October 1, 2009

We are praising God that at this time immediate treatments is not necessary!

Plan of action: praise and continue to pray for complete healing.

The CT today showed that the structure of Greg’s spine is good at this time and does not necessitate surgery. Scans will be done on a regular basis to watch for deterioration of the spine. When that begins to occur, that will determine the need for another surgery.

The new tumor is taking up a good portion of the L3 vertebra, but is not a rapid growing or aggressive tumor as previously suspected. Right now Greg is not having symptoms that would need immediate treatment.

There are other areas where small tumors are growing in the spine. The neuro oncologist wants to do more scans on November 7. Following the review of those scans, a chemotherapy plan will be determined.

Thank you for your continued prayer.

Oct. 1st next appointment

The Tumor Board met and decided they want Greg to come back for the day on Oct. 1st. That day will include scans, tests and consultations with several doctors regarding the next steps going forward.

Thank you all for your prayers, support and love.

2nd Cor. 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Jer: 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope."

Seems odd that the last time I updated this site, Greg was heading into treatment. Following is some background and the most current information on Greg's health.

The first diagnosis of this rare spinal cancer (ependymoma) for Greg was when he was 12 years old. At that time he had surgery and radiation.

At the age of 40 there was a recurrence. That was 10 years ago. Yes, he is 50! At that time it was in a more aggressive state. During the last 10 years, prayer, surgeries, different chemos, and proton radiation have held it at a slower growth progression.

His most recent MRI showed there is a new tumor in the bone on his L3 vertebra and a couple of other ‘areas of concerns’ higher up on his spine.

This biopsy of the bone did prove that this is the same type of cancer, ependymoma, which attacks the central nervous system. Previously these tumors were growing in the spinal canal (the ependyma and spinal fluid) and not attached or metastasized to the bone.

This present situation creates a challenge. Up to this point the surgeon has felt he has performed all the surgeries he can, short of cutting the tumor out along with cutting the spinal cord and causing more paralysis. The tumors have not responded with great benefits (vs. side effects) to the many different chemos that have been used over the past several years (as far as shrinking them). Proton radiation is a one time treatment to a particular area. Greg has had it in two different areas.

Soooo, the “Tumor Board” will discuss his case at their next meeting, which will be tomorrow, Friday (yes there is actually a board of “brainy” doctors and genius people that get together and talk about unusual tumors). The doctor that took on Greg's case in Bloomington Indiana at MPRI, Midwest Proton Radiation Therapy will be reviewing this new info also. I would much rather discuss discipling and evangelism, cookies and snacks or even coffee prep for 1,000 people wouldn’t you? Seriously, we are thankful there are such people that have the skills and gifts to do this research.

They would like to meet again with Greg to discuss the results of that conversation in the next week or two. Right now, we really don’t know any treatment plan, or if the plan will be a “watch and wait” to see how this will grow. All of this information, along with all the players involved, need to weigh in. The risks, side effects, options and long term quality of life each play a part in the decision going forward.

Currently, Greg is working full time. As I write this he is flying home from a business trip to New Jersey. He is not having symptoms like he has had in the past.

Our kids, Tyler 19, A.K. (Kyle) 20 and Kindra 22, have walked closely with us this entire journey and are a constant reminder of God's goodness to us. The boys help us a great deal around the house and spur us on daily. After graduation, Kindra started a full time job as a youth counselor and now lives in Quincy Illinois. Her encouragement from our long talks is treasured. We talk alot!

Your prayers, support and reminders of His promises are greatly appreciated and felt. Please pray for wisdom of all involved and patience in the waiting.

We are resting in His promises- John 16:33 "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world".

There is great peace in knowing The Overcomer of the World!

Treatment Plan

Greg will be heading to Indiana on Feb. 19 to begin a 2 month round of proton treatment at MPRI in Bloomington, Indiana. He does have housing arranged and has been in contact with Sherwood Oaks Community Church. SOCC is a blessing to so many. Please pray for safe travels and he drives back and forth on the weekends. Please pray for wisdom for all the medical staff involved and please for this treatment to stop this cancer.

The rest of the family are all doing well in school and work. Tyler has been very busy with plowing and our historical snowfall this year.

Blessings to you all.

Yes we are home!

We made it home safe and sound after a 9 and 1/2 hour flight from Hawaii. We landed about 5:30 am and hit the ground running. Tyler and Rhonda headed to work. Greg headed to Bloomington Indiana. AK went to school and Kindra began to prepare for the drive back to Western.

We had an amazing time. Save those points and hopefully you will have the same blessing we had- to fly for FREE!

