Praying Friends,
Our lives have been pretty hectic lately. Cassie's seizures are back and she has been taken out of school. The good side is that the seizures she is having don;t seem to drain her as much physically (but, emotionally . . .another story, of course).
Today, Kris and Cassie are traveling to Anchorage to consult with a neurologist about the possibility of having a Vagal Stimulator inserted inside. Think of it as a "pacemaker" for the brain. I wanted to go but have not been able due to recent sickness and no sick days. This trip is only a consultation.
I just don't have what it takes right now to bring everyone back up to speed about what's going on. I just need you to pray for Kris and Cassie as they travel in heavy snow . . . . and for Cassie as she gets the news about this possibility (Yes or No). We are out of other options now, and the medication rollercoaster has been a big one lately.
Tyler and Chelsie will both be home for Christmas. I hope you are doing well.
We covet your prayers.
Gary
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
We are Still Here! 10/19/06
Dear Praying Friends,
Where to begin?
(This e-mail was actually made up several weeks ago - - but I was having problems sending out "bulk" updates. SPAM for everyone makes life interesting for some of us! I decided not to "re-write anything, just add a few update comments. GH)
Summer ended in July, or so it seems. More rain this year. Days are getting shorter and I find myself saying "Oh, yeah - - this is what it's like to drive in the dark!"
Casse is back in school at Kenai Central High School, taking three classes. Then, two afternoons a week she takes two classes at Kenai Peninsula College. She receives double credit for these classes, both High School and College. And she takes one evening course, Voice, on Tuesday nights (Although she does not consider that a "course”).
But she's not out of the woods yet. She still has a few "events" , unfortunately. They are certainly related to the change in her schedule, and also to the surgery. Both the Neurologist and the Surgeon continue to re-assure us, saying we need to let thing progress as they are for the first year after surgery. I guess if it takes a year or better to fully recover from major heart surgery, we shouldn't be surprised at this for major brain surgery. Cassie is being incredible about this. Know how she reasons it all out? She told me yesterday, "I used to take these things in stride as they came along, many times every day. Now, they really 'shake me up' because I'm just not as used to having them. That's a good thing!"
UPDATE 10/19- Cassie had a pretty prounounced seizure today when she was with Kris. They are looking at adding some medication, and we are not in a real good frame of mind right now. You know I try to be frank in my updates, and frankly, we are really worn paper-thin right now and having a hard time dealing with it. We need your prayers.)
Chelsie is absolutely loving her time in Juneau, at University of Alaska Southeast. It sounds like that city and her personality go hand-in-glove. She is plugged in to a small church and has good friends and enjoys the services there. We are so proud of her.
Tyler is working for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation at a mine called "Red Dog" up near Kotzebue, Alaska. He's in the middle of a 6 week/12 Hour -a-day rotation! He seems to be doing well. Doesn't talk too much about the Lord with us, but he still tells us both he loves us when we talk on the phone (via that delayed, walkie-talkie-like satellite relay).
At ACC, there are 39 students on campus. Between now and Thanksgiving is really important. It's not unusual to see several leave because they just can’t handle being away from their small villages. One has gone home already since the beginning of the year. About a third of the students are returning from last year, living on campus and taking classes towards degrees at Kenai Peninsula College. Cassie has class with several of them! You know, Kris and I really miss flying here and there, to all the remote village, but we also see the incredible value of being here, investing in these student's lives.
Pray for Kris. Her job is still only part time, and because of this is more administrative and less mentoring. But we just think that's what we need to do right now. Oh yes, did I fail to mention? Kris is helping Cassie finish up two home school classes as well.
I am continuing to make up the difference by doing computer work. My home network has become my test lab for servers and programs, problem solving and troubleshooting network difficulties. The network I have set up at home is probably more sophisticated than most of the small to mid sized businesses here on the peninsula. My family is very patient, and they take being subjects in my test lab very well. By the way, I have added web hosting and domain registrations to my list of services. I'm just reselling a national hosting provider. But anything that can help is good. Let me know if you are interested. And you should see some of the things I can accomplish right from the chair in my office - - - remote administration of others networks is very cool. Get this - - I have even logged onto other computers from my Pocket PC phone! And to think, when we came to Alaska I was thinking of getting away from all of this (Yeah, right - I'm a gadget guy! I know. )
UPDATE 10/19/06 - I have accepted a job offer to work for the State of Alaska, as the "IT guy" at the correctional facility here in Kenai. Pray for the transition. I start Friday.
The Lord is simply amazing. When we give, He gives, when we hold back, He still gives but we don't recognize it as that. Like I have said before, Ministry is only ministry when it is a result of an overflow of our own relationship with God. Sure, he can use the things we do in our own strength for his glory - - he can use the rocks for his glory, after all. But when we are filled to overflowing, and see things happening - - - then it's true, God honoring ministry. And because we know it's from the overflow of our relationship with God, we can’t take credit for it, can we?
UPDATE 10/19 - I still mean that, even after today.
Kris can be e-mailed at maudy@gkharris.com Cassie is forgiven_free@hotmail.com
Have a great weekend!
Where to begin?
(This e-mail was actually made up several weeks ago - - but I was having problems sending out "bulk" updates. SPAM for everyone makes life interesting for some of us! I decided not to "re-write anything, just add a few update comments. GH)
Summer ended in July, or so it seems. More rain this year. Days are getting shorter and I find myself saying "Oh, yeah - - this is what it's like to drive in the dark!"
Casse is back in school at Kenai Central High School, taking three classes. Then, two afternoons a week she takes two classes at Kenai Peninsula College. She receives double credit for these classes, both High School and College. And she takes one evening course, Voice, on Tuesday nights (Although she does not consider that a "course”).
But she's not out of the woods yet. She still has a few "events" , unfortunately. They are certainly related to the change in her schedule, and also to the surgery. Both the Neurologist and the Surgeon continue to re-assure us, saying we need to let thing progress as they are for the first year after surgery. I guess if it takes a year or better to fully recover from major heart surgery, we shouldn't be surprised at this for major brain surgery. Cassie is being incredible about this. Know how she reasons it all out? She told me yesterday, "I used to take these things in stride as they came along, many times every day. Now, they really 'shake me up' because I'm just not as used to having them. That's a good thing!"
UPDATE 10/19- Cassie had a pretty prounounced seizure today when she was with Kris. They are looking at adding some medication, and we are not in a real good frame of mind right now. You know I try to be frank in my updates, and frankly, we are really worn paper-thin right now and having a hard time dealing with it. We need your prayers.)
Chelsie is absolutely loving her time in Juneau, at University of Alaska Southeast. It sounds like that city and her personality go hand-in-glove. She is plugged in to a small church and has good friends and enjoys the services there. We are so proud of her.
Tyler is working for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation at a mine called "Red Dog" up near Kotzebue, Alaska. He's in the middle of a 6 week/12 Hour -a-day rotation! He seems to be doing well. Doesn't talk too much about the Lord with us, but he still tells us both he loves us when we talk on the phone (via that delayed, walkie-talkie-like satellite relay).
At ACC, there are 39 students on campus. Between now and Thanksgiving is really important. It's not unusual to see several leave because they just can’t handle being away from their small villages. One has gone home already since the beginning of the year. About a third of the students are returning from last year, living on campus and taking classes towards degrees at Kenai Peninsula College. Cassie has class with several of them! You know, Kris and I really miss flying here and there, to all the remote village, but we also see the incredible value of being here, investing in these student's lives.
Pray for Kris. Her job is still only part time, and because of this is more administrative and less mentoring. But we just think that's what we need to do right now. Oh yes, did I fail to mention? Kris is helping Cassie finish up two home school classes as well.
I am continuing to make up the difference by doing computer work. My home network has become my test lab for servers and programs, problem solving and troubleshooting network difficulties. The network I have set up at home is probably more sophisticated than most of the small to mid sized businesses here on the peninsula. My family is very patient, and they take being subjects in my test lab very well. By the way, I have added web hosting and domain registrations to my list of services. I'm just reselling a national hosting provider. But anything that can help is good. Let me know if you are interested. And you should see some of the things I can accomplish right from the chair in my office - - - remote administration of others networks is very cool. Get this - - I have even logged onto other computers from my Pocket PC phone! And to think, when we came to Alaska I was thinking of getting away from all of this (Yeah, right - I'm a gadget guy! I know. )
UPDATE 10/19/06 - I have accepted a job offer to work for the State of Alaska, as the "IT guy" at the correctional facility here in Kenai. Pray for the transition. I start Friday.
The Lord is simply amazing. When we give, He gives, when we hold back, He still gives but we don't recognize it as that. Like I have said before, Ministry is only ministry when it is a result of an overflow of our own relationship with God. Sure, he can use the things we do in our own strength for his glory - - he can use the rocks for his glory, after all. But when we are filled to overflowing, and see things happening - - - then it's true, God honoring ministry. And because we know it's from the overflow of our relationship with God, we can’t take credit for it, can we?
UPDATE 10/19 - I still mean that, even after today.
Kris can be e-mailed at maudy@gkharris.com Cassie is forgiven_free@hotmail.com
Have a great weekend!
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Our 25th Anniversary Was Great!
Praying Friends,
We asked for good weather for our 25th, and we really got it. Thank you for praying. A picture speaks a thousand words - - - - so point your browser HERE for about 100,000 words worth of pictures.
Monday, July 31, 2006
Summer Fun - Really
Dear Loved Ones,
In just a few days we will be celebrating 3 months since Cassie’s surgery. I’m thrilled beyond words to tell you she is doing better and better everyday. The sparkle is back in her beautiful eyes and she is so ornery I sometimes think I’ll have to “sit on her” good before long. Our GOD is the One to be praised and thanked-join us in our songs of praise and thanksgiving. I heard myself telling someone this evening, “Gary and I feel like we can finally let our breath out and relax a little.” Cassie and I have been working somewhat diligently on her school work this past 6 weeks-it is very difficult to be consistent in the summer time! Still, I can honestly see improvement since we started in her ability to retain what she reads and to process the thoughts.
Cassie participated in a community Christian concert this evening at the Kenai Central High School. She signed for two songs. The whole concert was wonderful! It was especially exciting to see so many young people truly praising the Lord with their songs. After the concert Cassie had another “first” since her surgery. I dropped her off for the cast party and left her all by herself with her peers. Believe me, this is harder for me than it will ever be for her!
Meanwhile, Chelsie, our oldest daughter, will be flying to Juneau, Alaska around the 26th of August. She will be attending University of Alaska (SouthEast Campus) and she is so excited about college. Gary and I are praising and thanking the Lord that a family from our church has moved to Juneau for this coming year and will be close by if Chelsie needs a touch of home while she is at college. Please keep Chelsie in your prayers. We have loved every moment we have been able to spend with our beautiful daughter this summer-though they have been few and far between. Work at a cannery doesn’t leave much time for socializing and Chelsie being who she is, when she gets some socializing time she is on the go. We wouldn’t change a thing about her-we just miss her and love her so much!!Ty, 0ur oldest, was planning to move to Oregon sometime in August, but it would seem he is changing his mind. He told me today he thinks he will stick around a little longer--get his own place and maybe even try to get on with one of the other oil companies in the area. Currently he works for a company that provides service contracts to some of these companies but he is hoping to find steadier work and build up a good savings before leaving Alaska. And here I was thinking he wouldn’t be showing signs of real maturity for another couple of years! Shame on me!! Still, we covet your prayers and thank you with all our hearts for keeping our precious Son before the Lord. We see signs of tenderness towards the Lord from time to time, but nothing life altering as of today.
Speaking of oilfield - - - Gary and I were priviledged to be invited on a VIP tour of ConocoPhillips Alaska Pipeline facility at Kuparuk, Alaska. That's way up on the North Slope. We were flown up and spent the day. It was fascinating. So, next time you hear about the Alaska Oil pipeline, just think that we were right there touring the facility where it all comes up out of the ground. The picture included is of a true "Fly-by" of Mt McKinley on the way up. Since this was a VIP flight, the plane actually turned around and flew back past so everyone on both sides could get a good picture.
Gary is going full boar, none stop from the minute he gets up in the morning until the time he finally falls into bed at night. We praise God for the added work for Gary-it means more income for our family (yippee!!!). But, as his wife, who loves him dearly, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for his ability to turn off the work and rest in the evenings. By the end of the week his mind and body are exhausted. And he is still teaching a wonderful Sunday School class every Sunday at our church. We are studying the Pauline Epistles, Ephesians at this time. I always knew God had gifted him with the ability to teach-it is so wonderful to sit under his teaching and to just see him shine.
