Well fortunately no news is good news, which is why I haven't posted in a long time. So many people have inquired about what has been happening with Wendy that an update is in order and another request for prayer.
This Friday, May 9th, she is back at Columbia Presbyterian for surgery. The reconstruction was put off until now because she had battled so many infections and needed a good length of time to heal and get stronger. The surgery will take from 12-14 hours and is quite involved. She will be in the hospital for 4-5 days and leaving with four drains. Recovery is lengthy and difficult and will require limited upper body mobility and physical therapy.
Wendy has become a stronger person through all of this and has grown tremendously in her faith. We are all very grateful for all the people that have shown so much support and blessed Wendy and her family in a variety of ways. Truly His hands extended.
I have put up a meal an online meal schedule for anyone that has time to help out in this area. Go to Takethemameal.com to sign up. Contact me with any questions. Hoping this is the last time for such a request in her behalf. I will post next week to let you all know her progress.
~Lauri~
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, March 18, 2013
Back in the Hospital
Ugh......Wendy is back in NYC in the hospital. She has developed an infection which is being treated with IV antibiotics. Her and I drove down on Saturday and spent too much time in the ER waiting for a room. I came home and Bill went down yesterday. She will see her doctors this morning to get a plan.
The problem comes in with the start of radiation. It is supposed to start next week but if the infection doesn't clear, or comes back, that will be postponed. It is all really complicated but if things don't go well she will need another surgery to remove the expander and infection. Of course we are hoping for the best and ask you all to pray.
I will update later today....off to work.
~Lauri~
The problem comes in with the start of radiation. It is supposed to start next week but if the infection doesn't clear, or comes back, that will be postponed. It is all really complicated but if things don't go well she will need another surgery to remove the expander and infection. Of course we are hoping for the best and ask you all to pray.
I will update later today....off to work.
~Lauri~
Friday, February 15, 2013
Out of Surgery.......Been a long day.
It is 10pm and Wendy is finally in her room. We got here at 9:30 and she didn't get in til 3:30. Surgery was at 4:30 and the doctor gave a good report. The main tumor had no active cancer cells and her removed any suspicious lymph glands. There will be a pathology report in a week or so but everything looked good. The plastic surgeon came out later and everything looked good on that end too. She is resting now and will probably be released tomorrow. We will bring her back to the hotel and spend Saturday night there to give her another day to rest before she travels home. Please pray for smooth traveling and comfort for poor Wendy.
Thank you all for your prayers....we all felt them today. It's important to Wendy to have so much love and support.
~Lauri~
Thank you all for your prayers....we all felt them today. It's important to Wendy to have so much love and support.
~Lauri~
A Late Start
We arrived at the hospital at 9:30 this morning and they did not bring her to surgery until 3:30 and started at 4:30. We will not know anything for a few more hours. I'll try to update after we finally hear something.
~Lauri~
~Lauri~
Thursday, February 14, 2013
The Journey Continues
Today is Bill and Wendy's 24th anniversary. Usually the four of us would be celebrating with a weekend trip or a nice dinner and a movie. Although we did catch a meal together last night, our spirits were a little more serious this year.
We are heading for NYC later today for Wendy's surgery. She will be having a mastectomy and involved lymph nodes removed tomorrow. After that she will need to travel back to her doctor once a week for a few weeks to have an expander adjusted to prepare for reconstruction in the fall. Once she heals from the surgery, in about a month, she will be having radiation five days a week for six weeks which will be taken care of locally. All this to say, she still has a long road ahead. When the tumor is removed tomorrow it will be tested to see what effect the chemotherapy had. There wasn't much physical change to the tumor at the end of her treatments, but we are expecting the cells to be eradicated from the tumor and lymphs.
On a good note, Wendy is very happy that she has a five o'clock shadow on her little head!!!! It won't be long and she can retire her wig, hats and scarves. Just in time for summer sun.
One thing that people keep telling Wendy is that she is brave. She is forever telling me that she finds that ironic because she feels like such a chicken. As far as I am concerned bravery isn't being fearless, it is facing our fears in quiet confidence, knowing that our lives are in God's hands and that He is the author and finisher of our Faith. I can assure you all, that Wendy has been and continues to do just that. Battling this disease has increased her trust and faith and caused her to take stock of what is important and everlasting in our lives. It's not that she doesn't struggle.....who wouldn't. But at the end of those times, she always comes back around to putting her trust in God.
