Thank You!

I am pleased to announce that the news at Jeff's appointment was good!  Thank you all for your prayers and support!  After the MRI scan he had an appointment with his doctor, they read the MRI  and concluded that areas with the tumor(s) are either unchanged or better.  There is one area they just want to keep an eye on and have the radiologist look at, nothing too concerning. At this time there is no change in his treatment.  He will continue with the chemo pills once a month and the chemo treatments e/o week.  We are thrilled with this news and want to thank you again, the power of prayer is...well...POWERFUL!  His next scan is scheduled for August 19th.  We are having a great summer and hope you all are as well!

Prayer Request

 

Tomorrow Jeff has his scheduled MRI for a status update.  His scan and doctor appointment following is in Ann Arbor.  We are asking for your agreement in prayer with us for another positive result.  We are believing in continued good news, that there has been no change in his tumor.  Our God is amazing and has showed us this many times over, we are so grateful for your continued support and prayers!  I will update with news on his scan when we receive them.  Please continue to pray for the best!  Thank you and much love!

Elated

   I am so excited to report that Jeff's recent scan came back stable once again!  He had an appointment yesterday in Ann Arbor for an MRI and to meet with his doctor.  The doctor was happy to say that there was no new growth and everything looked very stable!  At this time they are not making any changes to his current treatment plan. 
   This news happened to be a great birthday present for his Dad, he turned 50 today!  More family news, Jeff is going to be an Uncle again!  His sister, Tonya and brother-in-law, Andrew are expecting a baby in October!
   Jeff is doing well, he sometimes has trouble keeping food or liquids down so prayers with that are much appreciated.  We can thank every one of you for his continued positive reports, with your support and prayers this has happened!  I am looking forward to giving you the next great report! Praise the Lord!

Jeff with his sister and a few of his cousins camping at Holland State Park as a kid!

Hannah, Tonya, Allie, Jim & Jeff

(I'll probably get yelled at for this one ;)

The Results Are In...

    Praise the Lord we have another positive report to tell.  Jeff had his MRI yesterday morning in Ann Arbor.  There has been no new growth!! Our prayers have been answered again, thank you to all who have prayed in agreement with us!  Both Jeff's doctor and radiologist were very pleased with the results as well. 

    Saturday, March 9 was also Jeff's 24th birthday.  We celebrated by having a surprise birthday party for him at a restaurant.  I think he was pretty surprised, he sure seemed to be.  We had such a great time gathering for his birthday!  We are truly blessed with a wonderful, loving and supporting family!

    As of right now there is no change in his treatment plan.  He will continue the physical therapy and chemo as scheduled and have another scan in probably three months!  Thanks again for all the prayers, love and support!  Keep up the great work :)

Here are some photos from his surprise party

2 Years and Counting!

     It has already been almost 2 years since we were informed of Jeff's brain tumor.  There have been both good and bad times in between and we are so thankful everyday to have our quirky, funny, cocky Jeff here with us!  His results of the MRI taken on January 14 were very good!  I realize now I had not yet posted this information and I apologize.  There was NO new growth and the current tumor looks to be stagnant.  Both the radiologist and his doctor were more pleased than they thought they would be with the results, our God is so Good!!  

Here are the images from his previous and his current scan...

                                                   

The scans on the left are those from September and the ones on the right are from January.  Swelling has gone down and the tumor has subsided.  The tumor is the kinda white stuff...

   Currently Jeff is taking chemo pills about 5 times a month and going in for chemo every other

Friday.  He is also going to physical therapy a couple times a week just to keep him moving.  We are all definitely looking forward to the Spring so we can get out and do the outdoor stuff we love to do!  Jeff does struggle with his memory and understanding, your prayers for this would be greatly appreciated!!

  Monday, March 11 is his next scan in Ann Arbor.  We are believing for even better news!  He will go to have his scan and then an appointment with Dr. Mommoser and the radiologist after that.  We should have results early afternoon.  Bring on the good news and bring on the sunshine!!!  Thank you for your continued prayers, we have seen the miraculous work of God in Jeff!

Jeff, Andrew, Tonya, Kassie, Dylan, Justin and Makayla...Another Mexico memory!





Update

      It's a New Year, bringing new memories, new challenges and new beginnings.  Since our last update Jeff and his family took a wonderful trip to Mexico.  Staying in the Riviera Maya area in an all-inclusive hotel for a week.  Even Jeff's niece and nephew were able to join them.  It truly was a blessing for everyone to be there and soo many memories were created that will last forever!  Everyday we were able to enjoy special family time whether we sat at the pool or went shopping in town!

