Breanna updates

Top of PageUpdate November 18, 2005, Breanna got out of surgery early this morning. They ended up taking her to surgery around 9:30 p.m. She came out of surgery with flying colors. She went from surgery to the recovery room, back to her room! Praise God there were no complications. Today she is sore as expected from surgery. Also she is getting another blood transfusion tonight. Tomorrow is Breanna’s birthday party (a surprise) and so they are doubling the medicine that helps her white blood cell count. This will help protect her immune system from infection. Breanna is going to rest tonight and she has a big day tomorrow.

Top of Page Update November 21, 2005 Happy Birthday Breanna!! Imagine spending your 13th birthday hooked up to a machine for 10 hours! That is what Breanna did on her birthday. Today and tomorrow Breanna will have her stem cells harvested. This procedure will take a total of 10 hours each day. During this time her blood will circulate through the machine 6.7 times. This amount of blood can fill up 3 cases of pop cans. Breanna’s body only holds 9 pop cans worth of blood. Each day they do this procedure, they are collecting 8 million cells! Wow, that is a lot! Breanna is doing great, she is talking a lot and her spirits are high. She is however getting a little depressed about her vision. We will continue to pray for her eye sight to be restored and for her full recovery.

Top of PageUpdate November 22, 2005 (a.m.) Today Breanna is already hooked back up to the machine. When I saw her this morning she was so happy. She was talking a lot and back to the Breanna I know. She also has her appetite back. For those of you that can’t see her, let me tell you she looks good. She also sounds better and she can move around better. I am so proud of her, her strength, and her perseverance with the situation. She is such a strong little girl. Please continue to pray for her eyesight. Her family believes the Lord will perform a miracle with her eyes, and we expect a full recovery.

Top of PageUpdate November 23, 2005 Breanna went to Fitzsimmons hospital to get measured for her upcoming radiation treatments. Breanna was happy to return to Children’s Hospital because they treat her better she said. Her doctor said they don’t see a lot of children for radiation treatment over there, that is why she likes it better at Children’s. We are so truly thankful for any donation given to Breanna’s account. We want to clarify something though about the hospital. They are a non profit organization meaning they don’t have an owner. However every single patient is 100% responsible for their bill. The hospital doesn’t pay for anything. So since Breanna’s health insurance is now maxed out, all the expenses are out of pocket for her parents. I hope this clears up any confusion. Thank you for your prayers and support. We can feel them surrounding us and the Lord is just so close to us and our friends and family through this. We stand united together as we fight this battle alongside Breanna.

Top of PageUpdate November 24, 2005 Happy Thanksgiving! Wow, don’t we have a lot to be thankful for. We are so happy and thankful to be celebrating Thanksgiving with Breanna, and know how blessed we are to have each other. We wish you and your family a Happy Turkey Day full of Thanks! No procedure or anything new today, Breanna is just enjoying her family. We’ll keep you updating on any changes. Please keep the prayers coming, and again, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Top of PageUpdate: Breanna has lost 98% of her taste and smell. This week they are teaching her to walk and are working on other physical therapy things. She also went back to Fitzsimons hospital and got re-sized for her upcoming radiation treatment next week. We ask that you please pray for her strength through the next few months. The intense chemo and radiation is going to be rough on her and starts next week. Please also pray for her family, particularly her mom. Tami (mom) is going through this day by day with Breanna. She sees all of the highs and lows and is in constant battle with Breanna through this. Please continue to pray for Breanna and her family. We thank you so much!

Top of PageUpdate December 8, 2005 Today is Breanna’s 4th day of chemo and radiation treatments. She is really having a hard time with this because she is worn out by them. She is also getting sores in her mouth and throat from the treatments. Breanna still can not see, but continues to pray for her eye sight to be restored. She is tired and weak, she isn’t able to eat right now because she feels bad and because of the sores in her mouth. For radiation treatment she has to have a wire face shield on, after radiation the wire mask is removed and leaves indents all over Breanna’s face including on her eye lids. Please pray for Breanna’s eye sight to return there is no damage to her eyes or the optical nerve. We also ask you to please pray for her treatments to go smoothly and quickly, and to keep Breanna strong through them. She has gone through so much the last month in a half and yet keeps her positive attitude. Please pray that the cancer continues to shrink, and disappears completely never returning.

Top of PageUpdate: December 10, 2005 Today Breanna is enjoying her day off from chemo and radiation. She is working on physical thereapy still and trying to rest a little. Tonight was the fund raiser dinner for Breanna, held at Trinity, it went great. We want to thank all of those wonderful people who organized, planned, and carried through such a successful event. We also want to thank all of the people and business’s that donated items to the banquet for the silent auction, food, drinks, building, etc. It was so wonderful to see her friends and loved ones pull together to help her out. I want each of you to know how much it is appreciated. Every prayer, thought, kind word, and dollar we received is more than appreciated by Breanna and her family. Just going and seeing her reminds me of the simple things in life, and how important it is that we stick together and support one another. So once again, THANK YOU ALL!!!

Top of PageDecember 11, 2005 Today Breanna is having another day off from chemo and radiation. She continued to work on her physical therapy and for the first time in 2 months I am able to personally witness her walk, and stand up on her own. Wow, it was so wonderful. She walked all the way around the nurses station which covers 4 halls of patient rooms. She also ate today and it was good to see her eat, although it wasn’t a lot. She also was having a really hard time with not being able to see. She cried a lot today and is very upset that she doesn’t yet have her sight. However she thought she would have it back by now and is discouraged that she doesn’t. When her two sister’s arrived to see Breanna today we were able to take her mind off things for awhile and got her laughing so hard. She perked up and smiled continuously. Breanna is weakend from the chemo and radiation treatments, but she is still strong. She is a fighter and demonstrates her faith in God daily by witnessesing to those around her. Please pray for her eye sight to be restored. The are no changes in her eyes or the optic nerve, we are accepting this because it means no damage is there and she still has a chance to see again. Please pray for her to have strength as she faces another week of chemo and radiation treatments. *Her family wants to thank those people that have brought or sent food up to Denver for Breanna and her family, however we ask that you please send it in or on paper plates, disposable Tupperware, or tin trays for quick disposal with minimal cleanup and storage.

