Dear Church Family & Friends;
The Lord continues to bless our family!
I am happy to report that Donna has made some truly remarkable strides this week! While she is still using a cane to walk with, it is now for insurance purposes instead of being a necessity.
Donna visited her surgeon, Dr Princewill Ehirm, the man we prayed for, on Tuesday of this week. When he came into the examination room that Don was waiting in, he was taken back because of her progress! I had to call his office the next day, and the nurse I spoke with even remarked how surprising and amazing her progress has been!
I have also made some progress with getting a second opinion in the near future. From what we have been told and have read, with the type of cancer that Don has, the first step is surgery, then radiation. The next step will depend on how she does after the radiation. Therefore, I will be trying to get an appointment with a neuro-oncologist at Emory. (That's a fancy word for brain cancer doctor.)
Other things happening around here Donna's cousin Sal is here for the weekend. He came in last night and will be returning Saturday evening to New York. Next week, Donna's girlfriend from Illinois will be here for a visit next weekend.
The radiation is going well. Usually Don gets home about 11:30, has lunch, and then takes a nap till about 2:00. Afterwards, her energy level seems to bounce back till about 8:00 or so in the evening. After the radiation is completed in another 5 weeks, we will then have an MRI done on November 21. At that time, we pray that there are no cancer cells found.
Thanx to all of the folks who have offered to help with getting Donna to the radiation clinic. Her transportation needs are covered!
Next week, Donna begins to have out patient therapy in Lawrenceville. Hopefully she won't be too tired from the activity.
The one thing that Donna continues to speak about is how folks will come to know Jesus as their Savior through this situation. It is really on Don's heart, and mine too, that all of our friends and those who read this Email will know that if they were to die today, that they would be going to heaven!
Several folks have remarked to both Don & I that they are amazed at how we are handling such a terrible situation. It is only with Jesus' grace and blessing that we are able to handle this. We have the assurance from our Lord that no matter what happens, we will be alright and everything will be OK. We have the peace of Christ with us.
If you do not have that kind of peace in your heart, please speak with us! If you want, speak to the folks at our church Shadowbrook, 770-945-1524. Or, visit our Sunday School's web site at http://www.coed4.org/html/salvation.html. If you find this offensive, we're sorry, but we love you all too much not to share the most wonderful thing in the world - Jesus Christ!
Once again, we cannot begin to thank all of the people for all of their help, prayers, meals, concern, kind words, etc. The love that ya'll have shown has been amazing! We love you all!
Our prayer requests continue to be 1.) That the Lord's will to be accomplished through us for His glory, 2.) That the tumor NEVER returns within Donna's body, 3.) That she suffers minimal side effects from her treatment, 4.) That the November 21 MRI is negative.
I'll update you in several days after Donna's physical therapy begins.
In His Name, Service, and Love,
Frank & Donna
PS - We need to share a few other prayer requests that have come up over the past few days & weeks. Roland Heerts - an ex-coworker's spouse battling prostate cancer; David Rogers, an ex-coworker's spouse with advanced cancer, Ralph & Elaine White, friends of our at Shadowbrook, their daughter was killed in a motor vehicle accident Thursday morning on I85, Michael Dodson, Traci Conti's brother is having back surgery and there is a risk of paralysis.