Life is good....

To all those who continue to read and support me and my family:

Its been so long, since I last wrote.

Well, life is good.

According to the statistics and everything you read on the internet, this post is coming to you from beyond the grave.  Obviously, it's not.  I'm alive and well, just like I plan to be for quite a while.

Since I last wrote, I passed another major milestone.  It has been over two years since my diagnosis and surgery.  I also have had 3 more "stable" MRIs since I last wrote.  Of course, I would imagine the lion's share of readers were at the party that Eda and Charlotte threw, and I'm sure she'll post the video of a bunch of kids assaulting me mercilessly with silly string when she edits this for publication.  I thought they would never empty their cans.

That was just the beginning.  Two days after the party, I had another MRI.  MD Anderson recently opened an imaging center on the west side of town much closer to us, so that's been helpful as well.  I get to show up, park for free, go in basically without waiting, and get the MRI done.  People ask me if it's nerve-wracking to do, both from the standpoint of claustrophobia and anxiety about the results, and for the first, I can always say it's not.  Most of the time, I'm not even worried about the results.  I had about five minutes of nerves the day before the scan, but I think that was it.

Two months ago (May 2015), the MRI did show a new "spot" that both the oncologist and radiologist agreed was most likely a tiny leak in a blood vessel caused by radiation effects.  The most recent scan showed a slight eduction in the size of the spot, which definitely means it's not tumor growth, since tumors don't shrink without being treated.

The next morning, Eda, Abigail, Audrey, and I left for the Dominican Republic for a week on a massive resort in Punta Cana.  I think I've convinced myself that all-inclusive is the way to go.  Steakhouse for dinner?  No problem.  Just show up.  You want another drink?  Just walk up to the bar and ask.  It doesn't even matter if you're in your "baby suit", which is what Audrey keeps telling me you wear to go swimming.

And if I ever feel sorry for myself, all I need to do is think of the people living on that island.  The houses with above-average construction were made of corrugated aluminum.  The poverty of that nation is astounding.  Once I saw that, the tips became larger and more frequent.  Yes, I have brain cancer, but I live in a country with paved roads where my friends can drive their own cars over to my brick house and hang out, or where I can drive my own car to the premier cancer treatment facility in the world.  God bless America.

Thanks for reading, and sorry for the delay.  Will continue to do my best to keep you all updated.  Facebook posts on Team William are better updated.

William

Thank you all for continuing to pray for my family.

Continued prayers for more stable MRIs in the next year to come.  Prayers of thanksgiving for another year and gift from God to enjoy this time with family and friends and seeing his creation.

9th MRI surprise - March

MRI with new "spot"

10th MRI surprise

Run for the Rose 2015

Run for the Rose 2015

William's 2nd Year Surprise Party!  YAHOO!!

We used all of the Team William Surprises to decorate this year!

Brain decorated cupcakes (pink) and the Gray Cancer Ribbon for brain cancer awareness!  Thanks for the awesome cupcakes, Charlotte!

Had everyone sign and write on a Jenga Block to "Build Memories"

Charlotte and I next to banner she made.  She is my strength through all of this!  Thanks Charlotte for all of your unique ways of helping us make the most of this and aiding in kicking cancer to the curb.  You have done so much and we are so thankful.  Charlotte helped put this whole thing together to surprise William!

Family Time on vacation in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

 

(video from his surprise party where we got him with Silly string - Congrats on 2 year cancer survivor!)

We continue to be blessed beyond measure....

Hello to all of our current followers of Team William!  Sorry for the extremely long time since we last updated this blog.  Every time we think we will stay up to date on this, we just fall short due to life, being busy with the children, doctors' appointments, etc.

So to bring all of you up to speed, William has had 2 MRIs since we last updated and for both of them we have been blessed to learn that they have shown no tumor activity.  He had one in November and one just 2 weeks ago in January.  William and I both continue to have "scanxiety" every time he has a scan, and we worry that this is the time the tumor will be back, but take that, cancer!   "Where there is a WILL there is a way!"

William continues to do well, and we are so glad.  Our Christmas was not what we expected it to be.  We were excited to get to spend Christmas not reeling from his diagnosis like we were last year.  However, Abigail got very sick and ended up in the hospital for almost three days with mono, two other viruses, and sinusitis.  She had run temperatures above 106, so they admitted her after twelve days of fever with bad dehydration.  She was in the ER on Christmas and was admitted the following day.  However, we were all glad to celebrate another Christmas together even if it wasn't the way we had hoped.

William has now made it 18 months since diagnosis, and we are thrilled.  He is beating the odds so far with his tumor, and we know it is through the power of prayer and the diligent work of his MDs alongside William's strong determination to fight this.  Audrey has since turned 2 and Abigail 6 since we last posted.  We are glad and blessed to see life still existing and still moving forward as a family of four.

Thank you all for your continued support, love, prayers and thoughts for our family.  Please stay with us as the journey will continue.  William's next scan will be in March.

We will be doing The Run For The Rose on April 12, 2015, and we would love for any of you who could sign up to walk under Team William with us.  We would love to see you there walking with us and for us for a cure for brain cancer.  

Specific Prayer Requests:

1. Continued prayers that we have the support and help of others along this journey as we continue every 2 months with MRIs to assess William's brain.
2. Prayers that William continues to experience God's healing power.
3. Prayers of thanksgiving that my last MRIs have showed no change

Trick or Treating - Anna and Elsa of course

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   MRI in November - Celebratory confetti launcher!

   

   Balloons with words of encouragement and praise!

   
   

   

   MRI post celebration after MRI #8

   

   Girls - Abigail 5 1/2, Audrey 2

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Daddy being silly as usual with the girls!

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Family Picture - All pictures compliments of Ashley Grimmer Photography!

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   

   Audrey's 2nd Birthday Party!

   
   
   
   

   

   Christmas 2014 picture with Santa - Audrey is excited!

    

   
   

   

   MRI in January - William Stable MRIs: 9, Cancer return: 0

   
   

   

   Tootsie Rolls Everywhere (Thanks Charlotte!) You are on a "roll"

   
   

   

   Close up of scoreboard - Thanks Charlotte for doing this!

   
   

   

   Abigail at her birthday party at school