Prayer request

For the last few days Denise has been fighting an infection. Unfortunately it is staph and is in her left breast. It is localized right now, and she is on some very potent antibiotics which will hopefully erridicate the infection. Please pray that these drugs will cure her and that no further steps have to be taken. Thanks for the prayers, and I will update again soon!

Recovery Update

Denise is doing well recovering from her surgery a couple of weeks ago.  The actual surgery wound up being a little bit more complicated than she was prepared for, but she is healing nicely.  She is also continuing with her Herceptin treatments (one of which was today).  Please continue to pray for Denise's recovery from the surgery and her overall health as her body heals.

Post-surgery Update

Denise is finished with her final reconstructive surgery and is doing well. The surgeon was very happy with how everything went, and she is in recovery right now. She will be released from the hospital today, but she and Dave are staying the night in Nashville before heading back home. Please pray for a quick and easy recovery for Denise! I will post another update in the next couple of days updating everyone on how she is doing!

October 1st update

Denise is doing really well these days!  She is finished with the worst of her chemotherapy treatments but will continue with Herceptin treatments every three weeks for the next 10 months.  Herceptin does not cause severe side effects, so it is much better than the terrible side effects Denise endured from her treatments over the summer.

The final surgery of Denise's reconstruction is scheduled for October 12.  Please be praying for her surgery- that everything will go as smoothly as possible.  She is still going to physical therapy regularly to help with the lymphedema she is experiencing in her arm.  The neuropathy that Denise experienced in her hands and feet as a result of the Taxol chemotherapy this summer has greatly improved.  Please pray for both the lymphedema and the neuropathy to continue improving. 

Denise was able to return to work after Labor Day.  She has spent most of her time catching up on paper work, emails, and tests, and will continue to work from home until her surgery on the 12th.  She is happy to start the process of returning to normal and is looking forward to having the surgery behind her. 

Thanks so much for all of the prayers!  I will update the blog with updates after her surgery. 

Pink Bracelets!

The "Fight for Denise" bracelets have been a hit around West Tennessee!  From doctors and nurses at our offices, to the kids in Ryan & Keaton's classes, everyone has been wearing pink bracelets to show our support for Denise!  We had a meeting in Memphis for work this week, and wanted to capture a picture of many of Denise's coworkers in their bracelets to share on the blog.  Denise is hanging in there after a rough weekend last weekend recovering from her treatment.  She is getting so close to being done with the worst very soon- only two more terrible treatments to go!  Thanks for all the support and prayers!

Feeling Better & Happy Birthday!

Denise is doing much better after recovering from the body aches.  The Taxol (type of chemo) is what caused the aches, and her doctor told her that they will try to be more preemptive to reduce the body aches for the next treatment.  She has another treatment this week and then only two more of the Taxol after that. 

Denise had a birthday last Thursday and had a quiet celebration at home followed by a surprise party on Saturday!  I meant to take my camera to the party to be able to post some pictures, but totally forgot.  I will try to find some from others and post them.  She was very surprised and had a wonderful time visiting with her friends and family! 

I will update again after Denise's treatment this week!

Post-chemo update

Denise has had a totally different set of side effects from the chemo last week.  Although she has had no nausea, she has had some severe body aches and pains from this last round.  She was able to talk to the oncologist's office yesterday, and they said that what she was experiencing was normal and that- like the nausea- it would improve some each day.  Please pray for a rapid improvement in her aches and pains- especially because her birthday is on Thursday!  I hate the thought of her being miserable on her birthday!  Overall, though, she is being a trooper and hanging in there! 

She does not have a treatment this week like originally thought, so when she gets over the body aches, she should have a few good days before her next round!  Please pray for her pain relief and also for rest of body and spirit. 

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. -Matthew 11:28