Me? Well, I feel like a little butterfly who flits from one task to another. As I look back over my summer I have a hard time seeing a whole lot of fruit for my labor-but I am surely worn out when I finally go to bed every night. This has been a wonderful summer for me. I’m only working a few hours a week at New Hope until about the middle of August. So I have had lots of time to work in my yard, play my piano, visit with friends, help Cassie with school work, clean my carpets(!!), catch Salmon (and fillet them AND freeze them - see picture), take naps, take walks and bike rides. God is good! If you think about it, you can pray I’ll adjust quickly to my new schedule in about 3 weeks. I’ll have to actually be presentable and at work by 9:00 a.m. 4 mornings a week!
Gary and I are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next week, August 8th. We will be acting sort of "tourist-y" by going to Seward, Alaska and spending an evening in a local B & B and then taking a Kenai Fjords tour the next day - - - something I have wanted to do from the first day we arrived here in Alaska 8 years ago!
We love you very much. Thank you for your prayers, and for those of you who live close by, thank you for your hugs and smiles. This has been a difficult year for the us. But we KNOW Our Redeemer Lives and He has surrounded us with wonderful godly people who have been there for us in our times of deepest need. May we all live to bring glory to our God and to shine brightly to the world around us-for He is coming soon.
God Bless,
Kris
Thursday, June 29, 2006
We Need Your Prayers
Dear Friends,
As you see by this e-mail, I have a new e-mail address, gharris@gkharris.com Both Kris and I still have our akcc.org e-mail addresses as well. gary@akcc.org and kris@akcc.org Kris does a better job at keeping her Alaska Christian College for "work" and her other one for home. One computer there, another computer here. Never the twain shall meet. But me? I just can't split myself up that way. In some ways that's good. In other ways I have a harder time turning off at the end of the day.
Kris' GCI address will also go away. Her new e-mail address will be maudy@gkharris.com . I am tired of being locked into one provider via the e-mail address. With our own domain, gkharris.com, we are free of that.The domain is also home for the computer business I do on the side.
It's strange. This change is causing me alot of stress. I have had my old e-mail address for 8 years! I'm so glad that God's address never changes, or that HE has no need for any sort of "Out of the Office" reply. He's always there!! AMEN?
Continue in prayer for Cassie. Her recovery is doing well. She still has bad days and needs alot of sleep. Kris has taken on more of a load helping Cassie with her school work. Cassie is getting pretty tired of being pretty tired. Here are some specific requests:
1. Pray Cassie will be able to get to sleep earlier. Sleep has always been hard for her. As it is now, no matter how hard she tries, she can't get to sleep until 1 am or later. We have stopped trying to take her off any of her medications for now. That had a real adverse effect on her. Patience! We need that in bucketfuls!
2. Pray for Cassie especially on Sundays. We do whatever we can to make it work so she can sleep late most days. But we all want to be at church on Sunday and the earlier morning always seems harder on her.
3. Pray for Kris' summer schedule. Things slow down quite a bit at the Counseling Center. Right now, that's very good for Cassie's sake. But Kris has replaced some of her time at the school with helping Cassie with school work. Cassie is still having a hard time in this area.
Praise the Lord that all of our kids are around this summer. Chelsie's back home preparing for school in Juneau in the fall. She's working at a cannery and enjoying her friends. Tyler moved out of his apartment and is back with us for a while while he finsihes out the summer with is 2 week on 2 week off roustabout job. From there, he's not sure what he will be doing. It's good to have him around.
Praise for great support we have had and are continuing to have through all of this from folks like you. We have been through alot together,
Praise the Lord for my computer business. With Cassie, we have really had to put continued fund raising on hold. Kris has also gone to part time status so she can spend the time needed with Cassie - - Being able to do computer work and not feeling like I'm forsaking ministry . . . . .God has been very patient with me!
God bless all of you.
Gary and Kris
As you see by this e-mail, I have a new e-mail address, gharris@gkharris.com Both Kris and I still have our akcc.org e-mail addresses as well. gary@akcc.org and kris@akcc.org Kris does a better job at keeping her Alaska Christian College for "work" and her other one for home. One computer there, another computer here. Never the twain shall meet. But me? I just can't split myself up that way. In some ways that's good. In other ways I have a harder time turning off at the end of the day.
Kris' GCI address will also go away. Her new e-mail address will be maudy@gkharris.com . I am tired of being locked into one provider via the e-mail address. With our own domain, gkharris.com, we are free of that.The domain is also home for the computer business I do on the side.
It's strange. This change is causing me alot of stress. I have had my old e-mail address for 8 years! I'm so glad that God's address never changes, or that HE has no need for any sort of "Out of the Office" reply. He's always there!! AMEN?
Continue in prayer for Cassie. Her recovery is doing well. She still has bad days and needs alot of sleep. Kris has taken on more of a load helping Cassie with her school work. Cassie is getting pretty tired of being pretty tired. Here are some specific requests:
1. Pray Cassie will be able to get to sleep earlier. Sleep has always been hard for her. As it is now, no matter how hard she tries, she can't get to sleep until 1 am or later. We have stopped trying to take her off any of her medications for now. That had a real adverse effect on her. Patience! We need that in bucketfuls!
2. Pray for Cassie especially on Sundays. We do whatever we can to make it work so she can sleep late most days. But we all want to be at church on Sunday and the earlier morning always seems harder on her.
3. Pray for Kris' summer schedule. Things slow down quite a bit at the Counseling Center. Right now, that's very good for Cassie's sake. But Kris has replaced some of her time at the school with helping Cassie with school work. Cassie is still having a hard time in this area.
Praise the Lord that all of our kids are around this summer. Chelsie's back home preparing for school in Juneau in the fall. She's working at a cannery and enjoying her friends. Tyler moved out of his apartment and is back with us for a while while he finsihes out the summer with is 2 week on 2 week off roustabout job. From there, he's not sure what he will be doing. It's good to have him around.
Praise for great support we have had and are continuing to have through all of this from folks like you. We have been through alot together,
Praise the Lord for my computer business. With Cassie, we have really had to put continued fund raising on hold. Kris has also gone to part time status so she can spend the time needed with Cassie - - Being able to do computer work and not feeling like I'm forsaking ministry . . . . .God has been very patient with me!
God bless all of you.
Gary and Kris
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Wow- Has It Really Been That Long? 6/10/06
Praying friends,
Has it really been three weeks since our last post? And, can it be? This entry does not contain "Cassie" in the title? What's going on? Well, we guess that means that we are starting to re-focus a bit on regular life, so-to-speak.
We are throwing this picture of us taken by some friends on a recent hike. See? Life does seem to be getting back to normal! This was are first real time out since Seattle. Boy, was it fun! Don't we look like a couple of tourists, or what?
Cassie is doing well. It's been over just over a month since here surgery, and she is doing better every day. It seems a bit see-sawish at times, however. The combination of sometimes "forgetting" that she is still recovering, and medication madness - - is a pretty good one-two punch.
There are days when all is well and Cassie has a pretty normal routine. And then there are days when she seems to pay for the over-exertion from the day before. PRAY that we will take however big or small steps we need to take in this. PRAISE the Lord that she has had no seizure episodes.
And we never really thought too much about what it would be like taking her OFF medications - - meds she has been on in one form or another for 4 years. It's more than just a gradual reduction that is the problem. We were used to that un the OFF/ON routine of weaning off of one med and onto another. One of her afternoon meds was cut down quite a bit. No problem. But cutting down the morning med a similar amount sent her in a nausea tailspin all day!And she has also had a few other problems, also related to medication reduction. On top of all that, taking her off Anti-seizure meds also can cause seizures . . . . And you know how confusing that would be. It feels like an old combat movie where we are walking in a mine field . . . . Moving along cautiously a few steps at a time. PRAISE the lord that there seem to be more good days than bad days nowadays.
Things at Alaska Christian College slow quite a bit in the summer. Kris is just in a few hours at New Hope Counseling Center a couple a days a week. ACC Students are most all home for the summer. Work teams will be coming and going all summer. PRAISE the Lord for the end of a great year of a great group of students. Future leaders in native communities across the state.
Gary is still teaching an Adult Sunday School Class. Finishing up Gatatians and moving into Ephesians in two weeks (He's always wanted to do Gods Electric Power Company - Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians - straight through). He has also been voted back on the Elder Board at church. He server for a three year term once before and has been off for a few years. He was recently honored at a LOVE INC (Love In The Name of Christ of the Kenai Peninsula) banquet recently, for all the computer work he donates to that organization.
PRAY that Gary will be able to continue making some money doing computer work. Our support is down a bit, but Gary does best when out in the world, anyway. He really enjoys it. Keeps him sharp, spiritually - - always being ready to give a reason for the hope that is in him!
Finances are always a challenge. But only in that we lack faith to believe that God will care for us. We are "scooping up the manna - - one day at a time." His provision is always there.
PRAISE - Chelsie, our oldest daughter, is back from a year in Indiana, already working at the Cannery she worked at last Summer. She surprised Kris on her Birthday! She had told everyone that she was staying in Indiana for the summer - - just so she could surprise Kris. Gary would say how that just wasn't right, but she sucked him up in her little scheme the week before. This picture was taken shortly after the surprise!
We love each of you. Thank you for sticking with us. We are not out of the woods yet in regards to Cassie. But . . . . Out of the woods, in the woods, Hollywood, or the backwoods . . . . God is good, all the time!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Cassie Update 5/18/06
Praying Friends,
A short but "Thank You" full update!
Cassie has been able to keep most of her food down for several days and has been making a few "Rare sightings" appearances around town as she has been out with Kris on several errands the last two days. Her first "I'm hungry" for meal was for a Subway sandwich!
Hopefully, she will even be up to being at Church this next Sunday!
Each day is just a bit better than the day before, and, although still in pain and unsteady on her feet, the "smile is coming back to her eyes."
Tomorrow, Kris and I will be able to go on a hike with some friends from church, and another friend will come and spend the day with Cassie.
Tuesday of next week is a big day. Cassie will have her stiches taken out in the morning and then we will drive to Anchorage (3+ hours) where she will receive her two week post-surgery review. Cassie will be able to sleep most of the trip there and back - - - but pray that she will have the stamina for the trip.
Some of you have given specific gifts to help us thru this time. We are very grateful for God's provision and your sensitivity to our needs. The neatest thing is that Kris will be able to spend most of her time between now and the end of the Month with Cassie, and only show up at New Hope off and on.
Thank you for sticking with us through all of this. Cassie is still my number 1 hero, but all of you who pray and partner with us in ministry deserve "honorable mention." God bless you. He is good - - all the time.
Gary Harris
A short but "Thank You" full update!
Cassie has been able to keep most of her food down for several days and has been making a few "Rare sightings" appearances around town as she has been out with Kris on several errands the last two days. Her first "I'm hungry" for meal was for a Subway sandwich!
Hopefully, she will even be up to being at Church this next Sunday!
Each day is just a bit better than the day before, and, although still in pain and unsteady on her feet, the "smile is coming back to her eyes."
Tomorrow, Kris and I will be able to go on a hike with some friends from church, and another friend will come and spend the day with Cassie.
Tuesday of next week is a big day. Cassie will have her stiches taken out in the morning and then we will drive to Anchorage (3+ hours) where she will receive her two week post-surgery review. Cassie will be able to sleep most of the trip there and back - - - but pray that she will have the stamina for the trip.
Some of you have given specific gifts to help us thru this time. We are very grateful for God's provision and your sensitivity to our needs. The neatest thing is that Kris will be able to spend most of her time between now and the end of the Month with Cassie, and only show up at New Hope off and on.
Thank you for sticking with us through all of this. Cassie is still my number 1 hero, but all of you who pray and partner with us in ministry deserve "honorable mention." God bless you. He is good - - all the time.
Gary Harris
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Cassie Update - The Long Haul 5/11/06
Praying Friends,
First, I just have to share with you the experiences of our trip home to Kenai, From Seattle.
As you know, Kris and I had to travel separately. I tried it get on their flight by changing my return flight, but it was full. I was just a bit disappointed by this, by I took consolation in the fact that I could wait for them at the Gate area in Anchorage, and make sure the wheel chair was waiting.
The Taxi driver who got them to Seattle went out of his way to help and the wheelchair there was brought out to curb side and they were helped out curbside with their baggage.
Once I arrived at Anchorage I checked on this twice. Yes, I was told, the wheelchair request was in the system. By the time their flight came it there were two of them sitting and the gate.