Top of PageDecember 24, 2005Dear Family and Friends, Merry Christmas, Breanna and I are home for two day's!!!! It has been almost 10 weeks since we left Greeley, for Denver's Children's Hospital. What a roller coaster ride this has been. By far, this has been the most agonizing experience I have ever encountered. It's like having a horrible, terrifying nightmare. Where your heart is pounding, you feel desperate, sick to your stomach, so alone, and then you wake-up!!!! Your heart is still pounding in your chest, you realize it was all a nightmare, and that you are safe, thanking the Lord it wasn't real. That is how I feel, the only difference is, I can't wake-up from this nightmare, it is reality. We are still trusting and praying for complete healing for Breanna. She has come so far, she walks very well, with guided assistance. If Breanna had her vision, she would be able to walk with out any help. Today, (Christmas Eve) Breanna was able to eat some food. She hasn't eaten any food in nearly two weeks. She was unable to swallow healthy shakes as well. Breanna's doctor does not want her to have a feeding tube, he feels the risk of infection is too great. That leaves a feeding called TPN Feeding, it is feeding through your blood veins. She is able to receive just under 1600 calories this way. It goes into her blood stream over a twelve hour period. Guess who gets to do this? That's right, me!! I inject 3 different bottles of vitamins, etc. into her bag of nutrition. Wiping the bottles and valve with alcohol, discarding the needles into a "sharps bottle". Hooking the miniature monitor up to the bag of nutrition, then cleaning her line that goes into her blood stream, flushing with saline solution, checking for blood return, continue the flush, hook the food line up to her line. Then I check her other line, she has two of them. I then flush that line with saline solution, check for blood return, continue to flush, then put heparin in her line, that keeps her line clear of blood clots. I also give Breanna her chemo before I drive her to radiation. I flush her line, check for blood return, continue to flush, give her chemo, then flush her line, and then put heparin in the line. Oh ya, you have to remember to unlock the clamps, and then lock the clamps when your finished. I also had to learn how to do catheters. Unbelievable, I know!! I kept telling the doctor's and nurses that I am a "chicken noodle soup, tylenol, cough syrup mom", not a TPN Feeding, Chemotherapy, catheter mom !!! Thank you for your prayers, gifts and donations. Thank you for the beautiful cards, she is so happy when I read them to her, I save them all. We really appreciate everything, and pray for God's Blessings to fall upon you. Though, this has been a rough and rugged road, we are still leaning on the Lord. Actually, I am positive He is carrying us at this point. Breanna said, " I just want out of this". As I held her in my arms, I told her the only way out is through, and the Lord will bring us through. It is a battle, every single day is a battle. Every single day the Lord gives us blessings, to continue through. We are holding on to our faith, and trusting the Lord Jesus, to bring us through, with VICTORY!!! Psalm 30:2 I called to the Lord for help, and He healed me. I fall asleep praying that Psalm for Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. I called to the Lord for help, and He healed Breanna. Please, continue to pray for our precious Breanna. Expecting A Miracle, Tami, and Breanna's family

Top of PageDecember 27,2005 Breanna started her day out doing good. But in the evening when her mom started the feeding tube in her vein Breanna started to not feel so good. About 2 hours later she was sick in the bathroom. After passing out or coming close to it she was taken into the hospital. They diagnosed her as having a reaction to the feedings, and she was so anemic they had to give her another blood transfusion. She will stay in the hospital a couple of days then be released. She will not be getting that feeding anymore, so now more than ever it is important she start eating. If she doesn't they will have to give her a feeing tube in her stomach. This can promote infection and in turn be very bad. Please pray for Breanna to be able to eat. Also for her strength and eye sight be restored. She is still unable to see, not even shadows. Her eyes are starting to show the signs of permanent blindness by turning pale. Once they are white it is permanent. Please continue to pray. I know there aren't always updates, but that is because there aren't many daily changes anymore. She just has chemo in the morning, radiation mid morning, then therapy afterwards. The next day she repeats. So even if there aren't updates, PLEASE please pray for her all the time. She still needs your prayers and so does her mom Tami. Tami is enduring lots of stress daily without any breaks. She is also the one doing all of Breanna's medical treatments outside and part inside the hospital. They both need your prayers.

Top of Page Dear Family and Friends, It's Sunday, January 8th, and we are about to leave for Denver. Breanna has two more weeks of radiation and chemo, and then she will have four weeks off, before having another MRI, at which time she will resume chemo. This continues to be one battle after another. Breanna is exhausted and depressed, please keep praying for her. She struggles to eat and drink, if she is able to eat or drink, she then struggles to keep it down. The frightening part for me is when she vomits her medicine. I then count which pills came up, and give them to her again, and pray the rest stay down. A friend from bible study came to visit Breanna and me. After Breanna was taken back for radiation, I started crying. Telling my friend that God had turned His back on Breanna and me. While sobbing and telling her how alone I felt, she told me that someone had made us a gift. Less than an hour later I opened it, you'll never guess what it was. It was a picture made from wood, of God's hand holding man's hand, and it said, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU, NOR FORSAKE YOU"!!!!!! Thank you so much for your prayers!! Thank you for sending cards, I save them all. Thank you for your gifts and for sending donations. We have received blessings from people we don't even know, thank you. We pray that God will bless all of you, that have blessed us. Please, continue to pray for our family. My entire family woke up Tuesday, October the 18th, thinking it was just another day. We got hit by a wrecking ball, that we didn't even see coming, and our lives were shattered. Through all of this agony, I want to close with this scripture. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Passing Through With The Lord, Tami (Breanna's Mom)

Top of PageUpdate: January 9,2005 Today Breanna went in for her check up at the hospital. She is so dehydrated they gave her a bag of fluid and are going to give her a second. She will also be getting a blood transfusion today and she received one last Friday. Breanna's mom is going to start giving her GCSF shots for 5 days, this is for her white blood cell count. Her immune system is 0. Dr. Foremann is going to decide whether to cancel radiation and chemo for tomorrow because she isn't looking good. Breanna is starting to have bladder problems again. The doctors are concerned she'll go septic and have to be put back in the hospital. Septic shock is a condition in which blood pressure falls to life-threatening low levels as a result of sepsis. ( a result of cancer and cancer medicine). She may start the TPN feedings, since Friday 01-06-06 she has lost 2 pounds. She is continually vomiting and the doctors are concerned with this. Please pray for Breanna. She is losing strength and she is becoming more depressed. Please pray that God lifts her up in his arms and carries her through this. Also please pray for her mom. Tami is going through this daily agony with Breanna and is learning all the medical treatments as she is the one giving Breanna meds, shots, and many other things. Please pray that both of them keep up their strength and hold on to the Lord with trust and faith. Please please keep Breanna in your prayers daily. She is still in need of them and is still going through battle. We want to arm her with the armor of the Lord through prayer.

Top of PageUpdate:January 23,2006 Breanna’s blood cell count has been very low. It was been about 0.2. She has had 6 blood transfusions in the last week. She had to stop chemo treatments for 4 days in fear that it would “kill” her. As of today 01-23-06 she is done with radiation and will resume chemo treatments as prescribed by her doctor. Breanna is 1 of 3 patients that have undergone this radical treatment. The other two people were also unable to complete chemo treatments towards the end of radiation. Her skin is broken down so severely that it resembles a burn victim. This is most noticeable on her neck and back. Today Breanna is getting the stem cells put back in her that were harvested from her on her birthday. They weren’t planning on using these cells unless the cancer returned in a year or two; however they hope this will help her regain some strength and speed up the recovering time from radiation. Today she will have a nurse by her side the whole time. This stem cell treatment is equal to 3 transplants. Tami, (Breanna’s mom) Wants this bible verse posted: Psalm 91:4-5 He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge. His faithfulness will be his shield and rampart. Thank you again for your prayers and support. Please pray for Breanna to come home this week and for her to regain her strength. Also pray for her to eat and to be able to keep the food down. Also please please pray for her vision to be restored. Breanna is very depressed about it and really wants to see again. Her doctor said he is still hopeful that it may come back. You have to consider that Dr. Foremann doesn’t usually talk like that so for him to be that optimistic about it is reassuring.

