Matthews Cancer Adventure

Cautiously Ecstatic

Mom, Jesse, Christi and I watched the latest MIBG scan with great hope and lots of prayer. Mom and I kept looking at each other and whispering that the scan on the screen didn’t look like what we had seen before. We didn’t see it lighting up in areas that had previously been filled with tumors. Not being doctors or radiologists we were cautiously ecstatic. Are we really NOT seeing what we think we aren’t seeing? Scan after scan we kept NOT seeing the bones light up in areas that previously looked like, as Matthew’s C.N.P. Peg would say, a Dalmatian. But we decided to eagerly await the report from the professionals.

So, after the scans were done, and we were leaving the hospital, Matthew leaned over and said, “Judy (the MIBG scan tech) told me that things look very different!”. And the smile on his face was just about as wide as a smile could get.

(Matthew and MIBG tech Judy)

We left the hospital in our cautiously ecstatic state and went to one of our favorite place for lunch, the Hobbit Cafe’. What a great time that was. Lots of laughter and blessing fueled by our eager anticipation of getting “the call” either that evening or the next day.

(Mom, Dad (taking the picture), Jesse and Christi at Hobbit Cafe’)FdWe did in fact have to wait until the next morning but then Mom’s phone rang. “It’s them!” she said. “Matthew come on downstairs. It’s Peg calling with the report!”. Amomnd then Peg proceeded to give us the best, happiest, most praise worthy news we could hope to hear.

We couldn’t be more GENUINELY ECSTATIC now.

We thank the Lord for this blessing and give Him all the glory!!!

And we also thank all of you for prayers, thoughts, love and support. We still need all of that as we move forward but it most certainly is HAPPY DANCE time!!!!!!!

NEXT UP – MIBG Radiation Therapy in Ft Worth … just to get that last little bit!!!

Proud Parents

On June 4th, 2016 Matthew walked the stage at NRG Stadium with his senior class from Klein Oak High School and received his diploma.

We are so thankful to God for this very special day. Matthew worked hard through wonderful and dedicated homebound tutoring given by Coach G and he made all the requirements for graduating on time. We are also thankful to so many at Klein Oak and in Klein ISD, including Dr Brian Greeney, Lance Alexander, and Allison Wallace, who really went above and beyond to work around the treatment cycles as well as times when Matthew just didn’t have the energy to focus on AP Calculus and AP Physics. When he was feeling good he buckled down and studied hard and tested very well. He is certainly ready, as much as anyone can be, to take that next step into college life and focus on getting his Mechanical Engineering degree!

As parent, seeing all he accomplished while going through so much, we couldn’t be more proud!! We give all the glory to the Lord and pray for blessed college years and whatever his long life will bring.

NEXT UP – Another cycle of Immunotherapy. Your prayers, as always, will be appreciated!

Cutest Couple

Well, after much rain and flooding postponed the Band Banquet it was rescheduled and finally happened.

Matthew had a great time due in no small part to the fact that sweet Emma, who is also in the band, was sitting by his side.

Amongst the many awards given out by their classmates Matthew and Emma were voted “Cutest Couple” and Matthew was voted “Band Beau”!!

It made us so happy to see Matthew enjoy this special day and be honored by his piers. All on the heals of having such a great time at Prom and SNAPP.

NEXT UP – Graduation!