Get comfy...it's gonna be a long one!

Here are a few pictures from the "Steph's done with radiation celebration" that I managed to get my hands on!

Scot giving Steph some lovin'!!


Scot, Steph, Cheryl and Kenneth


I have been waiting for a meeting with my mom about what to post, but it seems as though there is at least one little person demanding our attention so we rarely have a full conversation! So I am going to post what info I have in order to keep everyone up to date.

Steph will have an appointment in Houston on October 8th. This is a Wednesday and she will basically be doing tests. Then Thursday she has an appointment with the doctor where she will, I believe, get the results of these tests and a plan for the future. The people in Houston have said that they are not in the business of giving second opinions, they are in the business of treating people with cancer. So we are very hopeful about the appointment and are very anxious to hear what they have to say.

Now the logistics. I'm not sure who is going with Steph to Houston. She has had MANY MANY offers from so many people and we can't thank you all enough for your loving support. My parents will be in Vegas all next week and Steph INSISTED that they not change their plans because she knows how important it is for them to get some quality alone time together as well as with my Uncle Bobby and Aunt Donna. If you know my family, you know that time with them is ALWAYS exciting! We cherish our Oklahoma family and treasure the time we get to spend with them! Steph has also insisted that Scot stay behind with the boys. She wants them to have their Daddy at home with them each night to maintain some sense of normalcy. Scot, being the amazing husband and father that he is, will stay behind and "hold the fort down." He will also be depending on the help of his family as Nana (Scot's mom Joyce) will be there to take care of the boys during the day. I'm sure that Grandma Edna, Papa Larry, Papa JL, Oma, Papa Ed, and Granny Pam will be pitching in like they always do!

While Steph is in Houston, she will be staying with a wonderful family who lives close to the hospital. Please forgive me, I have forgotten their names. I will use the excuse that I am still so amazed at the kindness these people have shown us and I am simply overwhelmed. They are very familiar with the hospital so they will provide rides to and from her appointments as well as opening up their home to someone they have never even met! When I get more info about them, they will be the proud recipients of their very own post!

Now I'm going to get mushy. There are some people who deserve a lot of recognition and I plan to do that now.

Scot,
I feel like you often get left out of the blogging. Knowing you, you are probably rolling your eyes at me because being the center of attention is not your thing. But you deserve some serious praise. I marvel at the amount of stuff you do in a day. What is even more amazing to me, is that you just do it. You don't complain (from what I know!) and you just get it done. I also have it on good authority that you do laundry. Pretty impressive! You are in this fight too and I hope you know how much we all love you.

Dad (Kenneth),
You have been so wonderful through this whole thing. You are there for everyone when they need you. You have welcomed another man into your home every single day and allowed him to take over the attention of your wife. (Drew, you are a lucky little man!) And don't think I don't notice that you are truly growing in your walk with God along this path. I'm proud to call you my Dad.

Mom (Cheryl),
I think you know how I feel about you so there's no need to pull out the big guns tonight. I know Steph feels the same way. I love her like a sister and I am so thankful that she has you to be with her during all the appointments as well as taking care of Drew. I love being stay at home moms together!

Brian (my husband),
Thank you for allowing me to sit here and type away while you watch Project Runway. (He's gonna love that I included that!) But seriously, you are my rock. When things get too tough, you offer me that big strong shoulder to cry on and that's all I need. You make my dreams come true everyday. You know when I've hit my limit and are always so very understanding. I remember seeing you in the gym at Cherokee Jr. High at 7th grade orientation. It was love at first sight. (for me anyway...I don't think you even noticed me until at least a year later!) I still can't believe that you are my husband and I am the mother of your children! I love you to the moon and back!

To Steph and Scot's families,
Edna, Larry, Ed, Pam, Joyce, Mike, JL, Cheryl and all of the brothers and sisters. Thank you all for helping out with the boys. They are truly blessed to have such a HUGE support system. Family is such a gift and you are each so very important to all of us. I know I'm not technically related, but we have a habit of adopting people....so consider yourselves adopted!

Pastor Scott,
You will never know how much you mean to us. You married Brian and I. You were in St. Louis to pray over Drew as he fought for his life. You were there to dedicate Claire and Drew in one of the most beautiful and touching dedication ceremonies I have EVER seen. You were there the day that I came forward and made a commitment to Christ. You dedicated Levi to the Lord and you were on my mind the day that Cohen was dedicated by Pastor John at our new church. You have been there for the big things, but most importantly we know you are always available for the small stuff too. You were the first person we called when we learned about Steph's cancer and offered prayer and your usual message of encouragement. We love you and thank God for putting you in our lives.

Our River Bluff family,
I miss you! Even though Brian and I are attending another church, we still think of you all very often. You will always hold a special place in my heart because you were my first church home. There are so many wonderful people there and we can't thank you enough for your unwavering support and countless prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

To the blog readers,
I never thought in a million years that this blog would become what it is. Thank you all for your prayers, support and kind words. We feel your prayers working and sincerely thank each and every one of you. May the Lord bless you.

WHEW! I feel better! I read back over my post, and am reminded at how truly blessed I am to be a part of this journey. In the words of my sweet baby girl, "My heart is all filled up...with love for you." Yes, that means you.

Too much time on my hands...

or am I just REALLY good at wasting the time I do have? Either way, Brian and I stayed up WAAAYYY too late last night making funny pictures. Here are a few.


Steph and Scot

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Levi

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Me and Brian

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Drew and Claire

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Cohen

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Me and Brian again

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Brian

Create your own FACEinHOLE

Sending Stuff to God

Today after gymnastics, we decided to eat at Red Robin. When we left, the kids each got a new shiny balloon. Claire had hers in hand (which is huge because she used to have a major phobia about balloons with helium) and said that she would like to send it to God. We decided that we would wait until we got home, write a prayer on it and send it on up. Here is the prayer she wanted to send to God.

Of course brother has to share the love too!

Cohen waving to the balloons.

Steph, we love you with all our hearts. We are blessed to call you friend and to be a part of your brave fight in which we KNOW you will be victorious. WE BELIEVE! We are praying each day that God heals you. We are also praying for safe travels to and from Houston. I feel it in my heart....remission...I feel it.

last days of summer

The past few days have been such a treat! Mom and Dad turned on the heater in their pool to take the chill off and we declared Wednesday and Thursday POOL DAYS! We decided to take full advantage of the warm weather, as we know those days will be gone very soon. We are very much looking forward to the cool crisp days of October, but want to make sure to enjoy what warm days we have left. Notice Drew and Claire in their "spidey suits" and rain boots. If you know Claire, you are familiar with her rain boot obsession. Other faces you may or may not recognize....Miss Alivia Jane (the one with the beautiful blue eyes and great tan from St. Thomas!) and "Lella" (actually Ella, Cohen's little buddy from next door is riding in his car with him.) Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather as much as we are! Oh, and I have an update that I am working on. Steph's appointment in Houston has been rescheduled for October 8th and 9th. More details very soon!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Another Stephanie

During the past year as we have watched Steph in the battle for her life, we have come across people who are just down right special. People who were friends or even acquaintances that have basically become like family to us. One of those people is Miss Leah from school. She sent me an e-mail yesterday to request prayer for a friend of hers. And any friend of Leah's is a friend of ours so I wanted to share a little about her story and encourage you to visit her page and pray for her full recovery. She is a young mother of 3 beautiful children (her baby girl was just born in August) and she is fighting a very rare type of Lymphoma. Take a minute to check out her blog www.stephanievest.com.

Thanks a lot Ike.

This is the last e-mail I got from my mom. She e-mailed me from home because we rarely get to have a full conversation over the phone! So here it is!