Top of PageUpdate January 28, 2006 For the first time since October 18, 2005 Breanna has regained feeling in her upper left part of her back. From her spinall the way to the far left side of her body she had no feeling, then on Tuesday January 24, 2006 Tami (Breanna’s mom)was rubbing her back and Breanna could feel her moms hand. Breanna is scheduled for surgery either Tuesday or Wednesday. The other day a nurse pulled Breanna’s broviak out of place. So in surgery they will remove the broviak and put in a port. The port will allow her to bathe,swim,and have more freedom or movement. It will stay in place for about 2 years. ( this surgery will happen only if her blood counts are high enough). Please pray for her counts to be good and high enough. Also please pray for Breanna to be able to eat more and keep it down. She has lost so much weight and it weighing in at 84 pounds right now. We also ask that you please pray for her eye sight to return. Breanna has heroically battled cancer and is fighting to survive, then she lost her sight on top of that. We are just begging and pleading with the Lord that he restore her vision. Her neuro-oncologist said he hasn’t given up hope on her eyes. So that is very encouraging. When she is outside, her pupils constrict and when she is inside and the sunshines in the window, her eyes also constrict. This is good news and we hope that her eyes are healing.

Top of Page Update January 29, 2006 Please pray for Breanna to be able to eat food and keep it down. She has hunger, but is unable to eat and when she does eat it is very little and always comes back up. Also please continue to pray for her vision. She is very depressed about her vision and her situation, she said things would be easier if she at least had her vision back. I spoke with her mom today and she wants to me let everyone know that we are still trusting and believing in a miracle, that is our only hope. Please also pray for Tami, she is living this daily battle sitting on the front line with Breanna seeing the daily battles and hard times. She doesn’t get a break from the emotional strain. Please pray for the Lord to be with her and hold her in his arms through this time. Also please pray for the family. The family is being taunted by the devil and evil is trying to get a hold of each person. Please pray for strength and unity to keep us together and united through Christ. Thank you for your support, please just keep praying.

Top of PageUpdate:Febuary 8,2006 Praise God we are home!!! We arrived home on Friday the 3rd, four months, one week, and 3 1/2 days after our nightmare began. However, it feels a little bittersweet. It is so sweet to be home, as well as a little frightening to be so far away from Denver Children's Hospital. I remember one of the times the doctors did not think Breanna would live. This particular time she was on life support and didn't think she would live through the day. Two different doctors at two different times came in to talk to the family. They were concerned that we didn't understand that she could die that day (Saturday October 22nd 2005). Finally, I told them we do understand what you are saying, but everyone in this room is a Christian, and we are believing for Victory and not defeat. It was a day a pure agony. A friend from church came into the waiting room. He wanted to know how we were holding up. I tearfully told him that the doctor's said Breanna might die today. He looked at me and said, " Well, so could any of us ". That's so true. Just because someone has cancer and is on life-support does not mean they will be the next to die. Let me assure you, the presence of our Lord Jesus was very strong. We were all praying, my family, Pastor and his wife, are friends, the waiting room was full. I pleaded the blood of Jesus over Breanna, inside her body and outside her body, that He would bring healing to her, that He would hold her in His mighty arms, that the living waters would flow over Breanna and through Breanna. I prayed for supernatural healing, supernatural favor, I asked the Lord to fill her room with His angels and place a hedge all around her bed. I prayed for Victory to the glory of God. While on my knees, my face on the floor, I begged for Breanna's life, pleading for the Lord to not take her from us. We prayed, pleaded, trusted, and waited, and waited, and waited, believing for our miracle. I told my family we are waiting on our Heavenly Father. He knows whether Jesus will be taking Breanna home, or whether Jeff and I get to take Breanna home. Our Heavenly Father answered, Jeff and I were blessed and brought Breanna home!!!!!!! Victory not defeat, Tami (Blessed to be Breanna's mom!)

Top of PageUpdate:Febuary 11,2006 Dear Family and Friends, Feb.8th Breanna got up and found her way to the bathroom. She held her hand on the wall and took some steps to becoming more independent. Feb. 9th Breanna sat on our steps and scooted down the staircase, slowly of course, but she made it. Feb. 10th Breanna was sore from her work-out the two previous days. She thought it would be a good idea to rest. Feb. 11th Breanna walked down the staircase, yeah!!!!! Breanna still needs a lot of prayers. She is having difficulty eating and drinking. We weighed her yesterday, and she weighed 76 lbs., she is 5'4". She will get weighed again Tuesday the 14th. Hopefully our scales are wrong. Feb. 14th is a BIG DAY. Breanna will go back to Children's and have an MRI and a spinal tap. The MRI is a huge deal, this will show if the cancer is gone. Her doctor said there cannot be any cancer left, or the chance of survival drastically drops. The next year of chemo is for maintenance not treatment. If the cancer is completely gone she will have an 85% chance of survival. Please, pray. We continue to trust the Lord for healing, as well as healing for her vision. I am believing for a miracle!!!! Thank-you for your prayers, gifts, food, cards, phone calls, and donations. We deeply appreciate all of you. May God Bless You. Expecting a Miracle, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:Febuary 13,2006 My heart is aching, as I wait for Tuesday. Praying that the tests go well, and we hear the news that we all so desperately want to hear. Placing your precious child in God's hands is easy when they're healthy and everything in life is normal and rolling along. Placing your child in God's hands when you don't know the out come takes a lot more faith. The Lord reminded me of a time when I was 7 or 8 years old. I was learning how to water ski. Trying to get up on the skis I fell, and didn't let go of the rope. The boat was pulling me, the water was rushing over me, I couldn't breathe. I was so afraid, and didn't know what to do. Finally, I let go of the rope (duh). The water stopped rushing over me, my life jacket held me up, and I could breathe!!! My brothers asked, "couldn't you hear us yelling, LET GO?" No, I was under the water, and didn't know what to do. I had never been in that situation before, plus they forgot to tell me to let go of the rope if I fell. Our God is so good, He tells us to let go of our worries and concerns, to let go of the rope. Jesus is our life jacket, and He will hold us up. I'm trusting the Lord, I'm standing on His promises. Breanna is in God's hands, that is the only place she can be. The love I have for Breanna doesn't compare to the love that Jesus has for her. I'm letting go of the rope, the rushing water is too strong. I'm holding on to the Lord, He is my life jacket. I'm going to take a deep breath, and pray for a miracle. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. In God's hands, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:Febuary 13,2006 PM Breanna sang this song to Jeff and I on Feb. 9th. She sang it very softly, and slowly. I wrote the song down for her. Breanna asked me to put it on her website. What a precious gift from God Breanna is. TRUST There's a time in everyone's life When they just don't know what to do but God, He has a plan for you He knows your biggest needs Your fears and your dreams He'll never hang you out to dry Just catches all the tears you cry There's not a lot to say Just trust Him all the way He will get you through this No matter which way. ~Breanna ~written 2/9/06

