Monday, December 28, 2009

Happy New Year

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Psalm 143:8

I hope you had a great Christmas and thanks again to everyone for everything that you have done for us. We had some firewood fairies show up and thanks for chopping up the kindling for me..I know that was a major task.

David's next treatment is January 5. There are two more scheduled for January 19 and February 2. Kirklin told me that they will do an MRI sometime in February. David is stronger and getting around better...thank you for the prayers for that.

May God Bless you this year...

David, Joy and Emma

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Good Morning and Merry Christmas

We will be on the road around 8:30 this morning to Birmingham for David's second treatment. Please pray for our safe travel.

I hope you have a wonderful day.

Joy

Monday, December 14, 2009

Monday Thoughts

First thing this morning I opened the book that someone sent me entitled A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23. The chapter I opened talked about the sheep in a wonderful setting and everything going well then there seems to be and I quote from the book, "a fly in the ointment." Which of course we all know can cause problems. I loved the verse right behind it and wanted to share it with you this morning.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all. Psalm 34:19.

God is clearly working through the prayers that many of you have lifted up for us. David is up and walking again. Praising God and thanking him this morning for this answered prayer.

Our next treatment is December 22 and Randy and Jenny Guy will be with us. Please continue to pray that these treatments will send and keep sending the much needed relief. Please pray also for our safe travel.

As we sat last week in the waiting room, Bart and I listened as many people shared their cancer stories. We overheard two exchanging bone marrow transplant stories, another whom the cancer had taken over her body in several organs, another who grabbed the bible that was laying there and shared with others and even exchanged church names and prayer lists. God was there with us and everyone in that room. The one thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was that I noticed there wasn't a tear in anyone's eyes as they talked. What comfort God gives us when we face the "fly in the ointment." These people were making their faith known to everyone around them. I didn't see anyone question or complain. WOW Could we do that today?

Psalm 23 is one of David's favorite verses. If you haven't read it lately, please take a moment and read it today and say a prayer for David.

Joy

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Treatments

Bart, David and I had a good and safe trip yesterday. David, as he has handled everything else, didn't seemed to be bothered at all by the new treatment. No side effects. It's like he hasn't had anything. PTL.........

We will be going to Birmingham twice a month if they see results from these treatments. Thank you again for everything.. Pray without ceasing for us, because that is all that we really need.

David has been better this week...

Love to you and hugs that wrap around you,

David, Joy and Emma

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Update

Just got our phone line back...David continues to have a lot of swelling. As they put it, it's complicated and they are not sure what is swelling or tumor. David will be undergoing a new treatment and we are awaiting the word on when and where and it is done by I.V... From what we understand we should be able to tell after the first treatment if it will help.

I just can't thank everyone enough for everything that is being done for our family.

God is in control and God is GREAT, ALL THE TIME.

Love and Hugs

Joy

Friday, November 20, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

I talked with Kirklin this week and David will be having an MRI on the 30th...We hope to know something. David continues to be upbeat and he really works on his walking and movement.

I am thankful this season for Family, (Deborah, Dennis, Dad and my brothers thanks for the extra help) Church Family(I don't know how people survive without one of these) and friends ( I don't have enough lines to name you)who have rallied around us. I am overwhelmed at what is being done for us...thank you thank you thank you....

Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, we are his flock. Psalm 100:3

Remember the reason for the season.

J:)y

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The man you are praying for.

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands,...so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

This sums David up. A while back David received a card from a special young lady thanking him for what he did with her and how he helped her horse too. Monday another card came in and a Grandmother had shared with me how David had helped her grandson in the same way. Calls have been coming in and the word dependable is ALWAYS mentioned when they talk about David. A client of his called this morning and she said that she just knew something had to be wrong because she hadn't heard from him...

David is one of the most intelligent people that I've ever known. The thing I love about him the most is that he didn't care who knew this or if you did know this. He doesn't use big words and didn't feel the need to impress people. He sure wouldn't have made the cover of magazines with his fashion statement either! David loved horseshoeing and wished that he had been doing it all his life and he even told me one time that if he could he would have done it for free...I'm finding out that he has done it for free and many times. Especially, when it comes to kids. David had kids calling him a lot even when the parents didn't know that they were calling because their special four legged friend needed help...speaks volumes for this fine man. He is also a history nut and can tell you anything you need to know about it and he is also a certified welder. He is one of the best when it comes to working and training a horse. David is 48 years old and has had horses most of his life. This is something that has been passed on to Emma and he often says that she is better! He has always been there for us and in everything that we do and supported what we wanted to do.

