answered prayers...

Hey there team kelly :)  We are updating you from the chemo lounge...YES SHE IS GETTING CHEMO TODAY!!  Her counts are great! Her platelets have doubled and her white blood cells are normal.  Tumor marker has come down too since surgery and the last chemo 2 weeks ago.  In other words, the chemo is working!  After today's treatment, she will take a week off and begin another round May 2nd.  Thank you for always praying and always encouraging Kelly and our entire family.

So many of you have reached out to Kelly and touched her in a way that only God can...thank you for allowing Him to use you in her fight.  One person in particular, Amy (her sorority sister) sent her a Facebook message.  Kelly has held onto Amy's story and this quote she gave her has really helped her this past week...

"I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.
I believe in love, even when I do not feel it.
I believe in God, even when He is silent" - Author Unknown
We are never going to understand the workings of God on this side of heaven, but I know that He is watching over you and cries when you cry. Hold on tightly - you're doing an amazing job fighting! Love you,
Amy

The Otteson family has witnessed God's miracles first hand.  We wanted to share it with you...
Gore's story on the Today Show
Amy and her husband Dave have written a book, Giving up Gore, on their experience.  We are downloading our copy right now! Thank you Amy for reaching out to Kelly. God bless you and your family!

Some prayer requests for now:
1. To keep healing from last week's surgery.
2. Kelly's had some trouble with nausea and pain medicine...pray we can manage the right medicines to keep her feeling good so she can fight.
3. For the side effects to be minimal
4. For appetite and hydration
5. Thank Him for Tammy...our nurse, our advocate, and our friend. God created one very special lady.

Team Kelly...meet Tammy :)

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!

We are doing the victory dance cuz we needed a win today! And that is just what God gave us!

Kelly's surgeon was able to remove her gall bladder laparoscopically!! This is a huge blessing as the recovery will be much easier...she went in at 6am and was home by 10am!! The doctor said he drained about a liter of fluid from her tummy. The gall bladder was very enlarged and that coupled with the fluid was causing the distention and pain. With these gone, she is going to feel a whole lot better!

Way to go TEAM KELLY...our biggest cheer leaders!

Coming through the VICTORY line...

somebody's prayin'...

Kelly was feeling great Tuesday and Wednesday, but woke up this morning very sick. She met with Dr. Savin today and he recommends removing her gall bladder. Surgery is set for 7:30am tomorrow morning.

Kelly prayed so hard last night for God to take away this pain in her tummy. Hopefully this is how He plans to answer those prayers.

Please pray that the surgery can be done laparoscopically. We want as few days at the hospital as possible.

We will keep everyone posted on how she's doing and are so thankful for the prayers and support Team Kelly sends us all everyday.

One of Kelly's friends shared a special song with her this last week. It brought her to tears as each lyric speaks right to her heart. She can genuinely feel all of your prayers.

Quick update...

Kelly is doing so good!!! She is halfway through the transfusion. She actually woke up today feeling so much better and hungry! God has answered our prayers once again.

Now for the really important stuff...I SCREWED UP KELLY'S PHONE!!!! Yep, lost every contact, text, picture etc! If she had ever in her life backed it up that might have helped. But nope, it's gone (sayin' this like duck dynasty dude:)). Soooo can you help me get my job back as Kelly's scribe cuz I'm fired til I get all your numbers and emails back in her phone! So if you would share your contact info via text to Kelly's phone. Thank you TEAM KELLY! We will keep you updated on the scan and treatment this week.

team kelly gives Him the glory!

Hi there Team Kelly.  We are so grateful for each one of you.  All of you are so loving.  So kind.  So Christ-like.  God's compassion oozes out of you with every text, call, email and visit.  Please know you make our hearts warm and give us so much encouragement.  She reads them all (more than just once) and they make her want to keep fighting!  

Treatment last Thursday was really hard on her.  She is still really groggy, nauseated and so very sleepy.  A lot of this is all the drugs they are giving her (narcotic pain reliever, anti-nausea/anxiety etc.)  But the chemo seems to be harder on her than what the typical side effects are on other patients.  She received several bags of fluid over the weekend and today.  

Kelly's white blood cells are good but her platelets are really low which may be causing some of the symptoms she's having. Today she will get a blood transfusion.  This should help her feel a whole lot better and lift the fog.  Please pray for this transfusion to give her the energy she needs to keep fighting!  (transfusion is 4 hours 12:30pm-4:30pm) 

Because Kelly has been feeling so nauseated, the CT scan has been postponed.  We are hoping after the transfusion today, she will be able to get the scan Wednesday.  Her doctor appointment and second treatment are scheduled for Thursday.  

On all these restless nights, trust me when I say, she prays for all of you.  What God has taught her in this experience is that spending time in prayer calms your heart and gives you peace. Ben had trouble falling asleep the other night so Kelly told him to pray.  She told him when you think and pray for others, you take the focus off yourself and it return God eliminates the anxiety. She knows all of you pray for her and so by lifting each and everyone of you in prayer gives her joy and a sence of giving back.