Top of PageUpdate:Febuary 15,2006 We have great news, yesterday's MRI shows the cancer is gone!!!!!! Her test shows some dead cancer cells that her body needs to absorb. What a wonderful miracle, a true blessing that we embrace, and are so thankful for. We continue to believe for God's hand to heal Breanna. Her spinal tap was a light yellow. It's suppose to be clear, like water. So here we are waiting yet again for another test result. Prayerfully it is dead cancer cells as well. Breanna's doctor just called. He said, " she is completely disease free"!!!!!!! Praise God, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus!!!!!!! His one concern is her weight, she has to start eating and gain weight to start chemo again. She weighs 80 lbs. at 5'4". Breanna is healed......how awesome to type those words. Breanns is healed!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exhaling, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:Feb. 21, 2006 She's eating, she's eating, she's really, really eating!!! Yep, 2000 calories today, and over 1400 yesterday. I was praying for an idea, some way to get her to eat. Breanna, please eat, do it for daddy, do it for me, do it for your sisters and brothers, do it for your grandparents, do it for your nephews and your neice, do it for Jesus, do it so you will be strong enough to start your chemo again, do it so you will be strong enough to start your chemo or the cancer might come back, do it so your strong enough to fly in June, and see your brother, do it so you can wear a bikini in June, just #%^&*&# do it!!!! So I kept praying, and then a break through. What about a puppy? What? Yep, a puppy! If you knew how much I never wanted another animal, you'ld understand how desperate I was. Breanna had to go to the bathroom. As you know we have meaningful conversations while in the bathroom. I'm looking at my precious baby, stooped over, to weak to hold her head up. We're both in the depths of despair. Breanna, would you like to have a puppy. She lifts her head up, and lights up like a Christmas Tree, a puppy? Really mommy? A puppy? Yes, but you have to eat, you have to get strong. You need to be strong enough to hold a puppy. I will, I will, I promise. We need to ask your doctor. Let's call him mom. He's on vacation. What? I need to get his cell phone number!!! I don't think she was teasing, hahahaha. Luke 6:21&22 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. I read this scripture yesterday. It was underlined in red and had these words written by it, "Breanna unable to eat". The real cool part is the date that I had written by it, 12/18/06. Our God is an Awesome God!!! Laughing, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:Mar. 27, 2006 While my grandson was eating his pizza, I asked him if he would like me to type something for Breanna's website. He said, yes!!!! Jacob is six years old, and is Breanna's nephew. He is the first in the family to make Breanna an aunt. Aunt Breanna is doing good, she is eating and drinking more. She gained a lot of weight. What else? Hmmmm. I pray for Aunt Breanna all the time, breakfast time, lunch time, dinner time, nap time, in the middle of the night time. When I go to bed I also pray for her. I ask Jesus to make her better, to please, please, please, please, please, heal her vision. Help her to eat, and drink more, and stuff. Jacob, what do you want to tell people? That it makes me sad, that Aunt Breanna had cancer. It's good for her to be home, home is really an easy word. She grew a lot of weight. ( She gained 20 lbs, Breanna now weighs 96 lbs. at 5'4", she weighed 115 lbs. in October. I thought it would be a good idea to add this part on Breanna's behalf. Since she "grew" a lot of weight according to Jacob!!) That's all, please pray for Aunt Breanna, too. Breanna's Nephew, Jacob

Top of PageUpdate:Mar. 27, 2006 Every morning I let Breanna know that I'm on my way upstairs with her medicine. She sits up in bed ready for the day. Today, she was on her tummy crying. Breanna sit's up and I hold her in my arm's. While crying she asks, "Why Mom, why"? Why am I the one who got cancer? Why am I the one who is blind? What did I do? What did I ever do? I don't know what to say, I am asking the same questions. I kept holding her, by this time I'm crying as well. We're both reaching for the kleenex. Breanna, we have a lot to be thankful for. You are alive!!!! You can walk ( with assistance ) you can pee again!!!! You can move your arms, and fingers. You can eat and drink!!!! You can take your medicine with out vomiting, I don't have to count your pills in your vomit any more. You are gaining your weight back!!! You don't have any brain damage or memory loss!!!!! It doesn't take away from the fact of how traumatic all of this is. This is by far the worst nightmare I have ever encountered. I believe that Jesus can and will heal your vision at any moment, until then, we have to keep our faith, and stand strong. It blows, I know it does, it really blows. I reached over, sprayed my hands with the bottle of sanitizer by her bed. Now let's get your temperature, and take your medicine, then we can go downstairs. I love you Breanna, I love you so much, we are all so blessed that you are still here. Breanna wanted me to add a scripture that I read to her yesterday. Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the Lord, How then can anyone understand his own way? Love, Tami & Breanna

Top of PageUpdate:Mar. 29, 2006 Dear Breanna, I have been thinking of how to phrase my letter. You know how our family is----everything must be perfect!. Well, I guess by now we know that we are not perfect, our lives are not perfect and we do not live in a perfect world. Only God is perfect! Breanna, I don't know why you have cancer nor do I know why you can't see. I do know what a wonderful person you are, how creative your mind is and how smart you are. You are a loving, caring person who brings joy to everyone you come into contact with. Your ENTIRE family continually prays for you that God's will be done and that you will be able to see again. I know that you must feel so alone at times and I can't imagine how you feel. Just know, Baby Girl that you are loved by all of us and me in particular. I wish that I could make everything perfect for you. We just have to believe that your vision will return and that the cancer will never raise its ugly head again. Breanna have you ever thought that you and I have a job left to do on this earth? I think we do, but I don't know what that is. If you can figure it out, please let me know. I want you to know how much I enjoy our private talks. I know that only you know the pain and suffering that you have gone through. What I do know is that both of us are now cancer survivors and that is really something considering where we were and how far we have come. There is no giving up now. You know that Granddaddy was an Irishman and Grandma is a German and they are strong people. There is just no stopping us now, right? Your Mom is a wonderful person and has given you such good care. She has been a special person from the day she was born. I know because I am her Mom. My friends want to meet her. Your Daddy is such a special person. They love you so much as do the rest of us. Your Grandma Gloria and Grandpa Cip are one of a kind. Your siblings love you more than words can describe. And then there is Bob and me, little Miss Crystal, we love you and are waiting for you to come back and manage your house. You are WONDERFUL. Such a joy. Love and prayers, Your Grammy

