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A hug from Cinderella

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Dinner with Cinderella in her castle!

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Update

Kara has been doing well this week, and hopes to get her full chemo on Friday. Last week she was able to proceed with her chemotherapy as planned (last week was one of the weeks when she only gets the one drug that does not deplete her white blood cells).

Emma and I leave for Walt Disney World tomorrow, and we are both very excited (please pray for safe travel for us)! Luke will get to spend some "big boy" time at the farm with Mimi and Doc, and he is thrilled about that. Kara and Matt will be able to enjoy some "couple time" to themselves.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara is able to get her full chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray for increased energy and strength for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch

Kara and Matt met with Dr. Lynch today, and Dr. Lynch was very encouraging. Kara will have four more weeks of the current chemo regimen, and then she will meet with Dr. Lynch again.

Praises:
- Thank you God for another encouraging appointment with Dr. Lynch.
- Thank you God for providing Kara with talented and caring health care providers.
- Thank you God for the advances in treatment that have benefitted Kara and others with cancer.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can continue her chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for increased energy and stamina for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Cowboy Luke

Luke Jumping!

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Emma the Angler

Here is Emma fishing a few weeks ago at Fayetteville Lake with her new Barbie fishing pole. Unfortunately the fish weren't biting.

Update

Kara has an appointment with Dr. Lynch tomorrow to discuss her progress and the next phase of her treatment.

We had a good Easter weekend at the farm. The weather wasn't what we were expecting, but we managed to have a lot of fun. The electricity went out for a couple of hours on Saturday, but came back on before it got too cold inside! Uncle John and Aunt Carrie had planned a short trip to Port Aransas, but found it was too cold and surprised us on Saturday afternoon by coming to the farm.

On Easter morning, the kids were up at 6:30 in the morning to see what the Easter Bunny brought them, and then we all went to First United Methodist Church in La Grange for Easter morning service. It quit raining and warmed up a bit on Sunday, so the kids spent most of the afternoon running around outside.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for a good report from Dr. Lynch on Tuesday.
- Please pray that Kara can continue her chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Jumping!

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Happy Easter!

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Emma and Tess

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Bluebonnets

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Bluebonnets at the Farm

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Chemotherapy

Kara was able to get her full chemotherapy on Thursday. She's pretty tired from it, but very glad that the transfusion enabled her to stay on track with her treatment.

We are all at the farm for Easter. The weather here is really unseasonably cold and rainy -- it's 38 degrees! We're doing indoor activities today -- we dyed Easter Eggs and had a "trial run" Easter Egg hunt. Yesterday was a beautiful spring day, though, and we enjoyed running around outside, taking Bluebonnet photos and playing with the cows.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for energy for Kara so she can enjoy the holiday weekend.
- Please pray that Kara is able to continue with her treatment as scheduled.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you, and we hope you all have a very Happy Easter with your friends and family.

After a visit from the ice cream man.

Update

Kara will go in for her blood transfusion today, and then hopefully her bloodcounts will be up high enough for her to receive her full chemotherapy on Thursday.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the transfusion is complication-free.
- Please pray that Kara can receive her full chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

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Big sister reading to her little brother.

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Emma dressed up as a fairy at a friend's birthday party.

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Yummy chocolate shake!

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Emma and her snake friend! There are lots of little (non-poisonous!) garden snakes that live under rocks at the farm. The kids like to turn over the rocks and find them.

Blood Transfusion

Kara was able to get her full chemotherapy today, but her bloodcounts are low. She will probably need a blood transfusion next week. Please pray that there are no complications from the transfusion, and that Kara is able to stay on schedule with her chemotherapy next week. Please pray that the cancer is permanently eradicated from Kara's body.

Thank you.

Update

Kara was able to get her full chemotherapy last week, and had the Novalis performed on Friday. The mask method is much easier and more comfortable than the halo method.

Emma had her first soccer practice last night, and likes her coach, and did a very good job. It looked like she even scored a goal! She and Luke stay busy with school, tumbling, and trips to the zoo.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis was successful.
- Please pray that Kara is able to receive her full chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from her body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis Tomorrow

Kara will have chemotherapy this morning (hopefully her bloodcounts will be high enough to have her full chemo), and then will have the run-through for the Novalis this afternoon. They will be using a mask, rather than the halo device that screws into her head, which will be less painful for Kara, and will allow her to continue her chemotherapy uninterrupted (when using the halo, she has to go off any drugs that reduce her platelets). Tomorrow, Kara will have the Novalis procedure done on three places in her brain.

Kara's been fighting a bit of a cold this week, but is feeling much better. Luke appears to be over his GI bug. Kara and Emma went to Horn Elementary on Monday for Emma's kindergarten enrollment/orientation -- it's hard to believe that Emma's going to be starting school next year!

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can receive her full chemotherapy today.
- Please pray that the Novalis procedure is successful.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis

Kara is having a special MRI performed tonight to ascertain whether the two smaller spots are her brain are previously treated tumors that are dissolving, or if they require radiation as well. She will probably have the Novalis performed at the end of next week.

Luke is feeling a little better, but as of yesterday still had a fever off and on.

