The Foley Family - Trusting in God at ALL Times!!!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

I just wanted to make a quick note this morning. My friend Jennifer went HOME last night to meet our DADDY face to face. I'm sure she was greeted by a host of people who have been waiting for her. My emotions are back and forth this morning. My earthly mind and body are sad and mourn for her and her family, but my spiritual soul is excited and rejoice that she is whole again and will suffer no more. Please, please hear me when I say that I am thankful to all of my friends here on my blog for lifting Jennifer and Ivee up in prayer. Ivee is still improving, and she surprises me everyday. This road is an emotional struggle for me everyday, but knowing that you all lift us up in prayer is a reassurance that you are never alone...even if you feel it. God Bless you all!!!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hope - I thought about you this morning in chapel. I had read your blog about Jennifer's passing and started to reply but got sidetracked with the kids. I had this on my mind and I was telling the kids at school that God knows all our thoughts and hears all our prayers and is concerned with everything that concerns us. I was telling them that sometimes I don't pray about things because I just don't want to say them out loud - they are just too much! You know what I mean. But thank goodness that my Father knows my thoughts-even the big ones that way me down - he knows and he cares. Well, we get to chapel and we sing this song "He knows my name, he knows my every thought, he sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call". Sometimes I have this heaviness when I think of the things that could happen and God knows that but then he gives me this song to remind me that he hears me when I call and that gives me peace.(sorry for the run on sentence) Just as we are unique every situation we face in life is unique and just because God answers prayer in one way for somebody doesn't mean he will answer my prayer in the same way. The key is he always answers prayer. I believe for Ivee that God is working all things out for her good - just as he did for your friend Jennifer. She got her eternal reward early. I am saddened for her family - truly I am but I was blessed by her daughter's precious blog and I believe that her family will remain strong in God's hands. Have a great weekend and many blessings, Paula (sorry if I babble); Friday, September 28, 2007 11:03:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Hope - P.S. The Carpenters are the best - my son & I love to listen to the Carpenters Christmas CD on the way to school every morning (yes I said Christmas - I am a huge fan of Christmas music and listen to it all year). Paula; Friday, September 28, 2007 11:08:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Hope,

I'm saddend to hear about your friend Jennifer and her family, but....also delight inthe knowledge that she is with God and all of her pains are gone.

As always, I daily prayer for Ivee an dfor your guys. I know that it must be trying on some days, bur keep your faith in God and his will.

Now as for "The Carpenters", I do believe that it was my great pleasure in life, introducing you and Sonia to them. I would come home from college with their album and play it on the "record" player......I still love heaing them and have their greatest hits on my iPod.....

Keep the faith and know that I do love you guys very much. I will keep Em in my prayers too and hope that he's feeling better....

Can you believe that Alabama let FSU beat them? AT least Auburn beat the "gators" thank goodness..

Love Kim; Friday, October 05, 2007 2:03:00 PM
Anonymous said...: next time, I'll proof read my comments.......; Friday, October 05, 2007 2:04:00 PM

Ivee's story in SHORT...As if....

Ivee is a tough little girl. And with our help and by the grace of God, all will go well. We pray for a complete healing, and we know that our God is big enough...He is the Great Physician.