Their flight came in and the attendant took the two wheelchairs down. Eventually, they came up, but without Cassie! I told the agent assisting with the people getting of the plane that I was Cassie's father. As it turns out, they were one wheelchair short and she was trying to get another one. She let me go down to the plane to wait with Kris and Cassie.
As it turns out, there was a connection flight that didn't make it to Seattle on time and there were 44 empty seats on this as a result. But the cool thing was that having all these seats meant that Cassie could lie down, three across, at the rear of the plane. So keep this in mind next time your flight is late. Who knows what might be happening somewhere up the line. For us, 44 people missing their connecting flight meant relative comfort for Cassie on the 3.5 hour trip to Anchorage.
We flew in a small 9 seat Navaho from the flight to Kenai from Anchorage. It was a good day, and the bumps were minimal. Usually in a smaller plane like that, there's always something bumpy out over the Inlet, even if just a bit. Not for us. The ride was great, and Cassie was able to sleep most of the 40 minute flight.
There were friends at the airport in Kenai to help with baggage and our car was waiting for us in short term parking. We were home, and Cassie was in bed, by 5:30 or so, Tuesday afternoon.
I titled this update the "Long Haul" because it appears pretty evident at this point that Cassie's recovery is going to take a bit longer than last time. The end result was exactly what they expected, but they had a bit tougher time at it than planned. In the first operation last August, they mentioned nothing about blood loss. but this time they told ups about it. This was what was causing the pain in her neck, if you recall.
And for us, after experiencing a previous recovery, we knew that Cassie was going to be slower at coming around this time. Everything is fine as far as what she can/can't do as a result of the hemispherectomy. That's simply incredible!.But she is much weaker, he neck hurts terribly, and eating anything usually results in her vomiting. However, she seems to hold down most of what she eats or drinks (sports drinks, fruit juices, fruit). Unfortunately, the best pain medication she takes and makes her nauseous - so she only takes that one in the evening. In addition, she is on all her anti-seizure meds, antibiotics, and anti-nausea medication.
It hurts seeing her lying there in pain. But this hurt is mixed with the joyfulness of her simply being there with everything in order, if you know what I mean.
We encourage those of you who are local who would like to, to stop by and say hello. Call first, but visitors would be good. We could use some company, also. Kris and I plan on working some out in our yard today, cleaning up from winter. It feels good, and beats sitting around a hospital room for a week.
Pray that Cassie will eat, that she ill keep down what she eats, and that she will eat more than fruit. Pray that she will sleep, and that the pain in her neck and head will subside.
Thanks
Gary
First, I just have to share with you the experiences of our trip home to Kenai, From Seattle.
As you know, Kris and I had to travel separately. I tried it get on their flight by changing my return flight, but it was full. I was just a bit disappointed by this, by I took consolation in the fact that I could wait for them at the Gate area in Anchorage, and make sure the wheel chair was waiting.
The Taxi driver who got them to Seattle went out of his way to help and the wheelchair there was brought out to curb side and they were helped out curbside with their baggage.
Once I arrived at Anchorage I checked on this twice. Yes, I was told, the wheelchair request was in the system. By the time their flight came it there were two of them sitting and the gate.
Their flight came in and the attendant took the two wheelchairs down. Eventually, they came up, but without Cassie! I told the agent assisting with the people getting of the plane that I was Cassie's father. As it turns out, they were one wheelchair short and she was trying to get another one. She let me go down to the plane to wait with Kris and Cassie.
As it turns out, there was a connection flight that didn't make it to Seattle on time and there were 44 empty seats on this as a result. But the cool thing was that having all these seats meant that Cassie could lie down, three across, at the rear of the plane. So keep this in mind next time your flight is late. Who knows what might be happening somewhere up the line. For us, 44 people missing their connecting flight meant relative comfort for Cassie on the 3.5 hour trip to Anchorage.
We flew in a small 9 seat Navaho from the flight to Kenai from Anchorage. It was a good day, and the bumps were minimal. Usually in a smaller plane like that, there's always something bumpy out over the Inlet, even if just a bit. Not for us. The ride was great, and Cassie was able to sleep most of the 40 minute flight.
There were friends at the airport in Kenai to help with baggage and our car was waiting for us in short term parking. We were home, and Cassie was in bed, by 5:30 or so, Tuesday afternoon.
I titled this update the "Long Haul" because it appears pretty evident at this point that Cassie's recovery is going to take a bit longer than last time. The end result was exactly what they expected, but they had a bit tougher time at it than planned. In the first operation last August, they mentioned nothing about blood loss. but this time they told ups about it. This was what was causing the pain in her neck, if you recall.
And for us, after experiencing a previous recovery, we knew that Cassie was going to be slower at coming around this time. Everything is fine as far as what she can/can't do as a result of the hemispherectomy. That's simply incredible!.But she is much weaker, he neck hurts terribly, and eating anything usually results in her vomiting. However, she seems to hold down most of what she eats or drinks (sports drinks, fruit juices, fruit). Unfortunately, the best pain medication she takes and makes her nauseous - so she only takes that one in the evening. In addition, she is on all her anti-seizure meds, antibiotics, and anti-nausea medication.
It hurts seeing her lying there in pain. But this hurt is mixed with the joyfulness of her simply being there with everything in order, if you know what I mean.
We encourage those of you who are local who would like to, to stop by and say hello. Call first, but visitors would be good. We could use some company, also. Kris and I plan on working some out in our yard today, cleaning up from winter. It feels good, and beats sitting around a hospital room for a week.
Pray that Cassie will eat, that she ill keep down what she eats, and that she will eat more than fruit. Pray that she will sleep, and that the pain in her neck and head will subside.
Thanks
Gary
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Cassie Update - Kenai Homecoming! 5/9/06
Dear Praying Friends,
As I titled this update, I started with "Homecoming." But for us, Homecoming all by itself means home to heaven. So, I quickly changed it to "homecoming to Kenai." Cassie has been in the Lord's hands all this time. Thankfully, He is keeping her here with us!
It's hard to believe, but we will all be flying home today. I can't get on the same Seattle to Anchorage leg, but will be going out two hours earlier. But I will wait for them at their Anchorage arrival gate and get the wheelchair ready. We will then all be flying together back to Kenai on a 4:30 Grant Air flight. So at least we will be together on that leg.
Cassie is very weak. Despite all her meds for pain, she has a constant headache and he neck is really sore. This trip will really be hard on her. Please pray that the appropriate help will be there all along the way.
We hope to touch down in Kenai sometime after 5 PM Alaska Time.
Praise the Lord for his intervention along the way. Praise Him for His "scandalous love" to quote a Beth Moore phrase. Why Scandalous? Because every step along the way we have felt undeserving and lavished upon. Praise Him for his love acted out thru people. Each of you that have contributed in this adventure, you know who you are! God does, too. And we praise Him for each of you.
Thanks.
Gary, Kris and Cassie
As I titled this update, I started with "Homecoming." But for us, Homecoming all by itself means home to heaven. So, I quickly changed it to "homecoming to Kenai." Cassie has been in the Lord's hands all this time. Thankfully, He is keeping her here with us!
It's hard to believe, but we will all be flying home today. I can't get on the same Seattle to Anchorage leg, but will be going out two hours earlier. But I will wait for them at their Anchorage arrival gate and get the wheelchair ready. We will then all be flying together back to Kenai on a 4:30 Grant Air flight. So at least we will be together on that leg.
Cassie is very weak. Despite all her meds for pain, she has a constant headache and he neck is really sore. This trip will really be hard on her. Please pray that the appropriate help will be there all along the way.
We hope to touch down in Kenai sometime after 5 PM Alaska Time.
Praise the Lord for his intervention along the way. Praise Him for His "scandalous love" to quote a Beth Moore phrase. Why Scandalous? Because every step along the way we have felt undeserving and lavished upon. Praise Him for his love acted out thru people. Each of you that have contributed in this adventure, you know who you are! God does, too. And we praise Him for each of you.
Thanks.
Gary, Kris and Cassie
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Cassie Update 5/7/06 - Room Phone #
Dear Praying Friends,
Happy Lords Day!
Cassie was moved out of NICU last night and moved into a normal hospital room. I was thinking about this last night. The first time Kris and Cassie came to Harborview was in May of 2005. They spent a week in the Epilepsy ward. All sorts of specialized equipment, seizure monitoring, etc . . . Then, in August of 2005 we were back for three weeks. Epilepsy Ward, ICU, Epilepsy ward. This past February, Cassie and I came back: Epilepsy Ward. But this trip which began just a few days ago and seems to be winding down, ends up in a plain ol' nothing-special-about-it hospital room.
That's our desire: Normalcy
Please feel free to call Cassie. Just keep in mind the Western Time Zone. Direct dial to the room is 206-731-3259.
As things stand now, their plane back to Alaska leaves Tuesday, the 9th, just after noon. That means having her discharged tomorrow!! I can;t get over this - - - but the situation was the same last time. Brain surgery and out in 6-7 days. Of course, this means only that things have once again gone very, very well.
But Cassie is still having problems with nausea. She isn't eating much yet, either. Tuesday may be too soon, because she still will have some Psych Eval tests, PT and Speech therapy check outs before she can be released. And I just don't feel too confident about her getting out until she can keep food down.
So there's allot to be praying about. My flight is not scheduled to go out until the 12th. I won;t try to change anything until I am sure of her release date. Then, if I can, I will make a change to get on the same flight back. If I can't, then the next available flight.
Cassie really needs prayer now re. the future. We are hoping the seizures are over, but we thought that was the case last time. Naturally, she may be having a hard time believing this will be any different. So, our focus with her has always been "No matter what happens, God is still God and we are his children, whom he loves. Whatever happens, you can lead the life God wants you to lead. Simply glorify him."
That's easy to say (Oh that ***I**** could live all the "sermons" I've preached to my kids!!!).
Anyway - - call her if you have been wanting to. It's the best thing for her right now.
Kris' Mom leaves for Indianapolis today.
We love you.
Gary
Happy Lords Day!
Cassie was moved out of NICU last night and moved into a normal hospital room. I was thinking about this last night. The first time Kris and Cassie came to Harborview was in May of 2005. They spent a week in the Epilepsy ward. All sorts of specialized equipment, seizure monitoring, etc . . . Then, in August of 2005 we were back for three weeks. Epilepsy Ward, ICU, Epilepsy ward. This past February, Cassie and I came back: Epilepsy Ward. But this trip which began just a few days ago and seems to be winding down, ends up in a plain ol' nothing-special-about-it hospital room.
That's our desire: Normalcy
Please feel free to call Cassie. Just keep in mind the Western Time Zone. Direct dial to the room is 206-731-3259.
As things stand now, their plane back to Alaska leaves Tuesday, the 9th, just after noon. That means having her discharged tomorrow!! I can;t get over this - - - but the situation was the same last time. Brain surgery and out in 6-7 days. Of course, this means only that things have once again gone very, very well.
But Cassie is still having problems with nausea. She isn't eating much yet, either. Tuesday may be too soon, because she still will have some Psych Eval tests, PT and Speech therapy check outs before she can be released. And I just don't feel too confident about her getting out until she can keep food down.
So there's allot to be praying about. My flight is not scheduled to go out until the 12th. I won;t try to change anything until I am sure of her release date. Then, if I can, I will make a change to get on the same flight back. If I can't, then the next available flight.
Cassie really needs prayer now re. the future. We are hoping the seizures are over, but we thought that was the case last time. Naturally, she may be having a hard time believing this will be any different. So, our focus with her has always been "No matter what happens, God is still God and we are his children, whom he loves. Whatever happens, you can lead the life God wants you to lead. Simply glorify him."
That's easy to say (Oh that ***I**** could live all the "sermons" I've preached to my kids!!!).
Anyway - - call her if you have been wanting to. It's the best thing for her right now.
Kris' Mom leaves for Indianapolis today.
We love you.
Gary
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Cassie Update 5/6/06
Praying Friends,
Yesterday was a not so good day for Cassie. She;s still recovering fine, but it hurts to see her hurt.
Thursday was almost surreal. Cassie was sitting up and talking some, eating a bit of fruit and, for the first time, didn't seem to be talking thru" her pain. You know what I mean. When someone is talking :thru" pain, their personality is squelched by the force it takes simply to speak when hurting.
But Thursday, only two days after her surgery, she seemed to be doing unbelievable.
