I'm happy to report that my third chemo yesterday went well. I'm home today taking it easy, but I actually think I could have gone to school. Oh well, I'm paying medical bills on my computer instead. I've been back at school working full days, five days a week and feel amazingly energetic. I attribute this to God's grace, my diet, and all the homeopathic remedies I'm taking(some of which my niece, Suzie Gibson, is bringing from Germany when she and her family come home to Dallas for the holidays because they are readily available as over-the-counter items at the local drugstores there). I'm so grateful that I am able to live a relatively "normal" life again. The true test was when I helped shovel our driveway Monday morning after receiving about 6 inches of new snow! We are looking forward to the Christmas holidays, but this is an extremely busy time for Bob at the club, and for Sarah at the rec center because all the school kids will be there when they aren't skiing. Please continue to keep us in your prayers and let us hear from you, too! Merry Christmas and enjoy a glorious holiday season with family and friends!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, thoughts, helping us out, dropping off food, offering to help in any way and being a huge support for us in the last year. If we did not have our faith in Jesus Christ, our friends, family, and community this journey would be so much more challenging.

Ruth continues to do well with an additional good piece of news as her CA 125 level (indicator of cancer growth) went down nearly 700 points in the last week- from around 1200- 500. We are so thrilled with her progress!!
Ruth had a urinary tract infection a week or so ago, it has cleared up but something is still not right and we are trying to get to the bottom of it. Her energy and overall feeling has not been as high this week. She has had another CT scan and blood tests to try and see what it may be and will hopefully know the results soon.

Other than that we are looking forward to having a great Thanksgiving dinner with friends from out of town. Many thanks to all of you for everything!!!
Have a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Good News!

Praise the Living God! He is faithful in answering our prayers and now we have the data to prove it! The results of my most recent CT scan show that in comparison to the last one done in April, that the tumor mass in my liver is about half of the size that it was, the large tumor in the pelvic area is also significantly smaller, and the number of tumors throughout the abdominal cavity is significantly reduced! There are fewer cystic masses present, and they are now smaller in size. The report says that there is no evidence of any new disease! The fluid in my belly, my knees, ankles and feet has not returned which means that I am able to get around a lot easier and am able to return to school on a part-time basis for now. Overall I feel stronger and don't experience that terrible sick, yucky feeling everyday when I wake up. I had chemo #3 on Tuesday. I've been a little nauseated and tired yesterday and today, but that's not so unusual. I'm so optimistic and encouraged by the progress I've made, it's changed my whole outlook on life for the better! Thank you again for your prayers, phone calls, cards, acts of support and kindness that help strengthen us every day. It is so wonderful and comforting to know that you care and are there when we need you. Please continue praying for my steady improvement.
Thanks,
Ruth

My chemo treatment on the 27th went well although it did seem to zap me of the energy I had previously. Overall, I am still feeling much better than I did a month ago! I plan to return to school tomorrow, working 4 hours in the afternoon for a few weeks to see how I feel. The H1N1 virus has not hit our school, and we all hope it won't! My next treatment will be on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I will get a CT scan sometime before then. My blood work results did not reveal any significant changes except that I am not as anemic as I was on the last test, so that's good news. Bob ad Sarah are taking good care of me, in fact they are even spoiling me by doing most of the work to get the house and yard ready for the long winter ahead and have promised that they will do all the snow shoveling! (I'd better get that in writing!) Keep us in your prayers as I do believe that God is faithful to answer the prayers of His people.

Yahoo!

Ruth has been doing great for a week or so now. Two weekends ago Ruth and Bob were able to travel to Moab to enjoy the fall weather. It was a perfect weekend spent strolling around town.

Thursday Ruth’s niece Jennifer (who was in from out state) and nephew David came up from Denver to visit, help around the house and David and Bob enjoyed a fall bike ride together.
This past weekend started off with having a few friends and Ruth’s sisters Edith and Frances and Frances’ daughter Allison that were in town for the weekend over for dinner. Everyone enjoyed catching up with old and new friends and meeting our family. As I said on Friday night you know Ruth is feeling better if she is entertaining!

We had a wonderful weekend with Frances, Edith and Allison catching up, visiting and spending time with each other. We all know this weekend was a gift from the Lord as two weeks ago when they made the reservations it was unclear as to what Ruth’s condition would be.

Ruth had blood tests done yesterday and will have her 2nd chemo today. Her hair is falling out and we will shave her head tonight so back to the Jane Fonda wig. She is overall getting around better, sleeping more soundly at night and has more energy than me during the day. She hopes to return to school part time next week depending on how she is feeling.

Three weeks ago when Ruth was feeling so bad all she wanted was to feel good, normal one day and she has felt good since 2 Saturdays ago. Our prayers have been answered and we are so grateful for every day.

As a family we are making an effort to share our success with our friends and family of the RAVE diet. We are juicing every day and doing our very best to adhere to this change in our eating and lifestyle as we truly believe that it has been successful in the past with others, with us presently and will hopefully provide others with hope and a positive change in their life for the future. Bob has been very passionate about this and has brought about much awareness to our family, friends, and club community. Ruth has been adhering to this change for a few months now and we attribute her feeling good most important to prayers but eating well, support from family and friends and our wonderful community.

If you have any questions about the RAVE diet Bob would be thrilled to share more information about it (most of us can attest to his enthusiasm for this)! He would also be willing to share some of his special juice mixes with you too.

Once again thanks for all your prayers, support, love and encouragement during this time.

Just when I was wondering if I would ever feel "normal" again, I woke up Saturday morning without that overwhelming "sick all over" feeling! God is so faithful in answering my prayers! While I would have been thankful for one day like that, He has blessed me with 5 so far! I really believe that something inside by body is different. I don't understand it, nor can I put my finger on exactly what it is that is different except that I feel so much better. The swelling in my feet, calves, and knees is greatly reduced as well. My energy level is getting better and I am able to get around and do things without having to rest or take a nap every few hours. It's truly wonderful! Continue to pray for my complete healing, as I do believe in the power of prayer!