It Happened Today...Hooray!

So THIS happened today: 

Wendy has OFFICIALLY RUNG THE BELL! Chemotherapy treatment 16 of 16 completed! What a wonderful celebration that is! May we give GLORY to God! Phase one of Wendy-Woo Striking Out Breast Cancer is OVER!!

Please, please continue to pray as Wendy has some additional tests/treatments done this week, including a blood transfusion tomorrow, as her red blood cells were low today. More updates to come...but for today I will leave you with this!

So it is said..."And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:19-20

 Blessings, K

The Final Countdown

Well, friends...it's the final countdown to Wendy Woo's last chemo treatment! It has been a long week since treatment no. 11, with some very frustrating and nerve-wrecking setbacks along the way, but we are choosing to look forward to the week ahead! 

Tomorrow, Wendy heads in to discuss surgery details with her surgeon. It is a BIG appointment, as they are hoping to schedule a date for surgery in early 2016. Updates to come... standby. 

She also has a WBC booster planned for tomorrow, in hopes that ALL levels are chemo-ready on TUESDAY! 

And finally, IF all is well, Tuesday afternoon will mark 16 of 16 total chemotherapy treatments and the END of this phase of striking out breast cancer! 

Friends - I couldn't possibly over-emphasize how important prayer is in the next 48 hours. I KNOW you all think of them and pray often, but please, please lift them up. They are still fighting and WILL NOT quit, but they are understandably weary. Ready to be done with this phase and put it behind them!! Every setback is a heartbreak, and we are trusting God for His best this week!

- Pray for Wendy's appointment tomorrow with the surgeon. There will be a lot of new information and a formal reality (the date) for the next step. Pray that she is not overwhelmed but comforted by the plan. 

- Pray for Wendy's WBC and for success of the booster shots she has received Thursday, Friday and tomorrow morning. 

- Pray for Wendy's ear, which is still giving her fits. Though it seems the infection is improving, she still cannot hear well. She will likely need to see an ENT.

- Pray for her RBC's and for her energy levels! We are praying for a transfusion free week again!

- Pray for her general health and well being, and for her heart. Cancer is a very isolating experience. Life goes on for everyone around her, leaving her feeling so out of the loop, and wishing she was in the hustle and bustle too. While we cannot understand fully what she is going through, we can empathize and pray for strength and peace! 

- Pray for Andy- her rock and caregiver. How incredibly hard it must be to watch your life partner and mother of your children suffer. Pray for his heart; for strength and peace as he stays in step with her, caring for her, the kids, working and ministering to others. 

- Pray for the kids. These last two weeks have been especially trying, and they have been rockstars.  Pray for their hearts, and for their schedules as well. 

- Pray for Hal and Nancy. They have had an extra load to carry as well. Pray that God would watch over them and grant them peace. 

Look for an update coming soon. In the meantime, cling to God. In the midst of our powerlessness to take this reality from Wendy, we need HIM more than ever. God is so very faithful. ALWAYS. He is an awesome God, mighty to save. As we pray together in one voice for our sister, it is sweet incense to Him. 

God proved His love for us by having His only Son Jesus suffer on our behalf, that we might be with them in heaven one day. And in due time, all things will be made new. In the meantime, we lift up our sister, trusting she is HIS, and KNOWING that He will glorify HIMSELF through her story and His answer to our prayers for her! 

Praying His blessings over YOU tonight- K

Fight Song!

A little update:

Treatment no. 11 of 12 happening NOW! Praise The Lord! Wendy's labs were MORE than adequate for chemo today, and her ear infection is improving!! Last week proved rough, but Wendy-Woo's still got a lot of fight left in her! Singing her fight song loudly today!

Heavy Burdens

This week has carried many burden's for Wendy-Woo... but we are resting in God's promises and have faith in HIS perfect plan. 

Wendy was unable to receive chemotherapy this week at all. As you know, her white blood cells were too low in the beginning of the week to receive therapy. Wednesday night, in the middle of the night, she awoke with severe ear pain. She was able to have the nurse practitioner take a look on Thursday morning, and her suspicions were confirmed...an ear infection. She was quickly placed on antibiotics, given yet another white blood cell booster, and sent home with cancelled chemo this week. 

She returned Friday morning to have her labs rechecked, and was able to see the Dr. Thankfully, her red cell counts had increased, which meant NO TRANSFUSION this week, which was a blessing in light of the chaos of the infusion center amidst a relocation! She did receive yet another white cell booster, since those counts are still borderline low, and has to increase her potassium intake as well. 