Yesterday I guess she paid for all the energy expended on Thursday. She was throwing up again and slept most of the day. When she was awake, she was complaining about the pain in her neck (Usually, that's a complaint leveled at me (grin)
I'm sending this update from the Hotel on Friday morning. Kris, Kris' Mom and I, have taken turns staying with Cassie thru the night. The hospital staff have been incredibly kind to us. We are allowed full access to Cassie at all times.
Chelsie went home on Weds. Kris' Mom will be going home on Sunday. As you can see by the pictures, Chelsie added a much needed dimension of fun to the experience. Oh, she cried like the best of us, but I think she had determined before she came up to do what she could to lift our spirits. She did. It was great having her here.
Today they say they will remove Cassie's second drain and, if all goes, well, move her into a regular hospital room.
The daily routine of events have settled in. Last night, I was feeling just a bit depressed. We really want to be back home. But this morning, a good night sleep later, things are doing OK.
Thank you for walking with us thru all of this. God bless each of you and your families.
Gary & Kris
Yesterday was a not so good day for Cassie. She;s still recovering fine, but it hurts to see her hurt.
Thursday was almost surreal. Cassie was sitting up and talking some, eating a bit of fruit and, for the first time, didn't seem to be talking thru" her pain. You know what I mean. When someone is talking :thru" pain, their personality is squelched by the force it takes simply to speak when hurting.
But Thursday, only two days after her surgery, she seemed to be doing unbelievable.
Yesterday I guess she paid for all the energy expended on Thursday. She was throwing up again and slept most of the day. When she was awake, she was complaining about the pain in her neck (Usually, that's a complaint leveled at me (grin)
I'm sending this update from the Hotel on Friday morning. Kris, Kris' Mom and I, have taken turns staying with Cassie thru the night. The hospital staff have been incredibly kind to us. We are allowed full access to Cassie at all times.
Chelsie went home on Weds. Kris' Mom will be going home on Sunday. As you can see by the pictures, Chelsie added a much needed dimension of fun to the experience. Oh, she cried like the best of us, but I think she had determined before she came up to do what she could to lift our spirits. She did. It was great having her here.
Today they say they will remove Cassie's second drain and, if all goes, well, move her into a regular hospital room.
The daily routine of events have settled in. Last night, I was feeling just a bit depressed. We really want to be back home. But this morning, a good night sleep later, things are doing OK.
Thank you for walking with us thru all of this. God bless each of you and your families.
Gary & Kris
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Cassie Update 5/4/06 (Picture Info)
Friends,
I forgot to tell you that I uploaded all the pics we have so far (no editing, no throwing away the bad shots---just "dumped") to the Internet.
You can go to http://home.gci.net/~motherlode/Seattle06/ and see them. Just click on the thumbnail to see the larger image. I probably won't post any more until we are back
I take the time do do things like this because it's my way of loving you all back!
Gary
I forgot to tell you that I uploaded all the pics we have so far (no editing, no throwing away the bad shots---just "dumped") to the Internet.
You can go to http://home.gci.net/~motherlode/Seattle06/ and see them. Just click on the thumbnail to see the larger image. I probably won't post any more until we are back
I take the time do do things like this because it's my way of loving you all back!
Gary
Cassie Update 5/4/06
Dear Praying Friends,
Cassie is doing great. As you know, I posted the initial update to our blog because I could not use my computer on the Internet at the Hospital. Therefore, I was not able to use my e-mail program and distribution list to send out the initial updates. Following THIS update, I have included the original update as posted from our blog.
Cassie had the surgery on Tuesday and it is now late Thursday evening.
She was not talking at all on Tuesday and only very short two or three word phrases on Weds. This was expected because of the surgery and the initial recovery period. However, today she is starting to eat a bit, sitting up in bed occasionally, and conversing pretty normally. We are all amazed. She has been in the Neuro ICU since the operation and will probably remain there until Saturday, So, until then, we won't have a room number and a phone number to give out (although a few of you have managed to get thru to the Neuro ICU Unit! Way to go!).
If you recall, after last Augusts' surgery, Cassie's face began to swell up from the trauma. Well, that hasn't happened yet this time, and they don't think it will. She has been on morphine and anti-nausea medication in addition to her anti seizure meds and today is the first day where she hasn't been throwing up regularly. She had two fluid drains inserted during the surgery. One has been removed and the other one will be moved in the next day or so.
Please continue to pray that she will improve every day. Pray that the swelling will stay down, that the second drain will be removed, and that we can move her into a regular hospital room soon.
Praise the Lord for the Body of Christ. We don't have a clue how we could go thru all of this without the Lord and God's people.
If you were to walk into Cassie's hospital room today, and did not know what happened, it would be pretty hard to believe that she had brain surgery two days earlier! Bur when I consider all the prayers and all the love, it's not so hard at all. Thanks
P.S. We are very, very, very tired.
Because of Christ,
Gary, Kris, Cassie, Chelsie and Rita (Kris' Mom)
Cassie is doing great. As you know, I posted the initial update to our blog because I could not use my computer on the Internet at the Hospital. Therefore, I was not able to use my e-mail program and distribution list to send out the initial updates. Following THIS update, I have included the original update as posted from our blog.
Cassie had the surgery on Tuesday and it is now late Thursday evening.
She was not talking at all on Tuesday and only very short two or three word phrases on Weds. This was expected because of the surgery and the initial recovery period. However, today she is starting to eat a bit, sitting up in bed occasionally, and conversing pretty normally. We are all amazed. She has been in the Neuro ICU since the operation and will probably remain there until Saturday, So, until then, we won't have a room number and a phone number to give out (although a few of you have managed to get thru to the Neuro ICU Unit! Way to go!).
If you recall, after last Augusts' surgery, Cassie's face began to swell up from the trauma. Well, that hasn't happened yet this time, and they don't think it will. She has been on morphine and anti-nausea medication in addition to her anti seizure meds and today is the first day where she hasn't been throwing up regularly. She had two fluid drains inserted during the surgery. One has been removed and the other one will be moved in the next day or so.
Please continue to pray that she will improve every day. Pray that the swelling will stay down, that the second drain will be removed, and that we can move her into a regular hospital room soon.
Praise the Lord for the Body of Christ. We don't have a clue how we could go thru all of this without the Lord and God's people.
If you were to walk into Cassie's hospital room today, and did not know what happened, it would be pretty hard to believe that she had brain surgery two days earlier! Bur when I consider all the prayers and all the love, it's not so hard at all. Thanks
P.S. We are very, very, very tired.
Because of Christ,
Gary, Kris, Cassie, Chelsie and Rita (Kris' Mom)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Cassie Update 5/2/06 - A Good Word!
Dear friends,
This update is being posted directly to the blog instead of being e-mailed out to those who get our e-mail updates. Those won't really "catch up" until we get back to the hotel room.
We got here at 6 am and Cassie was in the OR about an hour later. Some of the OR staff acknowledged the calmness Cassie had. We sort-of expected it to be more difficult than last August in the sense that Cassie knew what was coming. But leave it to us to discount God! Those of us who waited also felt at ease and knew we were in God's care.
Everything has gone very well. Although there was more need for blood transfusions than times before, nothing was unusual and the doctor assured us that all was well.The surgery began at 8 am and we got the surgeon's report about 12:15 pm.
The surgery for Cassie is almost complete. The surgeon just came out and told us that they were in the process of closing up and that Cassie would be transported to ICU in an hour or so.
The next few days will be important as Cassie transitions out of the anesthesia and begins stabilizing. Continue praying that she will not get nausea as she had in the past. Also pray that the swelling and black eye that will develop will subside and that Cassie will begin speaking again soon.
Pastor Ray has been here with us (Angel #1). E-mails have started coming for Cassie, and people of God are praying. One e-mail came from someone in Shanghai, China who we don't know, but who knows us and has been praying for us. The family of God truly goes beyond area codes and borders, time zones and continents.
Pray a special prayer of thanks for Dr Jeff Ojemann. He seems to understand his place as God's instrument well, and has readily accepted our offers of prayer on his behalf.
Now, with the bigger waiting time behind us, we start a series of smaller waiting times. Your prayers are invaluable.
Drop Cassie a line. We hope to be able to share the e-mails that have started coming in with her in a few days. http://www.uwmedicine.org/Facilities/Harborview/ClinicsAndServices/emailGifts.htm
God bless all of you.
This update is being posted directly to the blog instead of being e-mailed out to those who get our e-mail updates. Those won't really "catch up" until we get back to the hotel room.
We got here at 6 am and Cassie was in the OR about an hour later. Some of the OR staff acknowledged the calmness Cassie had. We sort-of expected it to be more difficult than last August in the sense that Cassie knew what was coming. But leave it to us to discount God! Those of us who waited also felt at ease and knew we were in God's care.
Everything has gone very well. Although there was more need for blood transfusions than times before, nothing was unusual and the doctor assured us that all was well.The surgery began at 8 am and we got the surgeon's report about 12:15 pm.
The surgery for Cassie is almost complete. The surgeon just came out and told us that they were in the process of closing up and that Cassie would be transported to ICU in an hour or so.
The next few days will be important as Cassie transitions out of the anesthesia and begins stabilizing. Continue praying that she will not get nausea as she had in the past. Also pray that the swelling and black eye that will develop will subside and that Cassie will begin speaking again soon.
Pastor Ray has been here with us (Angel #1). E-mails have started coming for Cassie, and people of God are praying. One e-mail came from someone in Shanghai, China who we don't know, but who knows us and has been praying for us. The family of God truly goes beyond area codes and borders, time zones and continents.
Pray a special prayer of thanks for Dr Jeff Ojemann. He seems to understand his place as God's instrument well, and has readily accepted our offers of prayer on his behalf.
Now, with the bigger waiting time behind us, we start a series of smaller waiting times. Your prayers are invaluable.
Drop Cassie a line. We hope to be able to share the e-mails that have started coming in with her in a few days. http://www.uwmedicine.org/Facilities/Harborview/ClinicsAndServices/emailGifts.htm
God bless all of you.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Cassie Update 5/1/06
Praying Friends,
We made it into Seattle just fine yesterday. Cassie had one seizure on the plan from Anchorage, but it was a pretty quiet one.
Today we were at two appointments. The first being a physical and pre-anesthesia consultation and the second being a consultation with the surgeon, Dr Jeff Ojemann.
The procedure that will be done tomorrow is known as a Left Hemispherectomy. Definition can be found here: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Hemispherectomy.html
The difference in Cassie's case is that the damage referred to has not come from seizure activity as much as the Cerebral Palsy she has had from birth where that area is already damaged. There are alot of articles that also talk about regaining functions after such a procedure. Again, in Cassie's case, she had already had a lifetime of rerouting and compensation, and the belief is that the only thing that is happening on this side is the seizures.
There has never been any indication that Cassie has had any abnormal activity on the right side of her brain, so this procedure should totally remove the seizures with little ill-effect. However, there is also the possibility that anything that might be happening on the other side of her brain has been overshadowed by left-brain activity. If this is the case, she could continue to have problems.
I am absolutely amazed at the "redundancy" present in the brain. Kris and I are having a hard time "getting our brains" around such a concept as this procedure. We are very confident that the doctors know exactly what they are doing, and the last time we checked, God has not vacated His throne, taken a holiday. Kris, Cassie, and I truly rest in the understanding that God is in complete control. No matter what happens, we will continue to praise Him.
Please pray for the additional factor of having other family members with us. We toss around terms and concepts that we have lived with for many, many months. Kris' Mother hasn't seen Cassie in two years, and she had two seizures in her presence this afternoon. Our other daughter, Chelsie, will especially have a difficult time. Not because she can't handle it. She can handle just about anything. But she will have to leave Wednesday. The first 48 hours after the operation aren't the easiest time to leave with the feeling that everything will be OK.
We will be reporting to the Pre-surgery area of the OR tomorrow at 6 am. If all goes well, the surgery will start about 7:30-8am, although emergency situations could "bump" Cassie back. Since she can't eat or drink anything after midnight, being bumped means that much longer before she could eat! So pray that doesn;t happen. The biggest risk during surgery and immediate following is bleeding that causes swelling. They will take additional precautions this time to try to keep the sickness down. She will spend the first night in a neuro Intensive Care unit with her own private nurse.
Chelsie comes in just before 9 tonight. Her birthday is Thursday. We were able to get a cake and candles form a nearby grocery store and we are looking forward to being together. Our oldest, Tyler, is working a "turnaround" for one of the oil refineries back in Alaska. Please pray for him, also.
Thank you for your prayers.
Gary, Kris, and Cassie
By the way, I won;t be back to the hotel room for the next day or so, so I will try to post a short update directly to the blog at http://harrishotline.blogspot.com and then send an e-mail out later.