We are getting prayers from all over the United States and we appreciate that and I just thought for those of you who didn't know his story, maybe this will help. He continues to be upbeat and pushes himself everyday to get that right leg working.

We have an appointment on November 30 at Kirklin and I think it will be more of a check than anything.

With love and hugs
Joy

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Nothing much new

Wanda, Debra and Pat....y'all hang in there we are praying for all of you.

Thank you for the emails and posts...they mean a lot to us.

No word yet when we go back to Kirklin.


Pray without ceasing...

David, Joy and Emma.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Prayer Request for a friend

A very special person is having a procedure on Thursday morning and please pray for her...Her name is Pat Avery and add her to your list for me!

Thanks for all the emails and posts. I'm trying to answer them all!

We are still waiting on the date to return to Kirklin.

Have a Happy Thursday,

Joy

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Update from Kirklin Clinic / UAB

David and Joy have had a rough couple of weeks, so Joy has asked me to update everyone for her. David finished his radiation and chemo on his birthday, October 5th. He had been tolerating the treatments without many side effects until the last 2 weeks when he became very fatigued. Even though he completed the treatments on the 5th, the radiation kept "working" for another three weeks. During this time, his fatigue markedly increased and he had some difficulty speaking clearly and using his right arm and leg. In the last week to ten days, he has suffered an even more significant downturn. He is often unable to use his right arm or leg at all, his speech is much worse and he often can not communicate verbally. He is having more seizures. He is quite nauseous and not eating much, therefore has lost a good bit of weight. His hearing is even more hyper sensitive which causes him a lot of discomfort. He is also having a lot of hip pain but we are not sure how that fits into his current diagnosis. He is getting around the house by using a wheelchair on bad days, and a walker on good days.

Today, they returned to Birmingham for a follow up MRI to recheck the status of his tumor. The MRI showed that the mass has grown from 2.5 cm to 3.7 cm, however it is unclear how much of that increase is the tumor and how much is swelling around the tumor. This does NOT mean that the radiation and chemo were unsuccessful. Had he not had those treatments, it might be even bigger by now. He was again offered the option of surgery to remove part of the tumor, but he again declined due to the very high risk of complications including paralysis and total loss of speech. The doctors are starting him on pain medications and steroids to see if any of his symptoms are caused by swelling. If the steroids improve his symptoms, that means that at least some are caused by swelling.
They have been unable to increase his seizure medications because his blood work today shows already high levels of the anti-seizure medications so they are hoping the steroids will help. He is going to begin another round of the chemo pill, but it will only be once a week for 5 weeks and it will be delivered to the house. He will return to Kirklin Clinic to have another MRI in one month. Day to day living has become filled with new challenges.

The good news is that Joy, David and Emma are still quite sure that God is in control and He has been meeting their needs in many ways! T
he doctors are arranging whatever home health services will make his life easier. Special friends are taking care of building ramps and making home modifications as they become an issue. Emma was voted Homecoming Queen and has been accepted to Auburn University, University of Alabama and Troy University! Decisions, decisions......Emma's friends and teachers have all rallied around her to keep her busy and encouraged. Their equestrian friends have helped them with horse and trailer issues. Neighbors have flooded them with gifts of hay for the horses. They have been uplifted by many cards and letters from all over the country! They have been encouraged by the DVD's from the Cowboy Church...keep 'em comin' boys! Their church family at Santuck Baptist Church and the entire Elmore County Community has covered them in prayer and supported them in many, many ways...too many to mention. All sorts of folks have cooked and cleaned and fixed and fussed and fretted to meet their every need! And of course, their family members have especially rallied around them. Many thanks to everyone!

As David's struggle increases, they have some more requests to make to all of these wonderful people. Everyone wants to know what they can do to help so here are some requests from Joy:

DO continue the cards and letters, they enjoy those very much.

DO continue meals, but keep in mind that she has special angels that deliver a meal every Monday and Tuesday. SBC has been delivering meals on Wednesday nights, but that will end in about 2 weeks. The Men's class has been purchasing and Angel Food box monthly and that is much appreciated. Joy asks that you coordinate dates to bring food with her as she does not have much freezer space. Emma especially likes sweets! Email communication is the best way to coordinate with Joy: hillsidefarm@netzero.net

DO NOT COME TO VISIT.
David would be happy to see everyone, BUT he does not want everyone to see him in his current condition. Also, he can not talk which is embarrassing and frustrating to him. You will soon see some "no visitors" signs in their driveway and they ask that everyone honor them until he is feeling better. If David is in the living area and you are dropping off food, Joy will meet you in the driveway in order to protect his privacy.
PLEASE SHOW HIM HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM BY RESPECTING THIS REQUEST THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM DAVID.