Now, we wait til Tuesday! Her ear pain is significantly improved over those first 24 hours, besides the inability to hear super well. Her reds were headed up, as were her whites! BUT WE REALLY NEED THOSE BAD BOYS TO STAY THAT WAY OVER THE WEEKEND! 

This journey has been blessed by the fact that Wendy has not had to fight a lot of illness. We praise God that despite white blood cells that have been in the tanker for quite some time that she has not been sick for prolonged periods. However, this stinks! The week has been filled with frustration and discouragement. And yet, Wendy is DETERMINED to complete this therapy that has been recommended to her. SO, prayer warriors, 2 MORE TREATMENTS it is, and we need to storm the throne of God for His provision! 

Pray for: 

• Wendy's ear and sinuses to heal. 
• Wendy's white blood cells to increase and remain at treatment level. 
• Wendy's red blood cells to remain or increase so no transfusions are needed.
• Wendy's potassium, which is slightly low.
• Wendy's general fatigue and soreness to go away. 
• Wendy's ability to participate in the longings of her heart this weekend: the Christmas Store, church and Luke's musical! 
• For Wendy's heart. Weeks like this remind her much too much that she has cancer. And cancer sucks. We hate cancer. Please pray for a renewal of her peace, hope and joy. 
• For Andy. It is hard to watch your love hurt and sick. It is hard to keep all the balls in the air. It is hard to receive her frustrations. It is hard. But he is a rock. God has gifted him for a time as this. Pray for him.
• For the kids- enough said.
• For Wendy's parents and family as they care for her. 

This week was not a surprise to God. His grace is enough. In His perfect timing, everything will turn out right. This is my declaration. 

Many blessings to each of you, K.

Keeping the Faith in Disappointment

God's plans were not our plans today...Wendy's chemo treatment was once again suspended for low white cells. As we near the end of therapy, her immune system is just wiped out from the chemo, and it takes her body just a little more effort to respond to the booster shots. She received another booster today, and will get yet another tomorrow and return on Friday to re-attempt chemo this week. Her red cells have also dropped, so they will also be monitoring those for the need for another transfusion.

Please continue to pray for Wendy's heart. Today was a disappointment of massive proportion, and she is understandably weary. When our hopeful expectations don't meet up with the reality of our current circumstances, hope is drained from us a bit. Pray that the God of healing, comfort, and peace would envelop her and her family tonight!

Blessings, K

The wrong number...

Well, it wasn't in the numbers today. Wendy was not able to receive chemo no. 11 today, as her WBC count was too low. While she received a booster shot yesterday, it apparently had not had enough time to give her a good boost into the safe zone. She received another booster shot today, and will have her labs rechecked tomorrow. Hopefully, if her counts are significantly improved, she will be able to have chemo and she will be back on target!  

Delay's at this point in the game are hard on the heart. Please remember Wendy in your prayers today, and let's shoot for a STELLAR day tomorrow!! In the meantime, praying HIS Numbers over you tonight, my strong friend! 

Blessings! K

All in the Numbers

...chemo treatments left for Wendy-Woo!

But only 12 more hours before we can say...

...only ONE treatment to go!!! (and the number we want Wendy's white blood count to be over for treatment tomorrow!!)

December 9th is the goal date for a MAJOR celebration: Ashlyn's 15th birthday and the ringing of the bell signaling NO MORE CHEMO! 

Continue to pray for Wendy's December 14th appointment with her surgeon! 

...and continue to pray for ZERO complications...

... in the NINE days she has to go on this leg of her journey to strike out breast cancer!

Thank you for your ongoing prayers! Praying that we can bring a positive update tomorrow! And tonight, let's keep on singing of His goodness!

Blessings! K

Thank You, God!

Just a little update: Wendy's labs are improved this morning, and she is headed for the infusion chair for chemo no. 10! THANK YOU, GOD!!! 

Wendy received a blood transfusion and her WBC booster yesterday afternoon, and was already feeling a little more energy last night. She was able to get her laundry done and kids packed for their Thanksgiving adventure. So today, when treatment is done, she will be cleared for travel. Continue to PRAY that treatment goes smoothly, NO unexpected turns, NO side effects, and for safe travels for their family! 

Blessings to each of you this Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for- remember to take a moment around your table this year to tell those you care about why you love them! Wendy's diagnosis reminds us that these little interruptions come along sometimes... make sure to hug the people in your life and thank God for the blessings He has given you!

K

And if not...

Today, Wendy's labs were not quite up to par. Unfortunately this means no chemo for today. She will have a transfusion this afternoon, and get another white blood cell booster, as well. Her red and white blood cells were both a little low. Her last white booster was Friday, so it seems that her levels just couldn't hold steady with a couple extra days before treatment (she normally gets the shot 2 days before treatment, and this was 4 days).

