Jenifer’s Home Page

Jenifer spent these last few days with Dale and Gail Goad in Durant.  Their son, Taylor, was home for Christmas break from Oklahoma Christian Universtiy.  Jenifer had a runny nose and has been on an antibiotics to try to get her well before her radiation and chemotherapy starts.  December 29 was Gail’s birthday and Jenifer celebrated with them in Sherman, TX eating out and seeing the movie “Enchanted”.  After church on Sunday Jenifer wanted to go home with Gail’s mother and spend the day.  The next night was New Year’s Eve and Dale and Gail had plans with some friends to go eat at P.F. Chang’s.  Jenifer decided that staying with Gail’s mom was more appealing than a night on the town. 

 

Dec 27th, Appointment with Oncologists, Dr. McNall and Dr. Syzek

This afternoon, we took Jenifer to meet with the oncologist and radiation doctors in Oklahoma City.  They recommended 31 radiation treatments along with 1 of 2 chemotherapy drugs.  We are to decide which chemotherapy medications that we want.  Both have shown some promise in prolonging the survival and improving the effects of radiation.  There are some side effects from the chemotherapy but they are usually mild.  The radiation will call her to lose some hair on the back of her scalp but be low enough it might not even be noticeable.  One of the medications is oral and the other would require an PIC line.  This is a special IV that can stay in place for several weeks, requiring fewer needle sticks and less pain.   She was fitted with a special mask that will help her hold very still during the therapy.  She will start her radiation treatments next Thursday, Jan 3rd.

 

Jenifer is spending a few days with Dale and Gail Goad in Durant.  She wanted to take our small dog, Mimi with her because she says their dog is too big and he eats too much food.  She has been in great spirits and very comical.  She rarely cries any more but when we show pictures of the other children, Erick or Eveling then she is sad.  If all goes well, she would return to Nicaragua in early March.

 

We have a very difficult decision to make about the chemotherapy and want only what is best for Jenifer.  Only God can help us make the right decision.  Please continue praying of our family and Jenifer during this time.  We love her so very much and want to do what God wants us to do.  He has promised to care for her and her life is in His hands.  What a wonderful place to be after all.  Ps 91:10,11.

In Christ our mediator,    Kent

 

Dec 24th,  A Very White Christmas

Northern Oklahoma and states farther north were hit by a heavy blizzard.  Many roads were closed travelers stranded on the way to family celebrations.  Abby’s sister and her family from Iowa were stuck on I-35 for hours and didn’t make it to Oklahoma until Sunday.  On Sunday morning we had family church with Zabe reading the Bible and Kaleb and Raymond leading the songs.   Raymond, Kendra and Katy just returned from New York where Raymond was a star in Blake Shelton’s choir on “Clash of the Choirs”.  Jenifer watched Raymond sing on TV and represent Oklahoma charities. 

 

Jenifer is eating better all the time.  You can tell that she is missing momma Eveling’s gallo pinto (a mixture of rice and black beans).  I finally broke down and added a hot dog to her rice and she devoured it.   Our nice, bleached white Oklahoma rice just doesn’t taste the same as momma Eveling’s.

 

Jenifer and her ‘cousins’ built a snowman at Waynoka.  She toured the Waynoka Air-Train Museum and watch the model train.  A great time was had by all….especially with the snowball fights.  This was her first time to see ‘nieve’. (snow)

 

Dec 22nd,  Santa Claus comes early.

While we were celebrating Christmas at our house, the sound of jingling bells got louder and louder.  Suddenly Santa came into the house and presented Jenifer with several gifts.  She was so excited to see the real Santa Claus.  And to think that some of us had stopped believing in Santa.   Most of her presents involve activities to help her use her right hand.  She is doing well with this and not ‘hiding’ it like she was before.  Prior to surgery she would pick up her right hand with her left hand.  She loves to draw and color the most.  Santa brought a small ‘toy’ laptop that has math, English activities and sing along songs.  It even has  a mouse that plugs in to the back.

 

Dec  21st,  Back from Durant

Jenifer turned with Dale Goad today from Durant.  She had so much fun.  The Durant folks showered her with presents.  She has a great time and returned with a new Barbie, a singing mouse Santa and the Scooby Doo.

 

Dec 16th, To Gail and Dale’s House we go…

We had a great morning at Chisholm Trail church in Duncan.  Jenifer wore a new dress given to her by Angela Latimer.  She was beautiful.  This was our first time back at church since surgery.  A special collection was taken at the end of the service.

 

Dale and Gail Goad made a quick trip from Durant to pick up Jenifer.  She is spending a few days with them in Durant.  They are hoping to make it back for evening services.  Dale presented a talk at Bochita this morning.

 

When they got here Jenifer started smiling again.  We packed up her crayons, radio and movies. She was very excited to see them.  She loves Tia Gail and Tio Dale so much.   Wrapped in her Princess Blanket and coat, she gave me a hug and was ready to go.

 

Its quiet and peaceful at the Kings’ house.……….Gail will have to do the updates for now. 

 

Dec 15^th, Sat, Coloring and Tortillas

Grandma King was up early this morning making breakfast.  Jenifer ate some muffins and soup.  For the first time since her surgery, she has started coloring.  Several of her gifts were markers, crayons or coloring books and this is her favorite thing to do.  Maybe even more than movies.  She is using her right hand much better than before.  We are so happy and relieved with her progress.

