Good Monday morning everybody!
I had the honor of spending most of my day last Saturday with Rhonda and her girls. Several friends and family and I hosted a bridal shower for Andrea Saturday morning which was well attended. Rhonda was a trooper and stayed through all of it. She was tired, but happy, when she and the girls left for home. After resting in the afternoon, it was off to Andrea's bachelorette party Saturday night hosted by Andrea's sister, Stacy, and her good friend, Miki. Although well beyond (and I mean WELL beyond) the bachelorette party stage, Andrea asked me to come to the party. Rhonda and Andrea's fiance's Mother and Aunt also attended. We ladies in our "meno" years sat back and watched as the younger generation had a great time celebrating Andrea's upcoming marriage. The party was held at Mike's home, and then later the girls hit the Parkade bars. Rhonda and I went with them to The Stuffed Olive, their first stop; after the girls moved on, Rhonda and I ended up staying there and talking until almost 1 a.m.! It was so good to spend time with her talking and laughing. Although very tired, I dropped her off at home happy and relaxed. After everything this family has been through, it really is great to see them finally celebrating!
Rhonda meets with both her surgeon and oncologist this Friday, and then will hopefully know when the chemotherapy treatments will begin. After a full weekend with the parties and having her family home, Rhonda will be resting up this week. The meals provided last week by Denise LeBahn and Julie Merfeld were very appreciated, as are all of your continued prayers, cards, e-mails, calls, and support for this family!
I would ask all of you to keep another good friend of Rhonda's and mine in your prayers: Carmen Everts. Carmen is battling breast cancer, and it was good to see her at Andrea's shower last Saturday, looking well and doing good!
Have a great week, and I'll be back in touch when I know more.
Denise Gibbs
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Update
I apologize for the delay in sending you this update. I was on vacation last week, and am now paying for it! I’m sure many of you can identify!
Rhonda is doing great. She came home from the hospital on Saturday, August 9th. Stacy and Kaitlyn are staying with Al & Rhonda for a couple of more weeks yet, so that has been a real help to them. Rhonda already has had her staples removed from the surgery. She’s very tired and sleeps quite a bit, but we think that may be an effect of the pain medication she’s taking. Her pain is tolerable for the most part. At this point, we’re not certain when she will begin her round of chemotherapy, and for how long. As soon as I have that information, I’ll pass it on to you.
My sincere thanks to all of you have sent cards, e-mails, called, stopped by to visit, made food, and most importantly, prayed for the Shaws. God has certainly heard all our prayers, and for that, I am so very thankful!
Juli Kopriva and Teri Zuck, special thanks to you for making meals for Shaws this past week - having a break from getting meals is a blessing to Al, Rhonda, and Stacy.
Please continue to pray for Rhonda’s healing!
God bless,
Denise Gibbs
Rhonda is doing great. She came home from the hospital on Saturday, August 9th. Stacy and Kaitlyn are staying with Al & Rhonda for a couple of more weeks yet, so that has been a real help to them. Rhonda already has had her staples removed from the surgery. She’s very tired and sleeps quite a bit, but we think that may be an effect of the pain medication she’s taking. Her pain is tolerable for the most part. At this point, we’re not certain when she will begin her round of chemotherapy, and for how long. As soon as I have that information, I’ll pass it on to you.
My sincere thanks to all of you have sent cards, e-mails, called, stopped by to visit, made food, and most importantly, prayed for the Shaws. God has certainly heard all our prayers, and for that, I am so very thankful!
Juli Kopriva and Teri Zuck, special thanks to you for making meals for Shaws this past week - having a break from getting meals is a blessing to Al, Rhonda, and Stacy.
Please continue to pray for Rhonda’s healing!
God bless,
Denise Gibbs
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Update
Rhonda is doing well and is ecstatic about NOT having to have a colostomy bag! The doctor did remove about a foot and a half of her colon. He said the tumor was shrunk to a “scab” size, so everything she went through before the surgery with the radiation and chemo treatments was well worth it! They also did a full hysterectomy. She was up walking with help last night and did a “lap” in the hallway. She is weak but in very good spirits.
