Update on Josiah Tuley


 

We had our visit with the oncologist today.  It went really well.  I'll try to put all the information here; but in case you're not interested in the many details, long story short: Josiah will have surgery on Thursday to put his port in, and his weekly chemotherapy treatments will start next Monday.   He will be kept overnight for the first few treatments for monitoring.  

Long story:  :)  

All about chemotherapy:

Josiah will start his chemotherapy next Monday, February 11th.  This will be the first of weekly treatments for 3 months.  This time period is the intensive treatment.  In 3 months Josiah will have another MRI and if all looks good, he will receive maintenance chemo every three weeks.  During his treatments he will be able to play and eat, and we will even be able to walk around the hospital if we want.  They also have a nice playroom in their office.  Basically, at each visit they will draw blood to check blood cell count, platelet count and sugar/salt levels.  If all that looks good he will have IV fluids, then his chemo treatment (about an hour) and more IV fluids following.  Because of the pituitary gland deficiencies, Josiah will receive the chemo treatment and then be admitted into the hospital overnight for observation.  If the first 2-3 visits go well, we will be able to do the rest of the treatments on an outpatient basis and can go home the same day.  

The purpose of chemotherapy is to stop or slow the growth of the tumor until radiation can be done.  In a small percentage of patients chemo is enough to kill the tumor completely, but it usually only stops/slows the growth.  Why not do radiation now?  In addition to killing the tumor, radiation may also kill all the surrounding good cells that are still developing, which would cause Josiah to have brain damage, resulting in a wide variety of disabilities.  If the chemotherapy will stop the growth until he is at least 3, but preferably 5 or 6, then his brain will be more fully developed and the effects of radiation will be lessened.  If the tumor continues to be aggressive (chemo not working), then they will go ahead and do radiation.  

The main side effects of the chemotherapy are constipation, hair loss and sickness.  For constipation, they will give medicine to help.  Hair loss: not much we can do about it.  Sickness: In general, they said that kids are much more resilient and usually do not get near as sick as adults tend to be.  While he may throw up, we were told that kids will throw up and then go right on back to playing like nothing even happened.  That was encouraging to us.  Josiah will also receive anti-nausea medication before his treatment, and we will have some available to us at home if needed.  

Another question we had was about this tumor being "slow-growing."  This tumor is a slow-growing tumor when compared to other types of tumors.  While Josiah's tumor grew seemingly fast to us, fast growing tumors can grow to three times the size it was originally in the same amount of time.  Josiah's tumor is still small enough to not cause any symptoms.  

Other Questions:

Insurance: We do have wonderful health insurance through Nathan's employer and have had no problems with coverage.  

Many people have asked about getting a second opinion.  Right now, we do not feel that is the best option for Josiah, or for our family.  We addressed this at the appointment, and we were encouraged to get a second opinion if that is what we felt we needed to do.  We were also told that our doctors pull from the same national database of protocols for treating cancer as all the other cancer centers use.  While the exact treatment plan may differ with each doctor, all will use the chemo drugs that is in Josiah's plan.  Our doctor alone had two or three treatment plans to choose from, and he and his team worked together to choose the plan that they felt would work the best for Josiah.  We are very happy with our oncologist and his team, the location is perfect with Nathan being at work only a few minutes away, and we see no reason to prolong Josiah's treatment.  Along these lines, if, for some reason this treatment does not work, there is a specialist in Chicago that we would most likely be referred to.    

What do we need?  Your prayers.  :)  We are truly grateful for our very large support system.  We appreciate each and every one of you!  While this is a very trying time for us, God's blessings are seen all around us, every day.  I look back at different decisions and steps along our way during the past four months, and I see God's hand in the details.  God has blessed us with our family, our friends, the amazing doctors that we have, with Josiah being with us, continuing to grow and learn and get better, and with our other three kiddos who are flexible and understanding.  It has not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but when we first heard the news on Wednesday that chemotherapy was needed and I dreaded even the thought, just five days and lots of prayer later, I'm ready for the next steps and am at peace with all the decisions that have been made.  Please be assured, that when the time comes, we will let our needs be known.  Right now, we aren't sure what to expect or what we need and are trying to soak up all the information that has been given to us.  Thank you, again.

Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013 (revised)


 
DEVOTION:  And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus .... Acts 13:32-33a

How would you feel if you bought a dozen eggs and there were only 11 in the carton? How would you react if you purchased a dozen doughnuts and the bag held only 11?

Would you feel gypped? Hornswoggled? Duped and Deceived?

