Greetings

Greetings precious ones!

I am finally feeling well enough to take a crack at this blog stuff, at which all of you have proven so adept. The outpouring of love for my family and I has eternally blessed us and personally overwhelmed me. I am so grateful to Sabrina and Robert for designing and making the blog, and for their faithfulness to keep all of you updated as God put His grace on display.

It’s been quite a journey. The first couple of weeks were a snap. Radiation at 11:10, then off to Starbuck’s at 11:45 where I enjoyed an exceptional cup of coffee in front of a beautiful fountain before heading to work at 1:00 P.M. I was assigned as watch sergeant during those two weeks so I would not have to work the much more demanding field sergeant position. This put nearly all of the work load on my partner sergeants who insisted on picking up my slack. They are truly a good bunch of men, I love them very much. Well, the next week proved tougher. I picked up quite a few symptoms, including a raspy voice. I had to call off work about every other day. By the end of week four I just could not work at all. It took everything I had, just to make it to my treatment. Sabrina went with me everyday from then on. The highlight of my day was sitting in front of the Starbuck’s fountain with Sabrina snuggling me over a cup. I treasure those days and will never forget them. Men, we are truly blessed in our wives. By the last day of treatment I was so sick. The doctor had never seen anyone in my condition. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. Trust me, you don’t want to hear them! The 10 days following treatment have been the absolute worse, with other wonderful side effects presenting. Today has been pretty good, despite still having the worst sore throat of my life and no voice.

My precious Sabrina profoundly asked me a few weeks ago what our Lord was teaching me through this cancer. My heart struggled to consolidate, define, and articulate an answer, so I’ll reserve the right to get back to you on that. I have never pitied myself or questioned the Lord regarding my cancer. I have only been amazed at His mercy to me, knowing full well what I deserve! From the onset I have been concerned to receive the full sanctification God has intended for me through this. I still ask this to be your prayer for me.

I am deeply thankful for my complete dependence on our Lord, though I fear the bent of my flesh is to seek independence. How wretched. I am so weak. I remember confessing my weakness to the Lord as I trembled in fear and phobia at being bolted down and shuttled into the radiation therapy machine. I remember confessing, “Lord you endured the cross for me. I can not even endure this little bit of suffering.” I pray the Lord daily bring that realization to my memory. I fear my weakness. It concerns me. I am not even suffering for the sake of His Kingdom. Lord, make me able to suffer for your Kingdom’s sake.

I am deeply thankful for prayer, that God would desire our prayer. Every time I went into that darned machine, I was blessed with the knowledge many of you were praying for me, and I had the comfort and joy of praying for many of you. I am truly humbled to know how many of you are following this blog and praying for my family and I. In fact the breadth of this blog is incredible! I have learned people from all around the country are praying for me...whole churches. How blessed I am. Bless all of you.

I look forward to sharing more of His grace another day...I love you all.

In Christ alone, Tom.

Turn Around Tuesday is Here!

I've been waiting for this day. Hip Hip-Hooray. He slept a little more last night and woke up a little better this morning.  It is 9:30 am and he is back on the coach. But, that is after he walked the perimeter of the house... LOOKING for something to do. 

I know there are more families out there in more severe situations and we appreciate your continued attention and prayers.  

 XOXOXO

  Sabrina

4th day without TX

Tom's having a better day.  SLOWLY, he is lurking around the house, in search for something to do. Quickly realizing... He still can't do much of anything.

We celebrated Robert's 16th birthday yesterday... What a great day.  We started off with special banana pancakes... We officially handed over the keys to our family Chevy Tahoe, for his very own. Yikes !!! It's not new, but his Papa & Nana had it painted and it looks soooo great! (Thank you N & P.)  Jenna washed and polished it and bought him one of those funny smiley faces with sunglasses and placed it on the antenna.  The day was topped off  with a dozen friends surprising him at BJ's Restaurant and a Pazooki. 

