Prayers needed!

Hi friends!  Some of you know this already but some don't - I thought this would be the easiest way to put it out there for you guys...

My family needs your prayers.  On February 2, Roxy (Eric and Chelsea's dog) jumped out of the car and Eric tried to catch her, hurting his arm in the process.  His arm never felt better so after about two or three months, he finally went and got it checked out at his doctor's office.  The doc suggested physical therapy for a strained muscle.  PT didnt cause any improvements so he went back to the dr. office for an x-ray - they thought maybe it was broken and wasn't healing.  They got a phone call Friday night from the dr saying that the x-ray looked unusual and that it could be osteo sarcoma - bone cancer.  They told my parents and Eric's parents on Friday night and told me on Saturday morning.  We prayed for the next several days that it wasn't cancer but I got a text from Chelsea on Wednesday morning (May 8) confirming that the doctor called and it was in fact cancer.  I took it really hard and got a ride to Kalamazoo and spent the day with my mom distracting each other and praying with each other in cycles.  Wednesday afternoon, Chels and Eric and Eric's parents went to the onocologist for their first appointment.  Me and my parents drove back up to GR and had dinner with them.  Chelsea and Eric are handling this SO well!!  It's really amazing and an answer to prayer!!  So the facts from Wednesday's appointment are as follows: 

- it's treatable and BEATABLE! Praise the LORD
- there are two types of cancer that it could be - Osteosarcoma or Ewing's Sarcoma.  We want it to be Osteosarcoma because it's more treatable.  It looks like Osteosarcoma so we are very hopeful that the final diagnosis will be this "good" news but until we get that news, please pray that it's osteosarcoma!
- this type of cancer is incredibley rare and very aggressive.  There are only 800 cases in the US annually - 1 in 1-2 million people get this cancer.  GR is one of relatively few locations that has doctors who are knowledgeable with this cancer!  AND their oncologist is a Christian!
- Eric's arm isn't broken - this is really a miracle because of the rough PT that he went through.  His bone is really really vulnerable and could easily break.  We do NOT want this to happen because then the cancer would spill out and contaminate the clean tissues in his arm and the only option would be to amputate.  Please pray that his arm will be safe and remain unbroken for the next three months!
- since Roxy hurt Eric, this was caught relatively early. Roxy is our miracle dog becuase there would have been no symptoms for another couple months and it would have been really really bad.  So again, PRAISE the LORD that this was caught early!!
- Eric had an etire body bone scan yesterday to see if the cancer spread anywhere else or if it was contained in his arm.  They heard back from the oncologist this afternoon saying that it looked like a clean scan (contained in the arm)!!!!! The radiologist will have to confirm but I feel like the doc wouldnt have said anything unless he was pretty positive so I am SO HAPPY about this news today!!! 
- he had the biopsy today and it was an actual surgery instead of just a needle because they didnt want to contaminate the healthy tissue when they pulled the needle out.  Please pray for a speedy and relatively painless recovery - the doctor said it would be painful but God has the power to heal quickly!
- they are waiting on the results to all of these tests and then they will be moving forward with chemo - most likely next week or the following week.
- chemo will go on for 3 months to shrink the cancer, then they will schedule surgery and remove that part of his bone and replace it with either a cadaver bone or a bone out of his own leg or a metal rod (least desirable option), then 2-3 months for recovery from the surgery, then another 5 months of chemo. 

Most of these things are self-explanitory when it comes to what kinds of things to pray for but I want to add a few things :)  Please pray for Chelsea - she needs strength and peace and support for the coming year.  Please pray for Eric as he is going to be more than miserable for the next year of his life and he's nervous about the pain and the recovery.  Like I said, they have been doing amazingly well so far but it's going to be so exhausting for them! :( 

That's pretty much my update haha!  I have to go now but thank you in advance for your prayers!! 

invitación

April 30, 2013

James Dykstra
5319 Woodmont Dr.
Portage, Michigan 49002

Dear James,

Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to begin training in Mexico for Peace Corps service. You will be joining thousands of Americans who are building stronger communities around the world. This call to action gives you the opportunity to learn new skills and to find the best in yourself.

...




Volunteer Assignment Description
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Core Expectations
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Volunteer Handbook
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On the Home Front
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Mexico Welcome Book
http://www.peacecorps.gov/welcomebooks/mxwb510.pdf