DO SEND JOY AN EMAIL OR COMMENT ON THE BLOG! She likes to keep up with everyone else and talk about things other than cancer. She would even appreciate a sprinkling of gossip here and there! Also, this helps her to not have to repeat the current medical issues that are so tough for them to to deal with and talk about. hillsidefarm@netzero.net

TRY NOT TO CALL as the Kirklin staff will be calling them daily with treatment recommendations and for close follow up. They need to keep the phone lines open for that.

Again, Joy David and Emma want everyone to know how much they appreciate everything that everyone is doing for them! I hope that I did not leave anyone out, but rather, know that God is showing His love through all of you!

Cathy Brown

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday Devotion

I just read this to David and he wanted me to post it. Please pray as we have a week to go before the MRI...

FACING REALITY
1 Peter 1:6
Verse 6 can be identified as a transition verse, as Peter is now moving from our
glorious salvation, to reality here on this earth. His words, "wherein ye greatly
rejoice"--are in reference to the time when we ultimately receive our inheritance in
heaven. As Wuest comments, "The saints are to rejoice in the last time, that is,
when they receive their glorified bodies at the Rapture." Now the word
"rejoice" is one that "speaks to extreme joy that expresses itself
externally in an exuberant triumph of joy." As we contemplate the final fulfillment
of our salvation, and we join the heavenly band, we ought to burst forth in rejoicing.
As the NLT reads, "There is wonderful joy ahead." And as Hillyer puts it,
"the prospect of the coming glorious consummation of salvation is one in which
believers have every right to greatly rejoice."
However, we live here in this world and the KJV reads, "Though now for a
season." The word "season" means--"little, small, few," and
refers here to a little while. Pause for a moment and read Romans 8: 18 and 2
Corinthians 4:17. From the view of eternity, our time here on this earth is not only
temporary, but very brief.
Then comes the stark reality of life--"If need be, ye are in heaviness through
manifold temptations" (KJV). Or we read, "even though it is necessary for you
to endure many trials for a while" (NLT). Hillyer has this to say, "The
expression all kinds refers to trials facing believers, and here translates the word
which literally means "many colored." Peter uses the word again in 4:10 to
describe God's grace. The only two occurrences of the word in this letter nicely balance.
Christians may have to face all kinds of troubles. But in whatever "color"
troubles appear, God's grace will always "match" them and prove perfectly
sufficient. Nevertheless, Peter's wording implies that the trials hat Christians have to
meet will sort out those who are full of faith from others whose profession is less than
wholehearted."
Now let me add some comments from Kenneth Wuest--"The words 'if need be' are
hypothetical, not affirmative. That is, they do not state that there is always a need
for the dark days, for testing times and difficulties. In some lives there seems to be
more need of trials than in others. To those servants of God whom He purposes to use in
a larger, greater way, many trials are allowed to come for 'we must be ground between the
millstones of suffering before we can be bread for the multitude.' And then, in the case
of a saint who is not living close to his Lord, it is necessary to send disciplinary
trials to purge his life of sin and draw him into a closer walk with God."
Some good thoughts on which to begin our day------Parson Brown

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Thursday

Good afternoon hope you have a boat to ride home in...

Emma received more good news this week..She was accepted to the University of Alabama....she has also been accepted to Troy. She has some decisions and praying to do to see where God will lead her.

I want to thank the Ladies II class at Santuck Baptist Church for what you did for David..it was wonderful...Hugs and Love to you all.

Not much change yet but praying hard...

Love,
David, Joy and Emma

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Emma's good news!

Emma received her acceptance letter from Auburn University yesterday!!!!! She is very excited!

Happy Saturday and have a great weekend. It's a beautiful morning.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Happy Thursday

Johnny Barrett, your pound cake should be in a museum and you should have your own cooking show! Thank you!

Some of you asked about the treatments success. We won't know anything until October 29 when we return to Kirklin for the MRI. Please keep us in your prayers.

"His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22,23.

Hugs, David, Joy and Emma

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

yehawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

God is good. We get a break for a while. His arm and leg are giving him trouble but he says it's nothing. He is a lefty now!