We are only housed in our bodies for a time and can hope that they serve us well. Wendy has birthed and nourished ten children and that will always be her eternal reward. Right now her body is not cooperating very well......lol, but she is doing what she needs to in order to get it to behave again.
Anyway, I will update after the surgery to keep you all informed. In the meantime, continue to keep her in your prayers.
~Lauri~
We are heading for NYC later today for Wendy's surgery. She will be having a mastectomy and involved lymph nodes removed tomorrow. After that she will need to travel back to her doctor once a week for a few weeks to have an expander adjusted to prepare for reconstruction in the fall. Once she heals from the surgery, in about a month, she will be having radiation five days a week for six weeks which will be taken care of locally. All this to say, she still has a long road ahead. When the tumor is removed tomorrow it will be tested to see what effect the chemotherapy had. There wasn't much physical change to the tumor at the end of her treatments, but we are expecting the cells to be eradicated from the tumor and lymphs.
On a good note, Wendy is very happy that she has a five o'clock shadow on her little head!!!! It won't be long and she can retire her wig, hats and scarves. Just in time for summer sun.
One thing that people keep telling Wendy is that she is brave. She is forever telling me that she finds that ironic because she feels like such a chicken. As far as I am concerned bravery isn't being fearless, it is facing our fears in quiet confidence, knowing that our lives are in God's hands and that He is the author and finisher of our Faith. I can assure you all, that Wendy has been and continues to do just that. Battling this disease has increased her trust and faith and caused her to take stock of what is important and everlasting in our lives. It's not that she doesn't struggle.....who wouldn't. But at the end of those times, she always comes back around to putting her trust in God.
We are only housed in our bodies for a time and can hope that they serve us well. Wendy has birthed and nourished ten children and that will always be her eternal reward. Right now her body is not cooperating very well......lol, but she is doing what she needs to in order to get it to behave again.
Anyway, I will update after the surgery to keep you all informed. In the meantime, continue to keep her in your prayers.
~Lauri~
Monday, January 28, 2013
February 15th Surgery
Wendy heard from the doctors office on Friday and her surgery is scheduled for February 15th. Bill, Linda and myself will be traveling with her. We will go down the night before. The staff thinks she will be able to leave the hospital the day after the surgery and if she is up to it, we will come home then. If not, we will stay in the hotel one more night and travel home on Sunday. Please mark your calendars and pray those days. She is hoping that Bill will be able to spend the night with her at the hospital.....so pray for that.
Some days it is very hard not to get buried under the weight of all this. Some days it is difficult to understand why a woman who loves the Lord and has given so much of herself to serve Him, is now going through such a battle. I can only try to put myself in her shoes. There is so much about life and death that I don't understand and probably never will. Most of us don't.
My only hope comes from knowing that God sees the beginning from the end. From believing that we are called according to His purposes. I believe the scripture that says that when the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise a standard against him. He cares. We are important to Him. In the sea of faces, in all of humanity, through all the ages, He knows the very number of hairs upon our heads. He is personal. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He knew us when we were yet being formed in our mother's womb. No matter what our circumstances, His love is overwhelming and His love is pure.
I believe that just as Jesus healed when He walked the earth, He heals today. To that end I will continue to pray for my friend. God is good. He loves Wendy. He loves me. His love for all of us is there for the taking.
So again, continue to pray and support Wendy and her family. And thank you all so much for everything this far.
~Lauri~
Some days it is very hard not to get buried under the weight of all this. Some days it is difficult to understand why a woman who loves the Lord and has given so much of herself to serve Him, is now going through such a battle. I can only try to put myself in her shoes. There is so much about life and death that I don't understand and probably never will. Most of us don't.
My only hope comes from knowing that God sees the beginning from the end. From believing that we are called according to His purposes. I believe the scripture that says that when the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise a standard against him. He cares. We are important to Him. In the sea of faces, in all of humanity, through all the ages, He knows the very number of hairs upon our heads. He is personal. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. He knew us when we were yet being formed in our mother's womb. No matter what our circumstances, His love is overwhelming and His love is pure.
I believe that just as Jesus healed when He walked the earth, He heals today. To that end I will continue to pray for my friend. God is good. He loves Wendy. He loves me. His love for all of us is there for the taking.
So again, continue to pray and support Wendy and her family. And thank you all so much for everything this far.
~Lauri~
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Warriors for Wendy: Chemo over....now what?
Warriors for Wendy: Chemo over....now what?: It's been awhile since I've updated the blog and I know so many of you are wondering about Wendy's progress. I have a few minutes to finally...
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