Hi Everyone!Update on our plans! Last night, one of my best friends, that lives in Houston (Teresa) called and said that they were saying on the news that M.D. Anderson was closed because of water issues. So, I picked up the phone and called the hospital and actually reached a person! She told me that they would be making a decision at noon on Sunday if they were going to reopen on Monday. So on Sunday morning we updated Dan (the pilot), apologized for being such a pain because we've only changed plans 57 times! He was his usual wonderful, pleasant self and said no problem! At 10:30 I went ahead and called just to see if maybe someone already knew something. I was on hold for 10 minutes and talked to a really nice girl who when I asked how she was doing she informed me she had been there since Thursday and that a tree had went through the back of her house and she just wanted to go home! She said they were in a meeting at that moment to decide whether they would be open for appointments tomorrow and to call back at noon. I thought I would try, didn't work! I just felt so bad that we weren't giving Dan much notice. At noon, I called and was on hold for 20 minutes. The lady I talked to this time said that they were not having appointments Monday and to call back tomorrow to see if they might be on Tuesday. At this point, Steph will just have to call and try to reschedule. I will let you all know when we have plan #58!

Love,Cheryl

So there you have it! I will post as soon as I hear anything new!

I just remembered...

something Drew said (actually sang) the other day and had to share. I had picked up the kids from school and we were headed into our house. Drew hopped out of the truck and was singing, "I've got peace like forever, I've got peace like forever, I've got peace like forever in my soul!" (I've Got Peace like a River) Love that kid.

This afternoon...

was so wonderful and uplifting. I can't say thank you enough to everyone who came and supported Steph and her family. The prayers were beautiful and so heartfelt. The best part of the afternoon was before we started praying and Pastor Scott was asking people to pray for certain things. He asked who would like to pray for safe travels. We hear a little, "I will" come from the couch. It was Drew. Bless his stinkin' little heart! I love that kid! We felt every single prayer today and we know so many of you were there in spirit. The members of Steph and Scot's church will be having a time of prayer at 2:00 pm on Sunday. They are asking everyone to take time out on their own and pray for the Phillips family. God will hear our prayers!

Call to Prayer

For those who are interested and able, we will be meeting at 4:30 tomorrow afternoon (Friday the 12th) for a time of prayer in preparation for Steph's appointment on Monday. We will meet at the Phillips house with Pastor Scott and our families. If you can't come and wish to participate, please join us in prayer wherever you are. If you would like to join us and need directions just shoot me an e-mail and I would be happy to give those to you. If we hear anything regarding her appointment and the hurricane, I will let you know. She hasn't heard anything yet so we are assuming the appointment still stands.

Appointment

Steph's appointment in Houston is on September 15th at 7:00 am. We really don't know much right now, but I personally have a really good feeling. I told Steph that I have a sense of peace right now that I haven't had in quite a while. I'm not as anxious as I usually am about this appointment. Not sure why....it just feels different...in a good way. If I learn anything new I will pass along the info. Until then, pray that God will heal our dear friend!! Love and Prayers!

Whatta Woman!

I received an e-mail today from our good friend Holly. For those who don't know, Holly's Husband recently lost his brave battle with melanoma cancer. I stand amazed at how graceful Holly has been during a time of complete tragedy. She is so brave and continues to be a pillar of strength for her two beautiful little girls. She made it her personal goal to make her and Jeff's dream of an urgent care clinic for cancer patients a reality. She is well on her way and here is the message I had waiting in my inbox today.

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to share the good news that with the help of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, we are now officially The Jeffrey A Melton Urgent Care Cancer Foundation. Anyone who wishes to donate or sponsor can do so through the CFO. We are on the way!

Thank you all! Looking forward to Tuesday night--the 9th, at the Gillioz.

Holly

Please take a moment to visit her blog and read about the upcoming benefit at the Gillioz. The Meltons are a very special family who will always hold a special place in our hearts. My heart is filled with pride to even know Holly. I am blessed to call her a friend.

I did it...

now it's your turn! I finally had my debit card and computer in the same place and put MY money where my mouth is. So our team has now raised $50.00. I know we have a few thousand people who look at this blog so I dare you all to donate $2.00. That's it....$2.00. That won't even buy a tank of gas!!! So why not put it towards finding a cure for cancer. Just 2 bucks. Come on, you know you want to. All the cool kids are doing it! HERE

There's really nothing to say here.

Prayers

This morning at church my mom had a great conversation with our good friend David Potter. He and his wife (hi Misty!) and their family pray for Steph every single day. They pray ONE prayer. They pray that God will HEAL Stephanie. He suggested (and we all agree) that we should all be praying for the exact same thing. So from here on out let us pray that GOD WILL HEAL HER BODY. HE is the all mighty physician and HE can perform miracles. So let Him hear our prayer. Please Lord, heal her. I have faith and I know nothing is impossible with God. No prayer is too small or too big for Him. Just keep praying that simple prayer....I know she feels them. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Still no appointment with MD Anderson. She called Friday and they said that her case is still under review. She should hear back this week. As usual, I will keep you posted!

Stand Up To Cancer!

While we wait for news from M.D. Anderson about an appointment, I have a challenge for you. I'm sure many of you have heard about the Stand Up To Cancer campaign. If not, you can go to http://www.standup2cancer.org/ and read about it. The nationally televised and commercial free show will be on September 5th. It is supposed to be big! SO I have started a team in honor of our dear friend Stephanie. I'm not asking for major amounts of money. I KNOW how many people look at this blog and I felt it was my duty to provide an easy way for everyone to donate. Let's be a part of something HUGE! WE can and WE WILL make a difference! Go HERE and donate. Then e-mail me (if you want) and let me know who you are honoring with your donation. If you want to send pictures too, that would be wonderful! I would love to put together a slide show honoring EVERYONE we know who has battled this cruel disease. I want to recognize their heroic battles! Let's do this!!!!

Sherrie's Father

They found Sherrie's dad yesterday and he his no longer alive. He was found between his property and the neighbor's. It is now being investigated as a crime scene.Please continue praying for the Hake's as their lives continue on.

Please Pray

...for John Hamrick. He is the father of one of the sweetest women in our Women's Bible Study, Created to be his Helpmeet. He has gone missing. His truck was found this afternoon with license plates switched out and more things that I just won't list here. Please pray that he is safe and just hasn't made it home yet. Please pray for peace for Sherrie and her mom and Sherrie's daughter Miranda, who just want him home.

Results

Okay, I know I said it might take a few days but this is a little ridiculous right? I have an excuse, but you know what they say about those. Last Thursday was not a good day. The way it sounded was that there was another reduction in cancer activity and there was more cancer down in the colon area. NOT what we wanted to hear. HOWEVER, when she went to see Dr. Edwards on Tuesday it was a different story. He informed Steph that the tumor they have been working on in the chest region was COMPLETELY GONE! Gone, not there, absent, disappeared, outta here....just plain ol' gone! Then he mentioned removing the other tumor. Steph questioned him because she understood on Thursday that they wanted to do a biopsy. Dr. Edwards said that because it was so small (just the size of a grape) that it wouldn't be that big of a deal. AND he said that it was in a really odd place which leads him to wonder if it is even cancer and not just scar tissue. At this point we were all a little frustrated because we can't understand how we can get so many different stories all at once. So Steph asked for a referral to M.D. Anderson. We are waiting on that and she will be headed down there as soon as we get word of when her appointment is. Keep praying that the "grape" is nothing more than scar tissue and that the appointment in Houston goes well. A HUGE thank you to Dan and Shelly who will be providing travel to and from Houston. Thank you doesn't even begin to express our gratitude for your kindness and love. From the bottom of our hearts thank you.

News

Steph had her scan yesterday. She does not meet with her oncologist until August 7th. (which I believe in some countries is considered cruel and unusual punishment, but that's neither here nor there.) However, she did call Dr. Helen yesterday and ask her if she could call her with the results when they were available. Dr. Helen said it would probably be too late to call her that day but she would call her in the morning. WELL, she called last night and was pretty excited. Here is what we have gathered so far..keep in mind, this is a preliminary report and they have not had time to compare the CT scan with the PET scan. Based on the PET scan there has been...and I quote "ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT reduction in cancer activity!" We will know more after the appointment with Dr. Hoos. But for now we are very hopeful. Keep praying and I will post more later!! Have a blessed day!

