BEST URDU POETRY WALPAPERS QUOTES IMAGES

As I started going through the beautiful pictures my best friend took of my family in an attempt to pick only one or two for our family Christmas card, I also pulled out my devotional and the words couldn't have been more perfect: "A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles. Instead of trying to be in control, you focus on Me and what I am doing." A life filled with miracles is exactly what we have experienced- Dad is our miracle.  I think back to that first Thanksgiving after Dad's diagnosis- we were in the middle of his radiation and intense chemotherapy treatment. Dad felt terrible, and we all had this thought in the back of our minds- what if this was the last Thanksgiving with Dad? Each year since then we have been reminded how blessed we are for our miracle. Each year we are reminded of those incredibly difficult months following Dad diagnosis, months that we still look back and question how we ever survived it all.  We celebrated anot...

This morning I received a text that broke my heart into a million pieces.  "My mom died this morning." I honestly didn't even know how to respond. Because I knew no words could bring back her mom. No words could show the absolute pain my heart was feeling for her and her family. No words could bring any sort of comfort to her at that moment.  So what did I share?  I told her that I loved her.  This dear friend of mine has been on a cancer journey very similar to ours, as her mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer about a year and a half ago. We've both celebrated through great scans, and supported one another through some not so great ones. We've leaned on one another for advice on how to manage the side effects of the treatments, and we've each celebrated small victories when our loved ones managed to feel just a little bit better.  She's been my rock throughout Dad's battle.  I recently watched a sermon by Matt Chandler- he's a pastor in the Dall...

Quick Dad Update: Dad had an MRI yesterday and today we received the wonderful news of no changes, no indication of tumor growth- everything is stable! This is even compared to the MRI done over a year ago- everything appears stable and that is such amazing news! Dad is thrilled to be off all treatments- his blood pressure is back to normal and he's been feeling better each day.  Thank you all for the continued thoughts and prayers, as Dad continues fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer!

It takes a pretty special soul to be a caregiver for a loved one. Someone who takes the bad days in strides, and celebrates the good days as small victories. Someone who never cries while Dad is around, but instead shows great strength in moments when we all want to fall apart.  Who is this special soul? My favorite caregiver- my Mom, and everyone's favorite Mutz.  From day one she has told every doctor we've met that Dad is going to beat the odds- and he has. She has never crumbled or given up. She has never said she can't, but instead she continues to prove that she always can.  She had learned to do the yard work and work the pool equipment, pay the bills and manage Dad's appointments- she literally does it all.  There are moments when I'm not sure how she does it. Moments where anyone else would have given up and quit, but instead she continues with great strength, a big smile, and strong faith leading the way.  This weekend we celebrated 60 years for Mutz. ...

October 5 will always hold a pretty important place in our hearts. On October 5, 2013 our entire world was turned upside down. And although we didn't know what exactly caused Dad's seizure that day- we consider this date Dad's "cancer-versary".  Three years.  Three years ago we were told the statistics associated with Dad's cancer- statistics that were not freely given to us, but statistics that were asked by Dad to our Neurosurgeon- 14.6 months.  Approximately 20% of people diagnosed with Gliblastoma will survive three years. Our hearts stopped.  I look back now and remember the fear that consumed me when I heard that my Dad would have just ONE year left in his lifetime. How foolish of me to think that I had the right to limit God to statistics.  How foolish of me to think that His hand was not in the midst of our darkest days.  How foolish of me to not believe in miracles. Because that is exactly what Dad is- a miracle. As Dad reaches his 3 year mark batt...

I realize now that I never gave an update post-doctor appointment after Dad's MRI and, still what we think, was a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack).  *A TIA happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or reduced. After a short time, blood flows again and the symptoms go away. A TIA is often labeled "mini-stroke", it is more accurately characterized as a "warning stroke". The only difference between a TIA and a stroke, is that with a TIA the blockage is temporary. TIA can last for up to 24 hours.  We made a decision, as a family and with the help of our amazing doctor, to stop all treatments for Dad. No more chemotherapy. No more Avastin. No more bi-weekly trips to the Cancer Clinic.  To say Dad is happy with this decision would be an understatement, as he dreaded taking those chemotherapy pills, and bi-weekly trips to College Station were never his favorite.  (Can I mentioned that I'm thrilled as well- as this will mean less fights with his insuran...

Let me first start by sharing that Dad's MRI did not show any tumor growth or any changes from our last MRI. The cancer is NOT back! To say we are all a bit shocked, would be an understatement- as I was preparing for appointments with another doctor and had started researching clinical trials offered by this particular doctor in Austin.  Many have asked us how we knew something wasn't right with Dad, so I thought I would share how in just four short days we thought our world was falling apart- how four "short" days have felt so much longer and left each of us physically and emotionally exhausted.  On Monday, Dad fell. This fall wasn't exactly abnormal by any means, as with the two brain surgeries and radiation treatment, he has some right side weakness- but he was able to get himself back up and was able to tell Mom about it later. Monday wasn't a great day, but it wasn't terrible. But then there was Tuesday... Tuesday Mom tried to get Dad up, but he was j...