I have had many good days in my life, and one of my favorite sayings is "It's my best day!" But today really is my best day. Jeremy's doctor appoint with Dr. Pluard this morning was the best way to start off a Monday (or any day, for that matter). When the Dr. came in the room, 45 minutes after Jerm's scheduled time, he apologized to Jeremy for making him wait. Jeremy told him that it was ok if he had good news and Dr. Pluard said, I do have good news. He told Jeremy that he is all clear on the petscan and that as of this day, he is cancer free. CANCER FREE!!! Love the sound of that.
Just as we needed time to wrap our brain around it when he was diagnosed with cancer, we have to wrap our brain around the good news also. Our lives have changed so much the last few months and in MANY ways for the better......God gets your attention in some pretty strange ways sometimes. Our family has met some brave people and made amazing friends during this time. We realize who is with us for the long haul, no matter how long or how hard. So many of our friends stepped up to the plate and did so much for that and we will never forget it.
I will write more soon, after I get my thoughts together. A few last thoughts for now, to everyone who bought a raffle ticket, thanks so much. The money that was raised will help offset Jeremy's medical bills. Jeremy drew the ticket of Jim Grotha, he is a police officer in a different precinct.
Cancer affects so many people, of all ages, shapes, colors. I plan on fighting this disease in every way I know how. I know I often talk about the many people I have met who are patients at Siteman. Well, Friday I met the most amazing young woman. Her name is Elise Armondo and her husband, Jamie, has been diagnosed with cancer. Jamie and Elise have three young children. Elise is strong and scared and brave and hopeful and every other emotion all wrapped up into one. They have a hard battle ahead of them, but I know thru their faith, friends and family they will get thru it. Jamie is only 35 and I would ask that you remember him and his family in your prayers.
Until next time!
Jerm's happy parents
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I Saw God Today
and the day before, and the day before and every single day during this journey. There is a country song out now by that title, and one of the lines from the song is;
"His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just slowed down to stop and stare, I saw God today. "
I saw Him the day Jerm had surgery, in the care and concern for those who came and sat with us while we waited for the surgery to be over.
I saw Him in every handwritten note and card that was sent to him, like one from Don Wehmeyer, who is cancer free, but still being treated. And in the cards that were sent to Jerry & I.
I saw Him in every meal that was made for our family, or restaurant gift card during the long weeks of chemo.
I saw Him in every email and phone call that came our way, every posting on the blog, like the email I got from Bill & Dottie Webb. Bill is being treated for cancer and they took time out to let our family know they were praying for Jeremy.
I saw Him when Jeremy reconnected with friends and people from school that he hadn't heard from since Graduation Day.
I saw Him in Jim Vieth, himself a cancer survivor, who had never met my son, didn't know my family and left work on Jerm's second day of treatment to sit and talk.
I saw Him in every visitor that came by, even if it was for a minute or two.
I saw Him in the home baked goods that Jess, Marion & Missy had brought to share with others who were having chemo.
I saw Him in Jerm's coworkers who donated their sick days so Jerm would have plenty.
I saw Him everyday during Jerry's lunch hour when he would forgo lunch to come and sit with our boy for a while.
I saw Him in Jeremy's "chemo buddy", Carol Peterson, who is battling breast cancer and made her way to him one day after church to give him a hug.
I saw Him in church one Sunday, the first Sunday Jeremy was on the cancer prayer list, and before they read his name, Sheryl Mumma who was sitting in front of me, reached back and grabbed my hand and held onto it the rest of the service.
I saw Him in EVERY nurse and staff member that works at Siteman.
I saw Him in all the gifts and bandanna's that came Jerms way from people he didn't even know.
I saw Him in every inspirational tag Rhonda made for him before his long weeks of chemo.
I saw Him in Jess, who has stood by Jerm's side thru every single step of this journey. I saw Him in her kindness and concern for Jeremy and for us. She knows when to encourage, cry, be strong, be sensitive. She is so young and yet so mature in her thought process for the well being of those she cares for.