Smile Box Slideshow

Here is a slideshow of all of the pictures from the balloon ride! Please keep Steph in your prayers over the next few days as she prepares for her scan tomorrow. BIG day. Have a blessed day and enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Up Up and Away!

Last night Steph got a special treat! This year for my Mom's birthday my Dad got her a hot air balloon ride. They called yesterday and said the weather was just right and that they would be going up that night. My mom called Steph and told her the plan and insisted that she come with Scot and the boys to watch them take off. Just as they were about to hop on board, my dad said, "Well Steph, better get ready because you are going up!" She was completely surprised! So Steph and my mom took off in Springfield and landed at Nixa Jr. High. They said it was an amazing experience. I will post pics when I get them from my mom but I just wanted to share with everyone! I also wanted to thank Rick and Karen Hewlett from Rick's Automotive and our DEAR friends Pam and Steve White who made last night possible. You have no idea how special it was for my Mom and Steph to finally share an experience that didn't involve cancer, chemo or radiation. Thank you! And of course, thank you Lord for the beautiful evening and a safe landing!

A Call to Prayer

Steph had an appointment with Dr. Hoos. She will be scanned again and on August 7th we will get the results. It is on that day that we will know if she is in remission or if we need to pursue other treatment options. PLEASE pray that the cancer will be in remission. Everyday pray that the radiation and chemo worked. I will post as soon as I can and let everyone know what the outcome is. If it takes a while, don't panic and assume the worst! I am a bridesmaid in my brother's wedding the next day so it will be a very busy weekend but I promise to try my best!!! Please just pray until then for good results as well as strength and peace for all of us.

PS

I put a few new websites on the "links list" if you are looking for something to do. Just thought I would raise some awareness about some different issues that have affected my family and friends. Take a look!

Day of celebration!

Yesterday we celebrated Steph's last radiation treatment. We really thought we would be jumping for joy and partying it up, but not really. I hate to be a downer but as I have said before, this is real. We were told on Monday that the tumor cannot be removed at this point because it is still too big. Bummer. We haven't really understood why we are waiting 8 more weeks for the next scan. This tumor (which was NOT there when she had surgery) only took 6 weeks to grow about 4 inches. The last thing we want is for it to get bigger again. Dr. Helen said that the radiation and chemo will continue to work between now and the time she is scanned again. She said that it is a possibility that is could be completely gone in 8 weeks. She also talked about how one of our biggest concerns is that colon cancer is NOTORIOUS for spreading to the liver. She said right now we need to do our best to focus on the miracles that we have already been blessed with. We need to keep a positive attitude because Steph has already beaten a lot of odds. I stand firm in my belief that she will continue to do so. I can't let myself believe anything else at this point. I know that if I allow myself to think about the worst, this will be Satan's chance to take control of my heart. I WILL REMAIN FAITHFUL. WE WILL WIN THIS BATTLE. Right now, we need some very specific prayers. Please pray:

1. That the radiation will continue to work and get rid of the tumor completely.
2. That the cancer will not spread to her liver.
3. For Steph and Scot's emotional health.

Just keep praying and I will update when I know more. Thank you all!!!

Counting the days!

Counting today, Steph has 5 radiation treatments left. She meets with Dr. Helen on Monday and has a lot of questions. Please pray that she gets the answers that she needs. There are a lot of things that are confusing to us right now but we have faith that Dr. Helen is going to tell Steph what she needs to know. We are looking forward to celebrating the end of radiation. She will be rescanned six weeks after to see where we are. Keep praying and I will post when we know more! Have a great weekend!

Radiation Update

Today was Steph's weekly meeting with Dr. Helen. She and my mom had some questions about what "significantly decreased" meant. Dr. Helen explained that if the tumor was at 100% on day one of radiation....it has shrunk to about 30-40%!!!!!!! She was VERY excited and also went on to say that she was very surprised because normally people who don't respond to chemo don't respond to radiation either. It was incredible news. We have also been told that since it is shrinking, there are more options available to her now if the radiation doesn't completely get rid of the tumor. Keep praying and PRAISING GOD for this wonderful news!!!!

Facing the Giant

Today as I was watching my "little" girl at her first big girl gymnastics class, my mom got a phone call from Steph. She had a PET scan done today and was told she would have the results tomorrow. HOWEVER, she got a call today from Dr. Helen saying that she had the results and was REALLY EXCITED! The tumor they have been "aiming" at has decreased significantly in size!!!! From what I understand she will adjust her future treatments now because it has gotten smaller! This news came at a time when we all REALLY needed it. The past few weeks have been really hard on us all. God is so good and I know he is in control. He is listening to all of our prayers...so keep it up!!! I realized a few nights ago that I was getting a little down and starting to let my faith waiver a little. So I prayed. I prayed for God to direct me and lead me to something that would offer some comfort. The next morning, I was cleaning out my closet and picked up a stray DVD that was on the floor. It was "Facing the Giants." I'm so glad God has a sense of humor. He knew that if it wasn't on the floor, I would never find it because I would never think to look in the place it belonged! I began thinking about the movie and the team struggling to win games. Their coach told them that they were going to praise Him if they won, and they would praise Him if they lost. I won't ruin the ending for those who haven't seen it, but you can probably imagine what happens next. So I took a deep breath and thanked the Lord for the subtle message. I began to count my blessings and thank him that Steph has been given the chance to fight. We said in the beginning that she will beat this...all she needs is the chance to fight. Here's her chance and SHE WILL BEAT IT! So imagine my surprise when just a few days later we get this news! I know He is good, but man that was fast!!!! Thank you Jesus for never failing to amaze me!

Ink

Steph has 3 small dots tattooed on her body for radiation so they can get everything lined up exactly right each time. I suggested that she cover them up with REAL tattoos when she beats this. Vote on your favorite!

Normal...I miss you.

We spent Sunday with the Phillips family at my parent's house. It was a wonderful day! Every now and then I was able to pretend that everything was normal. I wish Steph could do the same, but I know it's on her mind every second. But the day was as close to normal as we can get these days. I was quickly jolted back to reality when my dad asked Claire what she prays for at "Super Church" on Sundays. She said...and I quote..."I pray for Steph because she has cancer and has to go to chemo." So many emotions flooded my soul. I was shocked because this is the first time she has EVER said anything like that. I have told her that we need to pray for Steph because she is sick but as far as details, she has picked all of that up by listening to us talk. I was proud because she cares so much for other people. I was sad because I was looking at four babies whose lives are so affected by cancer, whether they realize it or not. I want so desperately for cancer to go away. It's a feeling I'm not familiar with. It's gut wrenching. It's almost primal. I haven't spent much time with Steph lately because of her schedule and the fact that my kids have been sick and we don't want to pass anything on. But this weekend I got to spend hours with her and I miss that. She is like a sister to me and I miss her. I miss just being normal. Just. Normal.

"We must destroy it."

My mom and I had picked Claire and Drew up from school a few weeks ago and then took them for ice cream. I don't remember what we were talking about, but Drew just said "We must destroy it." We asked him what he was talking about. He looked up and said, "Well, that's what Peter Parker says to Dr. Octavius." We aren't exactly sure what brought it up, but we couldn't agree more! In honor of Drew who LOVES superheros, check out the new poll and cast your vote!

Drew understands that Mommy is sick (even though sometimes it is hard for him to REALLY understand because she doesn't look or act sick.) and that she has an oncologist that is going to make her better. Doctors have been a part of his life since the minute he was born and he goes to the cardiologist on a regular basis. He has visited my dad in the hospital on NUMEROUS occasions and loves to go to his appointments with him. He even got to go to the doctor with my mom which NEVER EVER happens, because she NEVER goes to the doctor! (She did find out she had an ear infection, sinus infection and pneumonia!!) My point...doctors are a regular part of his life so it hasn't really worried him that Mommy goes all the time!

STEPH, is doing well. The first few days of radiation were a little rough, but she is adjusting. She got to run the bases with Drew at his first tee ball game and I will post pictures very soon, because they are priceless. They are all having a great time participating in Drew's first REAL TEAM! He told Steph that he really wished Claire was on his team. Maybe next year Drew! Which brings me to my cute story for the day.

