Thursday visit from gram & gramps!

We were overjoyed to welcome grandma and grandpa to our home this past Thursday!!! Did you get that? She travelled... to Portland!!!  Mom finally felt well enough due to the doctors orders to take a week off of chemo.  It was such a blessing to be able to have her and dad visit our new home and to be able to see the grandkids doing their normal day to day stuff here at home.  We also celebrated Emery's 3rd birthday with them a week early.  Many of you know, but they used to come down to watch the kiddos two Fridays a month while Trav and I were at work.  I know both they and the kids treasured those special trips and we've been sad to miss them these past 8 months.  This video includes our time together here the last couple days.

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Keep praying for mom!  She returns to chemo this next week.  Pray this renewed strength carries her through this next phase of the unknown.  The doctor really doesn't want mom and dad to spend the $700,000+ on the stem cell transplant and so they are in communication with NIH (national institute of health) to see if they would like to conduct a study on her case to substantially reduce costs.  Even though mom is doing well this week, ultimately we know that she needs healing which will not come from chemo alone.  Please pray that we get answers swiftly as to whether or not NIH will cover some of these costs.  This would mean that she would have to go to NIH in D.C. for the treatment.  Thanks for your prayers!  Keep them coming!  We are so grateful to all of you!

Kids go to OMSI; keep prayin for gma!

Grandma had another 4 hr infusion of chemo this week and was feeling under the weather, but is starting to feel better.  We don't have much more info than last week and will hopefully know more about when the stem cell transplant is happening by next week.  Please continue to pray that that we are able to find a way for insurance to cover this treatment.  Mom's doctor is in communication with the National Institute of Health (NIH) which may offer another option.  We are resting in the peace that God has a plan for mom.  Please join us in prayer for healing for grandma.

Aksel, Emery and Madsen miss you grandma and grandpa!  Madsen had his 4 month check-up, we took a trip to OMSI and Emery helped me finish her mermaid birthday invitations!  It was a good day... here's a peak.

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A little catch up... keep prayin' for ma/grandma!

Sorry we haven't posted in a while.  Mom has had many ups and downs the past couple weeks.  She was feeling great after taking a break from her chemo at which point we were able to head north with the family and just spend time together.  This video highlights some of that time together as well as the prayer and worship candlelight vigil that their church was able pull together in their back yard two weeks ago.  Since then, mom has had different treatment/chemo which has made her very nauseous and weak.  This "intermediate" chemo was done partially because their has been quite a "hiccup" in the overall treatment plan.  Unfortunately, their medicare insurance will only pay for an autologous stem cell transplant (using her own cells) rather than an allogeneic transplant (using donor cells... e.g. Uncle Rick) she needs.  The autologous is covered, the allogeneic transplant will be over $700,000.  This is very frustrating as it is what she NEEDS medically.  My dad is prepared to make it work, whatever the cost... but we are trying hard to figure out how to get medicare to make an exception.  Needless to say, prayers would be appreciated!  Currently they are waiting for the stem cell transplant team to give her a date to start the allogeneic treatment.  This will be difficult on her body and we are praying for everything to go as smoothly as possible.

PLEASE PRAY:
- for her body to continue to stay strong (she required hydration today and will likely need treatment to boost her white blood cell count again)
- for the treatment to be approved by medicare; it is frustrating to think that the only treatment which could save her life "isn't covered"
- for Uncle Rick as he volunteers to be her donor
- PEACE for dad and really all of our family as we are pained to see her suffer and anxious and scared about what may lie ahead.

Thanks so much!  Your prayers are appreciated!

Enjoy this week's belated video and REMEMBER 2 PRAY 4 GRANDMA!!!

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