                                                                         

Jeff and his sister, Tonya

Jeff and his niece, Makayla

Dad, Mom, Kassie, Dylan, Justin, Jeff and Andrew

     Upon returning to "The States" we jumped back into kicking-cancer's-butt mode!  Jeff and his Mom were in Ann Arbor for 3 weeks, coming home on the weekends.  Jeff underwent radiation daily for about a half an hour.  He was not doing his strong chemo during this time, just a once a week visit in Muskegon.  They stayed in an almost apartment like room with their own kitchen.  The room was near the mall so they did not get too bored ;)

     On his last day of radiation, he had an appointment with Dr. Mommoser.  He was not himself and the Doctor had presumed he was having seizures.  They sent him to the hospital, he then stayed an extra few days to allow the doctors to adjust his medications.  The scans they took showed nothing new, therefore they knew they just had to update his meds.  Once his medications were right and the seizures had stopped for a period of time, he was able to return home.  This was all just before Christmas. 

 Silly Jeff face and Grandma Rands

     We had a wonderful Christmas!  Jeff has taken up flying toy helicopters, which he really enjoys.  He bought his Dad one for Christmas and his brother-in-law, Justin, went out and got himself a couple to join.  It is hard to believe 2013 is already here!  We are believing this will be the year Jeff will become Cancer-free, go into remission!  There is power in numbers, we ask that you believe in Jeff's healing with us!

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  Mark 11:24       

     Tomorrow, Monday January 14, Jeff has an MRI scheduled at UofM.  This is the first scan since his radiation ended.  He had to wait at least a month since his last appointment to allow for any swelling to go down.  We should have the results of those scans by afternoon.  Those scans WILL show that the radiation has worked and the tumor has died.  This is what we are believing!  Pray with us that this will be the truth!

"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."  John 15:7   

     When we find out the results, I will again update!  Thank you for all of your support and prayers!

Ups and Downs

      Well summer is over and it sure was a busy and eventful one!  We have created some wonderful memories as a family with many more to come!  Jeff has been getting a regular chemo treatment that consisted of pills and an every other week treatment at the Johnson Cancer Center in Muskegon.

     Just a couple weeks ago Jeff and his mom went to Massachusetts to learn about a lifestyle change known as the Macrobiotic Diet.  They heard about this diet from a family friend who knew someone with cancer that tried this diet and it had improved their condition.  Basically the diet consists of lots of whole grains and rice, some fish and other strictly organic components.  The goal of this diet is to eliminate putting food in your body that cancer cells feed off of.  Sugars, processed foods and foods high in fats, added antibiotics and stimulating components such as caffeine are almost like an added fuel for cancer cells.





"Macrobiotics has long been advocated by some as a preventative and cure for cancer.  Michio Kushi's book The Cancer Prevention Diet outlines the fundamental philosophy for the diet and cancer prevention. There is evidence that a diet high in whole grains and vegetables and possibly low in saturated fat, red meat, and preserved meat products can help to prevent many types of cancer. A study at the Tulane School of Public Health conducted by James P. Carter and others reported significant improvement in cancer patient longevity (177 months compared to 91 months) when patients practiced the macrobiotic diet."



 **Wikipedia.com

     The diet has definitely been an adjustment for Jeff.  If you know Jeff his diet when he lived on his own pretty much consisted of candy and energy drinks, so yes this has been quite a change ;) He is committed and doing well with it, we are so proud of him!

Jeff, his mom and sister Kassie at his cousin's wedding in September

     Just before Jeff left for Massachusetts he had an MRI.  The news was both good and bad.  The old tumor, located in the back left side of his head has shrunk and swelling has gone down!  However, the new tumor has grown by his temporal lobe on the left side, further affecting his memory and speech.  The "fingers" of the tumor are burying deeper into his brain.  The family met with Dr. Mommoser in Ann Arbor on Thursday about this news.  He has decided to change Jeff's chemotherapy treatment, he will still be taking his chemo pills but will undergo chemo at the center just about every week, once a week for 3 hours.  The tumor board also met just yesterday on Jeff's behalf and decided that radiation in the new growth area would be beneficial.  We are unsure of when he will start this or for how long, they are developing a plan for him.  We are so thankful to have such skilled hands working for Jeff!

     Jeff, his Mom, Dad, Sister Tonya and brother-in-law Andrew were also baptized this summer in Jeff's name.  A truly touching and wonderful family moment for them! We are so blessed to have such a wonderful community to share in our triumphs and struggles.  We feel all of your thoughts and prayers and appreciate it all!



       Again, thank you for your continued prayers and support!  The power of prayer will triumph over all.  Jeff is due to have another scan in just over a month and we are believing in healing!  Let's kick this cancers butt!!!!