I saw Him in the Cardinal blanket made for Jerm by my Stephen's Ministry friends.
I saw Him in every hug, smile, tear and prayer.
I saw Him in my kids at school who daily asked if we could pray for my son during our prayer times.
I saw him in TeeTee. When I told her Jeremy was craving her meatballs, she went home that day and made them so he could have them for dinner that night.
I saw Him in each patient at Siteman, I saw Him in every face of those patients family members. Faces filled with fear AND hope.
Mostly, I saw God in Jeremy. I saw Jeremy lean on God and less on himself over the past few months. I saw Him as Jeremy's faith began to grow again and he was reminded that he is a child of God and that no matter what, he is NEVER alone in anything he goes thru, because God is always with him, no matter what roads we go down.
The one thing that I have come to realize is kindness can move mountains. It is so easy to be kind, to hold a door open (right Rob?), to give a hug, write a note, an email, to pick up the phone and leave a message, to ask someone how they are and then listen to what they are saying (or not saying) to sit with someone during a hard time, hold a hand....there are so many ways to be kind. It seems so small and it can make a BIG difference in someones day.
"His fingerprints are everywhere,
I just slowed down to stop and stare, I saw God today. "
I saw Him the day Jerm had surgery, in the care and concern for those who came and sat with us while we waited for the surgery to be over.
I saw Him in every handwritten note and card that was sent to him, like one from Don Wehmeyer, who is cancer free, but still being treated. And in the cards that were sent to Jerry & I.
I saw Him in every meal that was made for our family, or restaurant gift card during the long weeks of chemo.
I saw Him in every email and phone call that came our way, every posting on the blog, like the email I got from Bill & Dottie Webb. Bill is being treated for cancer and they took time out to let our family know they were praying for Jeremy.
I saw Him when Jeremy reconnected with friends and people from school that he hadn't heard from since Graduation Day.
I saw Him in Jim Vieth, himself a cancer survivor, who had never met my son, didn't know my family and left work on Jerm's second day of treatment to sit and talk.
I saw Him in every visitor that came by, even if it was for a minute or two.
I saw Him in the home baked goods that Jess, Marion & Missy had brought to share with others who were having chemo.
I saw Him in Jerm's coworkers who donated their sick days so Jerm would have plenty.
I saw Him everyday during Jerry's lunch hour when he would forgo lunch to come and sit with our boy for a while.
I saw Him in Jeremy's "chemo buddy", Carol Peterson, who is battling breast cancer and made her way to him one day after church to give him a hug.
I saw Him in church one Sunday, the first Sunday Jeremy was on the cancer prayer list, and before they read his name, Sheryl Mumma who was sitting in front of me, reached back and grabbed my hand and held onto it the rest of the service.
I saw Him in EVERY nurse and staff member that works at Siteman.
I saw Him in all the gifts and bandanna's that came Jerms way from people he didn't even know.
I saw Him in every inspirational tag Rhonda made for him before his long weeks of chemo.
I saw Him in Jess, who has stood by Jerm's side thru every single step of this journey. I saw Him in her kindness and concern for Jeremy and for us. She knows when to encourage, cry, be strong, be sensitive. She is so young and yet so mature in her thought process for the well being of those she cares for.
I saw Him in the Cardinal blanket made for Jerm by my Stephen's Ministry friends.
I saw Him in every hug, smile, tear and prayer.
I saw Him in my kids at school who daily asked if we could pray for my son during our prayer times.
I saw him in TeeTee. When I told her Jeremy was craving her meatballs, she went home that day and made them so he could have them for dinner that night.
I saw Him in each patient at Siteman, I saw Him in every face of those patients family members. Faces filled with fear AND hope.
Mostly, I saw God in Jeremy. I saw Jeremy lean on God and less on himself over the past few months. I saw Him as Jeremy's faith began to grow again and he was reminded that he is a child of God and that no matter what, he is NEVER alone in anything he goes thru, because God is always with him, no matter what roads we go down.