Top of PageUpdate:April 3, 2006 Breanna had appointments all day long. Kidney tests, hearing test, blood tests, the dentist, a physical exam, and the dreaded eye test. I woke up at 3:30 a.m., in order to get Breanna and myself ready and in Denver by 6:50 a.m.. Going from one appointment to the next, I wheeled Breanna into the eye doctors office. Breanna, my son's girlfriend Brittany (I call her Britthoney), and I were waiting for the doctor. I said, "let's pray, before he comes in". We prayed for God's healing and Grace to fall upon Breanna, and that no matter what he said, we would still trust and believe in Breanna's healing. That the doctor's word was not the final word, but the Lord God has the final word!! Amen!! The exam begins, he seems surprised that her pupils constrict to the light. Brittany and I looked at each other, maybe this is a good sign. Then our world starts to crash, yet again. After the exam is finished, he turns to me. Her optical nerves are pale, white. I look past the left side of his face, there is Breanna, still in the examination chair. I said, " So we need a miracle for her to see again". He replied, " I would be absolutely shocked if she ever sees anything again"! My eyes shift back towards Breanna, my precious girl, hearing this information. We need to see her in 4 months, to see if her eyes start to deteriorate, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Breanna. He left, I closed the door, and helped Breanna into her wheelchair. We cried, obviously it is a tremendous blow, a gut wrenching blow. Broken hearted, we continued on with the rest of our appointments. That evening, I was the one falling apart. I felt so cold, all the way down to my bones, my veins felt as though they were full of ice water, I was sick to my stomach, questioning God, asking why, why Breanna? Crosses were her favorite thing to draw. She loves Jesus with her entire heart, our whole family does. Why is this happening to our family? We are God's Children, we are under His protection. We are covered in the blood of Jesus, He sends His angels to watch over us. Jesus, is healing her body. Why isn't He healing her vision? There are so many unbelievers watching, as we go through this nightmare. Show them Your Power Lord, show them Your Healing Power. Heal my baby girl, this is too painful. This sucks, there are no words to describe this type of pain. No one can make it go away, the pain never leaves. I don't want to witness anymore, I don't want Breanna to be used by God. I don't want Breanna to suffer anymore, I want her to be healed. I don't care if good will come from this, it hurts too much. I know that Breanna is a witness, she is so strong. She is the strongest person I know. Exhausted, and trying to fall asleep, I prayed. Please, let this be a nightmare a horrible dream, let me wake up in the morning and everything be normal again. Please, let this be a nightmare, please, don't let this be real. Please, let me wake up, let me wake up and have my life back. While staying at Brent's Place in Denver,(a charity home for BMT patients and Cancer patients) I was listening to a preacher on t.v.. He said, " Christian's have to be strong, you can't be a baby if you're going to be a Christian"!! Isn't that the truth? The Grace of God, is the only way we will be able to walk through this life. Anyone can say they are a Christian in the good times. How about when the bottom of your life falls out, every dream, every plan you had destroyed? That is when you pull yourself up by the bootstraps, and stand on the Rock of Jesus Christ, and proclaim that He is still God, above all gods, He is still King above all kings, He is still Lord, above all lords. So get ready world, keep watching and you will see kings complete healing take place, to the Glory of our Heavenly Father, through Christ Jesus!!!! Some will be "absolutely shocked"!! Psalm 34:18&19 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears. Brokenhearted~but not a baby, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:Jun 9, 2006 Breanna had high dose chemo, May 30th and May 31st, eight hours of chemo each day. Which is a fourteen hour day for us, after driving time, getting Breanna ready, parking, etc... Then she had a " booster chemo " on June 5th. Her white blood cell count had dropped to 0.1, her platelets were 50. Needless to say, having that much chemo in a seven day period reeked havoc on her precious body. She was very, very sick. Yesterday, Jeff took Breanna in for blood work. The clinic forwards the results to Children's Hospital, the nurse at Children's then calls us with Breanna's counts. At that time we know whether we will be going to Denver or not. Well, the call came, and while I was talking with the nurse, I asked Jeff to get Breanna loaded up, we needed to leave--ASAP. Breanna's white blood cell count was now 0, her platelets were 18, and her ANC was 0. Her skin is more pale than mine, and her beautiful lips were the color of her pale skin. Over the next 7 hours and 45 minutes, Breanna would receive one bag of platelets and two bags of blood. She needed to be moved to the overflow room, as we would be at the hospital until nearly 8:00 p.m.. While receiving blood, you can watch the strength come back to a person. Breanna's lips will start to get little red polkadots, and then fill in completely. Her cheeks will get a rose color to them, and she will start talking again. Thank-you to everyone who donates blood. You are truly helping save someone's life, you are a blessing! As Breanna and I were leaving the hospital, we passed another mother. She was pushing her son in a wheelchair, he must have been 14 or 16 years old. His legs were elevated and wrapped, he was on oxygen, and looked like he had suffered brain damage. I was pushing Breanna in her wheelchair, she was slumped over, holding her head, weak from battling cancer, and of course, blind. As we approached each other, we looked at our " precious babies ", with out stopping we understood each others pain and heart ache, smiled and said, " Hi ", and kept on walking. Nothing more needed to be said. Only a few short years ago, we were pushing our " precious babies " in strollers and they were kicking and laughing. The Lord gave me a song this morning, as I woke up and started thinking about yesterday....... All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give, I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all. (Judson W. VanDe Venter and Winfield S. Weeden.) All to Jesus I surrender, Tami P.S. Please, continue to pray for Breanna, as well as all children that are in hospital's.

Top of PageUpdate:June 20, 2006 Today Breanna had an MRI. Every three months she will have an MRI to make sure the cancer/tumor has not come back. If there is any regrowth or reoccurance that is very bad. Today she also has a hearing test and a kidney test. Her morning starts out at 3:00 a.m. wake up and head to Denver. Once there she meets up with a nuclear radiologist namesd Becky. Becky says good morning with a smile and leads Breanna back to the room to prepare for her kidney testing. Breanna is fortunate to rest in an ultrasound machine room so that she may lay down. They give Breanna medicine and then draw her blood 4 times through out that day. Once the first blood draw has been done Breanna was sent for her MRI which lasts about 1.5 hours. She then returned to the Ultrasound room for ther second blood draw. After the next blood draw she rushes accross the street for her hearing test. She is met there by two nice ladies who perform a series of hearing tests on her. She got a 96%. Breanna asked why, what did I miss? The lady said that when Breanna was told a word she was to repeat it. The only one she missed was yearn, Breanna had never heard this word before and repeated it as urine. She really she heard the word but recognized it as something else. Other than that her hearing is excellent. They said Breanna could hear 0 decibles. Wow! She does have impeckable hearing! She had a slight, I mean a very slight drop in her high pitch hearing. The ladies performing the test said this could very in any one of us and is definately not a concern. Breanna was given a great result and heading back to the hospital for more blood drawing. After this blood draw she quickly grabbed a bite to eat and went to yet a different appointment. This was to meet up with her neuro-oncologist. Here is where we would find out the results from the MRI. We were nervous as expected while waiting for the doctor to come in. As soon as he came in he said the MRI was fine, nothing to worry about. He showed us the MRI scans from the previous scan and compared it to this scan. It showed the unusual fluid that was in the spine the previous time was now gone. The extra pockets of dead cells were gone. This MRI was for sure clean! Praise God!!!! He then gave her an overall exam. All was well for Breanna! On the way to and from Denver for months now she gets a sharp pain in her right leg from her hip to her toes. The doctor believes this is nerve damage but that it should go away someday. Please pray that it does go away and soon. She was given a new pain pill for this pain and combined with her exercises should start to relieve the pain in that leg. The kidney tests performed today are not yet in, they may take a week or two. However we will post when they do come in. For now, we are praising and thanking God for his healing hands that he has laid on Breanna. She has come so far since October 18, yet she still has a long road a head of her. We thank you again for your prayers, thoughts, and support. Please keep praying, Breanna and Tami and Jeff still need a lot of prayers and support. Thank You Jesus for healing Breanna!!! Thank you friends and family! Love, Breanna's Family