We made it into Seattle just fine yesterday. Cassie had one seizure on the plan from Anchorage, but it was a pretty quiet one.
Today we were at two appointments. The first being a physical and pre-anesthesia consultation and the second being a consultation with the surgeon, Dr Jeff Ojemann.
The procedure that will be done tomorrow is known as a Left Hemispherectomy. Definition can be found here: http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Fi-La/Hemispherectomy.html
The difference in Cassie's case is that the damage referred to has not come from seizure activity as much as the Cerebral Palsy she has had from birth where that area is already damaged. There are alot of articles that also talk about regaining functions after such a procedure. Again, in Cassie's case, she had already had a lifetime of rerouting and compensation, and the belief is that the only thing that is happening on this side is the seizures.
There has never been any indication that Cassie has had any abnormal activity on the right side of her brain, so this procedure should totally remove the seizures with little ill-effect. However, there is also the possibility that anything that might be happening on the other side of her brain has been overshadowed by left-brain activity. If this is the case, she could continue to have problems.
I am absolutely amazed at the "redundancy" present in the brain. Kris and I are having a hard time "getting our brains" around such a concept as this procedure. We are very confident that the doctors know exactly what they are doing, and the last time we checked, God has not vacated His throne, taken a holiday. Kris, Cassie, and I truly rest in the understanding that God is in complete control. No matter what happens, we will continue to praise Him.
Please pray for the additional factor of having other family members with us. We toss around terms and concepts that we have lived with for many, many months. Kris' Mother hasn't seen Cassie in two years, and she had two seizures in her presence this afternoon. Our other daughter, Chelsie, will especially have a difficult time. Not because she can't handle it. She can handle just about anything. But she will have to leave Wednesday. The first 48 hours after the operation aren't the easiest time to leave with the feeling that everything will be OK.
We will be reporting to the Pre-surgery area of the OR tomorrow at 6 am. If all goes well, the surgery will start about 7:30-8am, although emergency situations could "bump" Cassie back. Since she can't eat or drink anything after midnight, being bumped means that much longer before she could eat! So pray that doesn;t happen. The biggest risk during surgery and immediate following is bleeding that causes swelling. They will take additional precautions this time to try to keep the sickness down. She will spend the first night in a neuro Intensive Care unit with her own private nurse.
Chelsie comes in just before 9 tonight. Her birthday is Thursday. We were able to get a cake and candles form a nearby grocery store and we are looking forward to being together. Our oldest, Tyler, is working a "turnaround" for one of the oil refineries back in Alaska. Please pray for him, also.
Thank you for your prayers.
Gary, Kris, and Cassie
By the way, I won;t be back to the hotel room for the next day or so, so I will try to post a short update directly to the blog at http://harrishotline.blogspot.com and then send an e-mail out later.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Praying Friends,
We have been able to make changes to my Itinerary so I will fly out with Kris and Cassie today. That means I can be there for the surgery consultation tomorrow as well, of course, traveling together with Kris and Cassie as a family.
UPDATE NOTE: Events may not afford me the time to get back to the Hotel room (I.e. back to Internet, Outlook, and my HarrisHotline Distribution List.) for the first few days.
However, I can post to the blog from a computer in the Family Resource room at the hospital. Please just assume that you will need to check the blog. For various reasons, I may not be able to send this update out.
If you don't get an e-mail from us shortly after the surgery, please check the blog, here. Being able to do it that way will relieve me of a bit of stress of needing to get back to the room and send an update out.
We are flying out of Kenai at 12:50 today, and out of Anchorage at 2:37. Kris' Mom will be in Seattle tomorrow afternoon and Chelsie will be in tomorrow evening.
God bles you. Thank you.
We have been able to make changes to my Itinerary so I will fly out with Kris and Cassie today. That means I can be there for the surgery consultation tomorrow as well, of course, traveling together with Kris and Cassie as a family.
UPDATE NOTE: Events may not afford me the time to get back to the Hotel room (I.e. back to Internet, Outlook, and my HarrisHotline Distribution List.) for the first few days.
However, I can post to the blog from a computer in the Family Resource room at the hospital. Please just assume that you will need to check the blog. For various reasons, I may not be able to send this update out.
If you don't get an e-mail from us shortly after the surgery, please check the blog, here. Being able to do it that way will relieve me of a bit of stress of needing to get back to the room and send an update out.
We are flying out of Kenai at 12:50 today, and out of Anchorage at 2:37. Kris' Mom will be in Seattle tomorrow afternoon and Chelsie will be in tomorrow evening.
God bles you. Thank you.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Cassie Update 4/28/06
Dear Praying Friends,
As of 8:45 this morning, all travel arrangements for our family to Seattle are set. Praise the Lord!!
Kris and Cassie will leave Kenai for Anchorage shortly after noon on Sunday. They will arrive in Seattle Sunday afternoon. Cassie has a Pre-sugery outpatient on Monday May 1 at 11 am and then a consultation with surgeon at 1 pm on Monday. She will be admitted Tuesday morning for an early Tuesday morning surgery.
Gary will leave Kenai Monday morning and get to Seattle late Monday afternoon.
Chelsie will fly into Seattle Monday evening from Indianapolis. (Pray for her, she has a final exam just before she flies!)
Kris' mother will also be flying from Indianapolis to Seattle on Monday!
Wow. It has been a real challenge keeping the right perspective during all these travel arrangements. Things were just not happening until all at once yesterday, it seems.
Prayer requests:
1. That Cassie will not have a seizure on the plane
2. That Cassie will be able to sleep most of the flight
3. That everyone's travel will go well
4. That Dr Jeff Ojemann, the chief surgeon, will be in God's care.
5. Chelsie's Final Exam
We praise God for his faithfulness and watchcare. Gary has been telling people to picture it like this: If we could walk into a "prayer-insulated room," where the prayers of God's family for Cassie and our family could NOT GET THROUGH, we would just crumple to the floor. HE sustains us, HE gives us hope, and he uses many of yous in ways we can't really express.
By the way, some of you have asked about the link to the Harborview Hospital e-mail page, were you can send e-mails to Cassie once she is admitted on Tuesday. http://www.uwmedicine.org/Facilities/Harborview/ClinicsAndServices/emailGifts.htm. As you know she will not be able to read anything for a few days after the surgery.
Gary, Kris and Cassie
As of 8:45 this morning, all travel arrangements for our family to Seattle are set. Praise the Lord!!
Kris and Cassie will leave Kenai for Anchorage shortly after noon on Sunday. They will arrive in Seattle Sunday afternoon. Cassie has a Pre-sugery outpatient on Monday May 1 at 11 am and then a consultation with surgeon at 1 pm on Monday. She will be admitted Tuesday morning for an early Tuesday morning surgery.
Gary will leave Kenai Monday morning and get to Seattle late Monday afternoon.
Chelsie will fly into Seattle Monday evening from Indianapolis. (Pray for her, she has a final exam just before she flies!)
Kris' mother will also be flying from Indianapolis to Seattle on Monday!
Wow. It has been a real challenge keeping the right perspective during all these travel arrangements. Things were just not happening until all at once yesterday, it seems.
Prayer requests:
1. That Cassie will not have a seizure on the plane
2. That Cassie will be able to sleep most of the flight
3. That everyone's travel will go well
4. That Dr Jeff Ojemann, the chief surgeon, will be in God's care.
5. Chelsie's Final Exam
We praise God for his faithfulness and watchcare. Gary has been telling people to picture it like this: If we could walk into a "prayer-insulated room," where the prayers of God's family for Cassie and our family could NOT GET THROUGH, we would just crumple to the floor. HE sustains us, HE gives us hope, and he uses many of yous in ways we can't really express.
By the way, some of you have asked about the link to the Harborview Hospital e-mail page, were you can send e-mails to Cassie once she is admitted on Tuesday. http://www.uwmedicine.org/Facilities/Harborview/ClinicsAndServices/emailGifts.htm. As you know she will not be able to read anything for a few days after the surgery.
Gary, Kris and Cassie
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Cassie Sattle#2 Update #1 4/21/06
Dear Praying friends,
Plans are still a go for Cassie's second (actually, 3rd) brain surgery in Seattle on May 2nd
My flight plans are set (thanks, dear friends - you know who you are) but Kris and Cassie's are still in the works. It has to do with waiting until after the 24th to schedule a flight for the next month for Medicare - I'm told that it won't be a problem.
We are hoping that, one way or another, our oldest daughter, Chelsie, will be able to fly from Indiana to be there in Seattle as well. Kris' Mom will be coming up, and we want to work it out so Chelsie can come with her. We are praying for it all to come together.
It's strange. Finances for all the "stuff" that needs to happen aren't really there . . . . until the need is at hand. I can say this without disrespect, it's like God is our travel agent!!!
Cassie does better some days than others right now. Once again, she has been returned to the status of Hero in my book. She will be 17 in August. It's hard to believe.
More details will follow once it all falls in place. We will update prayers and praises then as well.
Gary
Plans are still a go for Cassie's second (actually, 3rd) brain surgery in Seattle on May 2nd
My flight plans are set (thanks, dear friends - you know who you are) but Kris and Cassie's are still in the works. It has to do with waiting until after the 24th to schedule a flight for the next month for Medicare - I'm told that it won't be a problem.
We are hoping that, one way or another, our oldest daughter, Chelsie, will be able to fly from Indiana to be there in Seattle as well. Kris' Mom will be coming up, and we want to work it out so Chelsie can come with her. We are praying for it all to come together.
It's strange. Finances for all the "stuff" that needs to happen aren't really there . . . . until the need is at hand. I can say this without disrespect, it's like God is our travel agent!!!
Cassie does better some days than others right now. Once again, she has been returned to the status of Hero in my book. She will be 17 in August. It's hard to believe.
More details will follow once it all falls in place. We will update prayers and praises then as well.
Gary
Friday, April 14, 2006
God Answers 4-13-06
Praying friends,
We got a phone call from the doctor who is in charge of the Epilepsy Unit at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. After consultiong with us and our Pedatric Neurologist in Anchorage, he agrees with us that all the increases in Cassie's seizures as she has been trying new medications (in addition to the 4 meds she has been taking all along) mean that it is time to move forward with plans to have another surgery. The date for this second surgery has been set for May 2nd.
Specific prayers:
1. That between now and May 1st, Gor will continue to give us peace about this
2. That Cassie will be strong. Last time, it was 'easier" because she did not know what to expect. This time, she's going back with much more understanding.
3. Start praying now that she will not be so nautious when she comes out of anesthesisia
4. The plane fare will will be scheduled for Kris and Cassie
5. That we will be able to come up with airfare for me and for all the incedentals (like food) while in Seattle.
6. That we will be able to get a hotel room so we can take turns at the hospital at nights
7. That god will give our oldest daughter, Chelsie, a peace about all this, being seperated from the family.
8. That someone will help us out by staying in our home while we are gone and caring for our dogs.
9. All the other things that will come up!
ACC is giving Kris time off work that she can makeup whenever. But she has no vacation or personal time. I will make whatever arrangements I need with my clients. I do't have a clue how this will work out. But what's new with the way he has cared for us in recent days.
Praises:
1. This decision came about rather quickly once things got rolling yesterday.
2. We don't think there will be as much time in Seattle. Last time Cassie had surgery, it was proceeded by two weeks of observation. I'm hoping a week to 10 days this time.
3. In one sense, the surgery is less complicated (like I can really say that about brian surgery, huh?) Last time, they were concerned about trade offs. Too much cutting here means loss of mobility there, that sort of thing. But this time they are planning on shutting the entire lobe down. With additional results from our Feb trip to Seattle, they are more certain than ever that all of Cassie's vital fuctions have already been re-routed to the other side of her head. This Cerebral Palsy was from birth, after all. So her brain has had alot of time to compensate. But the flip side to the less complicated part is the finality of "turning it off" so to speak.
The last several weeks, indeed, the last month or two has been like a warped version of Bill Murry's Groundhog Day or a great jazz cd stuck on a scratched area and playing some monotonous tone over and over. If Cass stares off into space, like all of us do when we are day dreaming, we immediately assume it;s a seizure. If I'm downstairs and Kris and Cassie are horsing around upstairs, I think the noise I hear is her having a seizure. We hold our breath and listen when Cassie takes a shower.
Finally, our son Tyler said he will come with us to Easter service and breakfast at our church this Sunday. He will also join us for lunch. I wish Chelsie could be here, too!
God is good, all the time!
