The Mask...

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.
Psalm 148:1-5

It's time for a fun post!! So on my last day of radiation, one of the girls asked me, "Would you like to take your mask with you?" What? Are you kidding me? Why would I want to remember something like that? My response with a laugh was: "Only so I can burn it." She laughed, handed it to me, and said her goodbyes. So now I'm stuck with this beloved mask.

Zac and I thought it would be fun to have all of our blog followers help us decide what to do with the lovely mask. It can be a fun and clever way to destroy it. Or maybe a funny way to display it. Or any other clever thing you can think of (no offense will be taken - all ideas welcome!) I've included a picture of me wearing the mask and also a picture of what I got to bring home. We know you're creative, so give us your ideas. Click on the "comment" link below. If you're technically challenged, email me your ideas at stacieranee@hotmail.com. We want to hear from you!!! We'll give you a few weeks before we decide the winner. Have fun!!

First MRI Update

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:10-11

Well, we made it through a long morning of appointments and are back in Ankeny. We hit the road at 6AM and started with an MRI first thing when we got to Iowa City. I then headed to my oncologist where we had to wait two hours!!! But Zac and I made it fun and tried to keep each other awake by making up games in the exam room. Our last stop was with my radiation oncologist before heading home.

Now for the news you've been waiting for. There has been no growth in the tumor. The treatment itself could have caused it to grow - so PRAISE THE LORD that it didn't! The tumor is, in fact, about the same size, and perhaps slightly smaller. We were able to see the scans and to our untrained eyes, we felt it looked smaller, but then, we're no doctors! They were optimistic that there had been no new growth and that it may be slightly smaller. With all this said, they see no need to continue with chemo for right now. This leaves things open for the future - if needed, I would have the chemo available as a treatment option down the road.

Please continue to pray for my vision and hearing. The hearing problems I'm having could possibly be damage from the radiation as two of the radiation beams were right above my ears. I don't go back for my next MRI/app't until November, unless the hearing and vision get worse. Praise God for the MRI report today and please keep praying with us for the pray requests listed at the side. We continue to pray for a big miracle, from our big God - that the tumor will be gone. He has provided for us, protected us, encouraged us, loved us, guided us....and we know there's so much more in store.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Hebrews 13:18

Just wanted to post an update tonight with some current prayer requests. I had been feeling pretty good the past few weeks, as far as strength and energy level. However, I still need your prayers for my vision. I am struggling with blurry vision and we'll see what the doctors have to say when I have my check-up this Wednesday. I'm also noticing hearing changes. My ears have been super sensitive the past month. Different noises make me cringe as they instantly hurt my ears. The ringing is still noticable and I haven't noticed that I can hear any better, only that they hurt from certain noises.

My vision and hearing have been the two main issues. However, these two things have been applified the past couple days as I've come down with a bad head cold and sore throat. My ears are doing crazy things because of the cold, which is creating balance issues. And every time I cough, it instantly hurts my head. I've also been having slight breathing issues through all of this.

I have my one-month MRI this Wednesday, the 19th, followed my several doctor appointments. Please pray for a good report! We will definitely keep you posted on how it goes.

Relay For Life

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, and my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:1-2

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in the Franklin County Relay for Life in Hampton, Iowa. Relay for Life is an overnight event, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, which raises money for cancer research and programs. Among the recipients of money raised is places like The Hope Lodge. Zac and I were honored to attend and participate. The picture above is after completing the "Survivor Lap" around the track. Thank you to my family, who purchased several luminaries in my honor.

Please continue to pray for my vision. It continues to be slightly fuzzy recently, along with the double vision. Each day's a new day, some days are better than others. The bad days remind me that there's still a long way to go in this journey. Please pray for new strength each day as there are lots more hurdles to face.

Vision

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Matthew 4:23-24

We keep on praising God for his hand of protection, his love, and his mercy. I am so thankful that many of the side effects from treatment are slowly being healed. However, there are still many things left to pray for, including prayers of healing for the damage the tumor has already done. In the next few weeks we want to focus in on each request. Tonight we want to specifically pray for my vision.

Over the past year I developed double vision when looking to the right. Please pray with us that this would be healed. Also, the past couple of days my vision in both eyes has been somewhat blurry. Pray that this will not grow into something more serious and that in fact, my eyes would clear up. There is no doubt that part of Jesus' earthly ministry was healing the sick and we still believe He heals today. That's why we ask that you join us in prayer for complete healing of my vision.