Matt's grandmother passed away today, at the age of 99. Matt and his family are in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis procedure is successful in destroying all the tumors in Kara's brain.
- Please pray that Kara can receive her full chemotherapy tomorrow.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch

Kara met with Dr. Lynch yesterday, and the plan is to continue with her current chemotherapy regimen, and to meet with the Novalis doctor to set up a time for the Novalis procedure. Kara has three spots in her brain, but only one is large enough to need to be treated at this time.

Kara, Emma, and Luke have come to the farm for a couple of days during the kids' spring break. Luke has been fighting a virus since Friday, and has been feeling pretty yucky. But Emma has been having a good time -- fishing, feeding the cows, long walks on the property, baby snake hunting, and just running around.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the chemotherapy and Novalis are successful.
- Please pray for increased energy and stamina for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Great Results

Kara's scans revealed only one new tumor -- a small tumor in her brain -- and that all her existing tumors are shrinking. She and Matt will meet with Dr. Lynch on Tuesday to go over the results more thoroughly, and discuss what her treatment plan will be. Most likely she will receive Novalis again on the brain tumor. We are so thankful that the Novalis procedure is available, and has been so successful in treating Kara's tumors!

Praises;
- Thank you God for the good scan results.
- Thank you God for all of the developments in technology and medicine that have been so beneficial to Kara, and for all the doctors and nurses who have been treating Kara these past two-plus years.
- Thank you God for the blessings in Kara's life that sometimes get overlooked when we focus on what Kara's needs are. Thank you for giving Kara such a loving, supportive husband, and two wonderful children -- she loves her family so much. Thank you for all of the prayers and encouragement for Kara from her family, friends, church, and "blog friends."

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for an encouraging treatment plan from Dr. Lynch.
- Please pray that Kara's blood counts are high enough to continue with her chemotherapy.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Scans Today

Kara's scans will be today at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. We will probably have the results tonight or tomorrow morning. Please keep Kara in your prayers.

You will keep in perfect peace,
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal.
- Isaiah 26:3-4

Thank you.

Scans Wednesday

Kara will have PET Scans run on Wednesday to check on her progress. Please pray for good test results, and please let others know of Kara's prayer needs. We will let you know the results when we do.

Thank you.

Plan

Kara and Matt met with Dr. Lynch yesterday, and the plan is for Kara to receive her usual chemotherapy this week, and have scans next week. Kara will meet with Dr. Lynch the following week to go over the scan results and the next phase of treatment.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can receive her chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray for good scan results.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara' s body, permanently.

Thank you.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch

Kara has an appointment with Dr. Lynch tomorrow to discuss what the next phase of her treatment plan will be. Kara was able to receive her full chemotherapy last week, and so that was great news. We anticipate that Kara may have some more scans this week.

Kara continues to tolerate the chemotherapy pretty well, but she is feeling more fatigued from it.

Matt has a conference to attend in San Antonio this weekend, so Kara and the kids will spend the weekend at the farm. Hopefully the weather will be warm, and Kara can enjoy some time out on the porch or playing with the kids.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Dr. Lynch has an encouraging plan.
- Please pray for good test/scan results.
- Please pray for increased energy for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Update

Kara was able to receive her full chemotherapy regimen on Friday. She and Matt and the kids enjoyed the long weekend, and on Monday, Kara and Matt went to Emma and Luke's parent-teacher conferences (Emma and Luke both got good reports!).

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for Kara's bloodcounts, and that she can continue with chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray for good results on Kara's upcoming PET scans.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is one of Kara's favorite holidays, and she and the kids have been making Valentine's art projects and goodies in anticipation of the big day. They were baking Valentine's cookies this afternoon. We're so thankful that she has the energy to do all the fun stuff she likes to do with the kids.

Kara will have bloodwork done tomorrow, and we're hoping that her counts will be high enough to continue with a third week of full chemo in a row on Friday.

Kara and Matt enjoyed their little break in Waco, though it was pretty cold for Kara! Luke had a big time at the farm, and Emma came up to Austin -- John, Carrie, and I took her to Pedernales Falls State Park, and she had a blast rock climbing, exploring, and seeing her first rattlesnake (it was actually all of our first time to see a rattlesnake!).

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can have full chemo this week.
- Please pray that Kara's upcoming scans are good.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Visit with Doctor Lynch

Kara met with Dr. Lynch earlier this week, and Dr. Lynch was pleased with how she is doing. She had a bone density scan to check on whether the chemotherapy has leached some calcium out of her bones. Kara was able to have her chemotherapy today (woohoo!), and she and Matt are headed to Waco for the cancer survivors' conference. Hopefully they will have an enjoyable and informative time. Kara says that she's supposed to participate in a ropes course tomorrow morning, so she may be in for a workout!

The plan is for Kara to receive a few more rounds of chemo, and then to have more scans done to check on the status of the tumors. This will probably happen in March -- we will let you know more precisely when as we know.

Praises:
- Thank you God for Dr. Lynch's encouraging report.
- Thank you God that Kara has been able to continue with her chemotherapy this week.
- Thank you God that Kara has been feeling "good" lately, and able to do more of the things she wants to do.
- Thank you God for the continued support and prayers of Kara's family and friends, including those who have never met Kara, but have heard of her prayer needs and have been praying for her.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can continue her next few rounds of chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for good scan results on the upcoming scans.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. Thank you all, again, for your unflagging support of Kara and her family. We have reached the second anniversary of Kara's diagnosis, and this page has had over 24,000 hits -- that's about 1,000 hits a month! It is so reassuring and comforting for us to know that there are many people caring and praying for Kara. We are thankful for your continued presence in Kara's life during this long, challenging road to healing.