If so, you can understand why people in New Jersey and Chicago have begun a class-action suit against Subway® sandwiches. One of the men went to 17 different restaurants and found that not a single one of the foot-long sandwiches he bought measured a full foot long. Most of the meals came in somewhere around 11 inches.

The argument is this: a sandwich which is an inch short may not be a big deal, but when you multiply that inch by millions of sandwiches sold, it is a nasty bit of false advertising.

Maybe those fellows have a point.

Maybe we shouldn't be so accepting of manufacturers' untrue claims. Maybe Subway ought to state, "A foot-long sandwich may fall somewhat short of being a foot long." Yes, I know it loses its ring, but the advertising and the sandwich would match up, and the company would be keeping their promise.

Truth in advertising.

Have you ever given thanks to the Lord that the things He has said, the claims He has made, the promises He has offered are true? It is a quality which makes the Triune God -- and Christianity -- unique.

Consider how many other deities have said, "I will send my Son into this world to become a human being. He will live for you; He will suffer for you; He will carry your sins, and He will die your death. All this will happen, so all who believe on Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and be reconciled with Me"?

Only Christianity can make such a claim. Only Christianity can say, "We have good news. The promises our divine Lord made to Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have come to pass in the life, death and victorious resurrection of God's Son, Jesus. Only our faith can say God has kept His promises because Jesus, having lived a perfect life, was condemned and crucified on Calvary's cross. Only our faith can say, "A risen Christ is proof that God has not advertised
falsely."

Yes, our faith can say those things, and each of us ought to be saying those things. We need to tell a lost and condemned world that the Lord, His Word, His Son's sacrifice and victory are true and can be believed.

Period.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks Your Word is true and can be believed. I rejoice that Holy Scripture contains no false advertising. Now may I point the unbelieving world toward the Savior who alone is God's fulfilled promise, who offers salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Who were the sons of Aaron? Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Note: Nadab and Abihu offered an unauthorized offering before the Lord and were struck dead because of it, so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during all of Aaron's lifetime.)
 
Good job finding the answer Dianne!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was the one who ordered the first census of Israel?
____________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Pastor is being "locked up" at lunch to raise money for MDA. 
Thurs- Jonesburg Nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers Caregivers support group 1pm;
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm; STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; elders noon
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
GOOD NEWS CLUB NEEDS SNACKS!
Our congregation is sponsoring the Good News Club at Rebecca Boone Elementary school this year.  It is after school and the kids are plenty hungry when they get there.  We have enough snacks for one more week, but we will need some for the rest of the school year.   Right now there are 22 kids attending weekly. 
 You can either donate the actual snacks for a particular week or multiple weeks or just donate some money to the cause.  Please call Mary Aubuchon at 314-581-5824 to donate!!! 
 
Just so you know, it costs about $15 per week for snacks (includes snack and drink).  There is a peanut allergy and a red dye allergy in the group.   
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 6PM!!!!!  TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!  MANY GOOD DEALS ARE TO BE HAD!!
 If you have any questions about tickets, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543
 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING YOUR BABY BOTTLES BACK TO CHURCH FILLED WITH MONEY THIS WEEKEND!!!
We will be collecting all the money together and then Denise Schlesselmann will be bringing it to Lutherans for Life.
__________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS STARTED A NEW EXCITING AND FUN CURRICULUM CALLED "CROSS EXPLORATIONS".  There is a fun opening, a short study of the lesson for today and then a fun time of science experiments and other activities!!
Come to Sunday school at 9:45am every Sunday to check it out!!!  You won't be disappointed!!!
_______________________________________
A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS STARTED THIS PAST SUNDAY AT 9:45!!!  Please join us!
A video based Bible study by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, will begin this coming Sunday.  It begins with a study on the "Relevance of Genesis".  Each study is about a half hour of video followed by a half hour of discussion.  If you have been neglecting Bible study for a while, because of the subject matter, or for whatever reason, please consider coming back and joining us!  You won't be disappointed! 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP  (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!! 
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio.  We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way.  Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening.  On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.  As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going.  As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple.  If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex.  Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 
For DANNY DREYER as he starts Ranger training today for the Army.

Correction on prayer for SAM HARGROVE, he receives his commission THIS WEEKEND.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who at The CEDARS nursing home in Chesterfield. 
 
For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal, MO, who has been put on hospice care.
 
For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.
 
For JASON FIGURA that God would keep him safe as he has to work on the east coast and be away from his family.  
 
For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy. 


 






  
 



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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
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For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013

 

DEVOTION:  And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this He has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus .... Acts 13:32-33a

How would you feel if you bought a dozen eggs and there were only 11 in the carton? How would you react if you purchased a dozen doughnuts and the bag held only 11?

