2 years since chemotherapy - STILL CANCER FREE!

Karen went in for her most recent blood work. This is the first time she had done so since April 2009, close to 9 months ago. The CA125 test came in at only 4.3. It doesn't get better than this! She remains cancer free!

It has now been two years since Karen had her last chemotherapy treatment. We have been told that the first two years are the most critical in terms of a recurrence of ovarian cancer. It shows no signs of returning.

We are thankful! But we are mindful that this is against the odds. Ovarian cancer is a very tenacious disease. We have prayed for healing...but know many others have too, with different results. We can only rest in the goodness and will of God. He knows what He is doing, even when we don't.

Thank you for continued prayers...we are keeping this blog up as long as we need to, but you can also go to our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1821552779

The good news continues

The latest blood work came back today. The CA-125 test was down to a 4. It doesn't get any lower than that, according to the OBGYN/oncologist.

As grateful and thankful as we are, we know this can always come back. Statistics aren't good. But you can't live by the statistics. That's not living; that's slavery.

Thank you for your ongoing prayer support and encouragement. And for rejoicing with us.

Prayer needed - tests tomorrow

Here's a photo of Karen with her mother last weekend. Her mom was so happy to see us!


We've all been so busy and caught up in life...yet I hear from many who read this blog regularly. Thank you for your messages here and e-mails to us. They mean a great deal to us.





Tomorrow Karen goes in for the next round of blood work. Though every test has come back at the lowest level possible, nothing is taken for granted. When we're caught up in carting children around to skating and dance lessons, going to church, hosting Easter dinner, seeing extended family, it's easy to forget that around the corner is cancer. The statistics aren't good. You would think after a year and a half of it being gone, we'd be thinking, good, it's over...but we're nowhere near that point. It seems with every few months that goes by, we're a little more nervous each time.





So please keep Karen in prayer. We never take for granted being able to come back with good news, as we have been able to so many times so far.



Thanks and God bless, praying for more good news...

Remembering Cathy Zander - one of our prayer warriors

We just learned today that Cathy Zander, one of many prayer warriors for us, passed away suddenly yesterday. No one is sure how, but we believe she had a stroke. She was 54 years young. Cathy was much loved by her children Laura and Matt, her husband Paul, many close friends. We met Cathy and her husband about a year ago and were moved by her energy, vivaciousness, and non-stop attitude toward life. Please keep her family in prayer during this painful time.

As for us, Karen continues in excellent health. We have also moved to a beautiful new and spacious home here in Burnsville. Please e-mail us at soulwise@msn.com if you want the new address.

Good news to start a new year

Hi all: We just got the latest quarterly test results back. The CA125, the benchmark for measuring cancer activity, came back at 5.3. This is even lower than the last time around. We are rejoicing!

We know you all rejoice with us and wanted to share this news as soon as we could. Thank you for your ongoing prayer support and kindnesses to us.

We don't pretend for a minute that the battle against cancer is over. It always lurks right around the corner. As these test results approached, I was in a veritable state of panic and fear, because the last three sets of results had all been good. Each time the rollercoaster seems to go a little higher.

Thank you again for your support and love

John & Karen

The road to stability

Hi all: I wanted to thank you for your prayers - I received a job offer from Kemper for a work-from-home claims position. The money is what our family needs and there are many other good benefits. God is so good! Of course I need to thank my sister Marilyn, who has worked for Kemper for several years and started this process by getting my resume into the right hands.

Karen's health remains good, by the grace of God. More blood work will follow just after Christmas. We'll keep you informed.

As Christmas draws near, let me share Isaiah 58:11 with you:

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Thank you again for your love and prayers. We will be in touch and this year, we may even do Christmas cards again.

In Christ

John Karen Kylie & Shelby

Family picture - we have survived

Here we are in a church family picture taken just a few weeks ago. Of course there is Karen in the front, and then (clockwise) Shelby, John, and Kylie. We're smiling, though it's been a very hard couple years. We're not out of the woods yet, but 1) cancer hasn't returned and 2) we're still in our home. Your prayers remain so important to us as we continue on this journey.

Please forgive that we don't update this more frequently. In the world of cancer, no news is good news, but I think with Christmas approaching in three and a half weeks and long gift lists emerging from our girls, it's time to keep the meaning of Christmas in perspective and I'll use this blog to put Advent postings. One of our pastors reminded us this morning that Advent is the beginning of the year for the church so shouted out "Happy New Year" to a crowd of rather disoriented Lutherans.

Whenever anyone asks me for prayer requests, of course the first one is praise that cancer has not returned. The next round of tests will be after Christmas. The next request is for stability. My work situation has been at best a roller coaster. I've had several interviews for a position with Kemper Insurance that I will ask you to keep in prayer. This would be a good situation for me and my family.

A lesson I'm still learning is how much fear controls our lives. There is much to be afraid of in life, no matter what we know. Even Jesus felt fear as He contemplated the cross before Him. I read a quote recently that is now on my bulletin board: Fear is the faith that it won't work out. Doesn't that say it all? God's safety net is monstrous compared to the little torn fishing nets I put out for myself. At age 46, I think I'm beginning to catch on.

We love hearing from any and all of you and feel free to e-mail at soulwise@msn.com or comment here.

God bless you all!