Update

Kara was able to have chemotherapy on Friday. Hopefully she will have her fourth round this week, and then she will have more scans run to check on the status of things.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts remain high enough to continue with chemo this week.
- Please pray for good results on the upcoming tests.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

White Counts Still Down

Kara's white counts are still too far down to receive chemotherapy at this time. Please pray that her counts rise, and she can have her chemotherapy at the end of the week and, as always, for the permanent eradication of the cancer from Kara's body. Thank you.

White Counts Down

Kara's white blood cell counts are down, and she cannot have her chemotherapy this week. Please pray that her bloodcounts rise, so she can continue with her treatment quickly.

Thank you.

Kara, Luke, and Emma

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Luke took the car off the top of his cake... and discovered it had icing on it!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

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Kara and Matt and the Kids

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Emma and Kara are looking at the camera... while the boys are looking at their toys!

Kara, Luke, and Cake

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Kara and Luke and his "Cars" cake (Kara was wearing Emma's play "dress-up" fur to keep warm).

Update

Luke had his third birthday party at the farm last weekend, and had a great turnout of friends from Houston and Austin. He and Emma and their friends had a fun time running around the farm. Kara had planned a great party, and she, Mom, and Matt's Mom pulled it all together so that Luke had a very memorable time. I was under the weather and didn't get many photos, but I'll see what I have (hopefully some good ones!), and post them tonight.

Kara continues to have more energy, and hasn't picked up any bugs so she is feeling pretty good. She will continue with her chemotherapy this week, and seems to be tolerating that well. I am not sure when her next scans are, but I will let you know as I do.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara continues to tolerate the chemotherapy well.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of the Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Luke's Birthday

Kara, Matt and the kids will be coming to the farm this weekend to celebrate Luke's third birthday. The weather here in Texas has been uncharacteristically wintery, but we're hoping for a thaw so we can enjoy running around outside.

Kara received her chemotherapy this week, and seems to have tolerated it well so far. Matt's mom is in town, and they have been busy doing little projects around the house.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara continues to tolerate the chemotherapy well.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of the Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch

Kara and Matt had their appointment with Dr. Lynch today to go over the scan results and the course of Kara's treatment. She will continue to receive the Avastin once a week, and will also be given a low dose of a new drug in the Tamoxifin family once a week. Kara has not had this drug before, and it could cause some mild side effects like nausea and hair loss. Kara will see Dr. Lynch again in four weeks.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara tolerates this new chemotherapy well, and has minimal side effects.
- Please pray for energy for Kara, and that she avoids picking up colds and bugs.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from her body, permanently.

Thank you.

Scan Results

Kara's PET Scan revealed that the tumors she had previously were either the same size or reduced in size. She has two new, small tumors on her liver. The Avastin can take a couple of months to be fully effective, so these results aren't unexpected, and we're glad to know that the existing tumors have been kept at bay by the Avastin. Kara will meet with Dr. Lynch next week to go over the results fully and find out the new plan.

Praises:
- Thank you God that Kara's older tumors seem to be responding to the Avastin.
- Thank you God for the skilled health care providers that have been tailoring her treatment.
- Thank you God that Kara's been feeling better and has had more energy recently, and she's been able to participate in her children's activities.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for an encouraging plan from Dr. Lynch.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Happy New Year!

Kara and the family enjoyed a very merry Christmas together. Emma received a children's digital camera, and took about 500 photos on Christmas Day! Luke got a lot of "Cars"-related toys that he lvoed. They spent a couple of days at the farm, and enjoyed it as usual -- Emma enjoys exploring the property, and Luke loves to run around in the Gator and play with his cars.

Kara has another series of scans on Wednesday, January 3rd. Please keep her in your prayers for good results, that the tumors have shrunk, and no new ones have formed.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good test results.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you for another year of prayers and support, and we hope that 2007 will be a very good year for our family and all of our friends.

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Merry Christmas!

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Update

Kara was not able to join us at The Nutcracker last weekend, as she had come down with a stomach bug. That was very disappointing, since she had not been able to go last year, either, due to being sick, and had been looking forward to going this year. Luckily we are going to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas show this weekend, and hopefully she'll be able to attend that and have fun dressing up and going downtown with Emma. We will be spending Christmas Eve in Houston, and head to the farm after we've seen Santa's goodies on Christmas morning!

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Kara did recover from her bug in time to join Matt in playing Joseph and Mary in their church's live nativity scene earlier in the week. She and Matt have had some good news in that Matt will be teaching a course in physiology at the University of St. Thomas next semester, trying his hand at being "Professor." Matt also has helped start a website dedicated to providing advice and support to spouses of young cancer patients(www.youngcancerspouses.org).

Kara will have another round of tests after Christmas to see how the Avastin is working. Other than this latest bug, she had been feeling pretty good and energized the past few weeks, and we are very thankful for that.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good test results.
- Please pray that the insurance company pays for the Avastin.
- Plesae pray for energy for Kara, so that she can enjoy the holidays.
- Please pray the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. Please have a very merry Christmas, and enjoy your holiday celebrations with your friends and family.