They are hoping that TOMORROW, her levels will be much improved, so she can receive chemo before traveling for the holidays! She has an early morning appointment in the infusion center just in case! WE ARE BOLDLY PRAYING FOR TREATMENT LEVEL LABS IN THE AM!  Her kiddos are wildly looking forward to a couple nights in the hotel and cousins, so understandably, Wendy's heart would hate to disappoint them with yet another interruption! Pray for tomorrow to go as smoothly as possible!!!

Many blessings! Let's join together in prayer today!!!

K

Tomorrow, Tomorrow

I couldn't help myself but to add a pic of this little beauty in honor of our own Ginger. 

Tomorrow Wendy heads in a day early for labs and chemo number 10!!! Her labs were improved on Friday, and she was able to spend the weekend doing what she loves- serving! And by serving, I mean shopping!!! A LOT of shopping, as we prepare for the 2015 Serve St. Charles Christmas Store. She didn't miss a beat, or complain once. I had to call her out by the end of Saturday because we had done soooo much walking. 7 stores and about 12 hours later she finally gave into the scooter at our last stop in 2 days, and that was only from coercion and peer pressure! (Not from the weak of will- that's for sure!)

(This was 1 of 3 loads!!!) 

After the shopping craze, Sunday and today were no less nuts, with recitals and Thanksgiving basket prep at RBC last night, and basket distribution this am! Wendy was there with bells on, doing her part in blessing 93 families this Thanksgiving with food for their tables. It has been a full weekend of serving!! I couldn't be more thankful or proud that my bestie was along for the whole ride! 

Please pray for Wendy's full day tomorrow:

- labs (and GREAT results). Her RBCs have been slowly on decline, as well as her potassium, so pray for healthy levels! I think everyone is slightly anticipating the need for a transfusion, so pray for peace and clarity on the timing of

that need this holiday week!

- for a YES to chemo! (3 to go!)

- for their schedule tomorrow- appointments, people and events to get to at variable times! Hard when we can't control outcomes or other people's schedules!

Also- thanks for continuing to pray for the Helton family unit. Taylor's appointment Friday went somewhat as expected and they have a very proactive plan! Continue to pray for her, for Ashlyn, Luke, and Andy as he cares for all. God Bless the caregiver! 

Looking forward to sharing a POSITIVE update tomorrow! Many blessings! K 

Three left!!

Can you believe it!? Wendy-Woo only has 3 treatments remaining before saying hasta la vista to chemotherapy!!! Everyone get up and do a happy dance! (Really)...(I am not moving on until you join me!)

Wendy was able to receive treatment yesterday, though not without some setbacks. Her potassium was critically low, though her sodium was looking much improved. Her reds are down a bit from last week, but not to a treatment level yet, and her whites were ok. Unfortunately, her physician required an extended infusion to increase her potassium levels. While this was a little unexpected for the day, God certainly cared for her by allowing this to happen in the infusion center (read: not the hospital) and she STILL GOT CHEMO! I know she hid under the blanket when she saw her nurse coming toward her with the "look", but overall, if something had to be fixed, this was the best way possible.  And to top it off, even though the infusion took about 2 hours longer than normal, she was able to squeeze in her Benadryl-induced nap and make it to church last night! Great comeback, God!

Wendy will head back in tomorrow to have her labs rechecked, as well as receive her white blood cell booster shot, so she can receive chemo a day earlier next week (Tuesday). Please pray that her levels look MUCH better tomorrow, so she is able to enjoy the weekend ahead! 

Also, please pray for: 

• Taylor- she is headed to the Dr. tomorrow for some testing and some labs herself. Pray for mom and dad and Taylor as they go tomorrow! 
• Wendy's general health, soreness, and energy levels! The Great Christmas Store shopping excursions are happening this weekend, and Wendy desperately wants to go, and we want her to go! This time, shopping really is a PRIORITY! 
• NO setbacks leading up to December 9th and the LAST DAY OF CHEMO! I know Wendy has her heart set on ringing that bell on Ashlyn's birthday- what a blessed way to celebrate this HUGE milestone! 
• NORMAL/STABLE labs! 
• Wendy's upcoming visit with her surgeon- for peace and clarity as they understand and schedule the procedure. 
• Ashlyn, Taylor and Luke- their next few weeks are FULL, so pray for their health, school and church responsibilities! 
• Andy as he continues to care for everyone and juggle his work and church responsibilities! 

