About Me

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Born in Atmore, United States
Wife & Mommy. I have a wonderful husband who loves me deeply and three great kids. I believe in my Creator who guides me everyday. My favorite interest are stage/theatre, music/singing, antiques and art.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

MRI results

We meet with Dr. Merchant today. He said that Ivee's scan was clear (NERD) and looked well from a stand point of visible disease. However, the swelling on the back of her head and pressure on her brain stem is still a concern for him. He would be discussing the scans with Dr. Boop, neurosurgeon. More than likely, nothing will come from the discussion but a watch, wait and see approach. She is still progressing in a positive direction, learning, growing and achieving more all the time. Is she still behind, yes, but for all that she has been through, she is just simply amazing.
To be honest, I can't believe how much scanxiety I had this time. I told someone recently that sometimes it's just easier going through the treatments than these waiting periods in between scans. When you are getting radiation, you feel like you are giving her a fighting chance, just attacking this monster trying to kill her. You HATE the thought of what you are doing to her body, definitely fear doing something to her a second time that bad enough doing just one time. But, you are fighting. Then, it all ends you just wait. You sit there, moving on with life, this new normal, and you just wait until that next scan. You sit in the doctors office and you wait for them, anxiously, and the moment they walk in you read their faces quickly to see what their face says, not necessarily their words. To be honest, I didn't have these feelings after her first surgery and treatment. So, for 3 years, I was good...if you know what I mean. But, then little Johnny passed away last July, and I was just so sad and Ivee's scan was coming up, I just felt the pressure...but all was well. Then, out of the blue, January gets here and bam, there was the news. The moment the doctor and his nurse walked in the room, I saw it on her face and I just knew. So, how do I deal? I do as I have always done. Pray. Hope. Have faith. The same God who got me through it in 2006 will get me through it to 2012. He hasn't changed, even if I have. What else? Witness. Share. Care. Give back. Make things better for the next family who gets thrown into this whirlwind of chaos and lack of knowledge. encourage where I can and educate when needed. Never push my agenda, but just share my experience. No two children are alike, even if the diagnosis is the same.
It's late, I could say more, but I just like to write my thoughts down, even if it's just for me to go back and read later.
Thank you prayer warriors. Keep on praying! Always believing that my God heals, He saves.
Praises: KK, great report. Adi, clear scan. Ryan, clear scan. Haley, Clear scan. Olivia, clear scan. Justin, Allison, George and Lucy, almost done. Just a few more days/weeks. Aaron, healing. Ronan, doing well during chemo. Dillan, misdiagnosed and healing. Haley, Levi, Brandon and so many others, home and happy. Nothing sad/bad to report this week, and it feels good!

Monday, September 26, 2011

St. Jude Visit

We are in our room here in Memphis, Check up visits. MRI tomorrow, results on Wednesday. Saw so many online familiar faces tonight IN PERSON. It was so great to see them, even in these not so great circumstances. That's the thing about St. Jude, it's a place of Hope!!! Sometimes, I think the Lord so aptly named me!!! Maiden Name...Hope Long...Yes long I do...Married name Hope Foley...sounds like Hopefully! That I am, so Hopeful!!! He knew, didn't He!!!!
Pray for Ivee's MRI, Katie's and Ryan's. Dillan received great news today! Just amazing, but also a little concerning since he was misdiagnosed!!! He still needs prayers. But, today I am so HopeFul!!! God continue to get Justin, Allison, Lucy, George, Nora and Adi through Chemo! Continue to heal Brandon and Myah! Just so many, but these are on my heart. Thanking God for great and stable reports for Brandon, Olivia, Levi! Lord, please help LANIE and her family to make decisions. So, many!!!
Thank you prayer warriors. I covet your prayers again!!

Monday, September 19, 2011

VOTING

I discovered you DO NOT have to have a facebook account to vote for Ivee. You can vote EVERYDAY!
She is currently in 5th place! It will take a whole lot of votes everyday to get her to number one. It only take a second, and the reward is getting Childhood Cancer Awareness published!!! God Bless...

Link:  To Vote Click Here!!!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Reader's Digest

I have submitted Ivee's Story to Reader's Digest and would really appreciate your vote for her. You can return and vote daily or every 24 hours (I believe). I have voted more than once, so I know it's possible. Thanks for helping get the story of childhood cancer out there and making people aware. This is just one more way! The only downside, you must have a Facebook account to get to the page, it is being run through Reader's Digest Facebook Page.....

Vote Here: Reader's Digest Story

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Update and Awareness

Soooo NO surgery for Ivee and her stomach issues. The surgeons do not want to touch the stomach hernia. They say she will be fine right now because the g-button has her stomach anchored to her abdominal wall. There isn't a chance of it twisting like it would if it were free to move. They suggested that we could give her a g-j button if we would like to try that for the heaving. We have decided not to proceed with that. I'm not sure if I posted it, but the gastro doc didn't find anything wrong with Ivee's esophagus or stomach. He believes the heaving is neurological do to all the trauma that her brain has endured with surgeries and radiation. SOOO
We are trying a appetite "increaser" trying to get Ivee to want to eat by mouth. We are attempting to approach this from a new point of view. Treating her aversion to foods and textures. 

We will be leaving for Memphis September 26 for her 4 month check up. Sept. 26 is also Chili's St. Jude day. Go to your local Chili's restaurant and eat lunch or dinner or both. All the net profits they make that day will go directly to St. Jude. You wouldn't believe what this restaurant has done for St. Jude and how they have made treating our children so much easier and better. And in case you didn't know, Kay Jewelers and CVS pharmacy also give to St. Jude. 

Please continue to lift Ivee and her friends up in prayer. Many of those children are on my list to the right. Add to that list Ronan and Dillan, two new ependymoma patients. Say an extra prayer for Aaron B who just under went a 12 hour surgery yesterday to remove 2 tumors from his spine. Allison, Lucy, Justin, Nora and many others begin their last rounds of chemo this week. Pray for an easy treatment and quick recoveries so they can go home! 

Just a friendly reminder that it's Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Click -->  Ivee's St. Jude Journey