The Nutcracker

The girls will go see The Nutcracker this weekend in Houston, and Emma will also be singing with her choir on Sunday for her church's Christmas Pageant. Kara continues to feel more like herself, and keeps busy with holiday activities.

Kara will have another round of tests after Christmas to see how the Avastin is working.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good test results.
- Please pray that the insurance company pays for the Avastin.
- Plesae pray for energy for Kara, so that she can enjoy the holidays.
- Please pray the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Update

Mom has been fighting a bad case of Staph infection, but is doing much better. Kara and the kids were tested for it, and the kids have come back as negative, and hopefully Kara will, too. Both Dad and Mom are on some anti-Staph drugs.

Kara, Matt, and the kids have decorated their house for Christmas, and are getting in the holiday spirit. Kara, Carrie, Emma, and I will be going to The Nutcracker in Houston weekend after next. Pictures with Santa will be coming up soon!

Kara continues to receive Avastin this week, and has been tolerating it well.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that for continued energy for Kara, so that she may enjoy the holidays.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of Avastin.
- Please pray that she continues to tolerate Avastin well.
- Please pray for that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

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Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

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Happy Birthday, Kara!

Today is Kara's thirty-third birthday! I am blessed to have such a caring, thoughtful sister, who is a wonderful example to me of of the importance of faith and the power of hope. Kara has approached her treatment with such amazing fight and an admirable spirit, and throughout it all, has not let her illness be the focus of her life, remaining as concerned for others, especially her children, as she always has.

We had a family celebration for Kara's birthday over Thanksgiving when we were all together at the farm. Emma and Luke had a great time over the long weekend, feeding the cows, running around in the Gator, and playing in the playroom with all of our old toys. I will post some photos tonight.

Kara continues to feel more like herself, though she still struggles with low energy. She will keep on the Avastin for a few more weeks, and then they will run another set of scans.

Kara is looking forward to a busy holiday season with lots of activities with the kids. Please pray that her energy holds and she doesn't come down with any more bugs or infections so she can fully participate in and enjoy the upcoming festivities.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for increased energy and better health for Kara.
- Please pray for good spirits, peace, and a continued sense of hope for Kara.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kara has been feeling much better since receiving the "new" blood, and has been more like her old self. For the past month or so, she'd been feeling bad, fighting colds, and having a hard time doing all the things she wanted. Now she's feeling much better, able to think clearly, and has more energy. She's looking forward to a fun holiday weekend with the family. She has continued to tolerate the Avastin well.

We're spending Thanksgiving at the farm, and Kara and the kids went up a day early to check things out -- Mom and Dad's new house has been completed, and they are (mostly!) moved in. Emma and Luke are excited to be back at the farm, feeding "their" cows and running around like crazy.

We are thankful that Kara's feeling much improved, and thankful that she is at a phase in her treatment where she can get out of the city and enjoy time with the family. Kara's thirty-third birthday is coming up on November 29th, and we'll be having a birthday party for her this weekend.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara continues to have energy and feel like herself.
- Please pray for insurance approval of the Avastin.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. We are so very thankful for your continued presence in Kara's life and treatment, and your prayers, words of encouragement, love, and support are truly a blessing and a gift. We hope you travel safely, and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and families.

Update

Kara is going into the hospital today to receive some blood to boost her energy level. She hasn't felt very good since getting her flu shot last month, and hopefully this will do the trick. She has blood drawn every week for tests, and Dad is going to see if they can take less blood, which may lessen her fatigue.

Kara had her first round of Avastin on Friday. The insurance company has denied coverage for this drug, but Matt is optimistic that it can get sorted out relatively quickly, without having to go through the extensive fight that they had to do to get Kara's Herceptin treatments paid for. Kara will have another round of Avastin this Friday, and every Friday for five more weeks.

Matt's sister Jenny and her family were in Houston earlier in the month, as were Matt's parents, and the cousins had a fun time playing with each other -- Emma and Samantha are about the same age, and Luke is a little bit older than Heath.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that tbe blood transfusion goes smoothly.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of the Avastin.
- Please pray for increased energy for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Treatment Plan

Dr. Lynch remains upbeat and positive with Kara. The PET Scan showed some very small tumors in her abdominal cavity. The MRI of Kara's head looks good. The plan is to resume chemotherapy, using Avastin. She will receive the Avastin once a week for six weeks and then re-check. Avastin should not deplete bone marrow, so her blood counts shouldn't be affected and she should be able to continue with her treatment plan. Kara won't have Novalis yet because Avastin kills new blood vessels, so wounds won't heal properly.

Praises:
- Thank you God for the continued encouragement and hope that Kara will be cured.
- Thank you God for providing Kara with knowledgeable and skilled health care providers.
- Thank you God for the progress and advancement in therapies and treatments.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can begin the Avastin soon.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of this new treatment.
- Please pray that Kara is less fatigued and able to enjoy the upcoming holidays with her family.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body permanently.

Thank you. Your prayers, support, and encouragement are invaluable to Kara, and greatly appreciated.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch Today

Kara and Matt will meet with Dr. Lynch to go over the PET Scan results. It appears from the radiology report that the cancer has spread. We are hopeful that Dr. Lynch can offer an encouraging new treatment plan and prognosis. She has been off of chemotherapy due to her low bloodcounts for several months. Hopefully she can get back on a heavy chemo routine and fight the cancer effectively.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for peace and comfort for Kara, Matt, and the family as they wait to hear what Dr. Lynch as to say.
- Please pray that Dr. Lynch gives a encouraging new treatment plan.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. We will let you know what Dr. Lynch says as soon as we do.