God works through everyone. We got to know one lady who had the same time same place appointment as us. After talking and getting to know her we found out that she worked with someone that we went to school with that I haven't seen in a while. Kelly Tracy, it was so good to see you yesterday and it made the last day special..Thank you for coming out and talking with us and talking about "old" times!

As we left yesterday I noticed that David was checking on everyone that was left in the room. He wanted to make sure they were okay for the day. What a special guy!

Cowboy Church and Prayer Posse thank you again for the cards and especially for the c'd's of your church services. You have a wonderful ministry and you have blessed us.

David had some birthday cards come in and it made his day. I thank you for those!

Keep smiling and pass a smile along today as it could really make someone's day.

We love each of you and we thank you for everything that you have done for us.

I especially want to thank everyone on the Elmore County High School staff. They made some special arrangements to help get David in and out of the stadium for homecoming. He just couldn't make it. YOU went above and beyond the call of duty Friday night to help out and we will never forget it. We love you and can't thank you enough.

David, Joy and Emma Hill

Thursday, October 1, 2009

3 to go

Happy Thursday and 3 to go...but who's counting!

Have a great day. Please keep praying for us. We appreciate everything!

I'm behind on my thank you notes but want to thank Jill and Randy, The Johnsons, and the 11th grade girls at Santuck Baptist Church. What you did was PERFECT.

Randy and Jenny thanks for the encouragement.

Loomis and Frances thanks for everything and we love you beyond measure!

Deborah and Dennis thanks for the help this week!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs and Love,
The Hills

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Prayers

Wanda V....I tried to email you and I'm glad to see your post...We've been praying for you everyday. Keep the faith!!!!

I'm also asking for everyone to pray for Debra Vann...we've known Debra and her husband Grover for a long time....Grover heard about David and came to see us and told me that she has a brain tumor also. She had surgery and is undergoing chemo and radiation like David.

Someone gave us the book Facing your Giants by Max Lucado and here is something that was mentioned in it...

Focus on giants ---- you stumble.
Focus on God ------ your giants tumble.

Enough said.

Love to you all from the Hills.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Good morning.  Thank you for the posts and prayers!  We are winding down with the treatments.
David is drained but his attitude is of gratitude.  Love and Hugs to you
this morning.  Wanted to share Parson Brown's (daddy) devotion with you this morning.
 
Recently our pastor, Bro. Steve Arnberg, began leading us in a study of Joshua.  As
he carried us through the first chapter, I got hung up on verse 11, "Go through the
camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross
the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you
for your own."' (NIV)
They have spent some 40 years wandering around in the wilderness, and now God tells
them they have to wait for THREE DAYS! Why must they wait? Waiting on God is one of the
most difficult things we learn in life. Easter told Mordicai and the Jews to fast and
pray for three days before she would approach the king. Jonah spent three days confined
to the inside of a monster fish. Jesus waited four days before He went to Mary and
Martha, the sisters of Lazareth. Why wait?
For most of us, waiting three days is just not in us. In our Western culture
lifestyle, we think that business and constant hurry is the mark of a productive life.
Waiting is just not the way we do life. We like the fast pace, the quick fix, and the
drive throughs. One person even attempted to put a movie in his microwave so he could
see the whole thing in 10 minutes!
As we consider the Book of Joshua, we find several reasons for them to wait the three
days. First of all, God was working in the life of someone in Jericho. God works on His
time schedule and not ours. He works in His ways and not ours. There was this person by
the name of Rahab--yes a person of not so good a reputation. But God was dealing in her
life. Time was needed for the the spies to make contact and for her faith to be
revealed. Read the story and watch how God worked in her life. She is listed in Matthew
chapter 1 in the lineage of Jesus. Go to Hebrews chapter 11 and you will find her
portrait hanging in the "Heroes Hall of Faith."
What about in our lives. We are told repeatedly to "wait on God!" I
constantly turn to Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord." (KJV) What about Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up
with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not
faint." (KJV)
Wait THREE DAYS!! While we are waiting, God is working. When we stop, God gets
started! God has reasons for telling us to WAIT THREE DAYS! Give Him His time to work
in our lives. There are other reasons to be considered next time.
Parson Brown
 

Friday, September 18, 2009

Treatments

After today's treatment, David will have ten left! PTL..... He amazes me the way he has handled this. He is very drained but upbeat.