Gary & Kris
We got a phone call from the doctor who is in charge of the Epilepsy Unit at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. After consultiong with us and our Pedatric Neurologist in Anchorage, he agrees with us that all the increases in Cassie's seizures as she has been trying new medications (in addition to the 4 meds she has been taking all along) mean that it is time to move forward with plans to have another surgery. The date for this second surgery has been set for May 2nd.
Specific prayers:
1. That between now and May 1st, Gor will continue to give us peace about this
2. That Cassie will be strong. Last time, it was 'easier" because she did not know what to expect. This time, she's going back with much more understanding.
3. Start praying now that she will not be so nautious when she comes out of anesthesisia
4. The plane fare will will be scheduled for Kris and Cassie
5. That we will be able to come up with airfare for me and for all the incedentals (like food) while in Seattle.
6. That we will be able to get a hotel room so we can take turns at the hospital at nights
7. That god will give our oldest daughter, Chelsie, a peace about all this, being seperated from the family.
8. That someone will help us out by staying in our home while we are gone and caring for our dogs.
9. All the other things that will come up!
ACC is giving Kris time off work that she can makeup whenever. But she has no vacation or personal time. I will make whatever arrangements I need with my clients. I do't have a clue how this will work out. But what's new with the way he has cared for us in recent days.
Praises:
1. This decision came about rather quickly once things got rolling yesterday.
2. We don't think there will be as much time in Seattle. Last time Cassie had surgery, it was proceeded by two weeks of observation. I'm hoping a week to 10 days this time.
3. In one sense, the surgery is less complicated (like I can really say that about brian surgery, huh?) Last time, they were concerned about trade offs. Too much cutting here means loss of mobility there, that sort of thing. But this time they are planning on shutting the entire lobe down. With additional results from our Feb trip to Seattle, they are more certain than ever that all of Cassie's vital fuctions have already been re-routed to the other side of her head. This Cerebral Palsy was from birth, after all. So her brain has had alot of time to compensate. But the flip side to the less complicated part is the finality of "turning it off" so to speak.
The last several weeks, indeed, the last month or two has been like a warped version of Bill Murry's Groundhog Day or a great jazz cd stuck on a scratched area and playing some monotonous tone over and over. If Cass stares off into space, like all of us do when we are day dreaming, we immediately assume it;s a seizure. If I'm downstairs and Kris and Cassie are horsing around upstairs, I think the noise I hear is her having a seizure. We hold our breath and listen when Cassie takes a shower.
Finally, our son Tyler said he will come with us to Easter service and breakfast at our church this Sunday. He will also join us for lunch. I wish Chelsie could be here, too!
God is good, all the time!
Gary & Kris
Monday, April 10, 2006
Anointing Sevice for Cassie Tonight 4/10/06
Praying friends,
Elders from our church and other area churches who support us in ministry will be meeting at our house tonight at 7 PM for an anointing service for Cassie.
Kris and I are believers that God can do all things. But we also know he allows things for reasons that we do not understand. That's all the "stuff" of life. Our struggle to reconcile the truth that God is glorified thru our adversity with the truth that God can indeed do all things reminds me of a poem I remember reading in College on the back cover of the now-defunct "His Magazine". It went something like this:
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, Please.
I don't want enough to help me love the unlovable.
I want convenience, not transformation.
I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, Please
Well, tonight, we want to let God out of that sack. We are fully prepared that God will continue to allow Cassie to suffer the way He has. But we want to make sure that we also don't box God in by our lack of faith that He can heal her if it be His will. Bottom line: We want to offer her to God.
For those of you who are local, please understand that we would prefer to keep this limited to a few elders and ministry leaders. On such short notice, I'm not sure who will come. But we would also be happy to have anybody who would like to come by following the service, say after 8 pm for a sort-of "Open House."
Cassie's situation has not changed much. She is still having seizures regularly. Lately, some of them have become more violent. The area where she is having her seizure activity is the same area that controls the imagination and dreams. The best way to describe some of her seizures are simply "Living nightmares." Other times, they are more subdued. She also has the type where she stares off for some time.
Please also pray for more work for me. Our support level is down quite a bit, but we are adjusting well to a "tentmaker" role in ministry. The more computer work I can do, the more we can keep our schedules flexible for Cassie. She has occupational therapy, physical therapy, and now we have put her back in the School District's home school program, where she will be taking two classes.
As of today, Cassie finally up to the dosage level of #1 of the additional medications they wanted her to try. After some time on this med, if it doesn't work (Read---> It Isn't working!!!) they have another one for her. It sounds really bizarre, I know. But I think they want her to try "whatever's left in the anti-seizure arsenal" before they talk about a second, more radical brain surgery.
God is Good. All The Time.
Gary
Elders from our church and other area churches who support us in ministry will be meeting at our house tonight at 7 PM for an anointing service for Cassie.
Kris and I are believers that God can do all things. But we also know he allows things for reasons that we do not understand. That's all the "stuff" of life. Our struggle to reconcile the truth that God is glorified thru our adversity with the truth that God can indeed do all things reminds me of a poem I remember reading in College on the back cover of the now-defunct "His Magazine". It went something like this:
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, Please.
I don't want enough to help me love the unlovable.
I want convenience, not transformation.
I want a pound of the eternal in a paper sack.
I would like to buy $3 worth of God, Please
Well, tonight, we want to let God out of that sack. We are fully prepared that God will continue to allow Cassie to suffer the way He has. But we want to make sure that we also don't box God in by our lack of faith that He can heal her if it be His will. Bottom line: We want to offer her to God.
For those of you who are local, please understand that we would prefer to keep this limited to a few elders and ministry leaders. On such short notice, I'm not sure who will come. But we would also be happy to have anybody who would like to come by following the service, say after 8 pm for a sort-of "Open House."
Cassie's situation has not changed much. She is still having seizures regularly. Lately, some of them have become more violent. The area where she is having her seizure activity is the same area that controls the imagination and dreams. The best way to describe some of her seizures are simply "Living nightmares." Other times, they are more subdued. She also has the type where she stares off for some time.
Please also pray for more work for me. Our support level is down quite a bit, but we are adjusting well to a "tentmaker" role in ministry. The more computer work I can do, the more we can keep our schedules flexible for Cassie. She has occupational therapy, physical therapy, and now we have put her back in the School District's home school program, where she will be taking two classes.
As of today, Cassie finally up to the dosage level of #1 of the additional medications they wanted her to try. After some time on this med, if it doesn't work (Read---> It Isn't working!!!) they have another one for her. It sounds really bizarre, I know. But I think they want her to try "whatever's left in the anti-seizure arsenal" before they talk about a second, more radical brain surgery.
God is Good. All The Time.
Gary
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Spring is Coming 3-29-06
Praying Friends,
The snow is starting to melt. The days are getting longer. The days are getting warmer. In the cycle of "Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, Road Construction" (known elsewhere as Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) we are getting out of the Winter.
Praise! We have a new vehicle. A dear church in Washington State heard about the transmission going out on our van and presented Cassie and I with a check before we left Seattle to fix that transmission. Well, to that was added a gift from someone in our home Church here in Alaska (Peninsula grace Brethren Church, Soldotna) and we were able to "fix that van - - fix it good." I got $600 on trade in and we were able to pick up a 4-door sedan with only 53,000 miles on it for about $3500.
What's funny is the joy and jubilation expressed among various friends when we told him the van had gone to that junk yard in the sky. It seems we had developed a reputation for pushing the laws of physics with that vehicle, and there was a collective sigh of relief when we were able to rid ourselves of it.
Kris and I are both going thru Paul Hegstrom's Life Skills course here locally. It takes quite a commitment. The course is 26 weeks. Men and women are in separate classes and the men decided early on to meet TWICE a week. That's a total of 6 hours a week for me, 3 hours for Kris. But we are both enjoying it. Basically, Life Skills deals with the concept of arrested development, ways of identifying, coping, and re-training your brain to think differently. It focuses in on the difference between Shame (I am no good) and Guilt (I did something wrong). It is a good companion to the SALTS training we went thru a couple years ago.
I just had to get this far without mentioning Cassie because we want you to know that everything going on with Cassie is set in the framework of LIFE, and "the stuff of ministry" continues.
But Cassie's situation still overshadows everything. We still have not got words on the latest MRI from Seattle. The neurologist in Anchorage is having Cassie try out the two medications left to try. The idea is that no seizures with medication is better than the alternative of a second surgery. We have no problem with that. But it means having to "live" in a place I would not want anyone to have to live. At this point, the meds don;t seem to be making any difference . . . but we are not at that "therapeutic level" yet. To be frank, it's driving us nuts. Cassie fights a good fight, but as she sang in church this last week, "This Warrior is still a Child."
I will be going by the High School today and formerly withdrawing her from classes again, and she will be re-enrolled in the Public School's home school program, Connections. Normally, it would be too late to get her in, but they have made some wonderful allowances for Cassie.
The last time she was in Connections. back in the months before her first surgery, it didn't go to well. The meds made things sort of "foggy" and she had ha hard time. So, please pray with us that she will do well.
In the mean time, we wait.
Thanks for praying.
Gary & Kris
The snow is starting to melt. The days are getting longer. The days are getting warmer. In the cycle of "Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, Road Construction" (known elsewhere as Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) we are getting out of the Winter.
Praise! We have a new vehicle. A dear church in Washington State heard about the transmission going out on our van and presented Cassie and I with a check before we left Seattle to fix that transmission. Well, to that was added a gift from someone in our home Church here in Alaska (Peninsula grace Brethren Church, Soldotna) and we were able to "fix that van - - fix it good." I got $600 on trade in and we were able to pick up a 4-door sedan with only 53,000 miles on it for about $3500.
What's funny is the joy and jubilation expressed among various friends when we told him the van had gone to that junk yard in the sky. It seems we had developed a reputation for pushing the laws of physics with that vehicle, and there was a collective sigh of relief when we were able to rid ourselves of it.
Kris and I are both going thru Paul Hegstrom's Life Skills course here locally. It takes quite a commitment. The course is 26 weeks. Men and women are in separate classes and the men decided early on to meet TWICE a week. That's a total of 6 hours a week for me, 3 hours for Kris. But we are both enjoying it. Basically, Life Skills deals with the concept of arrested development, ways of identifying, coping, and re-training your brain to think differently. It focuses in on the difference between Shame (I am no good) and Guilt (I did something wrong). It is a good companion to the SALTS training we went thru a couple years ago.
I just had to get this far without mentioning Cassie because we want you to know that everything going on with Cassie is set in the framework of LIFE, and "the stuff of ministry" continues.
But Cassie's situation still overshadows everything. We still have not got words on the latest MRI from Seattle. The neurologist in Anchorage is having Cassie try out the two medications left to try. The idea is that no seizures with medication is better than the alternative of a second surgery. We have no problem with that. But it means having to "live" in a place I would not want anyone to have to live. At this point, the meds don;t seem to be making any difference . . . but we are not at that "therapeutic level" yet. To be frank, it's driving us nuts. Cassie fights a good fight, but as she sang in church this last week, "This Warrior is still a Child."
I will be going by the High School today and formerly withdrawing her from classes again, and she will be re-enrolled in the Public School's home school program, Connections. Normally, it would be too late to get her in, but they have made some wonderful allowances for Cassie.
The last time she was in Connections. back in the months before her first surgery, it didn't go to well. The meds made things sort of "foggy" and she had ha hard time. So, please pray with us that she will do well.
In the mean time, we wait.
Thanks for praying.
Gary & Kris
Blog-Only Administrative Comment
Friends,
I had a dear friend who reads our blog but doesn't get our e-mail updates point out to me that the blog wasn;t getting updated properly. He was right.
When I send out an update, a copy of it is supposed to get posted here on this blog. But it appears that that mechinism is "broken" I will look into it.
I just re-posted the 2/25 update to the blog this morning and "forced it" back to 2/25/06. I will keep a better ey on this in the future. Sorry about any confusion this caused.
Gary
I had a dear friend who reads our blog but doesn't get our e-mail updates point out to me that the blog wasn;t getting updated properly. He was right.
When I send out an update, a copy of it is supposed to get posted here on this blog. But it appears that that mechinism is "broken" I will look into it.
I just re-posted the 2/25 update to the blog this morning and "forced it" back to 2/25/06. I will keep a better ey on this in the future. Sorry about any confusion this caused.
Gary
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Cassie Update 2-25-06
Friends,
I know Kris tried to send you an updte tecently about Cassie's and my trip to Seattle for eeg monitoring. I have been sleeping with her in the hospital room, and there has been no way to send out e-mails like we could last time, becuase we were only in the hotel room the first night before she was admitted.