Top of PageUpdate:June 25th, 2006 "Jesus told me to eat a cheese-burger" Breanna continues to be strong and positive, even when her body is weak and tired. She is a wonderful blessing from the Lord, and keeps the family laughing, as well as praying for her complete healing. Tomorrow, she will have another 8 hours of chemotherapy, and visit an Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist. When it's all said and done, it will most likely be a 12 to 14 hour day for us. Since, we have been facing so many battles, I would like to share a little bit of Breanna's sense of humor. The following story happened April 2006. Breanna was just starting to eat and gain weight, this proved to be a daily struggle................ While getting Breanna ready for the day, I asked her what she thought she would be able to eat, and if anything sounded good. She said, "yes, Jesus told me to eat a cheese-burger"!!!!! I said, "He did!! Did you hear His voice"? No, He just put the thought in my head. I told Breanna that Jesus talks to us in many different ways. Through the bible, church, fellow Christians, prayer, devotions, He longs to talk to us. Oh, okay. So can I have a cheese-burger? Sure, sounds good to me. Hear comes Breanna's precious sense of humor.........In a very serious voice she said, "satan told me to eat celery". I laughed so hard my sides hurt. Not really mom, satan didn't tell me to eat celery, I like celery, but Jesus wants me to eat a cheese-burger!!! In Christ's Love, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:7-2-06
Dear Friends and Family, Breanna's chemo went well last week. The infusion room is full of kids, I.V. bags full of saline solutions, chemo, blood, or platelets. Not to mention the nurses, nurse practitioners, volunteers, and of course the Oncology Specialists. Then there's the parents, sitting beside their children. Some times the parents crawl in bed with their child, just to snuggle and offer comfort. I truly believe, it is the child who gives the most comfort to the parent. I too, found myself snuggling up next to my precious Breanna. There we lay together, on a twin size hospital bed, with the chemo pumping into her young body. Please, treasure your child/children. Thank the Lord for them, and their health. No matter how tired you are when you come home from work, make time for them. Play with them, talk with them, hug & kiss them, and let your child/children know how very special they are. Soak up every possible minute, for they are your gift from God. Breanna and I will be headed for Children's Hospital tomorrow. She will have a physical, get her chemo, and possible blood transfusion. Our family is blessed to have you praying for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thanking God for His gifts, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:7-24-06 Here is the web-site for Breanna's newspaper article. Thanks again for your prayers. Breanna and Jeff went to the therapy pool today. It wore them both out, hopefully it will help Breanna get stronger. Link to Article Love, Tami

Top of PageUpdate:7-30-06
Dear Family & Friends, Thank you for continuing to pray for Breanna. She has had a rough couple of weeks. A new pain killer (Gabapentin) has given her all the side effects listed. It is stronger then Codeine, her little body just couldn't handle it. She stopped eating, and drinks very little, took a huge leap backwards in walking, and joint pain. Last night she wanted us to weigh her. She lost 11 lbs., Breanna now weighs 95 lbs.. She was terrified and started sobbing. Her daddy and I reassured her that she had been weaned from Gabapentin, and it takes time to get drugs out of your system. That her body would start to respond again, and she would be able to eat again. It is a vicious circle. As you know the chemo kills the bad cells as well as the good ones. First she gets the poison chemo, with all the side effects. Then she gets drugs for pain, which make her sick. Then come the drugs to help her eat and not feel so sick. Let's not forget the drugs that make her extremely constipated, you guessed it, here come the drugs that help her not be constipated. After all this, try to get her to exercise. Right!! Let's exercise. She's sick, weak, has joint pain, muscle pain, can't move her toes or move her feet towards her head, can't walk alone, and can't see. What's next? Breanna, do you feel well enough to do some school work? Speaking of school, I was in the store and noticed all the parents buying school supplies. It broke my heart. One year ago, Breanna and I were buying school supplies and school clothes. She was trying out for volleyball (and made the team). She then started cheerleading. There are no words to describe the emotion. Anguish, despair, hopelessness, helplessness, torture, anger, resentment, fear. None of these come close. Being a Christian family, we continue to trust in the Lord. Jesus is our refuge, Jesus is our hope, Jesus is our help, Jesus is working on the rest of it. As far as the fear, I continue to come against it in the name of Jesus Christ. For I know that fear is not of the Lord, and I refuse to give the devil a foothold!!! We already have the Victory!!! Breanna and I will be on our way to Children's Hospital tomorrow. She will have her kidney's tested, her hearing tested, blood work, physical, and possible blood transfusion. Matthew 6:27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 8:7 Jesus said to him, " I will go and heal him." May the Lord bless you for standing beside us through prayer. The Lord is very, very close. I can feel His presence inside my body and around my body. Breanna has experienced His touch, several times. I will ask her if she would like to share. Until then, we will continue to be upheld with Supernatural Strength!!! On The Winning Team, Tami

Top of PageUpdate: August 17th, 2006 Thank you for your prayers, we are so thankful for all of you. Thank you Jean for sending a prayer e-mail for us, we've had a rough few weeks. It is nice to know we have people in our corner praying for us. Breanna and I went back to Denver today, she needed a blood transfusion. As you know, Breanna is scheduled to receive chemo through April 2007. We were informed today that she will get one more cycle, which is 2 days 8 hours each day, back to back. Then she will be finished!!! Breanna was excited, I was concerned. Breanna's doctor said if she had another cycle of chemo after this next cycle there would be nothing more to treat, because there would be no more Breanna. The chemo would most likely kill her, her body has had enough. He has decided that we need to stop. The risk of the chemo killing her far out weighs the risk of the cancer coming back. I asked , "what do we do next?" He said, "wait." He does feel that she has a 95% chance of survival. Thank the Good Lord!!! I will write more as soon as possible. Holding On, Tami