Thank you all for the blessing you have been to Wendy and her family these past few months. It is sometimes hard to believe that this has been our new reality for almost 5 months already- hopefully almost half way through this journey towards striking out breast cancer! Let us remain steadfast with our eyes on the keeper and perfecter of our faith, for HE is faithful, trustworthy, and the author of perfect peace. The victory is WON.

Blessings- K

Almost there....Thankful for His faithfulness!!

Well the past few days I've had some emotional moments as I'm nearing the end of my chemo....ONLY 4 MORE TREATMENTS!!!!  I'm looking forward to celebrating my last chemo & Ashlyn's 15th birthday all in one day...hopefully as long as I behave myself!  This has been an overwhelming almost 6 months!  We have been blessed with amazing doctors, nurses, family, friends, strangers, etc.  You have blessed us with prayers, cards, texts, emails, buying Wendy-Woo wear, meals, gift cards, etc.  We've had a some big bumps in the road but God has been faithful!!  My family could not have gotten through this first with out our God...He has been so faithful to our family!  We have never had to put our trust in Him more than now!  Secondly we couldn't have gotten through this with out our family & friends!  Thank you!

Yesterday I was blessed to be at church!  So far throughout this journey I've only had to miss one Sunday!  Yesterday was a very special service for me...Bro Pat came back to preach.  Bro Pat had been my pastor for almost 30 years.  We were close so when he retired it was hard!  So I was looking forward to hearing him preach!  Honestly yesterday's service was just a great service!!  We sang the song 'We Will Remember' like we have several times.  But yesterday wow that song just hit me!!!  I've even watched it on You Tube several times since yesterday (by Prestonwood Choir Bradley Knight's Last Sunday).  The part that got me was these words...

When we walk through life's darkest valleys.
We will look back at all you have done.
And we will shout "Our God is Good"
And He is the faithful one!

Wow He has been so faithful during my darkest valley!  Even through the diagnosis, blood transfusions, the postponed treatments and the hospital stay He has been faithful!


Even while typing this I'm just brought to tears at His faithfulness!!!  


~Wendy

Wait and Hope

Here we are... the midst of the "wait". Joyful in hope, patient in present affliction and faithfully united in prayer! Wendy just completed her 8th treatment yesterday, leaving only 4 chemo treatments remaining! 4 MORE WEEKS before we hear that glorious bell!! (Insert happy dance- many tears scheduled for that day!) 

Wendy's labs looked marvelous yesterday, and the nurse even gave her a copy for framing. It is amazing how our perspectives have changed over the weeks- from dread that chemo day is coming to celebration of an uneventful chemo visit and another "X" on the calendar! We reflected this week how there have been many things unexpected on this journey. Things we expected didn't happen. Things we didn't expect happened. Things we hadn't even thought of at all reared their ugly heads. Curve balls. But Wendy has taken at each of them with her bat. She hasn't walked away from the plate with her head down- she continues to battle. Wendy-Woo is striking out breast cancer! 

Many of you may find yourself wondering, what's next? We wait with hopeful anticipation for the days ahead! Every indication points to full healing. To a cure. To a future. Please continue to pray with me for these things coming in the days ahead: 

• Wendy has an upcoming appointment with her surgeon who will be performing her surgery. She is electing to have a lumpectomy, and the surgeon is expected to clean out the location of the tumor (which will prayerfully be ALL GONE) and will remove the previously affected lymph node. This surgery is expected to be outpatient and should occur sometime in January (4-6 weeks following chemotherapy). The official surgery date will be scheduled at her appointment.
• Wendy was able to meet with her radiation oncologist. Her appointment was very encouraging! There is a plan in place for following surgery, and she is expected to receive 28-33 treatments. These are Monday-Friday treatments which will last approximately 15 minutes, and will begin approximately 4 weeks following her surgery. She can anticipate some skin irritation and general fatigue, so let's begin praying for that now!
• Continue to pray for Wendy's labs in the weeks ahead- her red's, her white's, her sodium and potassium. 
• Pray for her health and her stamina as she finishes this part of the race. We want her to stay WELL so her treatment schedule is on track! 
• Pray for her family as they continue to care for her and for one another! Wendy's last chemo treatment should be on Ashlyn's 15th birthday- what a precious gift!! (both of them!)

Thank you to all who have read, prayed, encouraged, and helped. You are a blessing! K

So Very Thankful!

Today, there are blessings to report and praises to SING! God is, indeed, faithful, and I am so very thankful! 

Wendy's labs were stable today, and she was able to receive treatment. Even better, treatment was uneventful and she was on her way home by lunchtime! Oh, what a difference a week can make! No. 7 is in. the. bag.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Wendy and her family during the upcoming week. She will head back for her booster shot on Monday, and labs and chemo on Wednesday! 