We will be heading back to Alaska today. As Kris has already epressed, please pray that she will not have a seizure during the flight.
Following 4 full days of obserbing her seizures, the doctors are all sure that these seizures are a continuation of what she was having before. For kris and I, they seem less severe, but that's probably because she doesn't scream like she had in the past.
As for why 4 months seizure free and then having them start backup, the only eplanation for that is that 4 months tends to be the point when the brain begins functioning normally following the trama of surgery (or theof that of a stroke victum, for that matter.)
The good news is that Cassie never lost any motor skills in the last surgery, and all testing at that time revealed that most of her brain activity seemed to be coming from the right side anyway.
On monday, we travelled fro Harborview to Seattle Children's hospital for an FMRI (or a FUNCTIONAL MRI). They cannot perform this procedure at Harborview (yet).This is where they test right/left side while Cassie is actively doing things with her hands and feet during the scan. The idea is that the brain detail sort of "lights up" on the MRI showing where that activity originates. If you recall, this same sort of thing was done ust prior to her surgery, oly uisng Chemicals and muscle stimulation. (A WADA test).
The FMRI results will really nail down where things are happening in terms of control, and where they aren't.
But it will be a couple weeks before we know the results of that, along with the results of her stay this week. But they can tell us that she is indeed still having seaizures (no kindding, right?) and that they seem to be localized to the left side of the brain.
While we wait on all of these results, Cassie may be prut on an additional medication or two (There are still 2 or three she hasn't tried.) I hate the idea of having to go thru that again, but it seems silly not to if there is any possibility that medication can still bring everything under control. In short, the tests will also determine if an aditional surgery is an option.
How do we feel about all this? Well, I'm a bit worn out being with cassie all week. For the surgery back in August, Kris and I were both here so we were able to sort of break down at different times . . . . . I can;t figure any other way to put it. Now I see why kris was so haggerred after returning from Cassie;s first observation back last May, that led up to the surgery in August. Cassie is still my hero and seeing what she puts up with just shames me when I start feeling miserable.
Our friends here in Seattle are still here, and Pastor Ray has once again been a real brother in some difficyult times. I need to especaially thank his church members later in a leter . . . but for now, just know that the Body of Christ is still active and your prayers for our well being are being answered.
God bless each of you.
Gary & Cassie
I know Kris tried to send you an updte tecently about Cassie's and my trip to Seattle for eeg monitoring. I have been sleeping with her in the hospital room, and there has been no way to send out e-mails like we could last time, becuase we were only in the hotel room the first night before she was admitted.
We will be heading back to Alaska today. As Kris has already epressed, please pray that she will not have a seizure during the flight.
Following 4 full days of obserbing her seizures, the doctors are all sure that these seizures are a continuation of what she was having before. For kris and I, they seem less severe, but that's probably because she doesn't scream like she had in the past.
As for why 4 months seizure free and then having them start backup, the only eplanation for that is that 4 months tends to be the point when the brain begins functioning normally following the trama of surgery (or theof that of a stroke victum, for that matter.)
The good news is that Cassie never lost any motor skills in the last surgery, and all testing at that time revealed that most of her brain activity seemed to be coming from the right side anyway.
On monday, we travelled fro Harborview to Seattle Children's hospital for an FMRI (or a FUNCTIONAL MRI). They cannot perform this procedure at Harborview (yet).This is where they test right/left side while Cassie is actively doing things with her hands and feet during the scan. The idea is that the brain detail sort of "lights up" on the MRI showing where that activity originates. If you recall, this same sort of thing was done ust prior to her surgery, oly uisng Chemicals and muscle stimulation. (A WADA test).
The FMRI results will really nail down where things are happening in terms of control, and where they aren't.
But it will be a couple weeks before we know the results of that, along with the results of her stay this week. But they can tell us that she is indeed still having seaizures (no kindding, right?) and that they seem to be localized to the left side of the brain.
While we wait on all of these results, Cassie may be prut on an additional medication or two (There are still 2 or three she hasn't tried.) I hate the idea of having to go thru that again, but it seems silly not to if there is any possibility that medication can still bring everything under control. In short, the tests will also determine if an aditional surgery is an option.
How do we feel about all this? Well, I'm a bit worn out being with cassie all week. For the surgery back in August, Kris and I were both here so we were able to sort of break down at different times . . . . . I can;t figure any other way to put it. Now I see why kris was so haggerred after returning from Cassie;s first observation back last May, that led up to the surgery in August. Cassie is still my hero and seeing what she puts up with just shames me when I start feeling miserable.
Our friends here in Seattle are still here, and Pastor Ray has once again been a real brother in some difficyult times. I need to especaially thank his church members later in a leter . . . but for now, just know that the Body of Christ is still active and your prayers for our well being are being answered.
God bless each of you.
Gary & Cassie
Monday, February 13, 2006
We Need Your Prayers 2-13-06
Dear Loved Ones,
We need you. You have carried us through some tough times with your love and prayers and I’m afraid we need your prayers again. We brought Cassie home from Harborview hospital Seattle, WA last August with high hopes that her living with seizures was finally over.
But about a month and a half ago she started having seizures again. We made an appointment with her neurologist in Anchorage right a way. He felt that she was experiencing seizures because she had gained so much weight so quickly and her seizure meds had not been increased to match the additional weight. He also wanted to change her from one med to another that had less side effects. To make a long story short, it has been grueling and her seizures have increased in frequency as well as intensity with each passing day.
Today was the worse day so far. Our morning had been rather quiet and uneventful but starting about 1:30 this afternoon Cassie has had a total of 7 complex partial seizures today. Each one lasting at the least 4 minutes, some lasting as long as 7 minutes. It is difficult to explain or express how awful today has been. On our way home this afternoon all I could think about was reaching out to you and asking you to once again carry us along with your love and prayers. We are so anxious to be on the giving end rather than so needy. But, we love you and appreciate your deep love and faithful prayers for our family. Cassie and I have many deep, heart to heart conversations; one, we were having just a few days ago concerned the depth of love we feel from so many people all around the world. The thought occurred to me that GOD has seen fit to place us so firmly in the hearts of so many people-could we ever thank Him and praise Him enough?!
As a Mom I would like to impose on you with one other matter. It is so much my heart to be home more and out in the work force less. I love the work that God has provided for me and thank Him for allowing me to work in such a loving and comfortable environment. Cassie accompanies me to work just about everyday. She is quite comfortable hanging out with me at work and has pleasant places to rest when she needs to, but there would be a lot less stress dealing with her seizures from home rather than trying to deal with them while phones are ringing and people are coming and going.
And now, at night while we sleep, every noise seems to be magnified as we spring up out of bed wondering if she is having a seizure. And Gary was downstairs tonight. As he heard thumps or bumps upstairs, he responds with a "Everything OK?" "seizure awareness and sensitivity" has once again have taken over our lives, and we are tired and worn out.
Gary’s work is flexible enough that he often times is able to stay home with her. He has been looking for work that would provide sufficient income to allow me to cut back to part-time work. Please pray with us that God will lead him to a good position that would provide adequately for our family. Thank you.
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” We welcome your company and prayers as we wait upon the Lord-“even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.”
Those are words from the song “The Warrior Is a Child.” Cassie plans to sing that song in church on March 26. It brings me to tear every time she practices. Truly she is a Warrior who brings much glory and honor to her Savior. Her Daddy and I consider her a Hero!
We are also very proud and blessed to see Chelsie doing so well with her full-time job in Greenfield, IN and taking 2 college classes. She is looking forward to returning to AK in May and has offered to take classes locally at Kenai Peninsula College next Fall so she can spend more time with Cassie. An offer like that from Chels carries a lot of value because she is so committed to getting her degree. We are hoping Cassie will be doing much better by May but would welcome the chance to have Chels living close by again-we miss her!!
Ty has been assigned a temporary position on a platform as a prep-cook. We are praying the company he has been contracted out to will decide they want him full-time and hire him on. His work at ASRC has been hit and miss since the first of the year so he has been learning a lot about stretching his dollars. We get to see him about once every couple of weeks, he comes over for some home cooking. His favorite, of course, is sausage gravy and biscuits thanks to “Dig” at Dig’s Diner in Warsaw, Indiana. Not that I could even come close to making it as good as Dig, but I sure enjoy trying and seeing that wonderful smile from my Son when he gives me a big hug and says “Thanks Mom!
Through it all, GOD IS GOOD!
With all our Love,
The Harris’
We need you. You have carried us through some tough times with your love and prayers and I’m afraid we need your prayers again. We brought Cassie home from Harborview hospital Seattle, WA last August with high hopes that her living with seizures was finally over.
But about a month and a half ago she started having seizures again. We made an appointment with her neurologist in Anchorage right a way. He felt that she was experiencing seizures because she had gained so much weight so quickly and her seizure meds had not been increased to match the additional weight. He also wanted to change her from one med to another that had less side effects. To make a long story short, it has been grueling and her seizures have increased in frequency as well as intensity with each passing day.
Today was the worse day so far. Our morning had been rather quiet and uneventful but starting about 1:30 this afternoon Cassie has had a total of 7 complex partial seizures today. Each one lasting at the least 4 minutes, some lasting as long as 7 minutes. It is difficult to explain or express how awful today has been. On our way home this afternoon all I could think about was reaching out to you and asking you to once again carry us along with your love and prayers. We are so anxious to be on the giving end rather than so needy. But, we love you and appreciate your deep love and faithful prayers for our family. Cassie and I have many deep, heart to heart conversations; one, we were having just a few days ago concerned the depth of love we feel from so many people all around the world. The thought occurred to me that GOD has seen fit to place us so firmly in the hearts of so many people-could we ever thank Him and praise Him enough?!
As a Mom I would like to impose on you with one other matter. It is so much my heart to be home more and out in the work force less. I love the work that God has provided for me and thank Him for allowing me to work in such a loving and comfortable environment. Cassie accompanies me to work just about everyday. She is quite comfortable hanging out with me at work and has pleasant places to rest when she needs to, but there would be a lot less stress dealing with her seizures from home rather than trying to deal with them while phones are ringing and people are coming and going.
And now, at night while we sleep, every noise seems to be magnified as we spring up out of bed wondering if she is having a seizure. And Gary was downstairs tonight. As he heard thumps or bumps upstairs, he responds with a "Everything OK?" "seizure awareness and sensitivity" has once again have taken over our lives, and we are tired and worn out.
Gary’s work is flexible enough that he often times is able to stay home with her. He has been looking for work that would provide sufficient income to allow me to cut back to part-time work. Please pray with us that God will lead him to a good position that would provide adequately for our family. Thank you.
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.” We welcome your company and prayers as we wait upon the Lord-“even soldiers need a quiet place to rest.”
Those are words from the song “The Warrior Is a Child.” Cassie plans to sing that song in church on March 26. It brings me to tear every time she practices. Truly she is a Warrior who brings much glory and honor to her Savior. Her Daddy and I consider her a Hero!
We are also very proud and blessed to see Chelsie doing so well with her full-time job in Greenfield, IN and taking 2 college classes. She is looking forward to returning to AK in May and has offered to take classes locally at Kenai Peninsula College next Fall so she can spend more time with Cassie. An offer like that from Chels carries a lot of value because she is so committed to getting her degree. We are hoping Cassie will be doing much better by May but would welcome the chance to have Chels living close by again-we miss her!!
Ty has been assigned a temporary position on a platform as a prep-cook. We are praying the company he has been contracted out to will decide they want him full-time and hire him on. His work at ASRC has been hit and miss since the first of the year so he has been learning a lot about stretching his dollars. We get to see him about once every couple of weeks, he comes over for some home cooking. His favorite, of course, is sausage gravy and biscuits thanks to “Dig” at Dig’s Diner in Warsaw, Indiana. Not that I could even come close to making it as good as Dig, but I sure enjoy trying and seeing that wonderful smile from my Son when he gives me a big hug and says “Thanks Mom!
Through it all, GOD IS GOOD!
With all our Love,
The Harris’
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
1-25-06
Dear Friend,
It has been on my to do list for a couple of days now to sit down and send you an update BUT this has been a very busy couple of weeks. We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we continue on because you pray for us! Only God could give us the strength and energy to keep going. I’m going to try to bring you up to date with out droning on and on.
