Judith has made a couple of difficult decisions over the last couple of weeks.

She has decided that she is not pursuing any more treatment. The gamma knife treatment was not what she expected and was not a positive experience.

Judith has also decided to stop working. Her last day at Cortex will be December 24th.

Aunt Juicy is traveling to Seattle next week to spend time with her mom, her sisters, nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends. She is also having a going away party with her Cortex family.

Judy's contact information is located at the top of the blog.

Please continue to keep Judy & Michael in your prayers this Holiday Season.

God bless each of you.

Treatment

Judith will undergo a gamma knife procedure on Wednesday, Novmeber 17th first thing in the morning. Please keep her in your prayers.

A Poem from Judith

No One Had to Tell You

To sit with me before my first surgery so many years ago and help me understand I will forever be your little girl.

Your immediate reaction would be to jump in the car and drive across the desert to be by my side. Hearing from you every few days would be so important, especially to include “Exercise your brain hints.”

To come see me, regardless of the rules, because if you didn’t do it then, when would you have the chance?

To put your life on hold for a week, no questions asked, no future obligations. Created how to coordinate visits, share your love and laughter at a time it meant so much.

To sleep on the floor next to me until we could share our bed together again.

How much healing can take place through Mac-n-Cheese and green beans.

The comfort I took with me to treatment each day via the prayer shawl. How it would feel the love of so many at the same time would envelope me.

How prayers from people I know and those of who I have yet to meet would make such a difference. How cards and flowers and gifts would fill the emptiness that crept into our days.

The importance of helping me pack.

How much it meant to take me in when I had no home and to endure the howling of cats for 6 hours.

How tough it would to get me and my cats from Fresno to Spokane.

How amazing the weekly prayer call has become.

I love you my family and friends.

Health Update

Judith had an MRI last Tuesday and the results showed 3 new cancer spots on her brain close to the original tumor. She has multiple appointments scheduled to meet with her new team of doctors in Spokane. Her first appoinment is tomorrow with a radiologist oncologist and Wednesday's appointment is with the neurologist. Next week on November 8th she has a PET Scan scheduled and she will meet with her oncologist on the 9th to discuss going forward with gamma knife treatments.



Please keep Judith and Michael in your prayers as they will need continued strength and guidance.

Judith & Michael's Tennessee Visit

A couple of weeks ago Judith & Michael went to see Matt & Emily in Tennessee. They had a wonderful time. On Friday, Michael and Matt went on a hike at the Twin Arches and Judith & Emily went to a Mediterranean restaurant where Emily's mom Janice met them for lunch. Emma Claire went every where that Judith and Emily went!!

On Saturday, Michael and Matt went to the family farm in Kentucky to visit Grandpa. There is no bare dirt in Kentucky & Tennessee. You are either looking at a farm or at grass. Judith and Emily went to Barnes and Noble to buy a Blind Boys of Alabama CD because Judith discovered on the airplane trip that the Blind Boys' rendition of Amazing Grace is Michael's favorite. Seredipity at its finest, the worker who helped them knew everything there is to know about the Blind Boy's. Both Judith & Emily purchased a 1950's CD and a more recent one that had Amazing Grace.

On Sunday during the weekly prayer call, Matt oniented both Judith and Michael. Matt placed oil across their foreheads and down to their nose in the form of a cross as both he and Todd prayed for healing. Matt's mom, Mary June was in charge of Emma Claire throughout the prayer call and when Ms. Emma Claire got fussy, she sung her a lullaby in the most amazing voice.

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Judith & Michael got the great news at the end of July that her MRI and PET scan came back clear. Judy will under go another set of tests in October.

They are both settling into their new home in Spokane.

Jude's sight in her left eye is completely gone and her sight in her right eye is not functional, yet she continues to work as much as she can (lots of consulting over the phone).

Please continue to keep Michael and Judith in your prayers. Your continued support means so much to both of them.

After a lot of waiting, Judith and Michael made a total of 5 drives to get their things moved to Spokane. Everyone is settled in including the cats. As of last week, Judith has a new medical oncologist, Dr. Danko. Michael feels that Dr. Danko is a good caregiver. He has already ordered a PET and MRI, which are scheduled for the week of July 12th.

Judith completed a 3-day IV treatment of Solu-Medrol on Thursday, which her neuro-ophthalmology doctor prescribed for her vision. The effects are not immediate and may take up to a year to see any results.

Her and Michael are in the process of relocating to Spokane, Washington where they will live with Michael's parents. They are looking forward to relaxing and getting settled in by the end of the month.

Please continue to keep Michael and Judith in your prayers. Your continued support means so much to both of them.

Update

Here's the latest regarding Judith. Her and Michael decided not to go to UCLA to seek treatment. The new plan is to head to Seattle for treatment after they move to Spokane and get settled. As far as her eyesight is concerned, she will start taking prednisone (steriod) tomorrow in hopes that it will improve the vision in her right eye. It is not anticipated that the steriods will help with her left eye. As a side note, please keep Judith's mom in your prayers as well. Eleanor tripped and fell and sustained a broken leg . Surgery was today.

I have seen a neuro-opthamologist today who confirms that there is damage to my optical nerve. He wants to do further testing. The date of this test is unknown. But, I do know that I have an appointment with a neuro-oncologist @ UCLA on May 13th. Michael and I continue to lean on each other for strength. Thank you for continuing to keep us in your prayers.

Love Judith and Michael

Judith got some good news last week but there are still many questions to be answered.

The best news was that the pathology report indicated that the cancer was not in her cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The tumor was re-sected and the margins were clear. Judith's oncologist does not know why her vision is deteriorating and she has been referred to a neurologist oncologist at UCLA. Judith and Michael are patiently waiting to find out when this appointment will take place as no treat plan can be developed until then.

We are praying for the restoration of Judith's sight. It continues to slowly deteriorate in both eyes. Her left eye has been impacted more than her right. There is a new phone number for the weekly prayer session at 11:00 am - pacific on Sundays: (218) 862-1001 Participant Access Code: 935273#. Please join us.

After a long day waiting to be discharged from the hospital Judith is home and looking forward to sleeping in her own bed. Judith and Michael are going to rest and rejuvenate over the weekend. Judith has an appointment with her doctor on Tuesday to discuss the next step of the journey.

Judy-Jude-Judith slept well last night with Michael's head resting on the bed as he watched over his Sweetpea. Supposedly, no sleep-overs allowed but I am positive Michael would not have taken "no" for an answer.

Judith is out of surgery and is doing well!! The surgeon is confident that he got all cancer cells. She continues to rest. Michael, Patricia, and Cara will get to see her shotrly.

Judy-Jude-Judith just headed into surgery. They anticipate the surgery is going to take 2 hours. Michael, Patricia, and Cara will be able to see her in recovery about an hour after surgery is completed. Please continue to keep her in your prayers!