The one thing that I have come to realize is kindness can move mountains. It is so easy to be kind, to hold a door open (right Rob?), to give a hug, write a note, an email, to pick up the phone and leave a message, to ask someone how they are and then listen to what they are saying (or not saying) to sit with someone during a hard time, hold a hand....there are so many ways to be kind. It seems so small and it can make a BIG difference in someones day.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Chemo & Breakfast
WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is the yell of four happy people you hear in the distance! Last treatment today, did you hear that?, last treatment! Nine weeks seems like forever and it seems like a few minutes! Today is happy and today is sad. Happy for the obvious reasons and sad because we have met AMAZING people at Siteman, nurses, receptionist, patients and their families. Jeremy is an amazing young man snd still our little boy. I am full of contradictions today.
It has been our tradition on Tuesdays to go out for breakfast after Jeremy's short treatments, we have done it from the first week. Somedays Jerm would eat a light breakfast and not be able to eat all of it, but today it was country fried steak and all the trimmings st Main Street Diner in St. Peters ( a wonderful little place with good home cookin'). And today Jerry met us for breakfast, not the way a lot of people would celebrate, but it is the way we celebrated. We call it Chemo & Breakfast, and we decided we may want to keep the & Breakfast part of Tuesdays:)
Of course, we still have to get thru until next Monday, when Jerm sees the doctor for his petscan results, waiting is so hard, ugh!
Much to Jerm's dismay, I had my camera today to mark the day. I will post the pics.
Also, I would ask that you remember the Center in your prayers, the staff and every patient that comes in there. I would especially ask for prayers for some old friends we have known, Carol Peterson, Don Wehmeyer, Pastor Christiansen who are still undergoing treatments. And for some new friends we have made, David Grossman, a young man who has the same thing Jeremy has and started his treatments yesterday. For my new friends Brian and Tom. Brian who has lung cancer and Tom who is on his second round of chemo after finding cancer in his liver. I would also ask that you keep their families in your prayers, I have learned that you can not stand on the sidelines and watch what this disease does to your loved ones, and that except for literally being treated for cancer, you, as their family member, feel every single emotion they have. It is hard to love someone and not be affected. I may have to keep the blog going to update you on these loved ones.
Thanks for all your prayers.
Jerm's mom & dad
That is the yell of four happy people you hear in the distance! Last treatment today, did you hear that?, last treatment! Nine weeks seems like forever and it seems like a few minutes! Today is happy and today is sad. Happy for the obvious reasons and sad because we have met AMAZING people at Siteman, nurses, receptionist, patients and their families. Jeremy is an amazing young man snd still our little boy. I am full of contradictions today.
It has been our tradition on Tuesdays to go out for breakfast after Jeremy's short treatments, we have done it from the first week. Somedays Jerm would eat a light breakfast and not be able to eat all of it, but today it was country fried steak and all the trimmings st Main Street Diner in St. Peters ( a wonderful little place with good home cookin'). And today Jerry met us for breakfast, not the way a lot of people would celebrate, but it is the way we celebrated. We call it Chemo & Breakfast, and we decided we may want to keep the & Breakfast part of Tuesdays:)
Of course, we still have to get thru until next Monday, when Jerm sees the doctor for his petscan results, waiting is so hard, ugh!
Much to Jerm's dismay, I had my camera today to mark the day. I will post the pics.
Also, I would ask that you remember the Center in your prayers, the staff and every patient that comes in there. I would especially ask for prayers for some old friends we have known, Carol Peterson, Don Wehmeyer, Pastor Christiansen who are still undergoing treatments. And for some new friends we have made, David Grossman, a young man who has the same thing Jeremy has and started his treatments yesterday. For my new friends Brian and Tom. Brian who has lung cancer and Tom who is on his second round of chemo after finding cancer in his liver. I would also ask that you keep their families in your prayers, I have learned that you can not stand on the sidelines and watch what this disease does to your loved ones, and that except for literally being treated for cancer, you, as their family member, feel every single emotion they have. It is hard to love someone and not be affected. I may have to keep the blog going to update you on these loved ones.
