trust in Jesus...

Kelly's radiologist was not able to put the stent in today.  The pancreas is swollen and there is lots of fluids in her abdomen from the tumor.  However, he was able to place a drain in that will help with all those fluids in her tummy.  The stent can be placed easily once her fluids are drained.  She was so incredibly brave today and yesterday.  Thank you Team Kelly for praying us through this!  

Jesus Calling yesterday...

I am a Mighty God.  Nothing is difficult for Me.  I have chosen to use weak ones like you to accomplish My purposes.  Your weakness is designed to open you up to My Power.  Therefore do not fear your limitations or measure the days demands against your strengths.  What I require of you is to stay connected to Me, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources.  When you face unexpected demands, there is no need to panic.  Remember that I am with you.  Talk with me, and listen while I talk you through each challenging situation.  I am not a careless God.  When I allow difficulties to come into your life, I equip you fully to handle them.  Relax in My Presence, trusting in My strength. 

Elizabeth texted her the lyrics to this old hymn...

it did wonders for her spirit...

Team Kelly decorated her room today too :) ...

TK prayer warriors please pray this...

-pray for her nurses and doctors 

-for her anxiety and spirit

-for the nerve block to continue to work

-for appetite and thirst

-for peace and comfort and restful night's sleep

-for jason

-for kim & kevin, carol & blake, sheila and ken, grand & pa-paw, nana & pops

-for will, ben, sam, ella, blake, brandon, bradley, tatum, jill, cate, cole & meg

nerve block update...

The nerve block procedure went well. Kelly is feeling so much better and is even able to lay flat...it has been weeks since she has actually slept in a bed. Still in some pain and having to manage it but we have hope this nerve block is going to help and keep her fighting! Tomorrow the surgery placing the stint and draining fluid will be under full anesthesia. With that being the case, we feel pretty certain she will stay another night.

Thank you all so much for your persistent cries to our Father. He was with her today and all of us. We feel you prayin' and we love you all. I'm always so moved at the amounts of support Team Kelly gives us. Every single prayer, facebook message, text, visit, card, email, dinner, lunch, picking up kids...each gesture builds her up and helps her spirit renew.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-24

Prayer requests for now...
-for this nerve block to continue to work.
-for the doctors to place the stint with ease and no complications
-for her kiddos as they come to visit her tonight
-thank Him for Joy who made sure the nurses and doctors knew that Kelly is a VIP and took great care of her today
-for jason
-for Team Kelly's prayer warriors...for Him to hear us and comfort us and love us through each day.

Team Kelly...we need your prayers

Kelly is staying over night at medical city tonight and tomorrow. The nerve block procedure will be done tomorrow morning. A CT scan today showed that the tumor is pinching the bile duct. They are going to do another procedure on Wednesday to insert a stint that will open the duct.

Pleas pray this...
-for both procedures to relieve her pain and discomfort.
-for each doctor to have steady hands and no complications.
-for her anxiety and her spirit.
-pray she can sleep and feel God's presence.
-for Jason, Will, Ben, Sam, and Ella...always.

God Listens...

The trip to MD Anderson was really tough on Kelly.  Her pain in her abdomen and chest have increased significantly making the scan physically difficult. It's really painful to lay flat on her back.  That combined with the anxiety, little appetite, and drinking the barium made for a really hard day yesterday.  Today, Dr. Javle told her the mass on the pancreas has increased and there are new lesions on the liver.  His recommendation is to start back on the original chemo (fulfirinox) that she began with over a year ago.  Obviously this isn't what we hoped for, but we do know this chemo works for her.  To help with the pain she is going to try a procedure that will block the nerve ending. He also prescribed some new pain and nausea meds that she hasn't tried yet.  

From Jesus Today by Sarah Young~

I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.  I am with you, all around you -- continually at work in your life.  When your awareness of Me grows dim, My Presence continues to shine brightly upon you.  This Light has immense healing Power.  So ask great things of Me, remembering who I am.  I am able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you ask or think.  Pondering My limitless ability to help you will strengthen your faith and encourage you to pray boldly.  