I felt really privileged yesterday as I waited with Rhonda’s family during the surgery. Al, Stacy & Lance, Andrea and Kevin, Eric, Rhonda’s parents, Bud & Sharon, her brother and sister-in-law, Rod & Teresa, her brother, Mark, Al’s brother, Stan, and Rhonda’s Aunt Naomi, were all waiting for news when I arrived. We were all pretty nervous when the call came for Al and the kids to come talk to the doctor, but then the absolutely best news came, and to watch all the heartfelt emotion come pouring out was really something to see. To know that Rhonda is surrounded with such love and caring by her family and all of you has kept me close to tears for the last 24 hours. I firmly believe that God heard all our prayers and answered. I’ve said it before, but not with as much deep conviction as now: Rhonda is truly blessed to have such a wonderful network of family and friends to pray and care for her.
I don’t know when Rhonda will be released from the Hospital yet, but will keep you updated. She is in Room 338 at Allen Memorial Hospital, if any of you want to visit or write to her.
I’m continuing on with the meals schedule for Shaws starting next week when Rhonda will be home. Here’s the new schedule:
August 12th - Denise LeBahn
August 14th - Terri Zuck
August 19th - Juli Kopriva
August 21st - Julie Merfeld
August 26th - Teresa Johnson
August 28th - Kathy Juel
September 2nd - LuAnn Jones
September 4th – Lisa Schmitz
September 9th - Darla Payne
September 11th - Diane DeBuhr
Feel free to switch with another person if your date doesn’t work for you, or contact me. Again, please put meals in disposable containers or label your pans so I can be sure & get them back to you. If you are unable to get the meal to Shaws directly, you can drop it off to me (Denise Gibbs) at my office, Correll Law Firm, 411 Main St., Cedar Falls, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call Denise at (319) 983-2470 (home) or (319) 269-6043 (cell), and make arrangements. Shaws home phone: (319) 277-4276. If you want to make something to put in the freezer and get it to me or Shaws before the date I have you scheduled, feel free to do so. And if I forgot anyone, I apologize!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE SHAW FAMILY!
Denise Gibbs
I felt really privileged yesterday as I waited with Rhonda’s family during the surgery. Al, Stacy & Lance, Andrea and Kevin, Eric, Rhonda’s parents, Bud & Sharon, her brother and sister-in-law, Rod & Teresa, her brother, Mark, Al’s brother, Stan, and Rhonda’s Aunt Naomi, were all waiting for news when I arrived. We were all pretty nervous when the call came for Al and the kids to come talk to the doctor, but then the absolutely best news came, and to watch all the heartfelt emotion come pouring out was really something to see. To know that Rhonda is surrounded with such love and caring by her family and all of you has kept me close to tears for the last 24 hours. I firmly believe that God heard all our prayers and answered. I’ve said it before, but not with as much deep conviction as now: Rhonda is truly blessed to have such a wonderful network of family and friends to pray and care for her.
I don’t know when Rhonda will be released from the Hospital yet, but will keep you updated. She is in Room 338 at Allen Memorial Hospital, if any of you want to visit or write to her.
I’m continuing on with the meals schedule for Shaws starting next week when Rhonda will be home. Here’s the new schedule:
August 12th - Denise LeBahn
August 14th - Terri Zuck
August 19th - Juli Kopriva
August 21st - Julie Merfeld
August 26th - Teresa Johnson
August 28th - Kathy Juel
September 2nd - LuAnn Jones
September 4th – Lisa Schmitz
September 9th - Darla Payne
September 11th - Diane DeBuhr
Feel free to switch with another person if your date doesn’t work for you, or contact me. Again, please put meals in disposable containers or label your pans so I can be sure & get them back to you. If you are unable to get the meal to Shaws directly, you can drop it off to me (Denise Gibbs) at my office, Correll Law Firm, 411 Main St., Cedar Falls, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call Denise at (319) 983-2470 (home) or (319) 269-6043 (cell), and make arrangements. Shaws home phone: (319) 277-4276. If you want to make something to put in the freezer and get it to me or Shaws before the date I have you scheduled, feel free to do so. And if I forgot anyone, I apologize!
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE SHAW FAMILY!
Denise Gibbs
GREAT NEWS!
I just got back from the hospital – Rhonda’s surgery lasted four hours – Al & the kids met with the doctor right after surgery and they got all the cancer!! Rhonda does NOT have to wear a bag, and only six weeks of chemo instead of twelve!!! They sent in the tumor for further testing, but right now everything looks great!!! GOD HAS ANSWERED ALL OUR PRAYERS!!!