By today, Kindra has attended all her classes and is back in the swing of things in Macomb, Illinois. AK is back to school also and says he loves his brakes class. Tyler attended a trade show today for landscapers. Greg is back to work and preparing to head to Indiana on Feb. 3. Rhonda started her new full time job at the church and is enjoying it very much.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. Happy New year once again!

Friday's Big Adventure

What an adventure we had today. Greg took the plunge and headed for the waves today. The boys were his legs and, as a family, we did it! Kindra was the photographer. After our big adventure we barbecued and ate on the lanai. We finished eating and it started getting chilly (about 75). We were ready to come into the bathroom. That was when we realized we had locked ourselves out and had to wait for management to let us in. Oh, the adventure continues! A blessed day was had by all.

Another Day in Paradise

Went 10,000 feet up to the top of a volcano, Haleakala Crater. Also took the road to Hana.

Happy New Year

Happy new year! We had a wonderful holiday season and are off to a great year. Greg set a record in 2007 with NO HOSPITALIZATIONS! That is quite the change from 7 stays in the hospital in 2006.

We began our year with a vacation in Hawaii that we have been planning for a long time. We thought we may have to cancel when we learned that Greg would need treatment again, but the timing was perfect as God's timing always is.

We are here in Maui until Sunday, January 13. Today we went whale watching. What an experience! We saw many, many sitings. They put a great show on for us. Tomorrow is relaxing on the beach. We are here with our friends, Mark, Kathy, Andrew and Matthew. It is great to be here with our own personal tour guides.

When we return from vacation, Rhonda will begin a new position at the church, full time, with benefits! Another answer to prayer. Kindra and Kyle will head back to college and Tyler will continue his job at the church. He will begin classes at COD, the same college as Kyle.

On Feb. 4, Greg will begin proton radiation treatments in Bloomington Indiana at Midwest Proton Radiation Institute, MPRI. He will have treatments twice a day for about 8 weeks. Two years ago he received the same treatment on a tumor about the size of a hot dog in his spine. That area has not grown. Because this treatment is very precise and controlled, he is able to receive it again for this new area of growth. Again, another answer to prayer.

In May of this year, it will mark 9 years we have battled cancer. It is a milestone of many mixed emotions. We continue to live the battle to best of our abitlities as a family. We celebrate life and live it to the fullest, not knowing what may come around the next curve. We go through the valleys with great friends, armed prayer warriors and holding on to the promise that God has a plan, a future and a hope for us. He is good, when life seems hard. God is good - All the time!

That is the update. Be blessed and thanks for taking the time to keep in touch. Mostly thanks for continued prayers. Please keep Greg in your prayers, the pain is always there, but he just keeps going. We had a wonderful day as a family. We are truly blessed by God's grace and mercy.

Update on Greg: His job is going better. As far as health, looks like we will be heading to Indiana in the next couple of weeks for a consultation with the doctor that treated him 2 years ago. Dr. Thornton said the tumor is growing above the area that he previously treated. As a result Doctor feels he can treat him again (if it were the same place, radiation would not be an option). This would involve 2 months of treatment in Bloomington Indiana. Right now, there is a 2 month waiting list. Details of living there, jobs and all that would involve, have not been ironed out.

We usually don't do a lot of long term planning. This year we decided to step out in faith and book a trip to Hawaii for the family with family friends. This would be the first part of January-right in the middle of treatment. Not sure how to pray about this, but just trying to rest in the promise that God has a plan. He knows how all this work out before we make the first step.

Thanks for your prayers. We always love to hear from you.

Prayer Request

Recently, we learned through a routine MRI, that the tumor in Greg's lower spine is growing again. The doctors at Northwestern are researching possible treatment options. Currently he struggles with pain in his legs and lack of strength, but is still working full time.

Prayer for peace and not anxiety, for our family and marriage to grow stonger not strained through this trial and for wisdom for the doctors as they research treatment options would be greatly appreciated.

Labor Day

College is in full swing. Kindra and Daisy are settled in to the apartment life. The pool has been a highlight, but she said she is also enjoying her psych and sociology classes this year. We miss her around here and I think Toby and Dante miss Daisy too.

Kyle "A.K." is loving his classes at COD and he got his '65 El Camino running. They actually took it for a drive around the block the other night. The engine was taken out, rebuilt, cleaned and put back in by him and is running again.

Tyler has completed all his high school requirements and will be on to college in January. There is a party in the works to celebrate on September 30. He is still working full time at Catigny. He is thinking about a truck for the winter to do snowplowing.

