one more day...

Zabrina had a procedure done today, she is recovering this evening. Last night we had a bringing it to Jesus in prayer meeting. Tiffany, Kristen, Mona, Zabrina, Jeff and I poured out our hearts to God. First, we talked and laughed a lot which was amazingly good medicine. Kristen's story about buying her son a Jesus statue from the dollar store and Tiffany saying "I thought Jesus was free to us, I did not know he cost a dollar".
As we held hands and prayed, I realized the power of a circle of those who call on the name of the Lord.
So, as we moved through the events for Zabrina today, I envisioned the numerous prayers that surrounded us.
again thank you for your prayers

FYI
Zabrina's next treatment will be next Monday 2.2.09
The treatment was moved back a week because of today procedure

THIS IS A LOT

With each passing day of this journey for Zabrina, I become more acutely aware of how much she is in a fight for her life. Cancer/chemo continues to test her physically and mentally in ways I could never have imagined. I know you all are praying and I know God is and will continue to hear and answer the many prayers.
I am with Bri a lot and I find this so hard to comprehend. It would seem because we know the next treatment is the last one of the "really tough ones" should help ~ but honestly, it does not. Zabrina said, it is like she has been shot with a gun three times and has to be shot one more time. Friday we go to the radiation oncologist which will be an appointment where we are going to receive a lot of information to digest.
I think only four months of treatment but honestly watching Bri get through 15 minutes of all that chemo has left her with and without makes 4 months seem almost unachievable. But I know we have to go forward.
When you pray for Bri
Pray that He heals her spirtually, mentally and physically. Because I know when she is in a good place spirutally her mental and physical well being will follow.

Round three

Sorry there hasn't been an update for a while but there was nothing really remarkable until Monday. Monday started at midnight for us, as most days do begin at midnight this is not remarkable except that we were awake. Some of you have had the pleasure of meeting my best friend (dog) Maximus. Well he had been sick for a couple months and was being treated with no real results. Long story short he made a turn for the worse and was sick all night until I had to make a decision about 6am. Zabrina and I drove to my vet and the decision was made to put him down. It appeared he was in quite a bit of pain and discomfort so we gave him the best gift we could, a painless sleep. My mom was able to meet us at the vet and the staff there were very accomodating of our situation. Lot's of tears shed and I'm hurting pretty bad about now, we really miss him. We still have Bravo and those of you who have met him know that's of little comfort:) He's a bit of a nerotic freak.
After that ordeal it was back to my mom's house for a quick regrouping before heading off to round three. Everything went as planned and we had a nice talk with our social worker Jamie. She is very pleasant and helpful and as of next weekend off the market. We caught her when she slipped up and mentioned a fiance' and completely turned the tables on her. She will be a great asset as we progress through the next phases.
We met with the great Dr. Friedman again and he was positve as usuall. He is consulting with the Radiation Oncologist and Surgen to get the surgery ball rolling.
The wife is resting and recovering well, the fatigue is strong but the nausea is pretty light.
Sorry I can't muster much more for you all now, been a rough week and the details are kind of blurry.

Thank you all again for the prayers and to the sponsors for the care packages we really get a lift from them.

A Lump A Bump Don't Worry Just Hurry

Today Zabrina and Jeff went to her school, Zabrina wrote a book to read to her class to help them understand why Mrs. Lee is not their teacher right now.
Early after the diagnoses, a night when sleep would not come, Zabrina formed "her story" about the process from the lump to chemo to the cure with lots of prayer. The words came to Bri and the next morning she wrote them down.

Zabrina is still in the nadir (low white blood cell count)
So Jeff had the idea of rather than Zabrina wearing the mask, have her students wear the mask. Jeff wore scrubs, had the children wash their hands with purell, put on their mask (because they are going to be the doctors that help Bri get well).
Zabrina likes to say, Jeff was her opening act.
He warmed up the crowd very well!
Zabrina was not sure if she would make it through reading this part of her life that is unfolding for her day by day without crying ~ she did.
Zabrina then said, they could ask her any questions they wanted to about the book or they could ask what she got for Christmas. There were some questions about what they had just learned but then they wanted to know what she got for Christmas and wanted to tell Mrs. Lee what they had got.