My daughter, Ruby, has been adding "thank you for my blessings" to her prayers lately. This isn't something Brandon or I have specifically taught her, and we think it's pretty profound that she even understands that HE is the source of our blessings. Tonight, I am reminded by her little prayer before closing her eyes that I too am so very thankful for my blessings- Wendy-Woo is one of them!

Blessings!! K 

With God's Help...

Wendy continues to power through as God leads her through this battle...

She had her labs rechecked yesterday, as well as her white blood cell booster. Her sodium had fallen slightly, requiring her to receive some fluids in the infusion center and a prescription to attempt to stabilize her levels. Praise God for allowing this to be treated outpatient! 

Wendy will head back to the cancer center tomorrow morning for chemo no. 7, God willing. Pray for:

- Stable counts, including WBC, RBC, sodium and potassium

- Protection against any hospitalization!

- NO soreness or pain

- hair, nail, and skin health 

- appetite and nutrition 

- protection from illness or exposure to illness 

- future but upcoming appointments with the surgeon and radiation oncologist to determine the next phases of treatment 

- family and work commitments 

- Andy, Ashlyn, Taylor and Luke

- family and friends supporting Wendy and one another 

- protection of health for upcoming commitments that Wendy loves to participate in (Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas musicals, Christmas Store, Christmas baskets) 

- November birthday blessings ;-) 

Looking forward to a POSITIVE, Praise God update tomorrow- God is faithful.

Blessings- K

A New Day Dawning...

I love this song, 10,000 Reasons, and all it promises, but mostly I love the promise of new mercies that come with each new sunrise, and a heart's prayer to still be thankful when it sets. 

As we enter into November today, 4 months since Wendy's interruption of life began, I invite you to join me in being thankful. Thankful for early diagnosis. Thankful for negative genetic testing. Thankful for a team of Doctors and nurses who have the skill set to care for her week after week. Thankful that the prescribed treatment they have given appears to be working. Thankful that they can no longer really feel her tumor. Thankful that even though she has had a few "not today" moments, she has had a thousand more "I can today's". Thankful that even though she had to go to the hospital this week, chemo wasn't delayed and the treatment worked to stabilize her levels in as little time as possible. Thankful for being discharged from the hospital on Friday. Thankful for God's YES to Halloween with kids and retirement parties with family and friends. Thankful that people are willing to donate blood so she can feel better after transfusions. Thankful for friends, near and far. Thankful for a family who loves her to the moon and back. Thankful even though we hate cancer. Thankful and singing when the evening comes. 

Tomorrow, with the sunrise, we enter a new week. We pray for outcomes that are different than last week- for normal labs, a healthy immune system, the ability to receive chemo without a hitch on Wednesday, for no joint and muscle aches, for something that resembles "normal", for more "I can" days than "not today's".

We choose to look forward in thanksgiving and in hopeful anticipation--only looking back to see how far we've come!! Thanks for your ongoing prayers and support as Wendy-Woo Strikes Out Cancer! 

Blessings- K

Prayer Request!

Hi friends!

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and support for Wendy-Woo and family! Wendy was able to complete chemo no.6 yesterday as planned- HALFWAY THERE! However, her blood counts were quite abnormal, and she had to be hospitalized to get everything back in order. She is doing well overall, but this was certainly an unexpected development and difficult to adjust to! She has had the ongoing support of Andy and her family overnight, as well as a great team of physicians and nurses, and things are looking better already.

Please pray for Wendy, specifically for her counts to normalize, and for her to have peace during this time away from the kids! This is absolutely correctable, but it has to be done purposefully and slowly, so the length of her hospitalization is unknown. She has already improved tremendously since yesterday, and we are praying for GOD'S BEST for her.

Please also pray for the kids as mom is away, and for Andy as he cares for them. Pray, too, for Hal and Nancy as they care for their kids and grandkids while at the same time approaching a milestone day- retirement!! 

Wendy's greatest wish today is that she can ENJOY the blessings of the weekend to come - Halloween with her kids and celebration with her dad. Please join me in praying that God would grant the wishes of her heart! (While at the same time protecting her body and doing what is BEST for her, physically!) He is GOD, after all, and He hears our prayers all the while KNOWING the desires of our heart! 

PLEASE NOTE- visitors are very limited right now, as her white counts are almost non-existent, putting her at much greater risk of infection. If you are or have been sick, or anyone in your home is sick, please do not visit at this time; texts, calls, Facebook messages or emails to send love are always welcome! 

Thanks for joining me in prayer for our sister and friend, Wendy-Woo! 

Blessings- K