Son, we love you. We trust you. AND, we love the privilege and responsibility that the Lord gave us to raise you.  You are a treasure, a pleasure and  we are very proud of you. 

Love, Mom & Dad

  Click here for his version and more about the Pazooki.

Day 25, Last Treatment

Please pray for Tom today! The past few weeks he has been coughing up blood and spitting up unknown tissue.(That's putting it mildly.) Every night is a challenge and last night was one of the worst. He catnaps at best, propped up on pillows. We should be celebrating today as it is the last day of treatment. Instead, we are cautious as to what ONE more treatment might do to him. Okay, maybe you could pray for me too, I want my husband back!

(P.S. My friend, BB, you know I'm down with a little RS rasp.)

Deeper love for you and praises to Our Great God.

Sabrina & kids

Day 24

Hello, 

It is nice to be back on line with our new modem. 

Great new!  Tom's days of Tx have been reduced. 25 days instead of 28 days.  Tom is having significant side effects and Dr. Z. said, "Enough." Friday was to be the last day of Tx, until the R.T. double checked his calculations. This Monday is the NEW last day of Tx.  Either way, we will take it. 

He is at this point cancer free!!!! 

The next hurdle is recovery. 2-3 more weeks. I don't mind asking for prayer for two things. First, it would be great if he could swallow without chocking.  I'm not talking gagging. I'm talking serious don't leave him alone choking. Second, that his voice would return to his original quality. That is the whole reason we chose radiation versus surgery, to maintain voice quality. (Have I ever told you how much I loved his voice???? Years ago, when we first met... he had me at "Hello.") 

We have never known friends like you. We cherish everyone of you! To be like-minded and grounded in our Faith... is another love gift from God.

Please pray for Bill & Cathy. They are a sweet couple that we met in the lobby of the treatment center. They both need the Lord. Tom gave them J.M.'s book, "Why I Trust the Bible." We have been sharing God's love with them during our 30 minute lobby visits. 

1 John 3:1 

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.

My prayer for my family is that, Our Heavenly Father would teach us, (Tom, Robert, Jenna and myself) about HIS love so that we may love others in the way that GOD loves us.  

Easter '09

Jensen Family

    These days and nights have been quite challenging..... Thankfully, we made it to church Resurrection Sunday.  We appreciate your prayers more than ever!  The good news is that this may be Tom's last week of radiation.   Singing praises for all that the Lord has ordained.

Love you all,

Sabrina

Day 15

Thanks for your prayers, I'm feeling better. That was some weirdo weekend virus.  

 Wish I could say the same for Tom. Mmmm, he is really feeling it.  He is at the halfway point, with only 3 more weeks of treatments to go!!!!  Doctor Z. gave him liquid Vicodin to suppress the gnarly cough he has acquired. Doctor A. scoped him today and said his vocal cords look completely wrecked??? Hmmm. I guess that is what they expect.  No wonder he has NO voice, at all. 

Here is a little shout out to "Auntie Delia"... Remember the plaid and stripped shirts you, Rachel & Jacob got him??  He loves them. They are all he can tolerate on his neck and chest. He wears the white v-neck t-shirts under them.  So handsome!! 

Thank you!!

Sunday

Just a quick update before I leave for church...

Mom & Dad are both pretty sick in bed - SuperMom with the Flu & Dad with the "What did he say?" disease... I'm still trying to figure out how he is working in the midst of all of this?!?!? Needless to say, they will be staying home from church today. Please pray for them!

I don't even know what to say other than a big, fat... THANK YOU. The amount of love and prayer my family has received these past couple of months is overwhelming to say the least! You know, it's been such a blessing to know that with all the ups and downs of this trial, there is one constant that never changes: Christ. His love for His children is shown to me each time we get an "I'll pray for you" email from one of our friends or relatives. It is our prayer that through this blog, and through this journey, Christ will receive ALL the glory and praise.

We love and cherish you all,
Robert for the family