Jana is in Room 538

They brought her in about 5:30 to room 538. She is looking great (as always), though in and out of being awake. She had some nausea in recovery but nothing out of the ordinary. The nurse says she is doing great. Our nurse's mother made heart shaped pillows for Jana to use to prop her arms up. We have a corner room on the top floor with a good view.

She's out and in recovery

At about 2:45, the recovery room called and said she is out of surgery and starting to wake up. I'm still waiting to talk to Dr. Smith. They will call back with a room number soon.

She almost done with surgery

Dr. Loranga just came out to meet with me. She said the surgery went well and that Dr. Smith was over halfway through. So she should be out by 2:30 EST!

She is in surgery

Jana went in about 11:30 EST for surgery. She is scheduled to be finished about 3:45 EST. She was in good spirits and ready to go. Lisa Sanders is her waiting with me and she brought me some Starbucks coffee!

Still waiting

We are both in the pre-op holding area. And they let us get on their computer! Cell phones and lap top are off for the moment, but hopefully they will come and get Jana any moment now. I will call and update soon.

Waiting

We checked in at 6:55 a.m. and went through the check in process. They just took her back in nuclear medicine for the radioactive tracer procedure that should take about 30 minutes. Then we go back to the surgery area and wait for them to take her back. Thank God they have free wireless, tea and coffee! I'll update this blog as information becomes available.

In Tampa and Ready to Go

We made it to Tampa about 5 p.m. after stopping to see the Manatees in Homasassa Springs (and many other wild animals). Going out tonight to celebrate Doug's birthday. And we want to make it good since is was going to be Jana's last meal for a while.

Miccosukee VBS & Family News

We had a great week in Miccosukee doing Adventure Week (VBS). We met in a small community center in this area just 13 miles north of our church. Lindsey shined in the Shine Squad (led worship), Doug led the week and did the Bible station, Jana helped get kids registered and with snacks and Samuel helped with recreation on the days he was able. We had four kids accept Christ and where able to give each child a backpack that children at our church had collected to give them.

Doug and Jana will be leaving Monday morning for Tampa. Samuel and Lindsey will be enjoying havin Grandpa and Grandma staying with them for the week! Jana's surgery will be Tuesday morning and last until the afternoon. She then be in for about two to three days. Thank you for your continued prayers. If internet access is available (should be able to connect), we will post updates on this blog.

Family Update

Lindsey in the "Shine Squad" for Adventure Week

June 7-11 - It has been a busy, but great, week. Give God the glory. Started off with a great Starting Point Class from which God led 13 to join our church family (4 by baptism)! Since January we have had similar results each month. All of us worked in Adventure Week which was a blast with 300 kids. I was able to conduct the Bible station and was thrilled to see 15 pray to receive Christ and many indicate they wanted to know more.

Monday, June 15 - Samuel's summer job with the Summer Camp starts. He'll be working 1:30-5:30 p.m. each day doing recreation with children.

Wednesday, June 17 - Jana and Doug will go to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for some pre-operation visits. We will talk with the anesthesiologist, the plastic surgeon and have some blood work done. We will leave early Wednesday and return late that same day. Psalms 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.”

Sunday, June 21 - Father's Day Car Show will begin after our second service. We are expecting well over 100 cars to be shown, a lot of good food and fun. This has grown to be a community event that we co host with another church.

Monday, June 22 - As a family, we are excited to help lead our mission VBS to the Miccosukee Community, 12 miles north of us. It will use the same materials we used at our church's Adventure Week (VBS) It will last four days till Thursday.

Tuesday, June 30, is the scheduled date for Jana's surgery. Doug and Jana will be going to Tampa on Monday. Sentinel node biopsy will be at 8:00 a.m. with surgery scheduled for 10:45. The doctor indicated that she will be in two three days after surgery.

Marvelous Moffitt

We had a busy, but productive morning at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. After talking with Dr. Laronga and her staff, we felt confident this was the place we needed to be. Because this kind of cancer and surgery is all that they do - all the time, we knew they could give us the best information. One good surprise they shared is that the cancer is stage ZERO! They also opened up some new possibilities in surgery.

We have decided to change plans and have Jana treated at Moffitt. So we have scheduled for Jana to have her pre-operative visit with the anesthesiologist and plastic surgeon on June 17th and the actual surgery on June 29th (tentatively). She would stay in the hospital for two to three days afterward.

We were thankful to God for a good visit that answered many of our questions and gave us a clearer path to take. The rest of the day we explored and shopped in Tampa and in the evening went to Clearwater Beach to enjoy seafood at Frenchy's and a beautiful sunset.

Possible Surgery Date Scheduled

God continued to provide by getting us in to see the surgeon quickly on Monday, June 1. Dr. Harper took his time to skillfully explain all our options. He said he was a man of faith and prayer! Dr. Snyder and Dr. Harper's offices have coordinated to set the surgery date for June 15. Both encouraged us to get a second opinion, as we have scheduled, for this Friday at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Also on Monday we were able to pick up Jana's MRI images on a CD to send or take with us to Moffitt.

Thank You God

Our prayer is that God will heal Jana of this Breast Cancer!
He is at work providing for her needs:
1. Early diagnosis.
2. Quick action to get her in for tests, consultations.
3. Living in Tallahassee with many resources within range.
4. Having a totally fun Memorial Day weekend with friends before getting the diagnosis.
5. Being at Celebration with a support group and many who can empathize. The monthly group had it's May meeting the day after Jana was diagnosed.
6. Wonderful guidance from Carolyn Ward, Melanie Stowers, Donna Reeder, Dr. Forester and many others.
7. Being able to get copies of the pathology report at short notice without any trouble.
8. Getting in to see Dr. Snyder on short notice, and his great counsel.
9. Getting an appointment for Friday, June 5, with a leading doctor at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, just a week after diagnosis.
10. Getting a good hotel near the hospital that was recommended at a discount, and for providing a place for Samuel and Lindsey to go while we are away.
11. For 90 Year Old Aunt Peggy to call and share her story about having the breast cancer surgery just a week ago. She was in the hospital for just a day and back to work soon after.
12. For the many prayers and support from family & friends in Tallahassee, Columbus, Pensacola and all over the country.