Good News from the Doctor

Well, I got all my tubes taken off this morning so I'm feeling relatively free of hindrances! I need a shower SOOOOO bad, but haven't been able to trust my dizzyness enough yet to want to move too quickly. Hopefully soon! Doctor came in this morning with the test results on the tumor. I'm not sure I can explain it really well, but I will give it a try. Most of these tumors are Type I, mine came back as a Type II. It is not malignant - PRAISE THE LORD! and there won't be any chemo needed. A Type I tumor has a reoccurance rate of about 10% over 10 years - fairly low. A Type II tumor has a higher reoccurance rate - 15% - 40% over 10 years. That means they will continue to use MRI screens to monitor it - even over the next couple of months. It is possible that we will meet with a Doctor from Cyber Knife who will assess whether he thinks we should radiate the area now or when/if it returns. So, there still may be more treatment, but it is an outpatient treatment - not chemo and it won't cause side effects or losing hair, all that bad stuff. The doctor felt confident, so I am trusting his assessment. So much stuff to try to understand, but I can just take it a day at a time.
An interesting side note to all of this - my dad was planning on leaving on Saturday for a big missions trip to Haiti to an orphanage there. He was so looking forward to the opportunity to serve and we were excited for him to go - his first missions trip post retirement. With all my health issues, he wasn't sure he was going to go, and now with the earthquake the trip has been cancelled. I'm so glad he wasn't already down there, as there is a team already there that he was supposed to be joining. They are still working on getting that part of the team out and it has been difficult. What a strange series of circumstances. You can pray that he will get another opportunity, because I know that area has been heavily on his heart and he has really been preparing for what God would have him do.
I had several more great emails, but I haven't been able to keep up with posting them all to the blog - please know they are all encouraging me - especially with the down day I had yesterday. I don't know how anyone would make it through this process without the support I've been shown through the people of God. Isn't it awesome how God has designed his people to support each other and be his hands and feet - I feel loved directly by Christ himself through all of you. Here's some fun thoughts to read - be encouraged, as I am!

Tania Bergren Norby commented on your status:

"I shared an email update from Jeff with my family after dinner this evening. At bedtime, Benjamin asked if he could pray for your dizziness and your test results. When he was praying, he added, "And thank you, God, that Mrs. Graves is still alive." Amen!! It is such a privilege to be able to pray for you. I know God has a plan for you, and to use these circumstances for good. Right now, the little ones around you (and us big ones, too) are experiencing God's faithfulness first-hand. We love you, Jen. Keep resting and healing, and we'll keep praying!
Tania
P.S. I think you look good in the pic on your blog--and a little bit of attitude with your tongue sticking out! Sneak a hospital gown home with you, and you can dress up like that for Halloween."

Hi Jen -

Is it meant to be that you are the encourager in your moment of weakness? I am so encouraged by your faith and your strength as I read through your blog and your updates. I'm sure you've heard the saying that God will never give us more than we can handle, and he must have known that you would indeed handle this with the grace and faith that you have shown thus far. There will be down times, and that is what we will keep in our prayers, as well as healing, strength for both you and Jeff, and continued awesome care from the doctors and nurses that surround you!

Thanks for sharing your experiences in this incredible journey...

Kim and family

From Sarah:
My devotion in my William Wilberforce book today was on friendship. He had written:
"No man has perhaps more cause for gratitude to God than myself. But of all the varioius instances of his goodness, the greatest of all, excepting only his Heavenly Grace, is the many kind friends with whom a gracious Providence has blessed me. Oh remember, my dearest boy, to form friendships with those only who love and serve God, and when once you have formed them, then preserve them as the most valuable of all possessions."

I thought of you, and Melissa, and Lisa, and the friendship we have formed through our Bible study. I'm so thankful for it! Looking forward to seeing you again.......and still praying for you. (I hope you don't get sick of hearing that, I just don't want you to think you've been forgotten.)

Love,
Sarah