Steph: "Drew, is Riley your new girlfriend?"
Drew: "No Mom, I'm just havin' fun with her!"
Steph: "So who is your girlfriend?"
Drew: "CLAIRE is my girlfriend! I will ALWAYS love Claire."

I'm telling you! Mark your calendars for the summer of 2028! It will be the wedding of the century!

Radiation

Steph had her first radiation treatment today at 3:30. My mom is sick (which NEVER happens) so my dad stepped in and took her to her first treatment. I haven't heard yet how it went so I'm not exactly a wealth of information today! I just wanted to post to let everyone know that she has started radiation and will do SEVEN weeks!! She will go Monday-Friday and most likely will be going at the same time everyday. So if you get a chance between 3:30 and 4:00, say a prayer for Steph. Pray that this radiation will work. We have been so encouraged by her wonderful doctor. (Dr. Helen Kim is AWESOME!) She is positive and upbeat with a great sense of humor. She has assured us that she will do everything in her power to get rid of this nasty old cancer!! So keep praying and I will post again very soon! Oh and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms out there!

Blogger impaired

I am such a nerd! I meant for the "Look Alike Meter" to be posted on my personal blog. I wondered where it went but just assumed I was computer illiterate and didn't do something right. Then I come to the blog today and here it is! I'm sure all of you really care about how much my baby boy looks like me. (3% more than daddy, read it and weep Brian!) Anyway, one of these days I will catch up with technology. Of course, then I will be 5 years behind again. Oh well, that's what kids are for.

Well....

Steph had her appointment yesterday. We didn't hear EXACTLY what we wanted to hear, but also realize it could have been much worse! The lymph nodes that have been inflamed for a while are still that way. Unfortunately, that means that there is still cancer in there. The good news is that there are no new tumors or masses. We will press on with 4 weeks of radiation, 20 minutes a day......everyday. The plan to stay on the Avastin was changed and she will now be on Xeloda. It is in pill form but can cause the following. diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, constipation, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, headache, sleeplessness, dry or itching skin, and dehydration. They also warned her that it can cause tingling, numbness, pain, redness, or swelling of the hands or feet. Sounds pleasant huh? Steph was very discouraged and asked if the last 6 months of chemo was all for nothing. Dr. Hoos said, "No, to be perfectly honest, if you hadn't done that we would be calling in hospice right now." For all of us it was a feeling much like being punched in the stomach and smacked in the face all at once. I'm not sure if ANY of us, including Steph, really grasped the severity of her illness. Part of it has to do with the fact that Stephanie Phillips is THE strongest and toughest woman I know. Just to look at her, she doesn't look sick. More often than not, she doesn't ACT sick. So to have the doctor tell us that was eye opening to say the least. SO, we need prayers now that we can get rid of the rest of this stupid cancer. I will let you all know when we get radiation scheduled so we can all take a few minutes a day to lift Steph up to the Lord during her treatment. We are praising God today that there was nothing new on the scan and thanking him for getting us through the past 6 months.

Thanks to those of you who sent birthday wishes!! I had a good one and I'm ready for my hot date tonight with my husband!

April 24th is the day!

Steph has an appointment with her oncologist on April 24th. I have a great feeling about this. You see, April 24th is the day I graced this earth with my presence just 28 short years ago. So, as you can tell, only wonderful things happen on that day. (wahhhh wahhhhh!) I mean really, Kelly Clarkson and Barbara Streisand were born on that day too. How can you go wrong? But seriously, I wish we didn't have to wait that long for the results of her scan. But as my Dad says, "you can wish in one hand and....." You know the rest. If not, then you probably don't have any Okies in your lineage.

Enjoy the warm weather and if you live in the Springfield area, hold on to the little people in your life, they may blow away. Man it's windy!!!

Flooding

OK, so I have been lucky enough (unlike my parents) to avoid any serious water getting into our basement. However, it's still like a flood around here! My good friend Jenny is now the proud recipient of a shiny new pacemaker and defibrillator. (she is 27 with a wonderful husband and a 2 month old baby) Steph had her scan yesterday. (results still pending) My Aunt Donna and our close family friend Steve both lost their mothers on Thursday. So I'm trying to keep it together....and I go down with strep. Thanks to my WONDERFUL mother-in-law I didn't have to worry about the kids while my dad took me to the doctor and Brian finished up his work day. I am still praising God for the miracle he performed in Jenny. I am praising him for healing me as I am on the mend today. I continue to pray for Steph's results and for Him to give Aunt Donna and Steve and their families strength in this difficult time. I praise Him. Without Him, I know I couldn't deal.

I will post as SOON as I know anything about the scan but we don't really know when that will be. The PET scan should show if there are any cancer cells left. This is a biggie so keep praying!!!
Love
Chrissy

No News is Good News!

It's been a crazy few weeks in my life. You know the saying..."when it rains it pours." It's been pouring!!! (Literally and figuratively!) Steph is enjoying some time off from treatment. She has gone back to school and recently went to Tampa, FL for a meeting. Tomorrow she has a scan so please be praying that everything comes back okay. I will post as soon as I hear anything about those results. She will be starting radiation in a few weeks (I think) so I will let everyone know how it goes. Thank your for your continued prayers. It seems like 50 years ago when this whole thing started but your prayers are just as important today as they were then! So thank you thank you thank you!!!

The Melton Family

I received an e-mail this morning from Ms. Holly (Claire's teacher) saying that her husband passed away at 12:45 this morning. He was diagnosed in October with Melanoma and now, he's gone. My heart is broken for Holly and their two beautiful little girls. Her blog www.nevergonnabreakmyfaith.blogspot.com sheds a lot of light on what a wonderful man he is. I have been inspired by their strength and their faith. They have changed me. I told Holly that because of them, I tend to stop before I get mad about picking up a pile of dirty clothes on Brian's side of the bed. I think twice before I get grumpy about him coming home a little late. Instead, I thank God that I had him here last night to make that mess. I rejoice because he has an amazing job that keeps him busy into the evening and provides us with a roof over our heads and food on the table. I didn't even get upset when that table that holds the food became a canvas for Cohen's recent hobby...fork carving. It puts things into perspective. The endless piles of laundry mean I have 3 other beautiful people in this house that dirty them up! The crumbs all over the floor mean we have little hands learning how to use silverware. All of the screeching and laughing means we have a sister and brother in this house who adore each other. I am thankful for every second I get with the people I love. Whether I am playing games with them, coloring, painting, working around the house, watching TV with them, shopping with them, working out with them or sharing a meal. Every person who is in my life is so valuable to me. The Melton's situation has reminded me that we are only guaranteed this very moment on earth. We don't know God's plan and we don't know when he will call us or our loved ones home. Take the time today to pick up the phone and call someone you love just to chat. Spend an extra minute in that embrace before running off to start dinner. Let them splash water on the bathroom floor just for fun. Read an extra bedtime story. Don't turn on the TV this evening. Invite a single mom out for lunch or over for dinner. Wake up each day and ask yourself, "What can I do today to make someone's day special." It doesn't matter if it is your kids, spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, friend or a complete stranger. Just do it. You may not have another chance. If you are the "prayin' kind" please pray for Holly, Ashtyn and Lauren. Pray that they feel the presence of the Lord more than ever right now. Visit their blog and send a positive thought or a Bible verse. Have a blessed day!

LONG time, no post!

So sorry! My laptop has officially earned "paperweight" status so computer time is hard to come by. I missed a few very important dates!! First of all, Stephanie turned 34! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY STEPH!!! Second, Tuesday was her last chemo treatment for this round!!! She now gets a month off (I think) and then she will start radiation and continue with the Avastin. Radiation will be 5 weeks everyday. We are hoping that means Monday through Friday. Then she will go in for the Avastin every other week like she has been but it will only take a few hours rather than all day. She will also be getting a CT scan as well as a PET scan sometime in the near future to see what there is to see. Dr. Hoos has also mentioned exploratory surgery after treatment in order to make SURE that there isn't anything left. So that's the scoop!