PET Scan Today

Kara had a PET Scan today, and they are waiting for the doctors to interpret the results for them.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the doctors give her encouraging news and a good prognosis.
- Please pray for peace and hope for Kara as she waits for her doctor's appointment next week.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from her body, permanently.

Thank you.

Good Results

Kara met with her Novalis doctor today, and he was very pleased with the scan results. There is no new growth in her brain, and he believes the spots that were treated are resolving. We are all very happy with and thankful for this news! The plan remains for Kara to continue with the Herceptin infusions for the rest of the month, and then she will return to getting more aggressive chemotherapy.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's body continues its healing, and that she feels less fatigued.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

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Update

Emma's party went very well; Emma and a few of her little girl friends from school had a fun time painting pottery. Kara was able to go and oversee everything, with help from Mom.

Kara has scans of her brain tomorrow. Kara continues to have some dizzy spells, and she is concerned there may be more brain tumors. Please pray for good results!

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good scan results.
- Please pray for peace and comfort for Kara as she awaits the results.
- Please pray that Kara feels better, with greater energy and stamina.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from her body, permanently.

Thank you.

Under the Weather

Kara has been having a fever and feeling very fatigued, with dizzy spells, for the past couple of days. She had a flu shot on Sunday, and we hope that she is just feeling mild side effects from that. Emma's birthday is tomorrow, and Kara has spent a lot of time and energy planning festivities for it, and she is disappointed she may miss them after so looking forward to them. Kara asks that you pray that she might feel better tomorrow so she can go to Emma's birthday party. Little things like that mean so much to Kara.

Kara has scans of her brain on Friday to check on things, and we ask that you let your friends, family, and prayer groups know of this prayer need.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for improved health for Kara.
- Please pray for good scan results for her scans on Friday.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Update

Kara's bloodcounts are rising -- her hemoglobin count is higher than it has been in months. She continues to feel better and have more energy, and is busy planning Emma’s upcoming birthday festivities and Halloween activities for the kids.
She will have another scan of her brain at the end of the month, on October 20th, I believe.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good test results.
- Please pray that Kara continues to grow stronger.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara’s body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis Completed

Kara has finished up all of the Novalis treatments. She is looking forward to a quiet weekend with Matt and the kids, and hopefully getting some energy back. The rest of the month she will continue with the Herceptin only, and then in November they plan to start back with more aggressive chemotherapy.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis was successful.
- Please pray that Kara's test results in November are good.
- Please pray for increased energy for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Update

Kara had a dizzy spell today after her Novalis treatment, so she is going to stay and get some IV fluids before she comes home. She has had other dizzy spells for a week or so, and no one really knows what the cause is. Her heart is fine. It may be swelling from the three small tumors in her brain or from the Novalis on her brain. Or it may be that she's undernourished since she has so little of an appetite. Hopefully the fluids will help.

Please pray that the dizzines passes, and she can continue with her treatment as planned. Thank you.

Meeting with Dr. Lynch

Dr. Lynch continues to be very pleased with Kara's progress. He feels very positive, and feels good about her prognosis. He and Kara share the same birthday, and he told her that he thinks they will share many more birthdays together.

The plan is for her to finish her Novalis treatments and continue with the Herceptin. Kara has Novalis on her lungs today, Friday, Monday, and Wednesday. Kara will take Herceptin only for the month of October to help build back up her bone marrow. Scans will be repeated in November, and then they will resume more aggressive chemotherapy. Dr. Lynch feels the Novalis will obliterate all the cancer currently seen, and that the Herceptin has been doing a nice job of keeping new tumors at bay. The EKG of Kara's heart looks good, so the Herceptin is not placing a strain on that.

Kara took Emma to see a musical of Pippi Longstocking last weekend, which Emma really loved. Luke's new toy is a model of the human body with removable organs, and he gets a kick out of being told how water and food go through the body. He's pretty good at remembering the names of the organs, and knows how many kidneys he has and can point to where they are on his body. Emma knows all the organs, and had to show Aunt Jean where the spleen was.

Emma and Pippi
Originally uploaded by jeanjean78.

Emma and Luke also tried on their Halloween costumes that Kara ordered for them, and liked them so much, we had a hard time getting them to change (Luke especially!). Emma and Kara took Mimi and Doc's dogs to school with her for show and tell yesterday morning, and Emma enjoyed sharing them with her classmates. Emma's birthday is coming up in October, and Kara and Matt would like to take the kids to Seaworld in San Antonio in a couple of weeks, if Kara feels up to it.

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Originally uploaded by jeanjean78.

Kara has been feeling pretty fatigued lately, and we hope that continuing to let her bone marrow replenish and her body heal will help with that. It's hard for Kara to rest as much as she should with all of the kids' activities.

Praises:
- Thank you God for providing Kara with such knowledgeable and reassuring doctors, nurses, and other health care providers.
- Thank you God for an encouraging report from Dr. Lynch.
- Thank you God that Kara has gotten through her brain Novalis without complications. It is a very uncomfortable procedure, and we are thankful that is over.
- Thank you God for the blessing that Emma and Luke are to Matt and Kara, and the rest of the family. They have enriched Kara's life and encouraged her throughout this long treatment process.