Pray and keep him on the prayer lists.

Love to you,

Joy

Monday, September 14, 2009

Prayers

God is clearly at work. David hasn't had a seizure going on a week today. He doesn't have much energy but that is to be expected.

We're half way through the radiation treatments! We have to go to Kirklin Clinic on October 26 for an MRI and blood tests. This should tell us a lot. I've asked for prayer chains to continue and have asked everyone to pray without ceasing.

Love to you.......David, Joy and Emma

Here are more verses from the Bible and the comfort quilt that I have on my lap this morning.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and YOU SHALL BE SAVED. Acts 16:31

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Parson Brown's word for the day

I have finished my reading of Ezekiel and am now in Daniel. Awesome!!!! Listen to
these words from the New Living Translation--"He determines the course of world
events; He removes kings and sets others on the throne, He gives wisdom to the wise and
knowledge to the scholars" (Daniel 2:21).
The writer in The Daily Devotional Bible reminds us that "When tough times come
for us and our families--death, illness, divorce, financial difficulties, by asking the
question, How do we respond?" Well how do we respond? Most of us spend sleepless
nights and frightful days in worry, desperation and fear. These reactions are typical
and understandable. The writer then adds, "Yet the men and women who place their
trust in our Sovereign God can know that this is not a random, senseless universe, it is
under the control of ITS CREATOR--there are no accidents--HE IS IN CHARGE!!!!
The writer then comments, "We have no guarantee of safety, security, health,
wealth, and unending blessedness, but we do have the assurance that the God who
'determines the course of world events' is pleased to allow us to call him FATHER!"
Let me add Kenneth Wuest's paraphrase of Romans 8:28, "And we know with an absolute
knowledge that all things are constantly working together, resulting in good for those
who are loving God, for those who are called ones according to His purpose!"
As we face today-tomorrow and the next--let us remember--HE IS IN CONTROL--Parson
Brown

Another week down on David's treatments and things are good.
Big hugs and lots of love to you, David, Joy and Emma

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Treatments

Good morning and Happy Day....

The treatments are going fine and no side effects! He is dealing with seizures but as he says "nothing that he can't handle."


Have a great day and Big BIG hugs to everyone this morning.


"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps."
Proverbs 16:9

Another great verse from the bible and written on the comfort quilt.

:)

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Comfort quilt

Our family would like to send a big hug and thank you to the Cape County Cowboy Church, the Prayer Posse and Cowgirl Quilters in Oak Ridge, Missouri. The quilt is beautiful with the bible verses and will be a comfort to us. Thanks for the prayers and what a great ministry you have, May God Bless you....LOVE YOU......

The second week of treaments are going great.


I'll leave you with one of the verses on our quilt; "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." John 6:47

Hugs
David, Joy and Emma

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Treatments

Hello prayer warriors. David's treatments went well and no bad side effects so far! PTL....

Please keep us lifted up as we have several more weeks.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

My Dad's devotion that we wanted to share.

William Cowper, who had a very difficult life, penned the following out of his
experiences, "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His
footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm." Another stanza of this hymn reads,
His purpose will ripen fast, unfolding every hour, the bud may have a bitter taste, but
sweet will be the flower."
As all of you are aware, we are struggling with an extreme difficulty within the
framework of our family at this time. As I have been seeking, searching and praying for
answers, as well as guidance, I happen to be reading in the New Living Translation of the
Bible last night. Embedded in the Book of Isaiah, God spoke to me.
First, let us look at Isaiah 57:1-2 from the KJV--"The righteous perishet, and no
man layet it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the
righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall
rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness." Next I share this with
you from the NIV--"The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout
men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared
from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in
death." Now I share this with you from the NLT ( New Living Translation)--"The
righteous pass away; the godly often die before their time. And no one seems to care or
wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to
come. For the godly who die will rest in peace."
God speaks through the heartache, tears, and brokenness of life to remind us that
"He moves in a mysterious way, HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM." Thanks to all for
being there for us--Parson Brown

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

1 down 35 to go.

Everything went well today.

Thank you again for the calls, posts, emails and food. It sure has helped us out.

Loomis, thanks again for making my yard look "purty."

Please keep praying for our strength.

Love to each and every one of you, Joy.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Treatments

David has a doc visit on Monday afternoon and we will start treatments on Tuesday.

Thanks for everything!