 

I snapped a few pictures of her and Grandma King.  We managed to get a few smiles too.  Notice:  her feeding tube is out.  Kathye Malcom came by last night and explained to Jenifer (in Spanish) that when she was eating enough, the tube could come out.  She had about 1200 cal yesterday and this morning is eating great.  Kaleb warmed up some soup and a flour tortilla with butter and she ‘wolfed’ it down.

 

Tomorrow at Chisholm Trail, we will be taking up a special contribution for Jenifer’s medical expenses.  Four other congregations are doing the same.  We paid OU Children’s Hospital the entire amount of our charges for the hospital stay before we even left the hospital.  I bet we are the first ones to ever do that………..well God did it……….through you.  The concern now is the very expensive radiation therapy to come.  This will likely start the first of January.  I have ask OU to give us an estimate of the cost.  Please keep Jenifer and all of us in your prayers.     Kent

 

Dec 14^th, Fri, Grandma King comes to visit

Its so great to be home.  We arrived back in Duncan last night and we’re all very tired.  She really wants the tube taken out but when we try to get her eat she only takes small bites.  She seems very tired most of the time.  Laying on the couch and watching movies.  She’s really a princess with everyone just spoiling her.  Kendra and Katy are finished with college finals and came home tonight.  They are on there way to New York to see Raymond on Clash of the Choirs NBC Show Monday night.  The girls were able to get Jenifer to eat much better.  Abby got her some strawberry ice cream and she ate every drop.   Jerry and Beth Montgomery brought over some soup and pecan bars

for tomorrow.  The pecans bars disappeared tonight.  

 

Kaleb went to town and brought back a beautiful Christmas tree.  We hope to decorate it this weekend.  Grandpa Gene, Ray and Lisha Collins also visited and we watch the movie “Deck the Halls”.   The girls finally got Jenifer to try the DDR dancing game and she was laughing.  Its so good to see her smile.  Her smiles are coming more frequently and they brighten the whole house….

 

Dec 13^th, Thu, Coming Home (well kinda…)

Drs. Gross and Rahaal come in today to check on Jenifer.  She had been swallowing better but not taking enough calories.  They ordered another dysphagogram (swallowing study) and by 10:30 am we were in radiology.  The speech therapist showed me the video of her swallowing.  She had no aspiration which is wonderful.  At times, she would take 4 or 5 attempts to swallow something.  The muscles in her throat will fatigue when that happens and then she could get choked.  She needs 800 calories a day.  She is taking about 400 to 500 cal/day by mouth so the feeding tube is still necessary.  Compared to Monday’s x-rays, her swallowing is ‘dramatically’ better according to the therapist. 

 

Dr. Gross said we could go home tomorrow and we are so excited.  There is a report of another snow and ice storm coming so we asked Dr. Gross if we could leave today and she said ‘Yes’.  Everything but the swallowing is back to normal.  She still has some weakness in her right hand.  When she walks you don’t notice a limp anymore.   I went to physical therapy with her and she played air hockey, the electric keyboard and then jumped in the ball pit.  She has to use her right hand with these activities. 

 

So when our paper work was done, we put our winter coats on and headed down to the car.  We couldn’t find a wheelchair but we really didn’t need one.  We just walked….got in the car and went home to Duncan.

 

Dec 10^th, Mon, Failed the test.

Jenifer went down for a swallowing test but didn’t pass.  We really thought she could do this because she had been eating some ice chips and having no problems.  She is taking too long to swallow.  It appears to be swelling in the base of the head behind the throat.  She didn’t get choked but could very easily if the muscle stopped and she still had food in her mouth.  She also started physical therapy today.  They took her down to the department and started exercised to increase the coordination in her right hand.  Her IV was in her left hand and it is covered with a splint so she had to use her right hand

 

We found the movie, Madagascar, where the animals escape from the New York Zoo.  She laughed so hard.  It was hilarious to see.  This may be our new favorite.  We have had so many wonderful sitters and we are thankful to them for their help.  Gail and Dale Goad, Kathye and Larry Malcom, Jeana Wiley, Kendra, Katy and Abby.  My turn is Wed night. 

Jenifer still gets pretty cranky sometimes and cries when friends leave. Even for a short time.  She was asking for “Mama Eveling” again today.  We hope she can go home to LNDR for a few days at the end of the month before she starts radiation therapy but that might not work out.  We are going to be video conferencing when we got back home to Duncan. 

 

 

Dec 9th, Sunday

Oklahoma City had its first ice-storm of the season.  We awoke to freezing temperatures.  Area churches were closed today.  Kathye Malcom had spent the night and was “snowed-in”  til this afternoon when Abby arrived.  Dale and Gail Goad are back and spending Sun and Mon nights taking care of Jenifer.  She is getting stronger and went to physical therapy today for the first time.  She still has the feeding tube.  Tomorrow a swallowing study is planned. These help determine whether she could swallow thin or thickened liquids, solid, etc.  She was getting choked on her own saliva and required suctioning frequently after surgery but hasn’t had a problem the last two days.  We are hopeful she will be able to tolerated some foods and get the tube out soon.

 

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(Top) MRI slice showing the glioma in the deep brainstem just to the left of center.

 

(Below) Sagittal view of the brainstem glioma.  Notice it is fairly round and smooth, not speculated or irregular.

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