Top of PageUpdate: September 7, 2006 Dear Family and Friends, Many of you have asked me for an update on Breanna, I'm so sorry that I've been putting it off. I try to wait until I am able to be more up beat and proclaim God's love for us. One thing I am sure of is God's love, it is never ending. August was a difficult month. Breanna was extremely sick, I rushed her to Children's four times in 1 1/2 weeks. We would pull out of the driveway at 4:30 a.m., waving goodbye to Breanna's daddy and grandma. It brings tears to my eyes as I type this. Each time we left, Jeff would be standing in the driveway, while we were backing up my headlights would fall on him, he had his hands up and facing us, he was praying. I would tell Breanna, "daddy is praying for us". The next time we went to Denver, Jeff was standing there hands up, praying for us. I told Breanna, "daddy has his hands up praying for us again, we are so blessed to have him". Breanna received her chemo 8-7-06, and spiraled down hill. We couldn't get her to stop vomiting, by now you know the routine of me counting her pills in her vomit. It was pure agony. Jeff and I would get on our knees while leaning over our bed and cry out to the Lord for mercy and healing. The second time I drove Breanna to the hospital, I reminded the devil that his days are numbered and he has no control over us. The forth time we went to Children's, I had had enough!! I told satan to get under my feet where he belongs, I am sick of this and he has no power over us. Breanna is a child of God and belongs to Jesus. You better believe spiritual warfare is real, but satan has lost and belongs under our feet. As Christians we have the Victory through Christ Jesus. We will continue to stand on the Rock!!! Children's taught me how to give Breanna medicine through her meda-port, this helped calm her vomiting. A mother told me about some medicine that dissolves on your tongue, for when children can't keep their medicine down. It is such a battle!! One night when I was hitting rock bottom and feeling defeated. Jeff said, " When Jesus was hanging on the cross He said, "It is finished" and that is what we will live by." Jesus has already won this battle. I was reading a scripture the other day. Luke 22:31&32 Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Have you ever stopped to think of what Simon must have been thinking? What?!? Satan wants to sift me as wheat, no thanks. Back up, Stop the train!!! Thanks for praying for me Lord. How about telling satan no, no deal, no sifting. Then it hit me. Anyone can say they are a Christian in good times, when life is rolling along. What about when the going gets tough, even unbearable? You can't be a "Cotton Candy Christian", let me say it again. You cannot be a "Cotton Candy Christian" or you will melt away!!! As I am typing this Breanna is on the couch taking a nap. She had her blood drawn again, (she insists she is not a pin cushion-haha). We are waiting for the hospital to call and let us know if she needs a blood transfusion. Breanna got her braces for her legs last week. She is learning to stand and walk the correct way. She still needs assistance when walking and/or standing. Breanna's teachers came for a visit, she did an awesome job. They were very happy to see her doing better. She has also started eating again, and keeping it down. Breanna continues to get stronger and more like her normal self. She told her daddy to put the cd on #3, I want to sing!! Thank you for your concern and prayers. We truly are blessed through your praying. Please, continue to pray for Breanna's health and for her vision to be healed. Also, you may know that my mother has been battling cancer for 3 years. She recently found out that her tumor grew and spread. Please, pray for her healing as well. Actually, I could use some prayer, too. It is a challenge to be sandwiched in between my mother and daughter both battling cancer. No Cotton Candy Christian Here!!!! Love, Tami

Top of PageUpdate: September 15, 2006 Please listen to a song made for Breanna To listen click the play button

Top of PageUpdate:9-26-06 Dear Family and Friends, Breanna is having a very tough time. She is in need of prayers right now. It is my goal to cover Breanna in as many prayers as possible. Please, help me by praying and forwarding this e-mail. One week ago, Breanna went in for her last two chemo treatments. She was in a good mood, she even sat on her bed. That is the first time, usually she drags herself onto the bed and sleeps. She was talking and laughing, she had a guitar lesson and made some things out of clay. I was thrilled at her energy and took a picture of her playing the guitar. The past six weeks she received 3 less chemo treatments. She was more like her old self, even her medical staff was impressed with her energy. Breanna was giving her roommate some advise. She was recently diagnosed and 13yrs. old as well. Breanna was instructing this teenager on exercising and drinking all of her water. I found it funny, considering those are my two biggest battles with Breanna!!!! Anyway, we went into this chemo treatment with the minimum amount of blood counts.& nbsp; To say the least, I was concerned. They said, " She's a go ". So we went for it Monday and Tuesday. Remember I told you, they hit these kids hard and fast, push them to the brink of death and then pull them back. Breanna had a blood transfusion Thursday the 21st. She was still feeling great, talking constantly. I told her nurses who ever donated this bag of blood must have had a lot of caffeine!!! Her second bag of blood went in much slower and kept setting the alarm off. It was so thick they had to mix it with saline solution. Breanna was relaxed and fell asleep. I then laughed and told the nurses, this blood donor must have had a couple of beers and a cheese burrito!!!! Monday the 25th, Jeff took Breanna in for blood work. Before Jeff got back home, the hospital had already called. They wanted Breanna to go to Denver ASAP. Breanna's white blood cell count had dropped to 0.1, it should be between 4.6 and 15.5, her platelets had dropped to 15, they should be between 130 and 400, her ANC is 8, it is usually around 800 to 5830. I rushed Breanna to Denver for platelets and I.V. fluids. She will go back to Children's Thursday for another blood transfusion. In the mean time we have to watch her like a hawk, for a fever, etc... We really need your prayer support. Breanna has no immune system, please pray for her blood counts to recover quickly. As I said a few e-mails ago, this was Breanna's last chemo treatment. Her NueroOncologist said, " If we did one more chemo treatment there would be nothing more to treat, for there would be no more Breanna." I asked him, " What do we do now ?" He said, "Wait." Let me tell you, WAIT is a much harder word to hear then CHEMO. At least with chemo you're doing something, you're trying, you're fighting. As I'm thinking about this word WAIT, the Lord reminds me to wait on Him, He is in charge of all. My hands are not tied!! I can pray for Breanna and ask you to pray for her. I can still fight for her and spread her story. I can hold my little girl and bring her before the throne of God, and ask Him to have mercy on her and heal her completely. I will WAIT ON THE LORD, and BELIEVE FOR A MIRACLE, and I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND ON THE ROCK!!!! In Jesus' Precious Name, Tami

Top of PageUpdate: 10-17-06 Man, rough morning already. We just received a call from our mom saying the doctor called regarding Breanna's MRI yesterday. He said there is a spot of the base of her spine/brain stem. He isn't sure what it is but he is very concerned that is is cancer. IF it is cancer, she probably wont live. Please Please PLEASE starting praying your hearts out for Breanna. She needs all the prayers and support she can get right now. Please pray that it is just a spot and nothing more. Thank you, I'll let you know tomorrow what we find out. Thanks!

Top of PageUpdate: 12-8-06
Dear Family & Friends,
"Houston, we have a puppy." She is a precious little Maltese, very loving and most importantly she is gentle with Breanna. Breanna named her CoCo, she has liked that name for a long time. The funny thing is, our little CoCo is pure white. She is so cute, when she yawns she sounds like a kitty, and when she runs, she hops like a bunny. I'm not thrilled about picking up the "CoCo Puffs", as I find them in the house. Also, who ever heard of a backward sneeze? We have spent thousands of dollars on medicine for Breanna, and CoCo has proven to help more than the drugs.
My back went out on me the day I left to pick up CoCo. While driving, I sneezed and it felt like I had broken my back. Of course, being the intelligent woman that I am, I still drove 14 hours round trip to bring CoCo home. Duh, by the time my friend Renee and I got to Wheatland I couldn't stand up. There were two elderly gentlemen (I would say in their 80's) who found it interesting that they were able to walk better then I could. Anyway, to make a long story short, and put the focus back on Breanna. We made it home, my friend drove the other 10 hours. Needless to say I was flat on my back for 1 1/2 weeks. Thank the Good Lord for my mother-in-love, Gloria. She stayed with us and took over. She has been a huge help, as well as my father-in-love. We are blessed to have them live so close.
Where is the blessing in the in the last paragraph, you might ask. Since, I was unable to get out of bed without help, and could no longer lift Breanna. She was forced to learn how to walk with her walker. Breanna now walks with her walker!!!!! All we do is help guide her walker. When she needs to go to the bathroom, we end up having a parade. Breanna with her walker, me guiding her, my grandson & granddaughter following behind Breanna, and last but not least CoCo. CoCo thinks she is the supervisor of the mission. She then "stands guard", while snuggling on top of Breanna's feet, while the mission of the parade is accomplished~haha. God does bring good out of pain, including back pain!!!!
God is Good,
Tami
P.S. Thank you for your prayers, we continue to need them. As you know we are still on a bumpy road.