Praying in My Name -- with perseverance -- can accomplish great things.  Learn from the parable of the persistent widow, who refused to give up.  She kept bringing her petition to a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  Eventually, her persistence wore him down, and he gave her what she sought.  How much more will I respond to My children who cry out to Me day and night!  Though you may have pto wait a long time, do not give up.  For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds.

(Jeremiah 30:17; Ephesians 3:20; Luke 18:1-8; Luke 11:10)

So Team Kelly, keep praying boldly and crying out to our Lord!  She needs to be lifted in a big way.  Her spirit is so down.  She is not going to be able to do this tough treatment without our persistent pleading.  I know He hears us...He even told me so today.  I hadn't looked up since getting in the car from leaving the hospital...texting family and friends til my my fingers cramped.  It was at least 45 minutes of dinging and buzzing and more forwarding... then I looked up to rest my eyes, I saw a billboard that said...

and what an incredible reminder it was to keep prayin'.  

Thank you all for praying today.  Love each and everyone of you!  

 hayden and jack got hope :)

bunch of kids from jen's school prayin' for kelly

kelly's bible study friends came by with a feel good basket :)

 gayla's "ella...you got this..face"!!

caleb prayin' for kel

 

the most amazing group of teachers...EVER!

Keep those prayers comin' Team Kelly.  

Love you all!!

Quick update...MDA this week

Just a quick update...Kelly didn't get treatment last week by her own choice.  She needed a few extra feel good days.  And Dr. Savin was completely fine with that.  She has a CT scan this Wednesday at MD Anderson and an appointment with Dr. Javle on Thursday.  Please keep Jason and Kelly both covered in prayer as they travel to Houston this week.

Please pray this:
1. She is feeling some pain in her abdomen again...pray her doctor can help her with this.
2. Pray for her anxiety
3. For peace and comfort for a good night sleep.
4. For her spirit...she needs some fight in her for this week.
5. Thank Him for team Kelly...who lifts her up each day.
6. For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always


By the way, last week was way better than the week before. Lots of encouragement from her team. Thank you Judy for the amazing seats at the ranger game. Unbelievable that they could all actually go!! And man...was it an incredible game!! GO RANGERS AND GO TEAM KELLY :-)

Hope in an anchor...

Hey there team kelly...she had a much better day today! She is still so tired, but she got out of the house today! She got some fresh chilly air and even drove herself over to see one of her BFFs for a few minutes. She is still struggling with sleep, but her spirit is much better.  We definitely feel you praying. Kelly almost feels guilty for sharing such raw emotions with you because today she feels stonger.  No guilt would He want her to feel...just renewed spirit and restoration so she can fight! Thank you for lifting her up today through your texts, emails, facebook messages, visits, calls and prayers!

This verse has been reminding us of your continued support and our faithful undeniable HOPE!

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.  Hebrews 6:19


Prayer requests for tonight:
1. For sleep and her restlessness to subside!
2. For her appetite post gall bladder surgery...dietary changes etc.
3. For her spirit to keep building!
4. Thank Him for you, Team Kelly, who keeps her fighting!
5. For anxiety over her hair/eyelashes and upcoming treatment.
6. For jason, will, ben, sam and ella...always

Ps. We are working on a new TK shirt! Will let you know when they are available :)

text from kelly...

Some days are harder than others... I got this text in the night from Kelly and knew it was gonna be one of the harder days...

It's 1:30 in morning I can't sleep at all so I will write......
Here are my raw emotions right now.
I am tired. I am tired of hurting from the gall bladder and the surgery. I'm tired of nausea and throwing up. I'm tired of feeling foggy headed. Tired of not wanting anything to drink or eat. I am tired of worrying about my hair falling out again!!! I'm tired of worrying about my eyelashes! I'm tired of worrying about the stupid tumor. I'm tired of worrying about the blood clot and if I have taken my shots today. I am just so tired. It is a kind of tired that can't fight anymore. It's just too hard. My spirits are down and I don't feeling like I can keep doing this. Life will be so much better in heaven.
But then my very next thoughts are..... I have too many people fighting and praying for me to just give up. I have too many friends cheering me on. I have 4 kids that need their mom and a husband I want to grow old with. Life is precious and such a beautiful gift and I want to experience it to its fullest. I do not have time to be sick!!! I have too much to do, to teach, to learn, to see and to experience. I do not want to let any of you down.
Just writing this makes me feel better already. I am going to take this time in the wee early morning to do what I try to teach my kids.....if you can't sleep, pray for all those you know. Please know that I pray for you. Some are heavier on my heart tonight. I am heavy on my own heart. I'm praying for just today. I need to have a good day. For good news. To be a BOLD witness and a fighting spirit for all of us! Thank you God for my friends and my family. Thank you for today!!
And also God, thank you for the lady 30 years older than me at the chemo lounge. Thank you for allowing us to share the same birthday and that our paths crossed again. Thank you for healing her!