Love, Joy

Happy Tuesday

A big hello to John Anthony and Tillie this morning...great to hear from you. And thanks for the encouragement and the prayers. I talked with Dale Ryles the other night and he is in Colorado.
Britt, I got your message but didn't get your number, give us a call.

This afternoon we will be very busy with the appointments so please lift us up in prayer.

Thank you to Santuck Baptist Church and Seman Baptist Church for everything!

A special hello this morning to Katie Hill and Lindsey Johnson...thanks for the horse help!

David, Joy and Emma.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Good morning!

Hey back to the Library! Got your card and miss you all!!!!!!!!!!

Hey to my cousin and thanks for the post.

We had a good weekend...David is feeling pretty good and had just a few seizures and they are not bad at all. Hopefully, we will be starting treatments this week.

PRAY HARD!

Oh, Rhonda ................HAPPY MONDAY.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday

Okay..........We are going to try this again.........I do know that David is going to have 36 radiation treatments. Monday through Friday for weeks. David is doing well with this in fact the doc's comment yesterday to him was "I wasn't expecting you to be getting around so well."

Thanks again to Deborah and Daddy for everything this week.

Loomis and Francis, the "chicken stuff" is perfect!

Alan, no comment! But I will pass along your message.

Pray for our endurance and strength and May God Bless you today.

Friday update

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Radiation and Chemo

Good morning...We have an appointment this afternoon with the Radiation Doc and we see the Chemo Doc on Tuesday.

Love and Hugs!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Kirklin Trip

We just got in and I read the posts and thank you again for the prayers too...It is sooo wonderful hearing from classmates. It truly means a lot to us.

David is not going to have surgery. He will have six weeks of radiation and the Chemo pill. The treatments will be done at the Montgomery Cancer Center. We will be going back to Kirklin for MRI's periodically.

Keep the prayer chains going and we love you and I love hearing from you.

Joy :)

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Tuesday Morning

Donna and Mark thank you for the visit!!! Lisa ,Tim and Mikki thanks for the posts....It feels like a reunion by computer!

Start the prayer chains...Our appointment is in the morning and we should know everything by early afternoon on Wednesday.

Again, thank you for everything that you are doing for us.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Surgeon Appointment

We have an appointment Wednesday with the Surgeon at Kirklin Clinic at 10:00...I probably won't have any posts between now and then and Wednesday should tell us about surgery or no surgery and the treatment plan for sure. Just pray and big hugs and lots and lots of love to you.

Happy Friday

We are waiting on another phone call this morning for an appointment with Dr. Markert at Kirklin. David may have surgery as soon as Thursday or Friday. This would be to remove the bulk of the tumor with treatment to follow. We will know for sure after the appointment with Dr. Markert.

Please keep the prayers going.

Thanks to former classmates for the posts and we do remember you!

Again, thank you for the calls, visits and cards.

David, Joy and Emma

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Dr. Nabors phone call

David just talked with Dr. Nabors and the path report is relatively the same. He is going to call us tomorrow as they are trying to set up the mag. scan. It wll tell us whether it is worth going in to get some of it out or just proceed with the Chemo pill and radiation. The mag. scan is out patient and only takes an hour. We are sitting on ready to go when they call us back. The scan is done in the basement of the Kirklin Clinic. Wasn't that where Frankenstein's brain was worked on? Anyway, I will keep you posted as we are yet another step closer to taking care of business...Love ya :)

Joy

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Kirklin Clinic update

I talked with Dr. Nabors office this afternoon. We will have a final path report from them on Wednesday morning. Then, we will know how to move forward with the treatment. Thanks for the calls, visits, food and emails.

Thank you to Alan Turner and Chad Stearns for keeping my yard up for me.

Keep us in your prayers as we will have some decisions to make in the next few days.

Big hugs and Lots of Love to you............

Joy

Friday, July 24, 2009

Friday

Good morning and Happy Friday to you. David had a seizure late in the afternoon on Thursday. He over did it yesterday but told me that's the way he wanted it.

Thanks again for everything that you are doing for us.

I've heard from several of our high school classmates that I haven't heard from in years. I really appreciate that!

May God Bless you today,
David, Joy and Emma.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Good morning.

Thank you Cathy Brown and Chris Brown for this site. You are doing a great job. Thanks Dad and Deborah for everything yesterday, as you being there and driving us is making it easier on us..Love you........My dad loaned me some Gaither dvd's to watch and I really love the old hymns....The first song that I heard this morning sums up my feelings and I wanted to share the chorus with you.......