Cowboy Baseball
Originally uploaded by jeanjean78.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for the safe and succesful completion of the Novalis procedures.
- Please pray for good test results in November.
- Please pray for increased energy and vitality for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis Completed

Kara's Novalis procedure on her brain has been completed, and the uncomfortable halo-device they use has been removed and she is resting. She and Matt will probably be home in about an hour.

Kara had another CT Scan performed just before the Novalis procedure, and two more little spots had appeared. So she had Novalis on those as well as the first spot. We are a bit disappointed that there were more spots, but she'll get back on the chemo and persevere in her treatment.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis procedures go successfully and smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara can continue chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for increased energy for Kara, and for continued hope and good spirits.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis on Thursday

Kara will have her brain Novalis procedure on Thursday. The lung procedure has not been scheduld yet, but should follow shortly. Kara had her Herceptin shot yesterday, and her bloodwork results came back and she can proceed with her chemotherapy. They are going to cut the dose of the chemo, in hopes her counts won't be so diminished after each treatment and she can continue without interruptions. Chemo has not been scheduled yet.

Kara has been feeling fatigued and light-headed recently. She is not anemic, and it may just be from a cold or bug. She likes to stay as busy with the kids as possible, but sometimes it wears her out.

Kara has enjoyed being active in the back-to-school season with the kids, and is looking forward to the Fall holidays and birthdays. Both Emma and Luke are doing well in school and love their teachers. Luke's teacher had a nosebleed one day, and Luke took her hand, led her to a chair, applied pressure to her nose, and kissed her forehead. We're not sure where he picked up that little nursing tidbit, but he's certainly grown into a very sweet little boy. Emma continues to excel (and we're not biased!) with her artwork. Emma and Luke are going to be Tinkerbelle and Peter Pan for Halloween, and and are very excited about it, as they've been watching "Peter Pan" over and over!

Luke is going to spend the night with Uncle John and Aunt Carrie this coming weekend, and he's sure to have a great time as a "big boy." Kara is going to take Emma to a play of Pippi Longstocking on Saturday. It should be a fun weekend for everyone!

My steps have held to your paths;
My feet have not slipped.
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
Give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love,
You who save by your right hand
Those who take refuge in you from their foes.
- Psalm 17:5-7

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis procedures go successfully and smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara can continue chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for increased energy for Kara, and for continued hope and good spirits.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. Your cards and words of encouragement always lift Kara's spirits, and always seem to come at exactly the right time. It's been over a year and a half since Kara was first diagnosed, and though it hasn't been easy, Kara continues to persevere with hope, faith, and confidence in God's love for her.

Novalis Postponed

The doctor that performs Kara's Novalis has pushed back her Novalis treatment while he continues to work out the plan. Kara thinks the treatments may begin later in the week or next week.

Kara learned a lot from the conference, which had discussions on topics like "Chemo Brain," neuropathy, and talking to your children about cancer. There were also several celebrity speakers who gave talks, such as a San Antonio news anchor who had battled cancer, and Evan Handler, an actor who had luekemia in his mid-20s. Kara also enjoyed staying at the hotel and swimming in its nifty indoor-outdoor pool.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis is scheduled soon, and that the procedures go smoothly and successfully.
- Please pray that Kara can resume chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis

It looks like Kara will get Novalis on her brain next Wednesday, and then a series of Novalis treatments on her lungs the following week.

Kara, Matt, and the kids came up to the farm on Saturday for the day, and the kids had fun running around and feeding the cows. Emma and Luke are enjoying school, and Emma is back in a tumbling class once a week.

Kara and Matt are attending a cancer-survivors seminar today and tomorrow in Houston, where hopefully Kara will get some good tips on "whole body" healing -- nutrition, exercise, rest, etc.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis procedures are successful and go smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara can resume chemotherapy soon.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Insurance Company Comes Through

Kara's insurance company just called and said that they are going to go ahead and pay for her Herceptin treatments. So thankfully, Kara, Matt, and Dr. Lynch will not have to continue to fight with them over this issue. Kara is very excited, and is looking forward to hopefully continuing her chemo this week and concentrating on getting better.

Praises:
- Thank you God for answering our prayers regarding coverage for Kara's drugs.
- Thank you God for Kara's good test results last week.
- Thank you God for continuing to hear our prayers.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis procedures are successful and go smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara can continue with her chemotherapy.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Meeting with Lynch

Kara and Matt met with Doctor Lynch this morning to go over the test results and find out the new treatment plan. Doctor Lynch is very pleased with the results, and will plan on using Novalis on Kara's brain and lungs.

There will be a hearing on Thursday morning to determine whether Kara's insurance company has to pay for her Herceptin. Doctor Lynch recorded a statement for it, and will also try to make the hearing in person, because he believes it is a necessary part of her treatment plan -- she is often too worn down to take any other type of chemo drug. Please pray that the hearing board's decision is in Kara's favor, and that her insurance company starts paying for her Herceptin treatments.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for a favorable decision from the hearing board, so that the insurance company will begin paying for Herceptin for Kara.
- Please pray that the Novalis procedures go smoothly and without complications.
- Please pray for continued peace for Kara.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. Emma started school yesterday, and Luke will start school later in the week. Both really enjoy going to school and playing with classmates. Emma is getting really good with her letters and likes to "play math" with Uncle John. She loves playing card games and checkers, and is good at keeping the rules straight in her head (especially the rule about the youngest player going first!). Luke is talking more and more, learning more words every day.