Top of PageUpdate: 12-9-06
Dear Family & Friends,
Monday the 11th of December, Breanna will have another MRI of her brain and spine. When the hospital called with the date and time, Jeff and I got weak in our knees and sick to our stomachs. It has proven to be more of a challenge going into these MRI's without the use of chemo. As hard as it is to be on chemo, I think it's harder to not be doing something to actively fight this horrible disease. At least you are doing "something to fight."
A few nights ago, I was under attack with fear. At 1:00 a.m. I got out of bed, went down stairs, made some tea, turned on the fireplace, grabbed my bible, and prayed. What better way to come against satan. I always ask the Lord to help me be a witness in the midst of this storm. Fighting for your child's life on a daily basis, is the most difficult thing I have ever gone through. I asked the Lord to show me, to talk to me, to tell me what more I could do for Breanna. Jesus, gave me a scripture to share with you.
Romans 9:15&16
For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
Please, pray for God's mercy and compassion to fall upon Breanna and her family. Pray that the spot is completely gone and that her scan is clean. May the Lord bless you for caring about and praying for Breanna.
God's Mercy is upon us,
Tami
P.S. I just read this e-mail to Jeff and Breanna. Breanna wanted me to tell you that she has 100% peace and comfort about the MRI. She is a little bummed about the loud noise and the rock hard table. What goes through my mind is "the faith of a child", isn't Breanna awesome? She just told me, "I am not a child, I am 14!!!!"

Top of PageUpdate: 12-11-06
Today Breanna had her MRI once again. And this time it was followed with some devastating news. Breanna has relapsed and has cancer again. That one little spot that was there last time is now coating her entire brain. They only did the MRI on her brain not her spine. On Wednesday they are going to do a spinal tap. Breanna is the one that shared this news with her siblings and as she told us she started crying. She said she doesn't know how to feel right now. Right now they have 48 hours to make a decision. The decision will be to either hit chemo hard,very hard for 15 weeks. This means the chemo alone has a 5-8% chance of killing her. OR she may have a 25-30% chance of being cured. The other option is to not do anything but oral chemo and Breanna might make it a year. My heart is broken, this is the last update I ever wanted to have to write. No child should have to go through this. Please Please pray for strength and peace. Both for Breanna and the family. Please pray that God performs a miracle and spares her life. Please just pray for peace, comfort and strength. Please please pray....we all need the prayers especially Breanna and her parents. Thank you.

Top of PageUpdate: 12-12-06
Dear Family & Friends,

Our family is standing on the Rock of Jesus Christ. He is our Lord, Savior, and King. Our faith will not fail, it will only get stronger. Jesus is our Comforter, Healer, and Strength. God bless everyone of you, for praying for us. We can feel your prayers.

Breanna's MRI showed numerous cancer tumors through out her brain. We have three choices. The first is to try experimental drugs, and most likely die. The second, make her comfortable and maybe live a year at the most. The third is triple high dose chemo, and have a 25 to 30% chance of survival. Breanna wants to fight, we will continue to fight for her, and I'm asking for all of you to stand on the front line with us. My plan is to storm the gates of hell itself, as you know Jesus already won that victory for us. Satan has no power over us, he has no control over Breanna, and he cannot touch her. God alone holds Breanna in His Mighty hands.

Triple high dose chemo is equal to a triple transplant. Her doctor gave us 48 hours to decide. He told Breanna to think about "if" she even wants to go through this. Breanna is the first person in the world to relapse after high dose chemo and chemo before radiation. There was only a 10% chance that this would happen. There is a 5-8% chance that the treatment itself could kill her. The doctor told Breanna she could stop treatment at any time, but if she cannot start treatment at any time. We would need to start right away.

Wed. the 13th, she will have a spinal tap. He told us there will be cancer cells in the fluid. At that time they will inject chemo right into her spinal fluids. Monday the 18th Breanna will be admitted to Children's for 3 days of chemo. Friday she will have a stem cell rescue, with her own stem cells that were harvested November 2005. She will be able to come home for Christmas. Jeff, Breanna, and I will be moving back to Brent's Place January 1st. Brent's Place is a bone marrow transplant, cancer patient shelter. It is too dangerous to stay living at the hospital, with no immune system. This treatment will take 15 weeks. We are completely devastated, but ready to fight.

Jeff's mom will be moving to our home again. Jeff''s dad had a massive heart attack a few weeks ago. He is doing very well now. Pray, for the Lord to have mercy on our entire family and bring healing. Trust me when I assure you, that we are not standing alone. Our eyes are focused of Jesus, we have angels all around us. The power of your prayers is so strong!!! I can literally feel God's Army of Prayer Warriors behind us.

Jesus Christ is Lord of ALL,
Tami

Top of PageUpdate: 12-13-06
Dear Family & Friends,

We are just about ready to leave for Children's. Please pray. Breanna has been in a lot of pain, with her head, neck, back and hip. It is a complete nightmare, please help us. I am asking everyone to be on the front line with us. This battle is too heavy. Pray that our Lord have mercy on Breanna and bless her with complete healing. Pray for our family to stay strong. Breanna told me that she will try to sing a song everyday, eat her food, exercise, sit at the table, and mostly--drink her water. My heart is breaking, please pray. Pray for her spinal fluid to be clear, that will mean there isn't any cancer cells in the fluid. At this point the Lord Jesus is holding us close. Please Pray, Tami

Top of PageUpdate: 12-14-06
Dear Family & Friends,

Breanna's doctor gave me a hug. I want to talk with you and Jeff alone, while Breanna is recovering. I said, "you have such a hard job." He said, "It's the parents that have the hard job." Jeff and I followed him to the conference room. I said, "the dreaded walk to the conference room." He held the door open for us, and said, " I actually have nightmares about this room."

Breanna's spinal fluid was clear but still had floating cancer cells. They injected chemo into her spinal fluid. She has cancer on her spine and brain. He told us all the side effects, all the statistics, and that she can stop treatment at any time if it is too unbearable. I asked, " If she stops treatment, then she'll die?" He said, "Yes, but the treatment itself can kill her." She will have 3 bone marrow transplants. If she lives another year, her statistics will double. As far as the side effects we will deal with them as needed. Jeff and I don't want to put our energy into side effects that haven't happened. Nor, do we want Breanna to be concerned, so we need to keep it to ourselves. Please pray, and come against the side effects.

We then went to Breanna. Her doctor asked her what she had decided to do. She said, " I really don't like the first two choices, the odds aren't very good (none). I want to fight, and I want to live." I'm so thankful that she is willing to fight. She needs help in this battle, here is my plan. I am going to kick satan square in the teeth, and remind him that he is under my feet, and has no control of our lives. Ask the Lord to put a hedge around Breanna, and cover her in the Blood of Jesus, to keep His angels around her, and fill her with His peace, comfort, and joy, so she can still sing. To bring complete healing for Breanna, from the top of her head, to the tips of her toes, and give God all the Glory. There is a song that my children sang when they were little, that the Lord brought to my heart. I'm sure you'll remember it.
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