We have all been busy filling out our brackets for the NCAA tournament. Drew and Claire will be participating this year. We are letting them pick their own teams. Should be VERY interesting!

Hope everyone is drying out after almost a foot of rain!!! We were thinking about starting our arc yesterday. We have plenty of scrap wood after the ice storm! Have a great day and HAPPY SPRING!!!!!

No Ordinary Season

I wanted to take a minute and say a little about the 2007-08 Kickapoo Lady Chiefs. Sadly their season came to an end last week with a loss to the Ozark Lady Tigers. I don't know anyone who is more sad than my little Claire. She LOVES watching her Lady Chiefs! (Which is funny because we live in Ozark!) This year was obviously different from any of the others. When the girls were gearing up for this season, they were preparing for a season of basketball, wins, losses, bumps and bruises. What they got was a season full of those things plus life lessons, FAITH, hope, generosity and love. These girls hold a special place in Steph's heart and they have no idea how much they did just by showing up to practice with the drive and determination that we all know and love. Their energy and spirit got her through some very difficult times. Girls, I know you were disappointed last week when your season ended so abruptly but please know that this was no ordinary season. This season will live forever in our hearts. What you did this year was so much more than a title or championship. God Bless each and everyone of you.

Prayer Request

Unfortunately so many people are touched in some way by cancer. If you have been there then you know that it bonds people for life. You find that God puts certian people in your life for numerous reasons. It may not be clear at the time, but he knows what he is doing. For example, this year when Claire and Drew started school they were welcomed with open arms (AS USUAL) by their wonderful and fearless leaders. All of the teachers knew what the Phillips family was up against and they made the transistion as easy as possible for Drew. While Ms. Holly was comforting Drew, praying for Steph and giving money at the fundraisers...she had no idea how HER life was about to change. One day we were sitting at the Fall party for our kids and the next thing she knew.....her husband, Jeff, had been diagnosed with cancer. For all of the details you can visit her blog www.nevergonnabreakmyfaith.blogspot.com (Yes, we are big fans of the REALLY long blog addresses!!) I haven't had the pleasure of getting to know Jeff really well but he and Steph have been able to talk a little about what they are both dealing with. I DO know Holly and she is a little slice of Heaven right here on earth. I am thinking that if Miss Sandy and Miss Holly could just follow Claire right on through to her senior year I would be just fine with that!!! Right now they need prayers more than anything. They are such strong and faithFULL Christians and have such an amazing attitude. Please pray that God will touch Jeff and heal him. Jeff, Holly, Lauren and Ashtyn: You are all in our prayers! Everyone have a blessed week!

White Out Cancer!

Here's story number TWO for this week in the Springfield News-Leader! These two women are so wonderful and I am so glad someone took the opportunity to do a story on them. Not only do we have dishrags around here but Mrs. Anderson took the time to make the greatest earwarmers for all the little ones! They are warm, cozy and of course they are BROWN AND GOLD!!! I haven't gotten the chance to actually thank her for them so hopefully she reads this blog!! So, here's the article and a BIG thank you from the Stephanie Phillips Foundation to the people who are doing so much for Stephanie and her family. Love and Prayers.


(Click on the title of the blog and it will take you to the actual article!)
By Sarah Overstreet



Dishrags help wash out cancer-care cost Springfield Public Schools food service worker Shannon Kinney found an unusual ally in her friend Stephanie Phillips' battle with colon cancer — her knitting needles.


If most of us racked our brains trying to come up with an idea to raise money for a sick friend, probably only one in a million would come up with "dishrags."
Luckily, that one in a million lives here and has no padlocks on her imagination. Shannon Kinney had recently learned to knit from her friend Darleen Anderson, and knitting was the first thing that came to her mind.


"When I heard about Stephanie's cancer, I thought 'Everyone else can do something for her, what can I do?'" she remembers of hearing in August the heartbreaking news that Kickapoo High School's girls' basketball coach Stephanie Phillips had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

What she could do, she reasoned, was what she knew and what other people might want. She could knit, and the sturdy, pretty dishrags she knitted for friends and relatives lasted forever. She called Anderson to bounce the idea off, and her friend thought her idea was great. She researched the colors associated with different cancers — the American Cancer Society told her purple is for colon cancer — but from out of nowhere, a slogan popped into her mind: "White Out Coach Phillips' Cancer."



White. White, long-lasting dishcloths that are easily bleached when they lose their snowy sheen.
She hung sign-up sheets for orders and started talking to friends. Soon, some of them, like Anderson, joined her with needles.


Then, she became her own marketing department, talking to co-workers and customers at her second job, even taking custom orders for rags in various holiday colors.


Anderson says the impact of the small woman, her knitting needles and her mission has had an impact way past what Kinney even knows. "She brought together all these wonderful people everywhere she worked. They heard the story and went out with a new heart for cancer. They were so touched — here was this woman with two little boys (Phillips), just like Shannon was left with two little boys" (after Kinney's divorce).


By December, Kinney had reached her goal: She'd made 400 dishrags.
"I counted every stitch," Anderson says. "There are 1,865 stitches in each dish rag ... . Shannon says, 'With each stitch goes a prayer for Coach Phillips' full recovery.' She brought in $1,000 just by herself."


As we talk, Kinney knits, 10 spools of cotton yarn surrounding her feet at the couch where she sits. As Kinney does with almost any activity that lets her sit down, she knits. One of the only places she won't knit is at one of the high school or college games she often watches with Anderson. Her sons Dre and Channing Dokes grew up playing on teams with Anderson's grandsons Shane and Spencer Laurie all the way through middle school to high school graduation, and now Dre plays in the Canadian Football League.


"I can't knit and pay attention to the game," Kinney explains. "But Darleen knits. I don't care what game she's watching, she knits. I've at least got to the point where I can watch TV and knit."


Before she committed to her rag-a-thon, Kinney briefly wondered if she'd have the time. "Then I thought, 'Yeah, I'll have the time — I'll make the time.' It's in my heart."


When I reach into my pocket to get a few bills to poke into a kettle or contribute to a sick co-worker's hospital fund, I'm sure I'll often think of Shannon Kinney. She's bought more than $250 worth of yarn herself for the dishrags and baby blankets she makes for unwed teen mothers.
Shannon's hands don't stop at her pockets. They reach for her knitting needles, then pass on her work to others who need it more.


To visit the Web site maintained for Phillips by supporters, go to http://www.stephsgonnawin.com/.

The results are in!

Dr. Hoos felt good about the scan. Nothing has changed which leads him to believe that the inflamed lymphnodes may still be from surgery. So that's good news! I didn't hear anything about the hernia. I just wanted to update everyone on the status of the scan! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to everyone!

Think Pink Week

Say that 10 times fast!!

As my Mom and Steph were sitting in chemo last week, Steph was contacted by a reporter for the Springfield News-Leader about a campaign that she is heading up. Here is a copy of the article and here is the link http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/SPORTS0102/802110343 Steph came up with the slogan and Jarad (my brother) did a great job with the shirts. They look great! I can't wait for next year because Steph has already picked a slogan and it's even better! So enjoy the article and ladies, take a minute to check your breasts! It could be fun!

Local teams join cancer fightGirls' basketball teams from area high schools to wear pink this week to promote awareness.

Michael Stacy News-Leader

It might be difficult to distinguish between different girls' basketball teams around town during warm-ups this week, because several of them will be sporting the same shirts.

The girls' teams at Central, Glendale, Hillcrest, Kickapoo and Parkview — and a handful of their opponents — will don pink gameday T-shirts in conjunction with the "Think Pink" initiative, a national effort sponsored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research.

Kickapoo coach Stephanie Phillips is spearheading the local effort. Diagnosed with colon cancer in August, Phillips has continued to teach and coach while fighting the disease.

When Phillips suggested the pink shirts to her fellow coaches, they jumped at the opportunity to support the cause and show solidarity with Phillips — even if, for some, it meant compromising their sense of style.