God put a rainbow in the cloud......God put a rainbow in the cloud.....When it looked like the sun wouldn't shine anymore................God put a rainbow in the cloud.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Update from UAB

(This update is being written by Cathy Brown at Joy's request)

David had his initial appointment with Dr Keith Thompson at the Montgomery Cancer Center yesterday to get established with him. Dr Thompson said that they would be happy to do his radiation and chemo locally, and would await the recommendations from UAB.

David had his consultation with Dr Nabor at UAB this morning. Dr Nabor reviewed his biopsy slides from Baptist and is hopeful that his tumor may not be a grade 3 and grade 4 as previously thought. He is hopeful that it may be a lower grade astrocytoma. He also reviewed his MRI/MRA films and is hopeful that they may be able to remove at least part of the tumor and then treat the rest with radiation and chemo to slow down the growth (still probably not a cure). He will present David's case to the "Tumor Board" on Tuesday July 28th and then contact him with the treatment recommendations. The Tumor Board includes Dr Nabor and a team of surgeons who will make the final recommendations about the risk of surgery ect.

David and Joy are being cautiously optimistic because if Dr Nabor is correct, and the post surgery biopsy confirms this, David's prognosis could be extended. David has been instructed to hold off on any chemo or radiation for now and they should hear from Dr Nabor at UAB next week. God is clearly at work here and everyone's prayers continue to be coveted!

Also, thanks to the McWhorter Sunday School Class & Gaylynn Brooks, David and Joy will return to a very clean house today! If anyone would like to contribute to future cleanings, please see myself or Alan & Dara Turner. David continues to be tired and can't tolerate loud noise or large crowds, but is doing well and not having any headaches yet. They are worn out today, but later in the week short morning vistis will be fine. God is good ALL the time!

In His Love, Cathy

Monday, July 20, 2009

Happy Monday!

Thank you again for the calls, emails, and posts...They mean a lot to us. We will be going to Birmingham on Wednesday and DDD (Designated Daddy Driver) is going with us. Please be in prayer for safe travel. We love you and have a great day. :)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Appointments

Good morning and Happy Friday. I want to send a big hug and thanks to Judge Beth Kellum, Ashley White, Lisa Gunter and J.D. Lloyd. You are the best. It was a pleasure working with you and everyone at the Court of Criminal Appeals. Hello to everyone in the Judicial building I miss you already!

We have several appointments next week...We go to the cancer center on Tuesday and should be going to UAB on Thursday...I will know for sure this morning about UAB.

David is doing great. We love you and keep praying for us for strength and guidance.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hill Happenings

Good morning and May God Bless you today. I talked with Amy from Dr. Kendrick's office last night and we might have an appointment to go to UAB by next Thursday. We should know for sure this morning. Thank you...... thank you for the posts...It means so much to us and I'm hearing from some of you that I haven't seen or talked to in a while. We had several people that stopped by yesterday to just pray with us. That is keeping us strong. The nurse was in awe that David hasn't taken a pain pill nor is he having any headaches. Praise God for that! We love you, hugs to you, and Happy Thursday to you. I sure hope it's it Thursday as I have lost track of time and dates. We had to go to the Attorney's office for some things last week and the first thing that he said to us was, "David, I have no doubt that Angels will be crossing your path." We've had them and many. Amy, if you see this, what a blessing and comfort you have been to us. :) Joy

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

What's on my mind this morning.

I woke up before the chickens this morning and had this on my mind to share with you. It's 5:25 so apologies to my English and Typing teachers. David and I just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary and our awesome daughter turned 17 Monday...We have so much to be thankful for. We met 29 years ago, (thanks Willie), on the campus of Wetumpka High School. He has been my best friend from that time on. He has been incredible these past two weeks. . If you didn't know it already, when he was informed of his condition and the room cleared, he simply looked at me and said "God must have a plan for me and really is using me." Of course, I told him "WE." He hasn't asked once why, or even expressed anger. In fact, yesterday he told the nurse, "leave it me to have two." He went on further to say "at least it's not four four's." What an awesome man. He truly is one of the bravest, strongest men that I've known. Both of us had a peace about us yesterday and it truly was God carrying us and that was from the prayers that each and every one of you sent out. I'm grateful. When I walked out to tell my Dad and Dennis yesterday I had a strength that I didn't know that I could have. God is in control and I know there's only one set of footprints right now. Thank you for the posts, emails and calls...I've passed them all on to him. Thank you to the men's class for what you did...Keep praying for us as that is such a gift ...Big hugs and lots of love to you this morning....David, Joy and Emma.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Final Biopsy Results

