Joey Update 1.31.09 - Difficult News

Dear friends,

We recently received some difficult news about from Joey's last MRI. The scan showed that the tumor has grown slightly since the previous MRI. It still is smaller than it was originally but this growth is a concern for us.

The only change this means for us is that we will have another MRI in 3 months (instead of the anticipated 6 months). If the tumor remains stable or shrinks in this next season then we will continue to monitor. If it grows more however, we will need to be prepared to discuss additional treatment options. (Right now more chemotherapy is the recommended option over radiation due to his age and the tumor's location in the optic chiasm).

Your prayers for our family are, as always, deeply appreciated. We know that health, relationships with loved ones and financial provision are gifts to us and not to be taken for granted. Times like this remind us how each moment we have with our son is a gift and of the wisdom of Jesus' call "not to worry about tomorrow" (Matthew 6:34). We are trying to respond in accordance with the scriptures' exhortation to be grateful and prayerful when we are tempted by anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7). God who showed himself faithful when we were tempted by little things, like a grade on a midterm in college, has continued to give us peace as we face temptations of greater magnitude. Thank you for joining us in this journey.

On a lighter note, Nathan, now almost one, is walking around our apartment and is mostly tempted by opportunities to splash his hands in toilet water. God have mercy!

With love,

[kuoparis-update:54] Joey Update 1.13.08

Hello all,
Thank you for all your encouraging emails and prayers for Joey and our family. Joey was a little scared when he was being sedated this time, which is new, but other than that the MRI went fine.   We will let you know about the results when we get them.

With love,
Jon, Jane, Joey and Nathan

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "kuoparis-update" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to kuoparis-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/kuoparis
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

[kuoparis-update:53] Joey Update 1.12.09

Dear friends and family,

I wanted to let you know that we are going in for an MRI tomorrow at 6:00 a.m.  Sorry for the late notice.  This is just one of Joey's regular appointments to monitor the tumor which are now scheduled every 6 months. The fact that this update is coming so late betrays the fact that we can tend to take for granted all that we have. We sometimes take for granted the gift of good medical insurance and the opportunity to live in a location that avails us of more resources to fight cancer than at any other time or place in history.  

Still we are grateful that each of the previous MRI's showed the tumor remaining stable or shrinking.  We pray that we will receive similar good news again this time.

If you are awake in the morning please pray that the anesthesia will have no adverse effects and that once again we would get a good report.

with love,

Jon, Jane, Joey and Nathan

(photo of Joey on a quick trip to Seattle for New Year's)

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "kuoparis-update" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to kuoparis-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/kuoparis
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---