"I'll be honest with you, I hate pink," said Central coach Dan Stander, who will join his players in sporting a pink shirt. "But I can't think of a better time to wear it."
Like Stander, Parkview coach Keri Nichols was eager to support the effort. Nichols, in her first year at Parkview, said she is impressed with the way the city coaches have come together for a common cause.

"It's a true testament to how the coaches are a great group of people whose first concern is helping kids have great character and become successful people," Nichols said. "(It's) showing them that there's other things out there that we can do to help make our community better."

Proceeds from T-shirt sales will be donated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
But financial support for the battle against breast cancer is only part of the equation this week; raising awareness is just as important as raising funds. The T-shirts shed light on the significance of such awareness. Emblazoned with the slogan "Hand Checks Allowed," the shirts make a humorous allusion to a very serious subject --the importance of vigilance in the fight against cancer.

"It's really important to raise awareness about taking care of your body and getting things checked out," Phillips said. "If it causes one person to go get checked out that wouldn't have, we've made a difference." Such vigilance is important, Phillips said, because nobody is immune from the impact of cancer; everyone has been touched by the disease in some way.
Indeed, in talking about the "Think Pink" promotion, Nichols mentioned her mom, Evelyn, a breast cancer survivor. Stander spoke of an aunt whom he lost to cancer and a cousin who beat cancer and will likely be in attendance as the Lady Bulldogs don pink this week.

And then, of course, there's Phillips.

"I think it puts a whole new perspective on life and... just how valuable that is," Glendale coach Renee Temple said.

The national "Think Pink" effort was inspired in large part by another basketball coach who, like Phillips, is fighting cancer. North Carolina State women's coach Kay Yow is currently battling breast cancer for the third time.

"I can't imagine being her and being that strong and that tough," Phillips said. "She's still coaching; that's really motivation for me, because this is just my first time."
While Phillips finds inspiration in the example set by Yow, other coaches look no further for inspiration than the Kickapoo coach.

"Even though she's sick, she's still out there trying to beat (cancer) for other people," Stander said. "I get my strength in coaching from Stephanie Phillips."

Ice, Scans & Hernia's

Oooh that would be a good name for a band. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome...Ice, Scans and Hernia's!" Our first song would have to be, "Cold wind blows...So does cancer." I can already hear it making it's way to the top of the charts. Sorry, I've got a serious case of cabin fever and I have to find some way of amusing myself!

For those who don't live in the Ozarks, the word ice is probably reserved for that stuff you put in your drink. Here, it's that stuff that comes down in massive amounts at the begining of the year and causes pure chaos! This year was even more exciting when the ice was accompanied by thunder and lightning. "Thunder-Sleet." Hmmm. Is that a technical term? Anyway, we found ourselves at my Mom and Dad's last night because we had no power and it was getting pretty chilly in our house. Their yard looks like a war zone....again. But we are all safe and sound and that's what truly matters.

Steph was having a scan at 12:30 today so please pray for good news. They are checking to see if there is anymore cancer and also to investigate what they think is a hernia. We aren't sure if they will do anything at this point to fix it because of the fact that she is doing chemo. She is in pain and has been pretty sick lately. Please pray for even more strength to get her through. It's been tough. I will post as soon as I hear any news. We are hoping to hear something by tomorrow but we aren't for sure. Just keep her in your prayers! Stay safe, warm and cozy!
Until tomorrow!

PS Spell check still isn't working, so forgive me if I missspel. ;-)

Calling all Volunteers!

OK, my food system fell apart a little towards the end of 2007. Between Steph and Scot's crazy schedule and everyone getting ready for the holidays, things got a little wild. But, I think I have perfected my system and we have figured out the days that would be best for food to be delivered. So now I need a new list of people who want to help again. I also realize that I may have overlooked a couple of people during the last "round" and I hope you don't feel neglected! Just send me another e-mail with "dinner for Steph" in the subject line (so I don't accidently delete you!) and I will get you on the new schedule. Tuesday and Fridays will be our new "drop off" nights. If you have a preference let me know. What I will do is just assign everyone a night. If that night doesn't work for you let me know and I will move you down to the next available night. We will keep doing that until we get a date that works! We are so thankful for everyone who is still expressing the desire to help. Steph has two more treatments and then will continue on with radiation and will keep doing the Avastin for another 6 months. She has been exhausted and having a meal on hand will mean one less decision for her and Scot to make! So just e-mail me cgeorge424@yahoo.com and let me know if you prefer a day and a phone number where you can be reached would be good also in case we do have to change the location of the drop off! I would like to thank you all in advance for the gift of your time. Hope everyone is warm and cozy on this CRAZY icy day!

Poor Little Chiefs!!!

I just spoke with my mom and Steph who are in Oklahoma with the Lady Chiefs this weekend. The girls beat Jenks last night which put them in the CHAMPIONSHIP game!! Way to go girls! However, apparently the first team they played were all coming down with the flu. So between last night's game and this morning we had a little brother, a grandpa and the majority of the team come down with this REALLY BAD bug. Lucky for them it seems to only be a 24 hour thing but needless to say....they had to forfeit. So they will be returning to town with a second place trophy and probably a few less pounds among them! Please pray today that Drew, Steph, Scot and my mom are all spared because we aren't quite sure how Steph's body would handle this awful bug. Everyone has been exposed but maybe...just maybe...they will manage to avoid it. Girls I hope you are all feeling better very soon and get plenty of rest this weekend. I'm thinking Steph needs one of those masks to wear all the time. I could "bedazzle" one of those things and she could set the next fashion trend. Just a thought.

Your Cross

Sometimes it is hard for us to accept God's plan for us. The cross we bear can sometimes seem like too much. What we have to learn (and PRACTICE) as Christians is that we must trust in God with all we have. We must trust that the cross we bear just may be preparing us for the "dip" in the path that we can't see. God sees all, knows all and IS ALL. Who am I to question him? So here I sit today.......trusting in God.

Here's to Scot!!!

I am sitting here in my living room and it is quiet. Brian took Claire to play basketball with the guys and Cohen is napping. (a little late, but I'll take what I can get today!) I just wanted to give props to someone who has been completely behind the scenes during this whole cancer ordeal....Steph's wonderful (not to mention adorable) husband Scot. He has just stepped up to the plate and really taken on so much. Steph has mentioned many times how amazing it is to watch him basically be the main caregiver to Levi while she is ill. I can't imagine how hard it must be as a mother to have to hand the reigns to someone else. BUT I do know that it has to be a great feeling knowing that your husband is right there to help and support you. Not only is he taking great care of Levi but he is working full time as well. Scot, you are awesome and I hope you know how much we all appreciate all you are doing. I feel like sometimes we are so focused on the patient, that the caregivers are sometimes forgotten. I know after watching my mom take care of my dad after his accident, that it is often just as hard to be the caregiver. Scot is doing a great job at balancing everything in a day!



Another very BRIGHT spot is the fact that Mr. Levi has been sleeping through the night! I don't know if it was the prayers from everyone who knew about Levi's recent bout with insomnia or if it has anything to do with his new wonderful babysitter. Whatever it is, Steph and Scot are thrilled! If you will notice I haven't mentioned Drew. That would be because he is just about the most easy going kid lately! He just goes with the flow and I think is starting to settle into a schedule now that Steph isn't teaching. So, praise praise praise God for placing his hand on the boys and helping them to get used to a good routine!



As for treatment.......we are 75% finished with this round of chemo!! She will meet with Dr. Hoos next week to discuss other treatments. She will have to do radiation and will most likely continue the Avastin for another 6 months. Avastin is one of the drugs she is given now during chemo and it causes "erosion" in her nose which causes terrible sores and that leads to nosebleeds. We are thinking he will be doing another scan as well to get more info. Let's pray for good results and you know I will keep you posted!!!! God Bless!

BBBBBRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

Say an extra prayer today! Steph is having chemo today instead of tomorrow because she needs to be unhooked before they leave for Jenks. I just heard that the high today in 30 something but with windchill it will feel like about 15 or 16. This means that to Steph, it will feel like -30 something! So join me in sending warm cozy thoughts and prayers her way! And while I'm posting, GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND TO THE LADY CHIEFS!!!

Check check check. Check check check. Check your Booty!

I came across this site www.butt-check.com the other night. There were stories on there from survivors of colon cancer. This story sounded pretty familiar and I thought I would post it. I feel like right now it is VERY important for everyone to stay positive. Steph has had, and will continue to have some pretty rotten days. Days when she can't help but be a little down. But as her friends and family, we have to make sure to keep our attitudes as positive as they can be. So when I read this story I knew it had to be posted! May this post also serve as a reminder that a colonoscopy could save your life. You don't have to wait until you are a certian age. If you have colon cancer in your family, if you have had problems with your digestion and/or bowels OR if you just have a feeling.....DEMAND a colonoscopy. Just the procedure can prevent colon cancer. Come on, all the cool kids are doing it.

Survivor: Colleen Jorgensen

It was labor day 2005 and my 29th wedding anniversary. Little did I suspect that I would eat something that caused a previously symptom-less tumor in my colon to bleed profusely.

The week that followed was like falling off a cliff into a raging river. My doctor saw me within hours of my phone call. During my visit he said it was probably nothing serious but scheduled a colonoscopy for the next day. As I was coming out from under the anesthetic, the gastroenterologist told my husband and I that he had found a tumor, had taken a biopsy, and that I most likely had colon cancer. We knew for sure when the biopsy came back positive.

We were in shock. I was in perfect health. I had never had digestive problems; in fact I can’t remember when I last even had a cold. My diet had been mostly vegetarian for the past 15 years. This could not possibly be true. But inside I knew it was true. During my colonoscopy I was semi awake and I could see what was happening on a TV monitor. I saw my tumor and will never forget what it looked like.

My husband became my advocate and my subject matter expert. Within days he knew what treatment options were available and what were considered best practices. This proved invaluable as I approached surgery for the first tine in my life. The right half of my colon would be removed along with all connecting lymph nodes. While we awaited the after surgery pathology report, my husband researched the staging of colon cancer and follow-up treatment options.

The second shock hit. The cancer was completely though the intestinal wall and had spread to 3 lymph nodes. Chemotherapy was strongly recommended. I decided to enroll in a clinical trial which added the experimental drug Avastin to the traditional treatment regime. For 6 months I had chemotherapy every two weeks with 4 drugs followed by an additional 6 months of Avastin only.

Today, I am reclaiming my life and my health as I recover from the cancer and its treatment. I am wonderfully blessed to have had so much support during this ordeal from my workplace, friends, family and most of all, my husband.
____________________________________________________________________

So there you have it. This is pretty much Steph's story except the vegetarian thing! It can and WILL be beat! Steph is feeling better today. She was able to get some rest since her Mom kept Levi last night and Drew stayed with my parents. She slept in and I hope is feeling refreshed today. Keep the prayers coming for Steph and everyone who is battling cancer right now. God Bless!

Tragic

Last night Scot's step-mom told me that the Girls Varsity coach from Bradleyville was killed in a car accident. Troy Hays died yesterday when the car he was traveling in hit a trash truck that was parked on the side of the road. He has a little boy who is 1 year old. It always makes me sick to my stomach when I hear something like this. Being a mother changes your perspective so much. It wasn't until this morning that I learned he was riding with the boys Varsity coach Brad Briscoe. I met Brad our Freshman year at SMSU. We lived in the same dorm and became friends. I haven't seen him since he lived down the street from me on Meadowmere so I was VERY shocked to hear his name this morning. It is just so tragic for everyone involved. I have experienced how close the coaching community is during Steph's battle so I felt it very necessary to mention this coach and his family. To Ashley & T.J. in Bradleyville, may God be with you during this time and may you find comfort in his presence. To the basketball girls, you are in our prayers as well. We know there is a special bond between player and coach. Honor him and do what you can to help his family. Brad, you are also in my thoughts and prayers.

Happy Birthday Levi!!!

Today Levi turns ONE!!! Feel free to post birthday wishes for him! Happy Birthday buddy! We love you!

One more down!

The only good news about treatment days is that we are one treatment closer to the end. I will tell you one thing, they don't get any easier. My mom told me a story and it has just really been on my mind. She told me because her heart broke for the other lady, but I wanted to share it because I think my mom is pretty amazing. My mom goes every week with Steph for her treatments. She sits with her, gets her warm water to drink, gets her lunch and basically anything she needs. She doesn't do this for recognition and expects absolutely nothing in return. She does it because she loves Steph and wants to do anything possible to make this easier for her. So yesterday she was straightening up and getting everything ready and moved out of the way so they could unhook her. There was one lady left in the room (because they are almost always the last to leave) and she was just watching. When Steph was done, the lady looked at her and said, "You have no idea how lucky you are to have such a wonderful friend. I watch her every single week and it must be so nice to have someone like her." Steph of course replied with, "I KNOW how lucky I am and you don't even know the half of the things she does." The lady then said, "all I have is a 20 year old daughter who has her own life." I don't know this woman and I pray that she finds the support that she needs. (Of course my first reaction was to try to think of a way I could help!) But it just makes you realize how important relationships are. Steph has been a "true blue" friend to my mom. She has been there when my mom needed her. She is a loyal, caring and loving friend. It is a wonderful example of what true friendship is. I think it can serve as a great reminder of how important it is to invest in people. It's just like so many things in life, you get out what you put in. If you give nothing of yourself, be ready to get the same thing back. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that this lady hasn't given of herself. I'm just saying that Steph has, and now she is reaping the benefits of being a wonderful friend. Take a minute today and REALLY look around. Is there someone around you that is in need? Maybe it's as simple as a hug or a compliment. Is there someone that you need to call and reconnect with? Just take a minute and call. Invest today, you never know what tomorrow holds.

Drew

Here's a picture I got of Drew in his Christmas jammies!

I hope everyone is enjoying this amazing warm weather! I'm sure no one is as excited as Steph. Besides being EXTREMELY tired, the sensitivity to cold is the worst side effect right now. The cold is at times almost too much to take so even a little break from the frigid temps is very welcome! Both the sensitivity to cold and the constant fatigue have played a huge part in Steph's decision to take a leave of absence from teaching. She was just stretching herself too thin. She was working 12-14 hours a day between coaching and teaching. Then she and Scot are up often every night with one or both of the boys. Last week was a crazy one. As she was preparing for the KTXR tournament Steph got news that her Grandfather had passed away. The funeral was in Branson and she had to rush back so that home health care could unhook her IV. She went back to church for a lunch with her family. She then found the time to lead her Lady Chiefs to a championship in the KTXR Classic! (CONGRATS LADY CHIEFS!) This would wear a person out on a good weekend! She is truly the toughest girl I know so imagine my disbelief when I asked what she wanted to be put in the blog and she replied, "Just that....this is SOOOOOOO hard for me." My heart is breaking for her right now. I am hoping that this leave of absence will be good for her mentally and physically. So we press on into 2008. I will remain hopeful and faithful, as that is the only thing to do. I have a good feeling about this new year. 2007 was the year that Steph was diagnosed...2008 WILL be the year that she BEATS this. So keep praying for Steph. Pray that the Good Lord will give her the strength that she needs to get through each day. Again, we can't thank you all enough for your support. It is because of the Stephanie Phillips Foundation that she is able to take this leave of absence and really focus on taking better care of herself. It also will take care of the deductibles that she must meet all over again this year. Last but definitely not least, we are able to help numerous families who are battling cancer as well. I know I have mentioned this before but it is really important to Steph that we help others as much as we can. We can't thank you all enough for the generosity that has been shown by so many people. It means the world to all of us. I wish I could thank each person individually, but it's just not possible!

And we're BAAAACK!

