Tuesday, April 28
The Hanson's enjoyed a restful quiet weekend. They especially enjoyed Sunday. They went to church and later went to the park with their friends. The kids played on the playground and the adults played Scrabble and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Sarah said the sermon was just what she needed to hear. The sermon was on knowing that God has a plan and his plan is perfect. Psalm 23 was the scripture the sermon was based on. Look up this verse if you don't know it. The Lord is our shepherd and we are his sheep. We are to be obedient followers and follow the One who will lead us to the right places and in the right ways.
On Monday, Tyler was back to the hospital for a endoscopy. They looked down his throat, esophagus and into his stomach. He has a sore at the base of his esophagus and opening to his stomach that hasn't healed. The doctor took a biopsy of it and will treat him with medication. His surgeon will return at the end of the week and he will be taken off of his antibiotics next week for his leg. We want his leg to be free of infection and heal completely. The family will have to patiently wait for a few weeks for more tests to determine what the spot was on his lung. We can offer our help by continuing to pray for complete healing and removal of that spot. Take time each day to send prayers up to heaven on Tyler's behalf! We know and understand the power of prayer.
Enjoy each day and have no regrets especially when it comes to your family. Tell them you love them and spend time with them. There is nothing more important than family and aren't we blessed that we are a part of God's family and He loves us so much! Stay close! Kim
Prayer Time Again
Wednesday, April 22
Tyler endured 3 long days of major testing. They arrived each day by 7:00 am and left around 5:00. Today the doctor gave them the results. Unfortunately they weren't the results we were hoping to hear. Tyler's Chest CT scan showed a small spot on his lung. While this is alarming, they have heard it 2 times before. The first time, after a second CT scan, the spot disappeared and the 2nd time it was 2 veins so this could again be nothing. Tyler needs serious prayer though to assure that it isn't cancer that has spread to his lung. The bad news for the family is they have to wait 4 long weeks until they will do another chest CT scan. We need to earnestly pray that there is NO cancer because if there is, a major surgery would be needed. The family is in shock but Tyler is optimistic and we can be also. We know a GOD so powerful and merciful who can remove anything, anytime and anywhere!
Tyler's leg is still a concern also. He has been working hard at physical therapy. While he has been walking a lot, it is very sore and he has some pain. Unfortunately his surgeon is out of the country on a 2 week vacation so nothing will be done until he returns except physical therapy. He remains on antibiotics and there is some swelling but it could be because he is working so hard. He was taken off of his nutrients (TPN) and has lost 3 pounds this week so the doctor is going to run a gastric scope of his esophagus and stomach on Monday. He has to be at the hospital tomorrow but will have Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. Thank you God for that!!!!!!
I know Charles and Sarah must feel a little defeated today after the news from the doctor especially since they were expecting good news. Ask your family , friends, and church to pray for our friend Tyler to be healed. Pray for the family as they cope with the news they received today. We know that God has a plan for this family and we have to trust him with that plan.
Stay Close! Kim
Feeling Good
Wednesday, April 16
Tyler is getting antsy! He wants to get off of his crutches and take off. Yes, it is time for Tyler to walk again. He is working hard to strengthen his leg so he can walk without crutches. He is working hard on school work also. He needs prayer though that when he is taken off of antibiotics next week his leg will not need surgery. If he does, it will take all summer for him to recover and rehabilitate.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will be nothing but tests, tests, tests. Every part of his body will be tested. He will have a pet scan, cat scan, MRI, echo and EKG, audiology tests, kidney tests and many more. The doctors want to make sure his body isn't damaged in any way from the chemo. They also want to make sure that the cancer is completely gone from his body. We know it will be!!!!!! We can't wait to hear the results.
Tyler is getting antsy! He wants to get off of his crutches and take off. Yes, it is time for Tyler to walk again. He is working hard to strengthen his leg so he can walk without crutches. He is working hard on school work also. He needs prayer though that when he is taken off of antibiotics next week his leg will not need surgery. If he does, it will take all summer for him to recover and rehabilitate.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week will be nothing but tests, tests, tests. Every part of his body will be tested. He will have a pet scan, cat scan, MRI, echo and EKG, audiology tests, kidney tests and many more. The doctors want to make sure his body isn't damaged in any way from the chemo. They also want to make sure that the cancer is completely gone from his body. We know it will be!!!!!! We can't wait to hear the results.
Stay close, Kim
Tyler Hanson Hair Club Day
Tuesday, April 7
Christian Academy of Louisville sponsored a fundraiser for St Jude Children's Research Hospital yesterday in honor of Tyler. They gave it the name "Tyler Hanson Hair Club Day". Students were allowed to grow their hair out and have it either shaved or cut to raise money. The outpouring of love for Tyler was amazing. All four of our television stations were present filming clips which aired last night. Many students were filmed either talking or getting their hair shaved or cut. Banners, posters, and balloons filled the gym. Eighteen hair stylists and barbers volunteered their time to shave heads and cut hair. If girls could grow their hair long enough to cut 8 inches off, the hair was donated to Pantene to be used to make wigs for cancer patients. Many parents were there to volunteer and take pictures. The U of L men's soccer team and Coach Lolla were present to sweep hair and perform soccer tricks. It was a day to remember. Donations are due to school by April 15th and we can't wait to see how much money was donated. Several students raised over $1000. The top amount is reported to be $1725 collected by Mark Highbaugh, a current 8th grade student and classmate of Tyler's. Thank you to all who donated!!!!God can do amazing things through us. Since this is a special time of the year for Christians, the school felt it was perfect timing for the fundraiser. God sacrificed his son for us so it was only fitting that our students sacrifice something they love, their hair for Tyler. What a great day and memory!
