home, safe and sound!

     Jeff is so happy to be home and near all the family and friends that have been praying for him. His head was very swollen and he was in some pain after the long day of travel but with just a couple days of rest it is now back to normal! He is healing very well!

     On Friday, April 8th he has an appointment at The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital to discuss his further treatment needs and the best way to destroy the rest of the tumor. We are praying and believing for a quick and smooth remission.

     Thank you so much for the continuing prayers and overall agreement in Jeff's recovery! We appreciate it all. More good news to follow from his appointment...

Helicopter flight from Twenty-Nine Palms to Desert Regional Medical Center.....$25,555.95.

Brain Surgery.....$ hundreds of thousands.

Not only being a walking Miracle of God but also being medically covered by the Marine Corps.....PRICELESS!!!