Kelly was discharged from the hospital on Thursday afternoon, 3 days after surgery. It has been a difficult week physically and emotionally post surgery, please continue to keep her in your prayers. The pathology report came back positive for microscopic cancer in several of the samples. Not a huge shock but still hard to swallow when she's had such amazing results lately. She is still so much farther along than any of us could have imagined her being at this point; however, it does seem to make it that much harder, having a negative PET scan and surgery going so well, and then being quickly brought back to reality with lingering cancer cells. With that being said, we are extremely thankful to God for her incredible progress and for her continued healing.

     During surgery, Dr. Numnum was able to insert a new port in her abdomen where she will be getting additional chemo during her next rounds. This is positive news since generally stage 4 patients cannot be treated with IP (intraperitoneal) chemo. There were many factors that had to be in place during surgery (along with a negative PET scan outside her abdomen) that would allow her to get IP chemo. The side effects are much worse but the survival rate is greatly increased. The majority if not all of her remaining cancer is located in her peritoneal cavity (abdomen) so it makes sense that the best way to treat it would be through IP chemo. 

     We are so grateful for her doctor, but most of all know that God is in control and are so amazed by the blessings that He has poured out on Kelly and all of us thus far in her journey. We continue to be thankful for answered prayers and the miraculous healing that has already taken place and continue to pray for complete healing for our Kelly. #PrayersForKelly #KellyKicksCancerInTheOvaries #TealTeamKelly

"It is You Jesus, stretched out on the cross, who gives me strength and are always close to the suffering soul. You, O Lord, are faithful." -St. Faustina

Surgery went extremely well. Thank you so much for your prayers! Dr. Numnum couldn't feel any sandpaper (what ovarian cancer feels like) or see anything except for scarring where cancer had been. He took out her appendix, omentum, some lymph nodes and did a total hysterectomy. He could not see anything that was really at all concerning, however, he will be sending off 17 samples to be tested for cancer. Please continue to pray. Praise God for this wonderful news! #PrayersForKelly #MiracleInProgress #KellyKicksCancerInTheOvaries #TealTeamKelly

'Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.' - Ephesians 3:20-21

Teal Team Kelly going strong today!

Kelly's nurse anesthetist 

Kelly goes in for surgery early tomorrow morning and will be at Centennial hospital in Nashville through Thursday. This is going to be a tough week physically as well as emotionally. Please continue to shower my sweet sister in prayers of thanksgiving as well as prayers of healing. Tomorrow marks the halfway point in her fight. She will continue with chemo after she recovers from surgery. We are forever grateful for the miracle of her clear PET and CAT scans and answered prayers. Thank you for joining us in praying for her continued and complete healing, and in a special way for God to guide the hands of her doctors in the morning.  #PrayersForKelly #MiracleInProgress #KellyKicksCancerInTheOvaries #TealTeamKelly

'Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems you from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.' -Psalm 103: 2-4

If ever there was any doubt in your mind that God in his bountiful mercy exists, please let this dispel all question that He hears and answers prayers. 

Update on this week by Kelly: 

This week started out with a trip to see Sister Dulce Maria at the Cypress Springs Prayer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We had been told about her and her gift of healing by two friends, and were able to get an appointment with her sooner than expected. She has a waiting list a mile long, however had a cancellation for Tuesday, the day before my PET/CT scans. We spent the day Tuesday praying in the chapel and having a picnic on the grounds before our appointment time. I encourage you to google her and read about her story and ministry. She is just a wonderful, down to earth woman filled with good humor and the peaceful love of Christ. She is so humble, yet confident, that we couldn't help but feel the power behind her prayers and ours as well during this time.

Yesterday I had my PET and CT scan at Centennial Hospital in Nashville. After being injected with radioactive glucose, I was taken into the room where the scanner is. Thanks to my claustrophobia, I got a little panicked and had my mom come into the room with me to talk to me and pray me through the tight tube that I was slid into. 

Then came the fun part... waiting for the call from my doctor, Dr. Numnum, to tell me my results. Although the nurse said he wouldn’t be able to call me until today, he called me last night to give me the results of the scans. He told me that he had good news for me: the PET and CT scans were NEGATIVE, meaning there is no sign of “visible” cancer tumors left in my body! He quickly added that most often when he has a negative PET scan, there are still “microscopic tumors” left behind. 

We are still planning on surgery soon, however now it won’t need to be as extensive as we had originally thought. Dr. Numnum was stunned and obviously very happy with my results! 

Dr. Numnum said that I’m not completely out of the woods yet, but I’m getting there! I have an appointment with Dr. Numnum Friday morning to further discuss my results as well as make a game plan on where to go from here. He’s also anxious to get my platelets higher before we go to surgery. 

We have seen so many miracles along this journey, and want to thank you all so much for your prayers, sacrifices, and support. Please keep up the prayers as this fight continues! Our God is a good one for sure and has been showing His Healing Power and Merciful Love throughout all of this. We are speechless and most of all thankful.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

With Sister Dulce

Pre PET/CAT scans at Centennial

Pre PET/CAT scans at Centennial

     Kelly's platelets and white blood cells have improved enough for chemo! As we go into round 3 of her chemo this week, we ask for continued prayers. Today, 6 incredible prayer warriors from Memphis who are a part of a healing ministry prayed over Kelly and Tim and our family. We felt an intense presence of the Holy Spirit and His healing power and felt God's supreme authority over this cancer that ravages her body. We were so moved by their complete and total faith in God's healing power and conviction that Kelly would be healed. They encouraged us to thank God for the healing that will take place, knowing that He can do all things.