A big thank you goes out to all who volunteered to work that day especially the hair stylists and barbers. Several closed their shop to attend! Thank you to Johnny Mac, the Southeast middle school youth pastor for emceeing the program. Also thank you Gina Foster, Tina Lolla, Gary Mounce and Marla Highbaugh for organizing this event. Dr. Tran provided hats (see picture above). Hats were given to all students who participated in this event. And finally a thank you goes out to Ned and Joan Way for providing entertainment in the afternoon to the middle school. The have a great outreach program called "No Way" that provided quality entertainment and ministry. Check out their website at: http://www.noway.org/
Unfortunately Tyler couldn't be at the fundraiser yesterday but he was able to watch video clips via the Internet of the television interviews. He wasn't feeling very well yesterday and spent the entire day in bed. Today, however, he feels so much better and was going to watch the Memphis Grizzlies play (NBA basketball team) tonight. He has to go to the hospital 3 times a week now for physical therapy and school. The doctor's are leaving him on antibiotics for at least 2 more weeks until the chemo is completely cleared from his body. He will have more extensive physical therapy for his leg. The redness is gone but there is still some slight swelling. We are praying that the swelling will go down quickly. Tyler we are so proud of all your hard work, endurance and perseverance. Keep it up because we love you and can't wait until you are 100% again!
Stay close! Kim
Saying Goodbye was Tough
Saturday, April 4
Our visit in Memphis was amazing. God really did HIS stuff. Tyler felt pretty bad on Wednesday, which was his last chemo treatment. He really didn't remember much of it either. On Thursday he looked great. He had color in his cheeks and his was up and moving around at his house. We were able to spend the afternoon and evening with him and his family. His Aunt Debi fixed a delicious Asian meal and we had cookie cake to celebrate. I loved the wall in their kitchen. It use to have numbers lining the wall and after chemo a number was torn down. The only thing on the wall now is "NO MO CHEMO"! Conner got to spend the night with Tyler and they even slept upstairs, which meant Tyler used his crutches to go up the stairs. We picked up Conner so we could head back to Louisville and Tyler headed to the hospital. It was sad to leave on Friday but we plan to see them again real soon!
Tyler has had to go to the hospital every morning since chemo to be checked. The good news is the methotrexate is out of his system and his numbers are good but unfortunately he started throwing up yesterday and has been since. That makes me sad. The methotrexate causes mucousitus and he develops a thick mucous coating which gags him and causes him to throw up. We cannot wait for this to be over. No more throwing up and no more pink bucket! I saw him use that big pink bucket in the hospital and I know they never want to see "pink" again.
Tyler's friend from Arizona, Tyler, is flying in today so pray he will feel better so he can enjoy his time with his friend. We are looking forward to a stronger, healthier Tyler soon!
The ride home from Memphis reminded me of God's beautiful creation and his perfect timing. Be thankful for his precious gifts especially the gift of life!
God Bless! Stay Close! Kim
NO MO CHEMO
Wednesday, April 1
This is no April's Fool Joke. Tyler finished his last chemo treatment today at 2:30pm. Bruce, Conner and I had the privilege to be in Memphis at St Jude Hospital to celebrate and take part in the occasion. All of Tyler's nurse's came into his room along with his family (Charles, Sarah, Christian, Elijah and Glen)and his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Steve from Panama City to sing a silly song. They showered him with confetti and brought him balloons that said "NO MO CHEMO". His empty bag of chemo was thrown in the trash as we applauded gleefully.
We are looking forward to brighter days ahead. We pray that this was a successful treatment and there are NO more cancer cells remaining in Tyler's body. He will be checked out later this month to make sure that all the cancer cells are gone and that his organs are healthy. He will be taken off antibiotics in the next week or two
and hopefully his leg will be able to fight off the infection and he will not need surgery. We must wait and pray!
II Corinthians talks about comfort in time of sorrow and we can accomplish this because God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. We pray that Tyler will feel God's strength and rely on that to pull him through these last few weeks of treatment. It has been a long, tough road and we look forward to a healthy young man returning to a life full of fun. Tyler has missed out on a lot of fun things these past 11 months. I look forward to seeing him and his family return to a normal way of living. One that doesn't include driving every day to a hospital, eating hospital food or not eating at all, laying in a hospital bed, throwing up countless times a day, watching him sleep for hours and hours at a time and just feeling so lousy that he can't get out of bed for days. We take normal days for granted and we say we are bored with life sometimes. Maybe each of us should have to endure a day like Tyler has had to endure, then we may all look at life differently.
Visiting St Jude hospital today was enlightening. What a wonderful place Danny Thomas founded so many years ago. He made a promise to God and fulfilled that promise with St Jude hospital. I challenge everyone to go online to read about the history of St Jude. There are so many lives that are touched and so many lives that have been saved because of this special hospital. We had the opportunity to deliver several boxes of toys that were donated by first grade students at Christian Academy. The hospital staff was so appreciative of the donations. We saw several young children playing with toys and making crafts to pass the time while they were receiving treatment. They had IV's attached as they were sitting at a table coloring, making a necklace or playing with a toy. I know these donations will be used to cheer a young person's life.
Continue to pray for this family and know you that these prayers have carried this family through. Stay close! Kim
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