I’m going back to the hospital later, so will keep you posted. My hands are shaking still, so I’ll post more news later when I can calm down and type. My heart is leaping for joy!!
Keep praying!!
Denise Gibbs
I’m going back to the hospital later, so will keep you posted. My hands are shaking still, so I’ll post more news later when I can calm down and type. My heart is leaping for joy!!
Keep praying!!
Denise Gibbs
Friday, August 1, 2008
Message from Rhonda
It’s three days and counting until my surgery. It seems like I’ve been dealing with cancer for a long time; alot has happened since I first heard the news, as you know from Denise’s e-mails. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to go in and get the surgery done. I have been so thankful for these past four weeks, that I’ve had my good health back, to have been able to catch up with my family (especially being able to help Andrea plan her wedding) and with many of our friends, and of course the every day duties of our lives. I am really looking forward to this coming weekend. My family will all be home and we’ll have a couple of days to spend together. I am especially excited to see my granddaughter, Kaitlyn!
The closer the surgery gets, the more anxious I feel which I think is normal for anyone having surgery. Hopefully we’ll have more answers about the cancer after it is surgically removed. I know everyone has alot of the same questions we have, but the doctors really can’t tell me any more until after the surgery. They are treating it as a Stage III cancer. They will remove about a foot of colon. Because of the location and the stage, the doctors think I will have to wear a colostomy bag temporarily. Although the surgery is scheduled at Allen Hospital at 10:00 a.m., I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning. The surgery will last about three hours. I will be in the hospital for three to five days, and then about three to four weeks of recovery at home. They tell me, after about four weeks of recovery, I will begin twelve weeks of chemo.
So many people have told me that I have been strong and positive through all of this. I can’t say that I’m not nervous or a little scared about my upcoming surgery, I’ve never had surgery before, but I put my faith, hope and trust in God, and I ask that you all do the same. I know and truly believe that it is God who has given me the strength so far to get through all this.
I want to thank everyone again for your care, concerns, thoughts and prayers along with all the cards, food, visits, e-mails, phone calls, etc. I can’t begin to tell you all how much it has meant to me and has truly helped me through the first phase of this journey. One of the church sermons I listened to recently was about how we are all God’s angels; that day, sitting in church, I truly realized that all of you are God’s angels, and have been here doing God’s work for me and my family during these past few months. I know that I have been very blessed.
Denise will let you all know how the surgery goes on Monday. Many of you have asked what you can do for us. I really don’t know because I haven’t ever been through anything like this. Denise seems to see our needs so I am sure she will share with you those needs. For the time being, please just pray for us.
I love you all and thank God for you.
Rhonda
The closer the surgery gets, the more anxious I feel which I think is normal for anyone having surgery. Hopefully we’ll have more answers about the cancer after it is surgically removed. I know everyone has alot of the same questions we have, but the doctors really can’t tell me any more until after the surgery. They are treating it as a Stage III cancer. They will remove about a foot of colon. Because of the location and the stage, the doctors think I will have to wear a colostomy bag temporarily. Although the surgery is scheduled at Allen Hospital at 10:00 a.m., I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. Monday morning. The surgery will last about three hours. I will be in the hospital for three to five days, and then about three to four weeks of recovery at home. They tell me, after about four weeks of recovery, I will begin twelve weeks of chemo.
So many people have told me that I have been strong and positive through all of this. I can’t say that I’m not nervous or a little scared about my upcoming surgery, I’ve never had surgery before, but I put my faith, hope and trust in God, and I ask that you all do the same. I know and truly believe that it is God who has given me the strength so far to get through all this.
I want to thank everyone again for your care, concerns, thoughts and prayers along with all the cards, food, visits, e-mails, phone calls, etc. I can’t begin to tell you all how much it has meant to me and has truly helped me through the first phase of this journey. One of the church sermons I listened to recently was about how we are all God’s angels; that day, sitting in church, I truly realized that all of you are God’s angels, and have been here doing God’s work for me and my family during these past few months. I know that I have been very blessed.
Denise will let you all know how the surgery goes on Monday. Many of you have asked what you can do for us. I really don’t know because I haven’t ever been through anything like this. Denise seems to see our needs so I am sure she will share with you those needs. For the time being, please just pray for us.
I love you all and thank God for you.
Rhonda
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