We attended a wedding this weekend. A friend of the family, especially the boys. The suit Tyler is wearing in the picture is actually Greg's suit from our wedding! Yep, almost 23 years old-fit him like a glove when he pulled it out of the closet.

College is the next step

Everyone is back home under one roof. Thursday Kindra heads back to Western. Kyle will start college next week also. What a summer it has been. I can't believe it is ending already!

Kindra's coming home soon and the boys have headed for Texas

Kyle and Tyler headed out for Texas this evening with 4 others from Antioch Community Church. They will drive all night and attend a worship conference in Waco Texas this weekend. Please keep them in prayer as they travel and for the impact this will have on these six lives.

Rheggie Carranza has moved in with us! Rheggie is 22 and on his way to Biola University in California. Right now he is attending College of DuPage so he needed a place for one sememster. He is a great help to us all, a man after God's own heart, and a friend to our whole family. He also attends the Antioch Church.

Kindra is still in New Orleans. Her mission began June 23. I will be flying down on Monday night, Aug. 6 and we will drive back together after spending her last day in New Orleans on Tuesday. (at least her last day in 2007, she is talking about next summer already).

The city has been telling BBC they will be shutting off power if things are not up to code standards. Today they had a power failure. Kindra was sure that the power was gone, but it came back on shortly. They have started a plan to get things up to code. She said the humidity was nearly 70%!

Yesterday, Kindra was in charge of cooking for the kids. It is hot in the kitchen and no ventalation or AC. Something caught her eye as she was cooking and she realized it was a "big mouse". Someone heard her 'reaction' (screaming) and came in and stepped on the mouse for her. What an adventure this has been.

She sent some new pictures. Take a look and please continue to pray. As much as she is ready to come home and start thinking about college again, this just may be hard for her to leave the investment she has made this summer. Pray for safe travels as we return.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Friday the 13th, luckiest day of my life, right Kindra!

Kindra is working hard and hot in the heat with all the kids. Tyler made it back home 24 hours later than expected after his flight was delayed three times and then cancelled. With all that time of waiting at an airport, they used some good common sense from the movie called "Terminal". They returned stray carts and made over $6.00. Hey beats a sharp stick in the eye, right Greg!

They have arrived!

Kindra and Tyler arrived safe and sound in New Orleans this afternoon. They shared the driving and made a stop at Grandma and Grandpa's for a free meal.

Sunday, Pastor Rob Bugh, of Wheaton Bible Church was the messenger of a bold and risky topic. The series is "Going Places", the topic was 'Advantages of Adversity'. He said, "In the hands of God adversity can be an advantage - 5 reasons: Clarify your beliefs, Shape your character, Recalibrate your priorities, Redirect your path and to Reveal Himself." Adversity is never a place we want to go, but it is the place we need to go. We are to wrestle with how we handle adversity.

It was a powerful message and as Kindra prayed for our lunch she gave praise for the opportunity she has right now in New Orleans and for the message she heard. God is at work in the Ford Family and I stand amazed!

Kindra told Greg on the way home she could not wait to get back. One of the first stories she told us of was the cockroach that crawled on her foot and leg. AND SHE STILL COULDN'T WAIT TO GET BACK! If you know Kindra at all, she usually does not choose to be out of her comfort zone and she definately doesn't choose to be surrounded by adversity. Greg and I are so proud of her answering the call God has put on her heart. Please continue to pray for her to have and impact, be impacted and for safety.

Psalm 119:71, Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-3, Hebrews 11:8

go to www.wheatonbible.org sermons on line, then you can listen to the entire message. You won't regret it, you will be awakened.

Saturday, 7-7-7

Kindra arrived home on Friday afternoon and will be driving back to New Orleans with Tyler on Sunday. Please pray for their safe travels. Tyler will return on Tuesday. Kindra will stay for another 5 weeks. She is very excited about the kids she is meeting and talking a lot about thier personalities, different lifestyles and the joy she sees in the lives that have lost all material items. She is being used by God to bring some happy memories to their childhoods. Building Better Communities continues to be greatful for having her commit her summer to them. Kyle will fly down and drive back with her in August. Lots of sibling time! It is about a 15 hour drive, pray for safety.

Rhonda had her surgery to remove a cyst under her arm, no cancer, no complications and recovering well. Hoping to be back to work next week. Thanks for all your prayers.

Monday, July 2

Got a call from Kindra this evening. She said it was 103 degrees, humid and hectic today. She said the kids did fine with the heat, but two of the volunteers got sick. Contessa, a girl from Kansas that arrived just yesterday for the week and was rooming with Kindra, had to fly back home today. Her grandfather is very ill and may not live. Kindra was disappointed that she was connecting with another friend and now she had to leave. The directors at BBC sent me an email today and said Kindra is doing great. They are very pleased to have her there. Thanks for all your prayers.

