Jen will need a bone marrow transplant. If you are not already on the registry, please consider becoming someone’s potential match.
Upate – Tuesday, November 22, 2016
This evening Jennifer is headed to Columbus with her sister Jessica for early morning appointment with the clinical trial folks at the James. Thankfully they are able to stay with Randy’s aunt Diann. She is preparing them a late evening meal when they arrive which is super nice of her.
Jen overall felt ok today. She has a bit fatigued and light headed this morning but as the day progressed she felt a bit better.
A bit of bad news for her today was the place she was in contact with to harvest her eggs after chemo told her they don’t except her insurance. So I’m not sure if there may be another place she can do this with or if we will need to figure out how to pay for that out of pocket. The initial visit over $250 and without knowing additional cost from there it is definitely something to figure out. This is one of those things I need to let go and let God lead us to the answer. Prayers needed in that department.
We decorated today for Christmas and listened to Christmas music nearly all day. Every year we question why there are so many versions of the song Last Christmas, one of Matt‘ s least favorite Christmas songs.
Most Important Test of Their Lives
Update – Friday, November 18, 2016
Jennifer had a pretty good day. She took a long nap this afternoon as she didn’t sleep too great last night. She was pretty quiet all day which isn’t her but she is taking some meds to help with anxiety and so that can make her feel a little off for a couple days.
St Rita’s delivered some supplies for us to clean her central line. Today was the first time we had to do that ourselves, but it was easy to do.
Tomorrow her sister is going to spend some time with Jen and maybe even take Jen out for a bit as long as Jen is feeling up for it. Jen will need to wear a mask around others when out and try to not touch things too much and wash her hands frequently.
On Monday, Jen will go to the hematologist in Lima to check her numbers and on Wednesday she has appt in Columbus at the James. Because the appt are early, the plan is to stay in Columbus with Randy’s aunt Diann. We are so lucky to have her there. I have also been offered a few other places to sleep when I am in Columbus for long periods of time and I am sure will be taking them up on the offer. The first week I had a hard time leaving Jen’s side as it seemed every time I did…something happened that concerned me. I am much happier being with her then being away.
Jen is handling this all like a pro. Her smiles and gentle ways continue as I know her to be. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter who has more love in her then nearly everyone I know.
Keep the prayers coming as I do believe God has been close at our sides every minute and sends us some miracles when we need them the most.
My Faith Tested.
Heather shared this with me.
Prayer For When You Feel Lost

Art Doodles | A Word From Jen |
A little doodling to occupy my hungry self….. — at OSUCCC-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute.
AML -Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Jennifer had her bone marrow biopsy on Monday. And late yesterday afternoon, the doctors shared with us her diagnosis. Jen has what is known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. Later this week we will hear exactly what cells are being effected and a treatment plan.
The plan for today is to get a central line put in that she can receive chemo and other drugs through. It is a short procedure that she will remain awake through.
To learn more about about AML, please go to http://www.cancercenter.com/leukemia/types/tab/acute-myeloid-leukemia/
My Reults | A Word From Jen |
My results are back. It is Leukemia or AML.
After my blood labs come back later this week they will know more on how to treat it and what clinical trials I qualify for.
Tomorrow I will have a central line put in so I won’t be connected to Ivy by my arm any more and so I won’t have to keep getting poked for blood draws.
I am trying my best to stay positive.
Please lift my family up in prayers. This is just as hard on them as it is on me.
I will also have an echo cardiogram sometime tomorrow even though it was to be today.
Treatment will probably start by the weekend. If I respond well to treatment we are looking to be home by Christmas if not sooner.
My nurse has put in a request for a consultation with the art therapist and the Chaplin here to come and talk to us.
We are going to fight this and come out stronger on the other side.
Please share the Go Fund Me page to help raise money for any expenses my family my encounter over the next few months as well as bills I won’t be able to pay.
You can also donate to the local Fort Jennings Bank if you prefer.
https://www.gofundme.com/jennifers-fight
If you can’t donate please pray. If you can donate blood please do that.
Lots of love from Columbus.
God Bless!
Let Go, Let God
Many years ago, I had a wall hanging that hung in the dining room in the house on Plum Street. I believe I had bought it at a home party of some sort. It had the words ‘Let Go, Let God’ on it.
To be honest I never really understood at that time what those words meant, so it makes no sense why I even bought it. Maybe it was the cheapest thing I could buy in the catalog and you know when you go to a home party, you feel you have to buy something.
It is just like me to not understand these words, as I always need to be in control. And I don’t fall asleep until I have sorted out everything in my mind. And last night, as I got into bed, I started trying to figure out all the how’s, who’s, and what fors. How was I going to put myself in all the places I needed to be in the coming weeks? How will I trust those who are in charge of Jen’s care? Who was going to take care of the pets? What will the outcome be? Where would I find the answers?
An old school friend had seen a post I made with a few of the things Jen had painted and inquired about those pieces. As we spoke, I told her some of those worries I had, including keep up financially. She suggested the Go Fund Me and I responded I have done ones before for other people but had hard time asking for us.
At 4am, Jen texted with message saying she would need a blood transfusion. I hadn’t looked at that last message my friend sent. I couldn’t fall back to sleep and got up and went out to my computer and started working on a few things I had left open to finish. I finish a picture load from a birth from a couple weeks ago and answered a couple emails. I opened facebook, where that message from my friend was still waiting to be read. Earlier the night before I had been trying to tell myself to give it to God but it was a struggle. I finally was able to fall asleep hoping God would answer some of my questions soon. I opened up my friends message, and soon it was made clear to me. She told me it was ok to ask for help and people will donate as sometimes that is the only thing they feel they can do to help and that I shouldn’t feel bad for asking. And it makes others feel good when they are able to do something. And in some ways by asking I was allowing people to feel good inside.
I knew it would take someone who could trade off with me to care for jen and duties at home. But I didn’t know who that would be. As I thought about it, I figured out that if Jen’s sister, who had accepted a new job that wouldn’t begin until mid December, was able to help me for the next few weeks it would help a ton. We would then be able to get help from Matt who would be starting Christmas break. The answer became clear. If I could provide her with some cash assistance, she could help me with all these things.
I created a Go Fund Me, and went back to bed and slept deep for the next couple hours. God led me to a solution and I needed to just have faith in Him. I needed to Let Go, Let God.
Please consider donating to Go Fund Me. I will also sometime this week set up a fund at the Fort Jennings Bank if you prefer to donate there.
For those who have already given, of time, prayers, kind words, or money I promise it has not gone unnoticed. Thank you.