Still in the Fight: Mom's One Year Breast Cancer Update

My Mom, Grandma, and Aunt Estelle

Over a year ago, on August 2nd, 2018 my Mom, Carol, was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Stage 3c Breast Cancer. This past year, Mom’s been fighting for her life as she has gone through surgery, radiation, and almost two rounds of chemo therapy. After months of treatment, she's weary and tired with still no end in sight.

On top of everything else, my Mom has continued to be my Grandma’s full-time caregiver. With each passing year, my Grandma gets worse and worse as her Alzheimer’s condition advances. In the past few months, it’s become very apparent that my Mom needs to begin to transition my Grandma’s care to someone else. We’re so thankful for God’s provision in this area, because my Mom and her sister were able to find a nursing home for my Grandma. In a little over one week, my Grandma will move into her new home. As you can imagine, my Mom is busy making all the necessary arrangements as Grandma gets ready to transition to her new home.

When Grandma transitions to a nursing home, Mom will lose her main source of income as a caregiver. With her living alone, she will be responsible for paying all of her medical and household expenses. In the coming weeks, Mom is going to need financial help.

If you are able, please donate to Mom’s GoFund Me to help with her extra expenses. Thank you for trying to help relieve some of this current burden. Click here to donate now.

Don’t forget!! Look below to check out the list of other ways you can help my Mom during this time.

Ways You Can Help

 - Donate to my Mom’s GoFund Me she has a lot of expenses without her normal income, it would be a blessing if you could help relieve some of that burden for her right now. 

Click here to donate now.

- Bring my Mom a meal, especially if you’re in the area. You can even bring something that she can easily put in her freezer and heat up when she’s hungry. 

 - Order groceries from Safeway or Walmart and have them delivered to my Mom’s house. 

 - Send my Mom a card to let her know you were thinking of her. 

 - Send my Mom encouragement through text message or give her a call. 

 - Pray for my Mom that God would be a constant source of peace and strength to her during this time. Pray for complete healing from this disease.

Ladies, don’t forget… 

 Do your self breast exams! Get your mammograms! Be proactive! Save the TATAS!

Leaving Hong Kong

Sorry I've been a little quiet recently, it's been a crazy few months. Due to some complications with my husband's job, my family was forced to move from Hong Kong, back to the United States. You heard me right, we've moved back to the United States. Honestly, it seems too soon for us to be coming home. The whole time I was in Hong Kong packing up our stuff, I just kept thinking,

"I'm not ready. I'm not ready to go."

However, less than one year ago, I was thinking the same thing as we prepared to move to Hong Kong,

"I'm just not ready." 

My how the tables have turned. God sure did a miraculous work in our hearts in a very short time.

With reluctant hearts, on Friday, June 21st, we woke up very early in the morning and made our way to the airport. Everything felt so surreal. How could we already be leaving Hong Kong? Nevertheless, we go into our Uber and headed to Hong Kong International Airport. Our friends met us at the airport and helped with our luggage as we checked in for our flight. These men even prayed for us, before leaving. We already miss them so much!!

Our initial flights took us from Hong Kong to Beijing, China to Houston, Texas. We stayed in Houston for a few days with some close friends. Then, we flew from Houston, Texas to Portland, Oregon. Where we spent time with family and friends before my brother's wedding at the end of June.

We're currently living at my other brother's house where will we live for the next several months. At first, it was a very hard transition for all of us. However, the girls finally seemed settled and are doing so much better. Additionally, I've been working on homeschool with the big girls, to make the most of our time here.

What's Next?
My husband's spent the past few months looking for a new job. He's has traveled all over the country for interviews and meetings trying to determine what the best job would be for him at this time. After much prayer and deliberation, he has decided to fly for a regional airline. After my husband completes his training, our entire family will move to Colorado to be closer to our family and friends. We are excited for how God is going to work in our lives throughout this new adventure.


Please Pray

• Praise God for His provision, poured out through our family and friends during this time. 
• Praise for Jon's new job. 
• Pray for our girls during this time of transition.
• Pray for Jon to pass all of his training.
• Pray for Hong Kong during this time of tension and division. Protection for our friends who still live in Hong Kong and for The Bridge Church to be a force for peace and love during this time.

Prayer Requests for my Mom's Upcoming Surgery

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." - Psalm 34:18

On August 2nd, 2018, my Mom was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She's been battling for her life ever since. I love my Mom so much and the thought of losing her has been unbearable. On top of that, I've been so sad that I can't be with my Mom during this time, because God has my family living in Hong Kong right now. As you can imagine, my Mom has been overwhelmed too.

I am so thankful that even though I cannot be with my Mom and hold her hand, God is with her and has never left her alone. I'm thankful that God has provided family and friends to love on my Mom and help her during this time. I am thankful that so far, my Mom's body has responded well to her chemo treatment. I am forever thankful to the Lord for being so faithful to my Mom throughout this whole process.

Next week, on Tuesday, January 15th, my Mom is scheduled to have a lumpectomy surgery. Understandably, my precious Mom is nervous and anxious regarding this upcoming surgery. Will you all please join me in prayer for my Mom in the days leading up to her surgery?