It has been a while since I have posted! I will post more later tonight because there is a lot to say but I want to talk with Steph before I do. I tend to be a "too much information" kind of person and she is not! So for now I thought I would put up a link to an article in the News-Leader today. http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071228/SPORTS0102/712280421/-1/BLOGS04 I was looking for a picture online because apparently my husband made the paper today as well and I came across this article about Columbia Hickman. Read it and weep. Literally, it brings tears to my eyes when I think of the generosity that so many people are showing. It is also important to remember that the Stephanie Phillips Foundation is not just for Stephanie Phillips! Other people in our community are and will benefit from the kindness of people like you all! So enjoy the article and I hope that it touches your heart the way it did mine. More later!

Our Christmas Story

This year it is very important to us that we teach Drew and Claire the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. We want them to understand why we celebrate Christmas. I thought I would share a few of the "Claire & Drew" translations of the story.
Drew: "Mary and Josie went to a hotel and the guy said there was no more rooms, so they went to the barn with the animals and put baby Jesus in the hay."
Claire: "Mary and Jophes (pronounced Jo-fis) went to the inn and the guy said THERE'S NO ROOM and then they went to the neighbor's with all the animals and put baby Jesus in a cradle. Then the wise men came and brought presents" I ask her what they brought. She says, "Gold, silver and frankenstein."
Enjoy these next few weeks and don't forget what they are REALLY about! (You know....hotels, hay & frankenstein!)

Great news!

I can't believe it has taken me so long to post this! Steph met with the genetic counselor and they said that there was NO GENETIC MUTATION detected! This was great news for Steph and her family. Now the boys are not at a higher risk AND that she is not a greater risk of developing other cancers. She still has a high risk that the cancer will return after treatment but it was such a relief that we don't have to worry about other types of cancer. We are thanking God for this blessing! My Mom and I got to have lunch the day after Thanksgiving with Drew and Steph. Drew was told that while they were at the mall he could pick out a surprise. Most kids would pick a toy or something along those lines.....but not our Drew! He wanted Power Ranger pajamas and some new boxer briefs! Just another reason that I love that kid! We made it through JC Penney and Steph decided that she wasn't up for the black Friday mall crowd for a few reasons. So they headed home and left Mom and I to fend for ourselves! Hope everyone had a great holiday and took the time to thank the Good Lord for all of the blessings he has bestowed upon you and yours!

Success!

As I pulled into the parking lot of my Alma mater this evening I was still a little frazzled from wrestling my "little" ones into their clothes, out of the toilet (just Cohen, new fixation) and into the car. When I finally put the truck into park and took a second to look around, I realized I had severely underestimated the magnitude of this fundraiser. I couldn't help but wonder if there was something else going on at the same time. However, as I opened the door and was greeted by the sounds of the KHS drumline, I knew this was going to be great! I don't even know where to start. Thank you so much to each and every person who made tonight possible. I know that the Kickapoo students already had a vested interest and know Coach Phillips personally. We are so thankful that you were all there in full force tonight! To the Glendale clan, we also know that you worked so hard to get the interest going for our cause. Thank you to everyone who helped with the video and all of the PR for this event. (Leslie Helfrect & Gary Prouty are just 2 that I know personally!!) Thanks to each student who made the trip tonight. You should all (GHS & KHS) be so proud of the way that you conducted yourselves tonight! A true class act! Thanks to all of the teachers who sacrificed their bodies tonight for a great cause. Might I suggest some pain relievers tonight before hitting the hay?! You all did a great job! The best part of the night was after the 3rd quarter. Mr. Loudis presented the Phillips family with a box containing the proceeds from the festivities. Drew got to open it up to reveal.......$4000.00! AMAZING! We are so thankful and want everyone to know that we are already helping other families that are dealing with cancer right now. On behalf of the Phillips family and the Stephanie Phillips Foundation THANK YOU to every single person who made tonight such a success. God Bless and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

St. Jude

Here is a link to my new favorite commercial. This is Megan White. I went to school with her Daddy and she just finished chemo on Halloween. You can read more about her and her battle with cancer at http://www.helpmeganwhite.com/ She is an amazing little girl and is an inspiration to so many. So here's the link to her new commercial with Reggie Bush! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyMSLPMpn_kWatch this and then take the time to hug your babies and thank God for each second you have with them!!!! OH BY THE WAY!!! She will be on the Today Show on Monday and Friday this week of Thanksgiving! She is doing a tour of St. Judes with Meredith!! They will be spending the week in NYC for the holiday! What a little superstar!!!!!

Vote for Levi!

Grandma Edna entered Levi's chef picture in the OH Baby! contest. So go VOTE LIKE CRAZY!!
www.ozarksmoms.com Levi is #1010

A good day!

Steph had treatment Wednesday after receiving a series of shots to get her counts back up. For some reason, it was faster than usual so she was done in time for practice! Then, she woke up Thursday morning at 6:30 and realized that not only had she slept all night (something that hasn't happened since Levi was born) but she actually FELT like getting up! We think that the shots have helped immensely and she will continue to take them before treatment to give her an extra boost. Other than wearing gloves in the frozen foods section at the grocery store, it was a normal symptom free morning. I saw a glow about Steph today that I have missed. She's been so strong, but I have missed that glow! We are really looking forward to her first game Monday. Claire and Drew are supposed to have a Thanksgiving program that night but we all decided that since A. They would never participate with NANNY in the crowd, and B. Steph and Brian wouldn't be able to come anyway, we are opting for dinner together and then we are headed to the game. If you are there be sure to look for us, Claire and Drew are normally very entertaining. If ever two kids could bust a move (if you will) it's these two! They look forward to halftime and timeouts so they can show off their best dance moves. I can't wait to see what they have learned since last season! So, let the dance party begin!!! GO LADY CHIEFS! (Sorry, being a former Lady Chief myself, that's where my loyalties lie!)

Benefit at KHS

I got this e-mail shortly after posting my blog.
"The game will be held at Kickapoo on the 20th. Tickets are 3$.. and we were told to arrive extra early because tickets should go really quick. KHS will also be donating all of the proceeds to the Stephanie Phillips Foundation. I believe the game starts at 7pm.. but I am not positive." Thanks Caitlin! This should be fun and I am hoping to see at least one of my old teachers out on the floor. I am just so excited to see these south side rivals pull together for such a great cause. It does my heart good!

New stuff

Well, it's been a while. Since I blogged last I have been to the east coast and back, to the doctor's office twice and slept VERY little in the meantime. Steph went on Friday for chemo but her levels were low possibly caused by a recent cold and she wasn't allowed to have treatment. So they gave her a series of shots and she goes in tomorrow for treatment. I have info about a few fundraisers that will be taking place in the next week.
Friday November 16th the Kickapoo VolleyChiefs are hosting a trivia night to benefit the VolleyChiefs Scholarship Fund and the Stephanie Phillips Foundation. It will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on West Republic Road. Doors open at 6:30pm and trivia starts at 7:00. The cost is $10 per person and there will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. You can contact Karen Moran to reserve your table 877-8560. Bring your own snacks and drinks. (No alcoholic beverages please!) I REALLY wish I could be there but I have to pick up someone special at the airport! I have also received word of a benefit basketball game on Tuesday night. It will be the staff and faculty from Kickapoo vs. Glendale. I hear that the Glendale staff has picked the Stephanie Phillips Foundation as the charity they will be donating to! I haven't heard anything from the Kickapoo side yet and I don't know any details as far as time and location. I will do some research and post more info later. Just mark your calendars and lets pack the place!!! And if anyone wants to volunteer any of this info either leave a comment on the page or e-mail me directly at cgeorge424@yahoo.com Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Just a normal day

Saturday was a good day for Steph, Scot and the boys. They hung out at home and worked/played in the yard. Steph said it was like a "normal" day. I am so thankful that they could get a sense of normalcy back in their lives. We are waiting to hear back from the genetic counselor (4-6 weeks) to know more about what actually caused the cancer. Let's just all pray that it wasn't a genetic mutation. I will leave you with this. I heard this in church on Sunday and it has been really helpful to me. "I don't know for certain what the future holds, but I know for certain WHO holds the future." Have a blessed week!