Kim reminded her on a day that she was crying, that even on really hard days our ultimate goal is to glorify God in all that we do.  When we do give God the glory, He shows us mercy and grace and joy in everything.  Simple acts of kindness, listening to laughter,  hugs from friends and complete strangers.  We are all brothers and sisters in Him.  Thank you for glorifying the Father!  Here are some of the glories Team Kelly has blessed us with:
 
-remodeling the boys room
-kolby and cole's lemonade stand  
-hugs from total strangers in the chemo lab...
-snapchatting with her neices and nephews (even got uncle blake chattin' :))
-ella and friends' lemonade stand this past Saturday (they only charged $3 a glass!)
-ella's picture on the fridge she made special for her mom
-the kids compassion keeps her fighting...they minister to her
-nurses named Tammy!!
-praying with her kids...asking for just our daily bread
-magnets reminding her to hope from Amy
-adorable cheetah hat from Sherri
-facebook messages on her wall
-texts texts texts!
-sunflowers

From Jesus Today:
Sometimes My Sovereign Hand - My control over your life - places you in humbling circumstances.  You feel held down, and powerless to change things.  You long to break free and feel in control of your life once again.  Although this is an uncomfortable position, it is actually a good place to be.  Your discomfort awakens you from the slumber of routine and reminds you that I am in charge of your life.  It also presents you with an important choice: You can lash out at your circumstances - resenting My ways with you - or you can draw closer to Me.  When you are suffering, your need for me is greater than ever.  The more you choose to come near Me, affirming your trust in Me, the more you can fine HOPE in My unfailing love.  You can even learn to be joyful in HOPE while waiting in My Presence -- where Joy abounds.  Persevere in trusting Me, and I will eventually lift you up.  Meanwhile cast all your anxiety on Me, knowing that I care for you affectionatly and am watching over you continually.

Prayer requests for this week:
1.  For the transfusion today to boost her platelets, energy and spirit
2.  For the CT scan coming up
3.  For the next chemo treatment to not be as hard on her
4.  For this new regimine to be shrinking tumors
5.  For rest and appetite
6.  For us to always glorify God
7.  For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always



 

quick update...

Put your Hope in Me, and My unfailing Love will rest upon you.  Some of My children have forgotten how to hope.  They have been disappointed so many times that they don't want to risk being let down again.  So they forge ahead stoically--living mechanically.  Other people put their hope in problem solving, medical treatments, the stock market, the lottery and so on.  But I challenge you to place your hope fully in Me...the more you put your hope in Me, the more My Love-Light shines upon you--brightening your day.  Remember that I am with you continually, and I Myself am your HOPE!  Jesus Today by Sarah Young

Have HOPE Team Kelly!  Let His Love-Light shine!!  Please keep Kelly and Jason in your prayers as she starts a new chemo treatment tomorrow at 9:30am.  Her CT is scheduled for Friday at 10:00am.   

Team Kelly, Are you looking for an opportunity to give AND receive??

If so…..pay attention to the details below:

What? Family “Mini” Photo Shoots

When? Saturday, May 4^th from 3-7 pm

Location? Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, Plano, TX

Contact: Jena Demler by Sat. Apr. 20th

214-563-2466 or demlerj@friscoisd.org

***50% of all proceeds will be 

donated to Team Kelly***

2-3 local photographers will be lovingly donating their time and energy to making this as successful as possible in support of Kelly, Jason, Will, Ben, Sam and Ella Stewart.

Cost: $50 for 15 minutes. $25 goes to Team Kelly

(Emma and Alaina, I'm so sorry... Kelly told me that Emma gave her the Easter lily.  And Alaina prayed for Kelly in San Antonio.)  

she is brave...

Our hearts are heavy right now, Team Kelly.  We know that the cancer is causing the discomfort in her tummy, but she still hasn't had any relief or rest.  Dr. Savin is referring her to a pain specialist to see if we can get her feeling better.  Her tumor marker has climbed and he recommends getting back on an intravenous chemo.  The treatment will be 2 weeks in a row (only 2 hours in the chemo lab each time) and then a week off.  She will do a CT scan before she starts the chemo...hopefully tomorrow but possibly Thursday.  


Jesus Calling today:
I promise to meet all your needs.  And while you may not realize it, your greatest need is for My Peace.  I am the gardener of your heart, planting seeds of peace.  But the world also tosses in seeds.  These seeds grow into weeds of pride, worry, and selfishness.  If these weeds aren't ripped out quickly, they will choke out all of your peace.  I get rid of those weeds in different ways.  Sometimes, when you sit quietly in prayer, My light shines on the weeds and they shrivel up.  But other times, I use troubles to encourage you to trust Me.  And that trust kills the weeds.  So thank me for troubles. as well as joys.  Because I use them both to make your heart My garden of Peace.

Thank you Team Kelly for helping us rip out the weeds.  You do this with your cards in the mail, gift cards just because, easter lilies you donate in her honor, jewelry adorned with Hope, handmade necklaces of yarn, and so so much more.  Kelly (and all of us) love you deeply.  For you are God's light shining upon us!

LeAnne at Biloxi Beach :)

Jason and Kelly's nephew Brandon has his own company...Stewart Farms Bucking Bulls!  They are big TEAM KELLY fans!!  

If you want a shirt, let us know!  $10 each

Beautiful cuff from Krystal

Easter lily from...Alaina :)

Some specific prayer requests for now:
1.  For Kelly to get some relief and rest...she needs this desperately in order to fight
2.  Pray for the decisions she and Jason have to make in treatment options  
3.  Pray for Dr. Savin to gain wisdom from the Ultimate Physician
4.  For Kelly's spirit and for her to be brave in knowing she has all of us praying for her, and a loving God taking care of her
5.  Keep our Hope in Him, and in all that we do...may we bring glory to Him
6.  For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always


Ps...
Did you know the name "Kelly" means BRAVE?  Funny that she has told us numerous times she never thought she could face anything like this.  I guess God knew better.  She loves like Jesus does and SHE IS BRAVE!