Story: On a routine Monday, December 18, 2006. I was missing work and taking my oldest daughter to the doctor cause of a stomach virus. Stopping at a grocery store on the way, I left the oldest in the car for a moment and ran inside with Ivee. I put her car seat on top of the grocery cart as so many of us mom's do. Leaving the store, I turned for a brief moment to throw something away. I turned around just in time to see the entire car seat fall face down on the concrete. I flipped, as any mom with a 7 month old falling face first would do. I arrived at the ER in record time. She already had a huge knot rising on her forehead. As they (eventually) started a CT scan, I felt God speaking to my heart. In all but audible words he told me she would be fine, but that we would find something else, that this was why she had fallen, so He could reveal it to us. So, as I watched from the tech room, I saw something that even to me, a non-trained observer, knew was not suppose to be there. A friend of mine was the radiologist there, and he confirmed, also by doing an MRI, what I suspected. I was at peace in spirit cause my heart had been prepared...but not okay. My husband was working out in Texas and would have to drive more than 7 hours to come home, not knowing what was happening, but just that she fell. Ivee was transferred to a local children's hospital in Mobile. That night, Dr. Martino consulted, and would run an MRI the next day of his own, and perform surgery on that Wednesday. On December 20, after 5 hours of surgery, all was successful, and Dr. Martino removed 98% of what he knew was an egg sized malignant tumor, later diagnosed as Stage 3 Anaplastic Ependymoma. The remaining 2 cm was on her artery next to the spinal chord.

Deficits from initial resection/treatment: Ivee had many deficits due to the tumors removal, even though he was able to leave her nerves in tack. Her right eye was severely crossed. Her vocal chords were paralyzed (left has regained use). Her hearing was affected (loss at 2000 hz and high frequency sounds). Hearing aids received June 6, 2012 at age 6. Have already hear improvement in F, S and ending sounds in 2 days time! Her balance was never truly restored, and she has left side body weakness. After 30 days (including Christmas) we were allowed to take Ivee home. She had 6 months of chemo and then 33 treatments of radiation at St. Jude.

Procedures/surgeries:

1.) Tumor Resection (12/06) – Anaplastic Ependymoma

2.) Gbutton placed for eating. (01/07)

3.) Nissen fundiplication pyloroplasty done (wrapping of throat & stomach) (01/07)

4.) Chemotherapy Begins (01/07)

5.) 5 central lines placed (many fell out on their own) (01/07 – 05/07)

6.) Port placed at St. Jude (06/07)

7.) Chemotherapy ends (06/07)

8.) Radiation (06/07-08/07)

9.) Rare scar tissue formation in the brain removed (09/08)

10.) Shunt Placement (10/08)

11.) Shunt revision/replacement (02/10)

12.) Hip Displaysia surgery – Dega Osteotomy {Not tumor related} (10/10)

13.) Reoccurance - GTR {Gross Total Resection} (02/11)

We were shocked (as was the doctor) when her Jan. 2011 scan showed a reoccurance. It was on the same artery where the orginal tumor was left behind. GTR was done on February 18^th with much success. 2^nd dosing of radiation began March 28 and ended May 6, 30 doses.

14. Begin 2nd dose radiation on March 28 (30 doses) Ended on May 6, 2011.

Improvements:

1.) Right eye is still weak, doesn't require glasses yet. Patching the good eye to strengthen the right one.

2.) Right vocal chord is still partial paralyzed. In Fall of 2008 , to the doctor's dismay, discovered she has received movement again in right chord (update: Since resection in 2/11, Right vocal chord is completely paralyzed, no movement now)

3.) Still G Button feed. Cannot eat much by mouth. She doesn’t have the drive to try to eat, but we are treating her with an appetite enhancer. She has been approved through Modified Barium Swallow Test.

4.) Balance is still and issue. Has improved over the years. Uses a walker and wheelchair.

5.) Has learned to stand (assisted) for a few moments by herself and take some steps/usually across a room (May 2012). Uses a walker VERY WELL!!

6.) Currently watching a paraesophageal hernia of the fundoplication. No surgery required at this time.

7.) Non-cancer related surgery due to hip dysplasia in Fall of 2010. Has improved her balance and slipping out of socket.

Currently:

She is doing very well! She attended K5 full-time with a personal aid (might repeat K5). She is very smart and attentative. She used her walker often throughout the day and is learning to take independent steps. She takes a little bit of something to eat everyday now instead of once a week! She has learned to drink larger portions at a time. Enjoys Hippotherapy (horse therapy). Is extremely observant, caring and just down right funny!

About Me

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

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