Another way you can help, would be by donating to Mom’s GoFund Me. This fund was set up by my siblings, to help my Mom with all of her extra expenses right now.

Thank you so much for your prayers!!

Prayer Requests

1. Pray for God's peace to surround my Mom in the days leading up to her surgery and on the day of her surgery. That she would float on eagles wings and rest in the peace that passes all understanding.

2. Pray for wisdom for the doctors and that they would know exactly how to help my Mom during the surgery.

3. Pray for peace for my Grandma, who has Alzheimer's, and that she won't be confused for upset by my Mom's absence. In addition, lift up my Aunt & Uncle as they care for my Grandma during my Mom's surgery.

4. Pray for a quick recovery following the surgery, without complications.

5. Pray for my Mom's magnesium levels to become normal and stay normal on their own without the help of infusions.

Ladies, don’t forget… 

 Do your self breast exams! Get your mammograms! Be proactive! Save the TATAS!

2018 Year in Review

 A Year in Review 

Here are some of the highlights from 2018 

- TWIN GIRLS, Evelyn Rose & Zoey Faith, born on June 23rd. 

- Moving to Hong Kong. Celebrating 12 years of marriage. 

- God's provision as we moved to Hong Kong. 

- Opportunity to homeschool with Olivia and Sophie. 

- Fun visits with family and friends before moving to Hong Kong. 

- God's protect during Super Typhoon Mangkhut.

- Unending love and support from family and friends all year long.

.....

Our Growing Girls

Olivia loves reading and she always has her nose stuck in a book!! I (Jen) could not have made it through this year without Olivia (and Sophie) by my side. Olivia has lovingly helped hold and feed babies, which allowed me to pack or unpack suitcases and boxes. I am so thankful for her sweet spirit and her willingness to help.

Sophie is such a sweet girl!! Honestly, I think she is going to be a nurse or a doctor, because she loves to take care of other people. On modified bedrest, she was willing to rub my legs and bring me dinner when I was too tired to get up to get it myself. I'm humbled by the love and compassion that pours from her heart.

Matilda has been such a trooper with all the changes that have taken place this year. New babies. New country. She is adventurous and loves to ride the double decker buses here in Hong Kong. However, she is timid and shy, so being in a new country with lots of attention has been overwhelming for her at times.

Evelyn and Zoey are already 6 months old!! Evelyn's a snuggle bug, because after everyone else goes to bed she stays awake for extra cuddles. Zoey wants to be one of the big girls. She is already crawling. Honestly, once Zoey puts her mind to something, there is no changing her mind.

.....

Praise and Prayer Requests

- Praise that Jon has completed his first round of training and officially has his license to fly in Hong Kong with an A320 type!!

- Praise that Jon and Jen celebrated their 12th anniversary.

- Praise for unending love and support from our family and friends as we obediently embarked on this new adventure the Lord put before us.

- Pray for Jen's Mom, Carol Bartholomew, who is battling breast cancer and has a lumpectomy on January 15, 2019.

- Pray that we would be able to sell our van that is in Texas.

- Pray that God would continue to provide for us financially.

- Pray for Jen as she struggles with postpartum depression and homesickness.

My Mom has Breast Cancer

My Mom is the greatest woman I know and it’s devastating to tell you that on August 2nd, she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.

Honestly, until just a few month ago, I did not know very much about breast cancer. When Mom told us the bad news, it was hard to understand the seriousness of the situation, because I didn’t know very much about this disease or the details about the long battle my Mom would have to endure. I spent many nights on Google reading about breast cancer and trying to learn all that I could. I learned about the different stages of breast cancer and how my Mom has a bad kind of cancer which is very aggressive.

Gradually, I began to understand the weight of the situation.

During this time, I cried a lot as I thought about possibly losing my Mom to such an awful disease. Honestly, I can’t imagine a world without my Mom, because she’s always been here. I’m just not quite ready to let her go. I also began to praise the Lord that my Mom found her lump early!! I am also thankful that the doctors diagnosed Mom quickly and began her treatment right away.

On the morning of October 24th, my Mom will begin her 4th round of chemotherapy. The hardest part for me has been being so far away in Hong Kong. Most days, I feel helpless, because I want to be there to help my Mom. Recently, God has shown me that even though I am far away, there are lots of different ways that I can help my Mom.

If you are able, there are lots of ways you can help our Mom. Below are some immediate needs. We will continue to keep you posted as she is on this journey and other needs arise. Thank you for keeping our family in your prayers.

Here are some ways we can all help my Mom.

• Pray for my Mom and that God would be a constant source of peace and strength to her during this time. Pray for complete healing from this disease.
• Send my Mom encouragement through text message or by phone.
• Bring my Mom a meal, especially if you’re in the area. You can even bring something that she can easily put in her freezer and heat up when she’s hungry
• Order groceries from Safeway and had them delivered to my Mom’s house.
• Send my Mom a card to let her know you were thinking of her.
• Donate to Mom’s GoFund Me she has a lot of extra expenses right now and it would be a blessing if you could help relieve some of that burden for her right now.

Ladies, don’t forget… 

Do your self breast exams! Get your mammograms! Be proactive! Save the TATAS!