Friday, January 2, 2015

Happy New Year!

Mark on Christmas Day
We are still waiting for word on whether Mark's surgery will be January 12th or 19th, apparently the office of our primary neurosurgeon is still trying to coordinate with the second surgeon who will be working with him.

Christmas was amazing, thanks so much to so many amazing angels who blessed our home with meals, gifts, childcare, and even just phone calls and emails and texts of support.  We are spending our time just trying to make life as normal as possible heading up to the surgery dates.  Mark is obviously a bit nervous about brain surgery, but his biggest concerns now seem to be the recovery period in the hospital, and that he'll have an IV for at least a week.  He does not look forward to being tethered to monitors and has found that IV's are quite uncomfortable after a while.

For now, the normalcy is working well.  His cancer does not mean he is fragile.  He got involved in a pillow fight with his brothers and Dad, and got equally clobbered just like the rest of us, it was grand.  Post-op, recovery permitting, Mark is planning to have a huge party at Chuck E. Cheese, details will be forthcoming.  If you're reading this, consider yourself and/or your children invited.

As always, I cannot overstate how powerful and important your continued prayers are for Mark and for us, we are so thankful to hear how many prayer chains he has been picked up by.  We are left wanting for nothing tangible because of the amazing graciousness of so many, yet continued prayers remain for now among the best and most appreciated gifts you can give us.

Thanks for your support.

15 comments:

  1. Mark, it was so good to see you and HUG you at Grandma's Christmas party! Like you, I can hardly wait for the 3rd of July game and having you over for a week (or more if we can get away with it, hee hee hee) this summer! I still have your pencil from the History Museum. I am saving it for you. I LOVE YOU tons and tons! My church is praying for you, and so are Uncle Brian and I.

    By Karen Myers — Jan 3, 2015 6:31pm

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  2. Yo Mark, Thanks for the New Year Greetings Dude, I appreciate it. AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU TOO!!!! Ive got another joke for you: If a Seagull flys over the Sea, what kind of bird flys over the Bay?????? Answer: A Baygull, (Bagel) Get it, LOLOLOLOLOL. :) Mark, do you like Fire Trucks? I do, ever since I was a kid, and I'm 70 now!!! I share lot's of photos of Fire Apparatus on Facebook. Take care good buddy. Catch ya' on the next email. Joe Russo

    By Joe Russo — Jan 3, 2015 8:52am

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  3. You have remained in our family's thoughts and prayers daily.

    If it's ok, I'll send excerpts of your note above to our church prayer chain. I sent a fairly anonymous call for prayer for Mark early on and they asked for an update.

    By Mike & Leann Collins — Jan 3, 2015 8:12am

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  4. Greetings from GA! I heard about Mark through the Facebook CC page, you are ALL my thoughts and prayers. We have a 9 yo brain cancer survivor in our community, and she's quite amazing (dx at 18 mos). Blessings to you and prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

    By Katherine Pollard — Jan 3, 2015 8:02am

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  5. Mark, hang in there. We're praying for you, and for all your family. Hugs, bud - I look forward to hearing all about the Chuck E. Cheese party!

    By Peggy & Steve Coquet — Jan 3, 2015 3:25am

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  6. Of course u all will remain in my prayers.

    By Nancy williams — Jan 3, 2015 1:28am

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  7. Thinking of you guys all the time, with lots of love!

    By Erin Johnson — Jan 3, 2015 1:18am

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  8. That Chuck E. Cheese party sounds terrific!!! We are going to be very bummed about having to miss that!! A most blessed New Year to everyone and be assured of our continued prayers for Mark's recovery. And BTW, I happen to share his view on IV's.

    By Liz Phelan — Jan 3, 2015 12:38am

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  9. Much love and many prayers to you and your family! Will be keeping up on updates. God bless!

    By Freeborn family — Jan 3, 2015 12:19am

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  10. Thank you for the update. As always Mark and your family are in my thoughts. ..what I want to know is who won the pillow fight?

    By Elisabeth Howard-Langmack — Jan 2, 2015 11:59pm

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  11. You all have been our prayers. Can't wait to see for your birthday party!!!♡♡♡

    By Jennifer Brown — Jan 2, 2015 11:58pm

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  12. Prayers!!

    By Katherine Karsten — Jan 2, 2015 11:43pm

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  13. Thanks for the update. He's in our prayers.

    By Jeanna Reed — Jan 2, 2015 11:42pm

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  14. We are thinking about you & saying prayers for you to get better every day, Mark :)

    By Jennifer McDaniel — Jan 2, 2015 11:34pm

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  15. You are very intelligent and brave, Mark. There is only one of you in the world and we were lucky enough for you to be born into our family. It was wonderful to see you at the Christmas party and see your magic tricks. I love you very much.

    Grandma

    By Ruth Crook — Jan 2, 2015 11:17pm

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