We had a truly wonderful Christmas with all three of our children home for at least a couple of days. We didn’t have nearly enough time with Chelsie but it was so good to see her and wrap our arms around her-I didn’t want to let her go! We are so proud of her. She returned to Greenfield, IN the day after Christmas to her new job with Star Financial Bank (she is the youngest employee of Star Financial Banks!!). She is currently working full time and taking 2 college classes. Please keep her in your prayers as she travels to and from Indianapolis on Mondays and Wednesday for her classes. Thank you!!
Ty continues to work for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) as a roust-about. Since Christmas he hasn’t had too many hours, so he is hoping to be put on a platform crew where he would work one week on and one week off an oil rig platform out in the Cook Inlet as a chef. He told me the other day that he misses cooking-I love to hear that! He is actually a very good cook. He made the best lasagna I’ve ever had for us when he first got back to Alaska. Please continue to keep Ty in your prayers. From all outward appearances his heart is still far from God, but our hope is in the fact that God has heard our prayers and the work He began in Ty He will continue! We praise God for the sweet relationship with have with Ty, and never take that for granted. Thank you for your prayers!
Cassie looks beautiful and healthy and she is definitely full of life and orneriness!! However, we have had a bit of a set back these past couple of weeks. She has been experiencing some mild seizures for about a month now. Gary and Cassie had an appointment with her neurologist in Anchorage a couple of weeks ago. He said that perhaps the reason for the seizures is that she has gained about 30 pounds (she only weighed about 75 pounds when we got home from Seattle in August) but her seizure meds have not been adjusted for the additional weight. That really makes sense since seizure meds are based on body weight. So he suggested changing one of her meds and increasing her dose. She started on the new med about two weeks ago and seemed to be making the adjustment rather smoothly until this past Friday. She had a complex partial seizure (like the ones she was having before we left for Seattle in August for her surgery) while at school. That was a very difficult day and left all of us feeling pretty shook up. Her Dr. called us on Monday and suggested jumping into the increased dose immediately rather than building up to it. So she took the increased dose Monday night and then again on Tuesday morning. That ended up being way too much and she spent all day Tuesday very sick to her stomach. So we took the extra doses off again and will just keep her at this start up dose for another week and then add one additional dose in about a week. Today was a pretty good day and we are praising God for each one of those! The Dr. who did Cassie’s surgery in August wants to see her in Seattle for about 3-5 days of observation. We are praying that it will happen around the first of next week. We decided to pull Cassie out of school again until her meds are at the right therapeutic level to control her seizures. We would really like to make that no more than 2 weeks, so please pray with us that all the red tape for getting her to Seattle would fall into place and she and Gary can be on their way there around the first of February.
Right before Cassie was discharged from Harborview in August, the surgeon told us that it can take up to a year for the brain to heal from the surgery Cassie had. He also said that she will most likely continue to have seizures until the brain heals completely. Our goal is to control those seizures with the seizure meds so the healing can take place easily. God blessed us with 5 months of seizures under control. We praise Him for that and trust that He will direct the Dr. and us to the proper dose to continue controlling them until her brain has had a chance to heal completely. Thank you with all our hearts for your continued prayers. They are felt and greatly appreciated!
When Gary and I felt the Lord leading us to shift our ministry over to Alaska Christian College a little over a year ago, we didn’t know for sure what that was going to look like. As the past year has gone by, the picture has become clearer and we are feeling very comfortable and confident that we are where God would have us. We have enough financial support coming in to cover most of my salary (there is still a $700/mth deficit, keep praying!). And we don’t have enough to pay for both of us to be on staff full-time at ACC. So, Gary has been developing his computer service business-GK Harris & Associates. God has really blessed this endeavor and we praise Him for that. However, our finances have been strained from time to time so we have also been praying for a full-time job for Gary that would provide a steady income for our family. This past week was an extremely emotional week for us. Not only did we have Cassie’s seizures acting up again, Gary was offered a full-time IT job with a great company here in town that would start in July. But on Monday, he found out that he was not getting the job after all because of internal restructuring of the company. Talk about feeling ourselves going into a tailspin! But here it is Wednesday and we are not in the depths of despair but finding several things to praise God for. I often times think of the song my dear friend, Barb Johnson sang a year ago “Life is Hard, but God is Good!” Truly He is all the time.
So, Gary is back to doing his IT business and I’m working full-time at New Hope Counseling Center (NHCC) on the campus of Alaska Christian College. NHCC has been providing free counseling for the students of ACC for two years now. After much prayer and seeking counsel from several people NHCC decided to open their doors to the community as well. We have been very busy already! This Friday NHCC is having a fund raiser dinner at Peninsula Grace Brethren Church to raise funds to cover our operating expenses so we can continue to offer free counseling to the students of ACC. If you live in the area and would like to attend the fundraiser dinner, you are invited! Just give me a call at NHCC at 260-7423 and let me know. It will be a wonderful evening of excellent food (prepared by Chef Garry from ACC) and a program that includes the ACC choir, testimonies from several of ACC’s students, a native dance and a few words from ACC’s campus Pastor, Curtis Ivanoff.
In a nutshell Gary and I are keeping very busy. Gary continues to do ministry by providing free IT work for several ministries here in the area and helping with projects at ACC. As a matter of fact, he will be helping ACC’s bookkeeper with a major project coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m loving my responsibilities at NHCC. When I first started working at the NHCC office it was very quiet and a much slower pace than the bookkeeping office at ACC. It isn’t anymore! I keep hopping from the moment I walk into the office in the morning until I leave at the end of the day. There is plenty of administrative duties that I take of, but my favorite part is the mentoring that takes place through my mentor group that meets on Tuesdays, Celebrate Life group that meets on Thursdays and the two young ladies I mentor one on one every week. I love the opportunity to share my faith and commitment to God with the young men and women at ACC. The first year ACC had student’s Gary and I “adopted” two of the students and had them over to our home about once a week. I received an email from one of those students today. He is attending North Park University in Chicago and plans to return to Alaska and minister to his own people when he finishes his education. It meant so much to me to receive a message from him that was personal and his way of staying in touch with Gary and me. God is so good!
We love you. Thank you with all our hearts for your love and prayers. It is a privilege and blessing to be serving our wonderful Lord with you as our partners! May God bless you and keep you near to His heart in all that you do.
Kris
It has been on my to do list for a couple of days now to sit down and send you an update BUT this has been a very busy couple of weeks. We know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we continue on because you pray for us! Only God could give us the strength and energy to keep going. I’m going to try to bring you up to date with out droning on and on.
We had a truly wonderful Christmas with all three of our children home for at least a couple of days. We didn’t have nearly enough time with Chelsie but it was so good to see her and wrap our arms around her-I didn’t want to let her go! We are so proud of her. She returned to Greenfield, IN the day after Christmas to her new job with Star Financial Bank (she is the youngest employee of Star Financial Banks!!). She is currently working full time and taking 2 college classes. Please keep her in your prayers as she travels to and from Indianapolis on Mondays and Wednesday for her classes. Thank you!!
Ty continues to work for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) as a roust-about. Since Christmas he hasn’t had too many hours, so he is hoping to be put on a platform crew where he would work one week on and one week off an oil rig platform out in the Cook Inlet as a chef. He told me the other day that he misses cooking-I love to hear that! He is actually a very good cook. He made the best lasagna I’ve ever had for us when he first got back to Alaska. Please continue to keep Ty in your prayers. From all outward appearances his heart is still far from God, but our hope is in the fact that God has heard our prayers and the work He began in Ty He will continue! We praise God for the sweet relationship with have with Ty, and never take that for granted. Thank you for your prayers!
Cassie looks beautiful and healthy and she is definitely full of life and orneriness!! However, we have had a bit of a set back these past couple of weeks. She has been experiencing some mild seizures for about a month now. Gary and Cassie had an appointment with her neurologist in Anchorage a couple of weeks ago. He said that perhaps the reason for the seizures is that she has gained about 30 pounds (she only weighed about 75 pounds when we got home from Seattle in August) but her seizure meds have not been adjusted for the additional weight. That really makes sense since seizure meds are based on body weight. So he suggested changing one of her meds and increasing her dose. She started on the new med about two weeks ago and seemed to be making the adjustment rather smoothly until this past Friday. She had a complex partial seizure (like the ones she was having before we left for Seattle in August for her surgery) while at school. That was a very difficult day and left all of us feeling pretty shook up. Her Dr. called us on Monday and suggested jumping into the increased dose immediately rather than building up to it. So she took the increased dose Monday night and then again on Tuesday morning. That ended up being way too much and she spent all day Tuesday very sick to her stomach. So we took the extra doses off again and will just keep her at this start up dose for another week and then add one additional dose in about a week. Today was a pretty good day and we are praising God for each one of those! The Dr. who did Cassie’s surgery in August wants to see her in Seattle for about 3-5 days of observation. We are praying that it will happen around the first of next week. We decided to pull Cassie out of school again until her meds are at the right therapeutic level to control her seizures. We would really like to make that no more than 2 weeks, so please pray with us that all the red tape for getting her to Seattle would fall into place and she and Gary can be on their way there around the first of February.
Right before Cassie was discharged from Harborview in August, the surgeon told us that it can take up to a year for the brain to heal from the surgery Cassie had. He also said that she will most likely continue to have seizures until the brain heals completely. Our goal is to control those seizures with the seizure meds so the healing can take place easily. God blessed us with 5 months of seizures under control. We praise Him for that and trust that He will direct the Dr. and us to the proper dose to continue controlling them until her brain has had a chance to heal completely. Thank you with all our hearts for your continued prayers. They are felt and greatly appreciated!
When Gary and I felt the Lord leading us to shift our ministry over to Alaska Christian College a little over a year ago, we didn’t know for sure what that was going to look like. As the past year has gone by, the picture has become clearer and we are feeling very comfortable and confident that we are where God would have us. We have enough financial support coming in to cover most of my salary (there is still a $700/mth deficit, keep praying!). And we don’t have enough to pay for both of us to be on staff full-time at ACC. So, Gary has been developing his computer service business-GK Harris & Associates. God has really blessed this endeavor and we praise Him for that. However, our finances have been strained from time to time so we have also been praying for a full-time job for Gary that would provide a steady income for our family. This past week was an extremely emotional week for us. Not only did we have Cassie’s seizures acting up again, Gary was offered a full-time IT job with a great company here in town that would start in July. But on Monday, he found out that he was not getting the job after all because of internal restructuring of the company. Talk about feeling ourselves going into a tailspin! But here it is Wednesday and we are not in the depths of despair but finding several things to praise God for. I often times think of the song my dear friend, Barb Johnson sang a year ago “Life is Hard, but God is Good!” Truly He is all the time.
So, Gary is back to doing his IT business and I’m working full-time at New Hope Counseling Center (NHCC) on the campus of Alaska Christian College. NHCC has been providing free counseling for the students of ACC for two years now. After much prayer and seeking counsel from several people NHCC decided to open their doors to the community as well. We have been very busy already! This Friday NHCC is having a fund raiser dinner at Peninsula Grace Brethren Church to raise funds to cover our operating expenses so we can continue to offer free counseling to the students of ACC. If you live in the area and would like to attend the fundraiser dinner, you are invited! Just give me a call at NHCC at 260-7423 and let me know. It will be a wonderful evening of excellent food (prepared by Chef Garry from ACC) and a program that includes the ACC choir, testimonies from several of ACC’s students, a native dance and a few words from ACC’s campus Pastor, Curtis Ivanoff.
In a nutshell Gary and I are keeping very busy. Gary continues to do ministry by providing free IT work for several ministries here in the area and helping with projects at ACC. As a matter of fact, he will be helping ACC’s bookkeeper with a major project coming up in a couple of weeks. I’m loving my responsibilities at NHCC. When I first started working at the NHCC office it was very quiet and a much slower pace than the bookkeeping office at ACC. It isn’t anymore! I keep hopping from the moment I walk into the office in the morning until I leave at the end of the day. There is plenty of administrative duties that I take of, but my favorite part is the mentoring that takes place through my mentor group that meets on Tuesdays, Celebrate Life group that meets on Thursdays and the two young ladies I mentor one on one every week. I love the opportunity to share my faith and commitment to God with the young men and women at ACC. The first year ACC had student’s Gary and I “adopted” two of the students and had them over to our home about once a week. I received an email from one of those students today. He is attending North Park University in Chicago and plans to return to Alaska and minister to his own people when he finishes his education. It meant so much to me to receive a message from him that was personal and his way of staying in touch with Gary and me. God is so good!
We love you. Thank you with all our hearts for your love and prayers. It is a privilege and blessing to be serving our wonderful Lord with you as our partners! May God bless you and keep you near to His heart in all that you do.
Kris