All Home but 1

We all arrived back in Wheaton before 10:00 pm last night (Saturday). All but 1. Kindra did stay behind and made the decision to partner with BBC (Building Better Communities). She will help Amanda direct a 6 week summer program for the kids that have experienced this great devastation. She was very moved during this week, and felt called to stay. Kindra said, "If I go home it would only be for selfish reasons. I can help serve here." Please pray for her these next 6 weeks. This is a stretching of faith and comfort. It is hot, humid and New Orleans is known for their big bugs! Pray that The Holy Spirit will be awesome in that place and do amazing things through the team at BBC and reach these children and staff at BBC in ways we could never imagine-even if we had been told.

On Thursday our team along about 200 of our new close friends, built playground #57. The "KaBoom" organization along with Home Depot have a goal to build 100 playgrounds back in the New Orleans area. It was a hot, sweaty, dirty, exhausting and great reawarding day. One child said it very clear, "This is the best day of my life!"

On Friday, we helped Dina out as she rebuilds her life. She is a teacher, single mom, with 3 kids and just bought this home she is working on in December. Her previous house was completely under water. Dina, Casey, Cody and Courtney were all very appreciative of our help. She previously attended the church where Building Better Communities is set up in. She went there to find out what happened to her church and the pastor. She still has not found out where a lot of her friends are, but she did get connected with John and Sydna and began to rebuild a life again. She has a teaching job and is looking to God to continue on this journey.

Wednesday June, 27,2007

We finished gutting the house, building a playground tomorrow and Kindra has decided to stay for 6 weeks to help with a kids program. So much I can't put in to words. It is amazing!

A Picture speaks a thousand words

The pile in front of the house was not there yesterday morning. Last week our 1st team from WBC also created a 2 huge piles. Today the bathroom was demolisthed, tile chipped off, bathtub came out, grage cleaned out-rats, roaches, the rest of the ceiling came down, the flooring is coming up, including the hardwood. The appliances were in the garage and we carried them to the street after emptying water out of the water heater. A man came by and took them all for scrap metal.

We met Michael, who will live in the house when it is done. We asked him to give us a tour of his home and tell us how it looked when he lived there. A huge smile came across his face as he began to walk us through the house and see what is getthing done. Hope was in his eyes.

Kindra and Rachel worked with Amanda to prepare for the 40+ kids coming for the 6 week program beginning Monday.

Keep praying for our health, safety and strength. It is hot, exhausting and draining. Also, humbling, rewarding and we are all encouraged by the hope of this community. This will be hard to leave and wonder who will help next. Pray for more workers, the harvest is ripe.

Monday June, 25, 2007

This is like a war zone! I have never seen anything like this. There are rows and rows, so many neighborhoods that are abandoned or a trailer is parked in the front yard where people are living, instead of in their house. These are not poor people. What we saw today was once beautiful "gated communities" of 2 story brick homes, lovely ranch homes, pools in back yard; peoples' dream homes. The people are just 'gone' and it has been two years. Every level of income, every age, every color has been impacted.

We talked to a young man today that is now working at BBC (Building Better Communities), the christian organization that we are working with. His name is Dino and he will be a junior in high school. He told us how he sat on his roof for two days as helicopters passed them by. Finally he and his family were rescued. They were dropped off to go to the stadium,as they walked, they passed dead bodies along the way. He said he still remembered the smell. His family's home was lifted and moved off the slab across the street and several slabs later was his house. They have been in Chicago with family for the last 2 years and are just returning.

The women of our group helped Amanda, a 25 year old girl from California that was led to come back here after a mission trip. She is leading a children's program. She has taken on a huge task and needs support. We helped her prepare for a 6 week program she will begin next week. She has 42 children signed up. When we asked her if the kids are afraid when it storms her answer was yes. She is an educated talented young woman who answered God's call to serve this hurting area. She is making a positive impact, helping to heal the wounds of scared childhoods.

The men went to work at gutting a house the last team began to work on. Michael is the owner of the home. He is a New Orleans policeman. Mold is still on the walls of his home. We will see more of that tomorrow.

We went out for ice cream in the local area this evening. A woman my age was trying to keep this little shop going-Sophia's Gelato. She had a story and we listened. She is smiling and has a lot of pride for her city. They just want to get back to some sense of normalcy, the sad part is this war zone has become the normal for them.