Thanks for all your prayers.
Jerm's mom & dad
Sunday, June 8, 2008
A Great Weekend!
The boys went to the shoot and had a great time! Jeremy even won an Annie Oakley...whatever that is. Jeremy drove the golf cart all around so that really helped the tired factor. I actually think Jerry was more excited that Jeremy went than Jeremy was. The shoot is Jerry's favorite day of the year, he likes it more than Christmas! I think it is because he is doing his favorite thing with his favorite person....well, one of his favorite persons:) They had a great time and then Jeremy came home, got cleaned up, put on his dressy do-rag (almost wore the one with the hair TeeTee) and we drove him to South St. Louis to a wedding reception Jess was at. She was in a wedding but didn't want Jerm to miss the shoot so they caught up with each other at the reception.
Today Jeremy went for a motorcycle ride with some of his buddies. First day he felt like riding in a long time. I was looking at the chemo calendar and got a little excited realizing I only have one more X to add. Can't wait until Tuesday, can't come quick enough.
Today Jeremy went for a motorcycle ride with some of his buddies. First day he felt like riding in a long time. I was looking at the chemo calendar and got a little excited realizing I only have one more X to add. Can't wait until Tuesday, can't come quick enough.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
One More Day
Only one more treatment to go! We are counting the moments until it is over. The petscan is next Thursday and the oncologist visit is onthe 16th. So we are in the "hurry up and wait" phase of this and as many of you know waiting (for test results, a new baby, Santa Claus) is the hardest part. Please pray for patience for our family as we wait the petscan results.
Jeremys treatment was quick yesterday, and he didn't make it out to the computer to write on the blog. I'm sure he will update when he goes next week. He has been in the best mood this week, even made dinner a couple of times and baked a cake. He did say that he feels like an old man because he goes to bed at 8:00 and he is tired all the time, I don't get what is so bad about the going to bed at 8 p.m. I thought that is what everyone does. He is trying to get well rested because the Father Son shoot at the Co-op is this week and it is both of my boys favorite days (one of them anyway), so here's hoping he is up to it.
Until later,
Jerm's mom
Jeremys treatment was quick yesterday, and he didn't make it out to the computer to write on the blog. I'm sure he will update when he goes next week. He has been in the best mood this week, even made dinner a couple of times and baked a cake. He did say that he feels like an old man because he goes to bed at 8:00 and he is tired all the time, I don't get what is so bad about the going to bed at 8 p.m. I thought that is what everyone does. He is trying to get well rested because the Father Son shoot at the Co-op is this week and it is both of my boys favorite days (one of them anyway), so here's hoping he is up to it.
Until later,
Jerm's mom
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
19 Down-2 to go
You don't know how long I have waited to say that........(BIG SMILE) Jerm's last long treatment was yesterday and what a day it was. New faces at the Center, and one big happy face in the middle of the center (that would be Jerm) because it was the last time he would be there for 8 hours. He has a short treatment tomorrow and his LAST treatment next week. His Petscan is scheduled for the 12th and he sees the Doctor on the 16th.
I know that every parent loves their child and is proud of their child (most of the time) and we have always thought our kid was amazing (MOST of the time) and yes, no matter how old they are they are still your child, your baby. But we think our kid is really something!!! He has handled all of this with such grace, dignity and for the most part his sense of humor has been intact. He has shared his story with others at the center, been gracious and respectful of others and I know he has prayed for every person that walks thru those doors. AND he has allowed me to take as many pictures of him as I want (ANOTHER BIG SMILE). I took pictures the day he had surgery, because if it turned out to be this was nothing I wanted a picture of him and if it turned out it was the beginning of something, I wanted to document every step of his journey so that he can look back and realized what he has accomplished.
So as we near the end of this journey (HUGE SMILE), I am counting the many blessings that have happened since March 13, the day Jerm had his surgery. They are not always easy to find, but they are there.