     Please continue to join us in praying for her complete healing and commanding this sickness from her body in the name of Jesus. We also pray that her cancer and ultimate healing will be a testimony for so many people who may be struggling in their walk through life, that they may know the comfort of our God. So fitting that today's gospel reading coincides completely with our desire for Kelly's healing and that we should boldly ask for what we seek in Jesus's name. 

"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

"On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God."    - John 16:23-24,26-27

     We ask you to offer up sacrifices, however small, in fasting and praying for Kelly's healing. Any time spent in adoration please offer up for Kelly. Thank you for your continued prayers and support, we are infinitely grateful!

     I want to share one of our daily prayers called 'The Miracle Prayer'. It was written by a bishop in Mexico and is a beautiful submission to God's plan for us to pray for this miracle. 

'Lord Jesus, I come before you just as I am. I am sorry for my sins. I repent of my sins, please forgive me. In your name I forgive all others for what they have done against me. I renounce satan, the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self, Lord Jesus, now and forever. I invite you into my life. Jesus, I accept you as my Lord, God and Savior. Heal me, Change me, Strengthen me with your precious blood and fill me with your Holy Spirit. I Love You, Lord Jesus. I Praise You, Jesus. I Thank You, Jesus. I shall follow you every day of my life. Amen. Mary, my mother, Queen of Peace, St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, all you Angels and Saints, please help me. Amen'

*Also a big congratulations to our brother, Patrick, who graduated college yesterday! 

Update by Kelly:

“When asking for a miracle, you must never be a piker.” - Venerable Fulton Sheen

     Last weekend we were watching homilies and old tv recordings of Fulton Sheen. In one of the shows we watched, he told a story of when he went to Lourdes without a penny in his pocket. He had faith that Our Lady would take care of him along the way. Long story short, he had a marvelous trip and She took care of him the whole time. He started the story saying, “When asking for a miracle, you must never be a piker!” This saying has become our new motto! 

     In some ways, last week was a tough one. I felt pretty good, but we had to postpone chemo. Round number 3 of chemo was supposed to be last Wednesday April 27. When I went to get my blood checked on Monday, my blood counts - specifically my white blood cell and platelet counts - were too low.  I had my blood work done again on Thursday in hopes that I could go for chemo on Friday, but my counts were still too low. I am going again tomorrow (May 2) to get my blood work done. If it’s better, then we’ll head to Nashville for chemo on Tuesday.

    We did, however, find out some really good news this past week! My cancer markers (CA125) have continued to decrease at a miraculous rate. According to my brother-in-law’s calculations, they have dropped 94% since I was diagnosed 2 months ago - with only 2 rounds of chemo! Truly miraculous! We are continuing to thank God for each little miracle we have been given, and this one is no different. 

     Also last Monday, we made a quick trip to Birmingham, AL to the Community of Caritas. This community has dedicated itself to spreading the messages of Our Lady Queen of Peace from Medjugorje.  The 25th is important because this is the date that the Blessed Mother appears to one of the visionaries each month with a message for the world. Our Lady has appeared to one of the visionaries on her trips to Birmingham many times in their field, in the Bedroom of Apparitions, as well as at a cross on top of a mountain located just off the community’s property. We were able to visit the sites around the community to pray for my healing and for those who are also suffering. It was a day full of joy and prayer.

     We appreciate all of your prayers. I feel like I keep saying this, but I have been so humbled and overwhelmed by all of the support, prayers, cards, and well wishes over the last 2 months. I ask that you continue to pray for little and big miracles. In following Fulton Sheen's advice, we will continue to not be pikers in our prayer requests! 

     Kelly wanted to give an update on her day last Wednesday. Also today is Kelly's second round of chemo. Her pre-chemo labs came back yesterday and her CA125 has again dropped dramatically! Praise God!!! We thank you all for your continued prayers! She continues to be so strong and to have such a positive attitude throughout all of this. She is an inspiration to us all! Lord we praise you in this storm and thank you for encouraging signs like these! #MiracleinProgress #KellyKicksCancerintheOvaries #PrayersforKelly

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L5bLvVjJ4MA

Kelly's post:

     Words cannot begin to describe the amazing power of God that we continue to see at work throughout the past month of our lives. All the prayers and support that my family and I have been surrounded with is so overwhelmingly awesome. I wanted to write an update on one particular blessing that we received during Holy Week showing God’s goodness and how we know He will continue to use this craziness for His Glory.

     It all started when my Aunt Susan went to Knoxville, TN Palm Sunday weekend for a Conference with Fr. Michael Gaitley (author of 33 Days to Morning Glory among many other fantastic books) and Bishop Stika. She said she was bringing me along in spirit and prayers. There was a husband and wife also in attendance from Delaware. They had made the drive down for the conference along with a second class relic they have in their possession. This relic happens to be the traveling Mass kit use by none other than the one who we have been asking to intercede on my behalf - Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen. My aunt was able to meet Sonyia and her husband Jim several times throughout the day and told her about me and my diagnosis. Sonyia helped my aunt have several articles blessed for me using the Mass kit and promised that she would pray for me as well. After the conference ended, Sonyia received a call from her daughter who lives in Texas telling her about a 27 year old in Tennessee with ovarian cancer looking for a relic of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Sonyia’s daughter had been contacted by my sister-in-law who also lives in Texas. By the grace of God, Sonyia was planning on staying in Tennessee for a little longer and decided they could make the drive across the state to Jackson. They arrived Wednesday, March 23 and spent the whole day with us. We had Mass at St. Mary’s using the Mass kit, then returned home and had a truly wonderful afternoon getting to know Sonyia and Jim as well as learning more about Venerable Fulton Sheen’s life. 

     We continue to pray daily for Venerable Fulton Sheen’s intercession and thank God for all the love and support we have been shown. Keep storming Heaven! I know God is listening and has great plans.