Good News

Kara's PET scan results are in, and the tumors have not spread to new places in her body. There is a little spot on her brain that is too small at this point to tell if it is a tumor. There is no tumor in the lymph nodes near the lung that were treated with Novalis earlier in the summer. The adrenal gland tumor that was treated at the same time is much smaller, and may continue to dissolve completely -- it is too early to tell. The spots on the outside of her lungs that had gone away previously with chemotherapy appear to have returned, but they will most likely be able to get them with Novalis. Kara has a lot less tumor in her body than she did eighteen months ago, which is very encouraging news, especially considering she has not been able to be consistent with her chemotherapy this summer.

Kara and Matt will meet with Dr. Lynch next Tuesday to go over these results more fully and make adjustments to her treatment plan.

Matt's birthday was yesterday, so this news is a very good present! Mom and Dad's fortieth anniversary was yesterday as well, and John's birthday is this week -- so we have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for, most of all, Kara's good report.

"Give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good;
His love endures forever."
- Psalm 107:1

Praises:
- Thank you God for encouraging test results, and for the reassurance that you are hearing our prayers.
- Thank you God for Kara's health care team that are doing so much to help her.
- Thank you God for all of Kara's family and friends who continue to pray for her and encourage her and support her.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts improve so she can continue with chemotherapy.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of the Herceptin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you!

Tests Today

Kara will spend the morning have PET Scans taken of her body and brain to see if there are any tumors present. We will probably know the results by tonight or tomorrow morning, and will let you know when we do.

Please pray for good results on these tests. Please pray for peace for Kara, Matt, and their family as we await the results. We appreciate your prayers every day, and thank you especially for your prayers for this round of tests.

No Chemo This Week

Kara's bloodcounts are too low for her to receive her regular carboplatinum chemo this week. She will just get her Herceptin shot this week.

Kara has another round of scans coming up on Monday, August 21st. We are all very hopeful for good results, so Kara can continue healing from the past year-plus of very hard treatment and enjoy the Fall and holidays with her family. We would really appreciate it if you could please ask your friends, family, churches, and prayer groups to pray for good test results for Kara.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
the Maker of Heaven and Earth"
Psalm 121:1

"For with God, nothing is impossible."
Luke 1:37

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray for good tests results for the upcoming tests.
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts improve so she can continue with her chemotherapy.
- Please pray for the cancer to be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Update

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Originally uploaded by jeanjean78.

Kara enjoyed a quiet weekend at home with Matt and the kids. She was not able to receive chemotherapy last week due to her bloodcounts being too low, and she is feeling the effects of the low counts -- tired and easily fatigued. Friday night the family went to Benihana again, this time with Mimi, Doc, and Luke joining us. Luke was mildly terrified in the beginning, but grew to enjoy the show. Emma has pronounced Benihana as her favorite restaurant, surpassing "even McDonalds and Chickfila!" Kara had a good morning with Emma and Luke at the pool Saturday morning, and then Luke and Matt went to get lunch and haircuts, and Kara, Emma, and I had pizza and then an afternoon of playing games (Emma has learned how to play rummy with special animal rummy cards!) and reading books. Emma is very excited to learn how to play checkers with Doc, who was the checkers champion of Dallas when he was a boy! Luke continues to learn new words every day, and he's getting sweeter and sweeter.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts improve and that she can receive chemotherapy this week.
- Please pray for good test results for her August 21st tests.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of her Herceptin, which is the only drug Kara can take when her bloodcounts are too low for full chemo.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

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Thank you. Kara has been truly touched by the words of encouragement here on the blog and the cards and notes people continue to send her. They really brighten her day!


(These photos are from Port Aransas -- I've uploaded the ones that Kara took onto Flickr.)

Chemo Tomorrow

Kara had her bloodwork done this morning, and based upon where her counts are, she will have chemotherapy tomorrow. Even if her counts are not high enough for her to receive her platinum-based chemotherapy, she will get her Herceptin shot.

Kara was pretty tired over the weekend from getting the platinum-based chemo again. She seems to feel better when she has a swim in the morning, so she tries to take the kids to the pool as much as she can.

Kara will have a brain and body PET Scan performed on August 21st. Please keep her in your prayers for good test results.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's counts are where they need to be for her to continue with her chemotherapy and for her to stay strong and energized.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of the Herceptin.
- Please pray for good results on the upcoming PET Scan.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Chemotherapy Resumed

Kara was able to resume chemotherapy yesterday. Her white blood cell count is still a little low, but not enough to stop her from having the treatment.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara can continue her chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for insurance company approval of her Herceptin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Port Aransas

We all had a great time at Port Aransas this past weekend. Kara had gotten Emma and Luke toys to play in the sand with -- shovels, buckets, etc. -- and they had a great time making sand castles and burying each other in the sand. Emma especially liked looking for seashells and digging for little clams. We took both of the kids out to "the deep end," out past where the waves broke, so they could float and loll around with the waves without the waves crashing on them. Kara came out and enjoyed floating around with the waves, too. The pool at the hotel was also a big hit.

