Today is a milestone, a turning point for Kurt's cancer battle.
For a stage IV esophageal cancer patient, the average time between diagnosis and death is 8 months. For Kurt, that day is today. He was initially diagnosed on Sept. 4, and the diagnosis was confirmed a few days later. Had we accepted those grim reports -- the medical probabilities -- this could have been a very difficult week.
We haven't won the war, by any means, but today is still a victory story, and one worth celebrating. In fact, we are really coming to the next phase of the war -- searching out and finding a more aggressive approach to knocking these tumors down, rather than just stopping the growth. My wonderful husband is leading a relatively normal life, but the weekly chemo treatments do wear him down, physically and emotionally.
So, on this day -- Beating the Odds day -- I invite everyone who is reading our blog to drop Kurt a note, either here on the blog, on his Facebook fan page, or by email. Give him some props for knocking down this first of many milestones, a little boost for Round 2.
Thanks for sticking with us in this marathon -- here's to 8 more months of good news and a long lifetime of surviving cancer.
May 4, 2009
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15 comments:
kurt, that is awesome, eight months what a great milestone. I will not stop praying for you and keeping you in my thoughts for the next year and many more years to come.
korrie
Yes --- wow. What a milestone. We will all continue being warriors and supporters for you and AMEN to the next 8 months...8 years...8 decades of good news.
Kurt! You kick ass!
Hi Kurt and Jen,
This has been such a dificult time, I realize this. But you have also rediscovered the friends and family you have and the impact you have had on the lives of others. You are blessed with what you have and I know you can feel the love that you have brought out of others. Blessings on this day and always. :)
What a great day! So, for you Kurt, here a pro-male joke:
Proof that Men Have "Better" Friends..
Friendship among Women:
A woman didn't come home one night. The next morning she told her husband that she had slept over at a friend's house. The man called his wife's 10 best friends. None of them knew anything about it.
Friendship among Men:
A man didn't come home one night. The next morning he told his wife that he had slept over at a friend's house. The woman called her husband's 10 best friends.
Eight confirmed that he had slept over, and two said he was still there.
And I'd like to echo Kyla's sentiments for 8 more decades!
That's awesome! My seven year old cousin just passed one year since his stage IV neuroblastoma diagnosis and is doing great too. Good news all around! Your fight is an inspiration and our prayers are with you. Jason
Galatians 6:9 (Amplified Bible)
9And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
We play till we win!
So wonderful to read all the support and know that when you do get weary and faint, there are those behind you to lift you up and get you back in the battle.
satan is a LIAR!!
Don't you know he is gnashing his teeth today, with all the other evil spirits assigned to you.
They have no place in you.
Cancer has no place in you.
Your Aunt Karla loves you!!
Kurt & Jen;
You two are so blessed to have each other. Jen, I pray for you constantly to be the helpmeet that Kurt needs and I have seen your spiritual growth & know that you are a huge encouragement to Kurt. I'm very proud of you Jen, & amazed at your Wisdom. I pray for strength for both of you. God will provide it. He wants you to beat this thing, too. He says in Exodus :"I AM THE LORD,YOUR HEALER"! Praise HIM for that! I am so excited to see God develop HIS plan for you, after you are cancer-free. It will be so exciting.
Kurt, you said one time that you needed more patience. I, too, have been praying for that for you. I can see signs of it in your life and attitude. Patience is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. What is in your heart comes out of your mouth and your actions. You're getting it, buddy!! PTL! Just do as Paul (II Timothy 3:14 & 15) says --- "Continue doing the things you know to do". It doesn't say it's going to be easy, but the LORD is helping you! The WORD says HE will not give you more than you can handle. Read in "Called to Battle; Destined to Win" page 132 - to the end of the chapter. That gives me new impetus, and new staying power!! So important. Read it until you've almost memorized it. Or Do memorize it. Get it in your heart.& it will come out of your mouth and will come to pass. PTL
I know you are getting lots of good advice - & you must feel overwhelmed at times, but I have found that staying in the WORD -- Meditating on the Word, is the BEST medicine and keeping a "merry heart, & the JOY of the LORD" gives us great strength. That, too, is my prayer for you today.
Love and Prayers,
G'ma D
YOU ARE WINNING THIS WAR. KURT, YOU REALLY ARE!! PRAISE THE LORD & PRAISE THE LORD!! OH HALLELLUJAH & AMEN!!
Kurt and Jennifer --
Hi. My name is Pat Hensley. I'm one of Vicki's quilting pals here in Central Oregon. During our quilting get-togethers, she's been letting us know of your progress. Congratulations on today's milestone - and know that there are a bunch of quilters 3000 miles away wishing you the best.
Kurt -- Vicki mentioned the other day that you recently spent a day on the Chesapeake Bay and that brought back memories of some glorious days out on the water during the years I lived in the DC area. Sailing on the Chesapeake is one of the best things I remember about my time there. It was great to be out on a sailboat, having to concentrate on your assigned tasks and not having to think about work.
Best wishes,
Pat Hensley
Kurt - it is a great milestone. Stay positive with your fighting spirit and commitment to healthy eating. Don't give up - “Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.”
Robin.
Inappropriate jokes Jen? You must have Kurt's friends confused with the common folk. You know, the ones who would think it's funny to light flatulence....OK that may be a bad example since we may (or may not) have done that once or twice ;)
Anyways my point is, you stay classy Kurt. We're always thinking about you and your fight.
Way to go Kurt!!
Pam & Dave
That's really good Kurt! I had no doubts. That proves unquestionably that neither of us are statistics.
Ah yes, the legendary fart lighting incident. How I wish I had been at that event that may (or may not) have happened...
BMR.
Greetings Kurt,
I'm a quilting friend of Vicki's and I am in the UK on a vacation right now. She sent out the news about your success to this point and I wanted to be sure to send you my thoughts. Since I am a blogging neophyte, Vicki is forwarding this to you.
I have heard so many wonderful tales about you and Jennifer and the great love story you two share. Good things should happen to good people so I want to send you positive vibes from across the Atlantic. Take care of the two of you and remember that people care.
--pam
Wow!!! Great milestone - congratulations!! And great news to hear of your trip to Chicago and treatment in Houston. Keep up the fight and remember that you're not alone!!! Love, Gigi
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