Please continue to pray for..........all of it. r

Monday from New Orleans

We are in New Oleans. We leaft WBC in the dark and rain, but at 5:00 pm in Mississippi is was sunny and 94 degrees. We have heard lots of stories of pain, met some awesome folks with great big hearts, seen just a small bit of the results of the flood, but today we begin th
e real work. Girls are headed to help a young woman prepare for a summer program for children that begins next week. The guys will be going back to continue gutting the house that the team started last week.

We attended a great worship service yesterday. The fields are ripe for planting the seed of God's love and salvation. Please pray we can continue to feed and water the plants that are growing.

The picture is of both teams. We met up with them on the way.
The picture of the building is where we are staying. St. Vincent Guess House, built in 1864 as an orphanage and newborn refuge. When tourist were coming here, it was used as a bed and breakfast. Now it is used for the volunteers that come from all over to help rebuild the city.

Coming up next....................

It is just 3 days until we (Kindra and Rhonda) leave at 5:00 am this Saturday to begin our adventure to New Orleans. We will be serving with a mission team from Wheaton Bible Church to help with rebuilding from the disaster of Hurricane Katrina.

Just a few days ago I watched an episode on the Discovery Channel of “Dirtiest Jobs”. The man on the show was in New Orleans doing (of all things) dirty jobs. At one place they were trying to control the tremendous mosquito population to prevent West Niles Virus, another job was trying to rid the area of the rat population. Then there was the cleaning up of houses that still have furniture & clothing in them, mold everywhere and water sitting in the washing machines with nearly 2 year old molded clothes.

This was a little concerning to me. I truly want to serve, but this is definitely out of my comfort zone. Immediately I was nudged by God with this thought, “You will only be there one week. These people have been dealing with this a lot longer.” (Katrina hit August 29, 2005) My heart ached as I turned off the TV and went to bed in my king size bed in my mold free house with clean clothes in my washer and in my closet, clean food in my fridge and all my family was at home safe and sound.

Please pray for our attitude to be full of compassion and for us, as a team, to see past the dirty jobs to the heart of the hurting people that have been misplaced and in limbo for so long. Please pray we can leave New Orleans a better place than it was when we arrived.

We will look forward to seeing God work and sharing answered prayer and victories when we return.

Thank you for praying for us. Rhonda

Tyler is working full time at Cantigny, for a neighbor on the weekends and keeping our yard up too. He is very active in church and keeping up with daily life challenges. He has a growing testimony and is eager to help others in their struggles. He told me he was learning a lot from older people about life. He is getting pretty slick with the bass guitar. He is also on the Worship Team at their church. Tyler has his sights set on a nice old Chevy Nova. Not so sure he wants to take the whole engine apart though.

AK-Kyle graduated from high school and went right to work full time at Auto Zone. He was promoted to the DIY (do it yourself) manager (that’s a real title). He loves to work on cars. Right now ‘the boys’ (GKT) have a project on a ’65 El Camino. The engine took over my parking space and the rest of what is left of the car is in the back yard. It has no engine and no seats, but they see potential. Kindra and I agree we would take a nice sports car any day. He will begin college at COD this fall. He is still playing the guitar and loves being a part of Antioch Church Praise and Worship Team.

Me, well, I am loving being a mom of children that are now turning in to the future leaders. It is nice to have conversations with adults and not have to rhyme, make animal noises or funny sounds just to keep their attention. Still working at the Wheaton Bible Church with some sadness that the person I job share with will be leaving in July. Her husband has been called back to Iraq. When you read this, say a prayer for Mark and Hope.

Kindra ended her sophomore year of college with the best grades she has ever had. She worked hard and it paid off. She rewarded herself with a new pet that she brought home with her. Daisy, her black lab, will be going back to college with her when she moves in her apartment at school. She is working full time as nanny Monday through Friday all day long and then she is waitressing evening and weekends. She is keeping very busy and saving her money to decorate her apartment and for vet bills.

Catching up….

Greg recently commented, "It is June and I haven’t been in the hospital all year!” I think he is going for a record. His most recent routine 3 month MRI showed no new growth. He is getting around with his two canes and feeling better than he has in a long time.

In April, Centex Homes did another round of cut backs and Greg was one of them. We were shocked for about a day and then began to think that ‘just maybe’ God was still in all of it. We were throwing the idea around of moving or whatever it took to be in the center of God’s will. Before two weeks had gone by, we had barely gotten use to him being around the house, he had a job offer. He did not even have his resume together yet. His new job is closer to home than he ever has been, smaller company and they are all Christians. It is much less stress and we see a lot more of him now. You can see what he is doing at the Riverstreet link. http://www.riverstreetplaza.com/