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Saturday, March 29, 2008

Leaving for Cancun today

Hello,

I have been off for a while. Not a whole lot has been going on.

I finished my radiation treatments on Wednesday and am no longer taking my chemo pills. The chemo will pick up again after I return from Duke and we hear what they recommend my treatment should be.

I was going to update the blog when my treatment ended on Wednesday but was not feeling too well. On Easter, I started to get headaches and was very tired. I stayed home from school on Monday and had to stay home again on Thursday. I went to Urgent Care and had a few things checked out. We determined that I had come off my steroid a little too quickly. I increased my dosage and within hours my headaches were gone. And haven’t come back.

We are leaving for Cancun today. I am looking forward to spending a warm week with the family. It has been a big adjustment getting used to my schedule and being ran all over the place. I really hope this next week is relaxing for Joslyn and that the kids have a great time. I know both the kids can’t wait to go. Easton can’t wait to wear his new flip flops and Taylor wants to wear her new sun hat.

I want to thank everyone again for your continued support during this time. I hope everyone knows how much we appreciate all of the cards, notes and gifts that we have received.

Swinging for the fences.

Jason

Monday, March 17, 2008

Only 12 more days

Hello everyone,
There is only 12 more days until we are in Cancun:) Anyone that knows me, knows that I am so ready for some sun and warmth. This has been an extremely long winter and I am definitely ready for spring.

Jason is in the home stretch with his radiation treatments. He has 7 left. His last treatment will be Wednesday, March 26th. He continues to do well and has not felt any side effects. I know that he is very glad to be back teaching and coaching. The first game of the season is Tuesday, April 8th--hopefully the snow is completely gone and it's at least 40 degrees or so!

We have Jason's appointment at Duke University scheduled. It is a 2 day consultation April 14th and 15th. We will be flying out on Sunday, the 13th (thank you Ron and Gaye B. for the plane tickets) and returning Tuesday, the 15th in the evening. Jason's parents are going to drive down there and we will meet up with them on Sunday. I think the game plan is for Dennis and Jason to go golfing and Darlene and I will probably do some shopping:)

Many people have asked me "How are you doing?" and my response is "Good." Then they say, "How are you really doing?" and I respond "I really am doing good." These last 2 months have been a complete shock to us all and it has definitely been a whirlwind. I can't say that I am happy that Jason has cancer but I can say that we will get through this with the help of God, our family, and our friends. I did have a pity party for myself a few weeks ago--I was completely depressed. I just couldn't find anything to smile about and was thinking about all the bad things that come along with my husband being sick. I finally had to kick myself in the butt and say "you are either going to make yourself completely miserable or you are going to choose to be happy!" You know how you just wake up in the morning and you decide what kind of day it's going to be--well, I have decided that it is going to be a good day and just by doing that, it makes me smile.

Please continue to pray for Jason's miraclous healing, if that is God's will, and a "good" day for our family.

With love,
Joslyn

Sunday, March 16, 2008

THANK YOU B.C.M.S.

Bullock Creek amazed me again. This time it was the middle school who showed their support and love for me and my family. The students dedicated the entire week to me. They designed and sold t-shirts and had a different spirit day each day of the week. They had Hat Day, Baseball Day, Computer Geek Day, Detroit Tiger Day, and ended the week with Mr. K Day. On Friday, the school was nothing but a sea of black and gold Krenzke Krusader shirts.

My family and I thank you Bullock Creek Middle School.

P.S. Don't think this will get you out of doing your work.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Season Started

Hello everyone,

Baseball practice started yesterday. When I was first diagnosed I figured I was done with coaching and playing, but with all your prayers and God on the mound, I am back in the game. It felt great to be around the players and coaches. I want to thank all the coaching staff and parents who filled in for me while I was out, opening the building and running the baseball clinics.

I want to also thank my wife Joslyn. She was the first person to tell me that I would be coaching this season when I told her I would have to give it up. She never had a doubt that I would be ready. She is an incredible lady. I have been blessed in several ways but Joslyn has been my biggest blessing. Joslyn and God keep me going.

Swing for the fences.

Jason

P.S. My hair is starting to thin out where the radiation is being administered on the back and left side of my head. Feel free to look.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Good News

We have gotten pathology reports back from both the Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Brain Tumor Center and both have come back with a better diagnosis for Jason's cancer. Both opinions say that it is a (WHO) grade II (out of III) oligoastrocytoma, astrocytic dominant. Oligoastrocytoma is part of the glioma family, but a very specific type of glioma. It has 2 different types involved--oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma, hence the name oligoastrocytoma. Treatment will continue as is. Jason just completed his 15th treatment today and is feeling great. He now only has 15 treatments to go--yeah! We plan to go to Duke University to meet with Dr. Freidman and his staff to see what treatment plan they have in mind for Jason. The trip to Duke will take place mid-April. We will then decide whether we will utilize Henry Ford or Duke University for Jason's care.

This is very good news and we praise God for all good things!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Long list of thank you's

This entry has been a long time coming. If for some reason, anyone has been left out in our thank you's, we apologize upfront. It is not out of disrespect, however, it is because of the overwhelming amount of help and support that we have received from so many and the lack of writing it down.

Thank you to everyone for your love, support, and prayers and thank you specifically to:
God for your grace and unconditional love for us--without these, we would be lost.
Mom and Dad (Darlene and Dennis)
Dawn, Rod, Beau, and Tana (my sister and her family)
Gail, Dave, Lindsay, Joel, & Kaylee (my sister and her family)
Rod and Deb (my father and mother in-law)
Cris, Kim, Logan, Madison, and Brayden (my brother-in-law and his family)
All of our extended family--grandmas & grandpas, aunts, uncles, and cousins (way too many to even begin listing--in the hundreds between both of our families.)
All of our friends--again way too many to even begin listing!
Messiah Lutheran Church family
Pastor John

Thank you for the gifts of money, gift cards, and other items to:
Leeann & Gary E., Sue & John S., Monique A., Carol & Lynn N., Barb S., Diane S., Bullock Creek Sports Boosters and the Bullock Creek Community, Pat M., Carl & Sharon R., Kevin P.,Heather & Josh T., Staci H., Robert D., Amy & Josh B., Karen & Troy L., Janis D., Jeri P., Rhonda P., Bullock Creek Middle School coworkers, Brian & Sara A., Jen & Mike M., Sherry & Don B., Lori K., Beau S., Jessie & Nick B., Anita B., Messiah Quilt team, Debbie R., St. Agnes Ladies Guild, and Gail & Dave C.

Thank you for the acts of service to:
Lizzie & Gretchen H., Jeri P., Jen & Mike M., Deb L., Mike & Mary Beth F., the group of kids that shoveled our driveway, and Rob K.

Thank you to the families that provided meals and snacks for us:
Nick & Sara W., Lori K., Craig & Kelly C., Marsha S., Trent L. & Shannon M., Cathy & Dave L., Angela F., the YPI ladies (Sue, Jen, Linda, Lori, and Pat), Melanie M., Jodi H., Linda & Dan C., Liz P., Penny R., Chris M., Trever & Kalli B., Bill & Shannon M., Faith M., Mary Beth & Mike F., Jamie N., Renee & Pat W., Heather & Josh T., Terri S., Sherry & Don B., Phyllis L., Lois Y., and Debbi & Dennis B.

Again, we realize that this is not a complete list of all the people that we should be thanking, but please know that everyone and everything has been appreciated.

With love,
Jason, Joslyn, Taylor, and Easton