Would you feel gypped? Hornswoggled? Duped and Deceived?

If so, you can understand why people in New Jersey and Chicago have begun a class-action suit against Subway® sandwiches. One of the men went to 17 different restaurants and found that not a single one of the foot-long sandwiches he bought measured a full foot long. Most of the meals came in somewhere around 11 inches.

The argument is this: a sandwich which is an inch short may not be a big deal, but when you multiply that inch by millions of sandwiches sold, it is a nasty bit of false advertising.

Maybe those fellows have a point.

Maybe we shouldn't be so accepting of manufacturers' untrue claims. Maybe Subway ought to state, "A foot-long sandwich may fall somewhat short of being a foot long." Yes, I know it loses its ring, but the advertising and the sandwich would match up, and the company would be keeping their promise.

Truth in advertising.

Have you ever given thanks to the Lord that the things He has said, the claims He has made, the promises He has offered are true? It is a quality which makes the Triune God -- and Christianity -- unique.

Consider how many other deities have said, "I will send my Son into this world to become a human being. He will live for you; He will suffer for you; He will carry your sins, and He will die your death. All this will happen, so all who believe on Jesus will be forgiven of their sins and be reconciled with Me"?

Only Christianity can make such a claim. Only Christianity can say, "We have good news. The promises our divine Lord made to Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have come to pass in the life, death and victorious resurrection of God's Son, Jesus. Only our faith can say God has kept His promises because Jesus, having lived a perfect life, was condemned and crucified on Calvary's cross. Only our faith can say, "A risen Christ is proof that God has not advertised
falsely."

Yes, our faith can say those things, and each of us ought to be saying those things. We need to tell a lost and condemned world that the Lord, His Word, His Son's sacrifice and victory are true and can be believed.

Period.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks Your Word is true and can be believed. I rejoice that Holy Scripture contains no false advertising. Now may I point the unbelieving world toward the Savior who alone is God's fulfilled promise, who offers salvation. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
MONDAY'S QUIZ:  Who were the sons of Aaron? Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Note: Nadab and Abihu offered an unauthorized offering before the Lord and were struck dead because of it, so only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during all of Aaron's lifetime.)
 
Good job finding the answer Dianne!
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was the one who ordered the first census of Israel?
____________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- Pastor is being "locked up" at lunch to raise money for MDA. 
Thurs- Jonesburg Nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers Caregivers support group 1pm;
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm; STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; elders noon
 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
YOUTH GROUP STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION IS THIS COMING SATURDAY AT 6PM!!!!!  TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE!!  MANY GOOD DEALS ARE TO BE HAD!!
 If you have any questions about tickets, please call Barb Hargrove at 456-2235, or Christy Winn at 314-479-5543
 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BRING YOUR BABY BOTTLES BACK TO CHURCH FILLED WITH MONEY THIS WEEKEND!!!
We will be collecting all the money together and then Denise Schlesselmann will be bringing it to Lutherans for Life.
__________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL HAS STARTED A NEW EXCITING AND FUN CURRICULUM CALLED "CROSS EXPLORATIONS".  There is a fun opening, a short study of the lesson for today and then a fun time of science experiments and other activities!!
Come to Sunday school at 9:45am every Sunday to check it out!!!  You won't be disappointed!!!
_______________________________________
A NEW ADULT BIBLE CLASS STARTED THIS PAST SUNDAY AT 9:45!!!  Please join us!
A video based Bible study by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum, will begin this coming Sunday.  It begins with a study on the "Relevance of Genesis".  Each study is about a half hour of video followed by a half hour of discussion.  If you have been neglecting Bible study for a while, because of the subject matter, or for whatever reason, please consider coming back and joining us!  You won't be disappointed! 
______________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP  (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!! 
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio.  We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way.  Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening.  On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.  As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going.  As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple.  If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex.  Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: 
For DANNY DREYER as he starts Ranger training today for the Army.

Correction on prayer for SAM HARGROVE, he receives his commission THIS WEEKEND.

For JEANETTE KOEHLER who at The CEDARS nursing home in Chesterfield. 
 
For ANITA ALTHEIDE, a friend of the Klaustermeiers from Hannibal, MO, who has been put on hospice care.
 
For MIKE WADE, a missionary St. Johns has sponsored for at least 12 years, as he has had to take leave because of severe migraine headaches.
 
For JASON FIGURA that God would keep him safe as he has to work on the east coast and be away from his family.  
 
For KIM, a friend of the Robines who undergoing a very difficult pregnancy. 


 






  
 



--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to stjohnswarrenton+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
 
 

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You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "St. John's Group Email" group.
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