On the drive over to Kelly's, we reached out to some of our biggest prayer warriors...knowing it was going to be a heavy hard day.  Once Kim and I got to her house this morning, we discovered Kelly hadn't slept since writing that text.  She was mentally and physically and emotionally exhausted.  We hugged each other tight.  We cried and we prayed hard while holding onto that gold piece of yarn from Nana Gaines.  We took deep breaths and found ways to laugh when we didn't think there would be anything to smile about today.  Amongst all the tears...there were so many blessings our loving Father showed us today.  

As we drove to the chemo lounge to get fluids, we read a blog post (a friend of a friend) who is going through chemo for the first time.  She shared about shaving her head and how difficult it was for her to wear a wig for the first time.  She wrote about how crazy it is that she can wear false eyelashes, colored contacts, tons of make-up, etc...then worry so much about a wig looking natural.  Kelly is losing her hair again with this chemo and as she said above she is really worried about her eyelashes.  Reading this blog after Kim had to give her a buzz cut this morning was no coincidence.  God knew we needed some perspective, some empathy.  In fact, so many things about Jill's blog spoke to us.  Especially when she spoke about forgetting to pray when things are going good and how God orchestrates encounters with complete strangers that benefit both parties giving Him all the Glory!  Thank you Camey for sharing Jill with us today.  

Once we got to the chemo lounge, Tammy had saved our favorite spot...the back corner booth which is the largest with 2 chairs! (cuz kelly always has her entourage with her :))  So the next blessing unfolded quickly...Tammy has told us a couple times about Grace.  She is a young mom battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer just like Kelly.  She was diagnosed in February.  Just as Kelly was a year ago.  She is undergoing treatment with little ones at home.  She wasn't feeling well today and it broke our hearts.  Kelly could see in her eyes how she was feeling...she's been there many times.  Kim and I could identify with her mom...that helpless feeling of just wanting to take it away from her loved one.  Kelly shared with Grace about her experience with treatment and Dr. Savin in hopes to give Grace some hope today.  Another perfectly orchestrated encounter...Grace must have needed that encouragement today and it felt good to give it to her.  To let God's light shine through us and through Kelly's incredible fight.  

Later today, Kelly was blessed with a surprise visit from Trisha...and later on Dawn...some much needed friend time.  Tons of texts from a whole bunch of you loving TK prayer warriors...each one of them offering encouragement and laughter.  They were so good for her soul!   Even now, as she was settling into her bedtime routine, starting to worry about her night and craving sleep without restless tense muscles...Shannon sent her a text saying she was praying for her to get good sleep tonight!  Thank you to Shannon and Marlena for ensuring a good restful night's sleep.  God is taking care of our Kelly.    

So her spirit is broken.  It's time, Team Kelly, for us to build her up.  Let's help her restore that beautiful spirit that warms all of our hearts every time we see Kelly. She has been there for all of us time and time again.  How many times has she blessed you?...with her smile when you were having a good or bad day...with her tight hugs around your neck...with her prayers for you and your family...with her kisses on your babies...with her love-oozing doting compliments to your kids...with her over-exuberant hellos that have probably scared your children at some point!?!  She misses doing these things and so much more. She wants to be enjoying life with her family and all of you.  She wants to feel joy in her heart!  Feeling sorrowful and defeated has taken its toll on her and it is time for us to do something!  Our thoughts today in the chemo lounge were to circle her home while holding hands and lifting her tired worn out spirit to our Lord.  Let's pray fiercely for her spirit to be restored!!  We aren't sure of when we will do this...but very soon we will gather and pray and circle the Stewart home wearing our Team Kelly shirts!!  

Thank you, Team Kelly, for your love and compassion and prayers...always!