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We went to dinner at the Crazy Cajun one night, where dinner was a bucket of stuff that Kara and I couldn't stand to look at! Thankfully John and Matt de-headed the shrimps and cracked the crab legs for us. Emma and Luke had fun beating things with the crab hammers.

It was a very good trip, and Kara had the energy to enjoy it.

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Praises:
- Thank you God for the opportunity to for a fun family outing, and that Kara was well enough to enjoy it.
- Thank you God for the complication-free completion of the Novalis procedure.
- Thank you God for all of Kara's healthcare team that has been working so diligently in treating her.
- Thank you God for the love, support, and prayers of Kara's friends, family, church, and all of those who keep track of her progress on this blog.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara is able to resume chemotherapy.
- Please pray for good test results when Kara has her next scans.
- Please pray for insurance approval of the Herceptin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. There were three different cameras being used over the weekend, so hopefully John and Kara and Matt got some more photos we can share. I know Kara was clicking a lot!

Update

Kara is continuing with her Novalis, and it should be complete this week. Kara will get Herceptin this week, and next week they'll start back on her other chemo drugs (carboplatinum) if her counts are up. She is feeling better, and it seems like the pleurisy is going away. After her last Novalis treatment on Friday, she and the kids and John and Carrie will be going to Port Aransas for the weekend. I'll be going down to meet them, too. We're looking forward to having a very fun weekend on the beach and in the pool.

Matt's parents have been in town this week helping while Kara's having her treatments. I'm sure Emma and Luke have been having fun showing off their swimming skills for them!

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis is successful.
- Please pray that Kara is able to resume chemotherapy.
- Please pray for insurance approval of the Herceptin.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you. I'm sure we'll have lots of photos from the beach to share, and I'll try to get them up on Monday!

Pleurisy

Kara has had a cough for quite some time now, and with pain in her chest. She went to the doctor yesterday, and he determined she had pleurisy, which is an inflammation of the lungs. It should go away in time. She is also on medication for bronchitis, in case she has a little of that working on her, too. Despite the discomfort, Kara isn't letting it get her down.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis continues on schedule and goes smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts stay where they should be so that she can resume chemotherapy.
- Please pray that the pleurisy resolves quickly.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis Started This Morning

Kara had her first Novalis treatment this morning, and they were able to zap both the adrenal gland tumor and the lung tumors at the same time. It only took about 45 minutes, total. Kara will repeat the treatment on Thursday of this week, and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of next week. Kara is very glad to be done by Friday, because she, Matt, and the kids are going to be taking a long weekend to the beach at Port Aransas with John, Carrie, and me. To position the Novalis machine, they have to draw target marks on Kara's body, and she's not supposed to wash them off, which could be a problem if she's in the pool or ocean a lot! So she will be done with the treatment in time to enjoy the beach and go swimming.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis continues on schedule and goes smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts stay where they should be so that she can resume chemotherapy.
- Please pray that the insurance company will cover the drugs Kara's doctor prescribes.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Waiting for Treatment Schedule

Kara is waiting to hear from her doctors about when Novalis will begin and what her treatment schedule will be over the next couple of weeks. I believe that the bodycast they put her in to help target the radiation has already been made, so that they can start whenever the schedule is free. Her doctor has done several Novalis treatments on other adrenal gland tumors, which is pretty amazing consdering a year ago Novalis was used mostly just for the brain.

Praises:
- Thank you God for the advances in technology and the knowledgeable and skilled healthcare providers working on healing Kara.
- Thank you God that Kara has had the strength and energy to be active with her children this summer -- going to the pool with them, helping out with VBS, and other fun outings.
- Thank you God for hearing our prayers, and for giving Kara, Matt, and their family comfort and peace in knowing you are keeping Kara in your care.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that the Novalis can begin this week, and that it goes smoothly.
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts stay where they should be so that she can resume chemotherapy.
- Please pray that the insurance company will cover the drugs Kara's doctor prescribes.
- Please pray that the cancer is eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.

Novalis

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Kara met with Dr. Teh, the doctor who performs the Novalis procedure, today. He feels that they can zap both the adrenal gland spot and the tumor on her lung with the Novalis, since they already have the body cast made. One day Kara will have the adrenal gland tumor radiated, and the next her lung tumor. She will probably have four rounds on each spot.

Kara and her family enjoyed the past weekend. Emma had a swimming lesson Saturday morning, and then we met with Uncle John and Aunt Carrie for a quick bite before Kara and I ran to the movies for a triple-header -- very fun. Then we all met up for dinner at Benihana's, which Emma got a big kick out of. Luke was a big boy and went to stay with Mimi and Doc at the farm all by himself. He had a fun time having Doc at his beck and call, running around to see the cows, being pushed on the swing, playing in "his" house (the playhouse).

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Originally uploaded by jeanjean78.

Chemo Postponed Again

Kara cannot receive chemotherapy this week because her bloodcounts are still too low. She will be able to have the Herceptin.

Prayer Requests:
- Please pray that Kara's bloodcounts raise and stay where they need to be for her to continue her chemotherapy uninterrupted.
- Please pray for insurance approval of the Herceptin.
- Please pray that the Novalis procedure goes smoothly.
- Please pray that the cancer be eradicated from Kara's body, permanently.

Thank you.