Another day to say God is Good
God gave Bri the words for the book
He gave her an amazing husband that complimented the reading of
A Lump A Bump Dont Worry Just Hurry
He gave her the energy to go to school and share with her children

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!

Well an update for you all. We had an appointment with the oncologist today, the great Dr. Friedman. We were a little apprehensive and really not trying to predict what he would say, this was the first follow up with him since the treatment began. We began with a idle chit chat and then discussed some of the "little" stuff like constipation and prescriptions. That all went well and then he performed his exam on my Bride.

He palpated her left breast like he was playing a piano and then a look came over his face. It was a look we have seen before, you know the look, it's the kind that could go either way. That "huh" didn't expect to find that kind of face. Then he looked at Suzanne and I and said "Guys, this is amazing". The rest I cannot directly quote him on but it went something to the effect of I CAN'T EVEN FEEL ANYTHING. He said what he was feeling was remarkable. At this point shock of a different kind set in, the good kind, similar symptoms but good. The discussion then turned to our next course of action.

At this point lumpectomy is back on the table as an option, this was not even a thought at our first meeting. This news also means that we have bought time, the time to discuss everything with the surgeon and the radiation oncologist to determine the best type of surgery and treatment. In the meantime we are still doing the chemo until we have all the info we need. She will be getting the remaining 6 treatments it's just a matter of what order we do it in. The first four rounds of chemo are the worst part of all of this, the second 4 are a different kind and have different less potent side effects. Our doctor even makes math sound good. Today he said " You're half way through the hardest part".

The fight is far from over, we are not "cancer free", but we are in a great place considering the only other options we could have heard today where "it's the same" or "it's getting bigger". The past 3 days have been particularly tough and we have really been feeling the battle. Yesterday Zabrina and I came to a little breaking point, and today our prayers have been answered. We remain cautiously optimistic while we let this new news set in. We even had to ask the doctor if we were allowed to be excited about this, he reassured us that we were.

So a big PRAISE GOD and big THANK YOU to all of you. Keep up the good work.

Prayer Page

It has been suggested and agreed that we should have a separate page just for prayers and well wishes so not to muddy the page. So here it is, please feel free to post a scripture, prayer, or just a "thinking of you".

Winner of Five Rounds ~ Zabrina

Nicole Johnson performs drama at the women of faith conferences. One of her skits was about breast cancer. One of the lines in the skit is, I may have cancer but cancer does not have me. Seeing my daughter take control and decide to have her hair buzzed makes her winner of round 5
Round 1 Finding out she had cancer ~ still standing
Round 2 Three days of medical testing completed
Round 3 Completing her first treatment
Round 4 Completing her second treatment
Round 5 Deciding to buzz her hair

In the video Nicole talks about being angry ~ Bri has not been angry, she just repeats the doctors all saying "we don't see cancer in 30 years olds ~
you are too young"

Thank you for your prayers ~ God hears and answers
Continue to pray for Zabrina and Jeff
Sunday Bri's white blood cell count will be low for a week so pray for God's protection for her immune system.
Pray for her as she see her oncologist tomorrow (an amazing part of her team)

Oh, if you would like to watch Nicole's video the link is freshbrewedlife.com
(scroll down ~ Nicole is in a boxing ring)

Taking some of my power back!

Taking some of my power back!

It was Saturday morning as I showered that my hair started falling out in clumps in my hands. I spent the next few days trying to clean the mess that was left with every move I made. Well Thursday morning, a dear friend came over and helped me take some of my power back. I thought to myself in these terms, I can let it happen or I can make a choice for myself. Now the next morning, I had quite the comedic act going with my new buzzed look. Such things as “who authorized this hair do?” And “Do not let me go to that Best Cuts on Vine St. ever again!” Along with a few verses from Sinead O'Connor hit songs. All in all, I think it does not look to bad. I am not sure it is the look I have always wanted, but it is not the worst. I told my mom at this point my only choice is to grow it out.
Thanks for the prayers! I am here to tell you they are working!
God's word is perfect and always right on time
This is my verse for today :
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31