From: Timko, Terry M
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2016 7:08 PM
Subject: Maura Update - Sunday June 19th
Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2016 7:08 PM
Subject: Maura Update - Sunday June 19th
Dear Friends,
Today is mostly about logistics and huge thank you to all of
you for your support.
Maura is recovering remarkable well from her surgery,
although she is very sleepy and needs to minimize stimulation. I know
many of you want to visit, but please hold off as she tires easily and
communication can get hard. This is a long journey and she is looking
forward to your company and encouragement as we walk this out. She is
also on 0 screen time which means she is not checking her phone or email.
In fact her plan is to declare email bankruptcy and start a new email account
which I’ll send out in a future update. If you need to get a message to
her please email me.
We met with her neuro and radiation oncologists this past
week. She will be starting a 6 week course of radiation and chemo as soon
as next Tuesday. She should feel pretty good the 1st 2 weeks,
tiered the second 2 and more tired the final 2. Then 4 weeks of rest
before she gets another MRI to see how effective the treatments were.
We still don’t have all the tumor’s genetic markers back -
we should have them tomorrow – which are indicators of how well she should
respond to chemoradiation. We don’t know if we are dealing with 3 months or 3
years (10 years would be a miracle and awesome).
We are actively exploring clinical trials, and input from
major cancer centers, which may take us out of town. If anybody has
connections we are eager to leverage them.
We are doing extra-ordinarily well mentally, spiritually and
emotionally. We are in His hands, He is good and we continue to walk this
out in faith with our awesome community. We are so blessed and are ready
for a fight.
Needs:
Josh and Ethan are at Summer of Service this week so it is
just Maura, Daniel and I which means we don’t need any meals or driving
help. I suspect as I travel for work and as Maura goes through radiochemo
we will likely need meals and driving support in the future – Janet (cced) is
on point for this.
As I work through this I see several non-traditional
needs/support we have this summer, mostly related to things I planned to do
that I can’t do now. I’m trusting that people in the community can
help. For all of these as before reach out to Jeff and Janet (both cced)
to coordinate. Here is the list:
1) Maura is going to need to change her diet (the
rest of us will as well) to support her through chemo and radiation. I’ve
done some research here but if anyone has experience in this area or is a
nutritionist we would gladly take your help, input and coaching. Bonnie
Currens has already volunteered to help here – Thanks!
2) I have been shopping for the perfect car for
Josh and Ethan to share. I now don’t have the time to find that perfect 1st
car and am hoping someone on this distribution has a good dependable, boring,
slow used car in the 3k-6k price range.
3) Worship: I want to cover Maura in worship around
the house. Noting is more healing to the soul than just being in God’s
presence. We have done this a few times in the hospital and at our home
this past week. It was a little too much for her this past week but I
expect to add it back in next week. She was hugely blessed by this. So if
you are a worship leader get with Janet to coordinate this one. Think
short & simple, 20-30min tops a couple days a week spread across multiple
people.
4) I was teaching Josh and Ethan to drive this
summer. They need hours behind the wheel, help parallel parking, … Jeff
Holland has offered to help here and is coordinating but I’m sure someone with
experience in this area who is nearby would be great. You could use my
car. They need to be driving by 1st week of Sept because Maura
can’t drive them around anymore.
5) I need a financial planner that is familiar with
this kind of situation. Additionally, Maura handled all of her mom’s
finances and I need to take that over.
6) I need an attorney that is familiar with this
kind of situation as I need to be power of attorney for Maura’s mom and have
several other things to get in order.
7) I have a number of projects to do around the
house. I’d love to do them with others some weekend – I’ll buy pizza and
beer.
8) I have a number of car projects. I’d love
to do them with somebody. Paul Metz already volunteered and I think Arnoldo
and Rob may have offered as well. Again – I’ll buy pizza and beer.
That is all I can think of for now. We love you all
and I suspect Maura will be able to communicate for herself in about a week -
slowly.
Terry