Jerm's mom
I know that every parent loves their child and is proud of their child (most of the time) and we have always thought our kid was amazing (MOST of the time) and yes, no matter how old they are they are still your child, your baby. But we think our kid is really something!!! He has handled all of this with such grace, dignity and for the most part his sense of humor has been intact. He has shared his story with others at the center, been gracious and respectful of others and I know he has prayed for every person that walks thru those doors. AND he has allowed me to take as many pictures of him as I want (ANOTHER BIG SMILE). I took pictures the day he had surgery, because if it turned out to be this was nothing I wanted a picture of him and if it turned out it was the beginning of something, I wanted to document every step of his journey so that he can look back and realized what he has accomplished.
So as we near the end of this journey (HUGE SMILE), I am counting the many blessings that have happened since March 13, the day Jerm had his surgery. They are not always easy to find, but they are there.
Jerm's mom
Sunday, June 1, 2008
This is the day the Lord has made!
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
And what a spectacular day it has been! Our day started off at Messiah for church to celebrate the church's 20 year anniversary. Pastor Liebich, who started Messiah 20 years ago was here from Florida to preach in celebration. It was like a family reunion seeing people we haven't seen in a long time. Jeremy's goal all week was to feel good enough to go to church today to hear Pastor Liebich and he did!!! Of course, getting out of church today took a little longer than usual, because many people wanted to talk to Jeremy and see how is doing. He was glad to catch up with some old friends and to meet some "new" friends he didn't know, but knew them by name because they have been praying for him and our whole family.
After church we went to lunch and introduced Jess to the all-you- can- eat buffet at Hometown Buffet. While Jeremy didn't eat as much as usual, he ate enough to be miserable.
Siteman Center had their Garden Party in the Garden of Hope today for survivors and their families. The Garden looked beautiful. Cindy, one of the nurses at Siteman has done amazing things with that garden, she is so talented. Jeremy wasn't up to going and to be honest that was ok, he got to go to church today and he has a full day of treatment tomorrow, so I would rather him be good for that. I did go with Marion, my mother-in-law who is a 25 year cancer survivor. We enjoyed it and met MANY inspirational people who shared their stories of survival. It is so good to know you are never alone on this walk, so many have done it before you, so many will do it after you. We met a woman who is a 38 year cancer survivor and another woman who is a one year survivor, diffrent by their ages and survival years but bonded because of their disease.
We will update tomorrow during his treatment. Until then.
And what a spectacular day it has been! Our day started off at Messiah for church to celebrate the church's 20 year anniversary. Pastor Liebich, who started Messiah 20 years ago was here from Florida to preach in celebration. It was like a family reunion seeing people we haven't seen in a long time. Jeremy's goal all week was to feel good enough to go to church today to hear Pastor Liebich and he did!!! Of course, getting out of church today took a little longer than usual, because many people wanted to talk to Jeremy and see how is doing. He was glad to catch up with some old friends and to meet some "new" friends he didn't know, but knew them by name because they have been praying for him and our whole family.
After church we went to lunch and introduced Jess to the all-you- can- eat buffet at Hometown Buffet. While Jeremy didn't eat as much as usual, he ate enough to be miserable.
Siteman Center had their Garden Party in the Garden of Hope today for survivors and their families. The Garden looked beautiful. Cindy, one of the nurses at Siteman has done amazing things with that garden, she is so talented. Jeremy wasn't up to going and to be honest that was ok, he got to go to church today and he has a full day of treatment tomorrow, so I would rather him be good for that. I did go with Marion, my mother-in-law who is a 25 year cancer survivor. We enjoyed it and met MANY inspirational people who shared their stories of survival. It is so good to know you are never alone on this walk, so many have done it before you, so many will do it after you. We met a woman who is a 38 year cancer survivor and another woman who is a one year survivor, diffrent by their ages and survival years but bonded because of their disease.
We will update tomorrow during his treatment. Until then.
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