David went back to the surgeon today. He got his staples out and his wound looks good. Unfortunately, the biopsy shows one tumor with both Grade 3 Astrocytoma and Grade 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) cells. (The Astrocytoma progresses into the GBM so it is really one type of cancer but the cells are in two stages) The treatment for this type of brain tumor is chemo and radiation, however neither treatment is a "cure". The hope is to slow down the growth of the tumor, but it is a terminal diagnosis. They have been given a prognosis for a possible length of time that they can expect, but David does not want to tell anyone what it is as he does not want to focus on that and they ask that no one ask them. He is still going to see Dr Nabors at UAB for a second opinion and expects to have his treatments at the Montgomery Cancer Center. They are awaiting word on that appointment date and time.

Needs:
#1 PRAYER for ALL the Hills
#2 short visits with 1-2 people at a time but not more than 5-10 minutes at a time and morning time is best ie 8 am - 12 noon because he gets so tired and the overstimulation causes him to have seizures.
#3 food is ok right now but would appreciate more at the first of the month
#4 Contributions for house cleaning by Gaylynn can be made to Alan or Dara Turner or Cathy Brown
#5 Help spread the word about #2 needing to be very short visits as not everyone uses internet

Joy asked me to post this information for her as this is a difficult day for them and alot to process. I would be glad to answer any questions if I can. In His Love, Cathy Brown

Friday, July 10, 2009

Visitors and Doctors

Re visitors: We have figured out that David's seizures may be triggered or aggravated by loud noises and sensor stimulation ie too many people or too much talking or loud TV. He enjoys short quiet visits with only a few people at one time. If the driveway gate is closed, it is not a good time to visit.

Re Doctors: We go back to the surgeon on Tues 7/14 to get staples out and get final biopsy results. We will then see the specialist at UAB shortly after that. Appointments are already being made for us. We will be sure to update everyone when we know more about the diagnosis and plan of treatment.

Fri 7/10/09 NEEDS

David had another small seizure this morning and is tired but doing OK. The doctors increased his seizure medicine so hopefully that will control them better. Joy and David would still prefer no visitors for now, but appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Things they DO need are:

Neighbors keeping the grass cut (The Turners & Johnsons cut it today )

Help with keeping the house clean. If you would like to donate some money to Cathy Brown or Alan Turner, we are taking contributions to pay Gaylynn Brooks to clean the house every other week.

Doing well on food right now, may be ready for some more around the end of July. That is a big help as well!

Cathy Brown

Another seizure

On the evening of Thursday July 9th, David had a very small and brief seizure while at home. It only lasted 30 seconds and was thought to be post-op related from his biopsy. Everyone is fine and awaiting further instructions from the doctors.

The Diagnosis

On Monday June 29, 2009 David had a seizure. By the time he arrived at the hospital, his symptoms had resolved but a CAT scan and MRI showed a tumor the size of a golf ball in the left side of his brain. This area of the brain controls speech, motor skills and controls the right side of the body. Because he was on blood thinners for his heart, the biopsy had to be delayed for a week so he could stop his blood thinners. In order to be sure that was safe to do from the heart standpoint, he had a heart cath that showed he had a new 95% blockage of one of his arteries. That was reopened with a balloon procedure. Following that, it was relatively safe to stop his blood thinners for surgery. On Wednesday July 8, 2009 he had his biopsy and now we are awaiting those final results so we can get a treatment plan started once he is healed up from the biopsy. Preliminary results confirm that the tumor is a malignancy but we have to wait for the final results to know exactly what kind of cancer, as treatment recommendations will depend on that. There are many different kinds of brain tumors and they each respond differently to various radiation and chemo treatments so we have to wait for the final biopsy results. David and Joy are making arrangements to go to UAB for an evaluation there as soon as the final results are in. UAB can arrange for his treatments to be done at the Montgomery Cancer Center. We are going through a wide range of emotions and have many questions and concerns, however we know that God is in control and we can feel his arms around us each and every day.

Creation of blog site

This blog site is being created to help keep the friends and family of David up to date on his latest condition and the needs of his family. David and his family greatly appreciate all of the love and support they are receiving from their community, however this is an emotionally difficult time and it will be easier for them to have a central place to report changes in status and information as it comes in. Please feel free to leave comments for them. Most of all, they covet your prayers!