Hello friends and family,
I'm sorry, I know I am a little tardy in my latest update. But taking care of a toddler, newborn and playing nurse to Reyn has left me little time to update the blog. It's been a little wild but I am grateful that I have this time to be at home with my family and I have the opportunity to care for them. I was also waiting to hear from Duke regarding Reyn's pathology report and I finally heard back today.
So first things first. We have been home for 5 days and Reyn it doing great! He is getting plenty of rest and starting to look more like himself, sans the black eye. I just told him it made him look extra tough! He had his sutures removed today and the incision is healing quite nicely. The stitches were so small and looked like fishing wire. Whoever the "seamstress" was did a good job putting him back together. We estimated 100 stitches but hard to tell because they were so tiny. Reyn is getting his energy back slowly but surely. He even played outside with Jackson yesterday afternoon. Although he still has to take it easy, I can tell he is feeling better day by day. The doctor said it would probably take a month before he felt like himself completely so this means we are 10 days closer to that becoming a reality.
Now for the exciting news! We received Reyn's pathology report last Thursday night. Of course there are many things in there that are way over my education level but I did understand the conclusion, which read.... "well differentiated oligodendroglioma." As soon as I saw it I called Duke to verify their diagnosis because Reyn was initially diagnosed with an "oligoastrocytoma" which meant that he had a mixed tumor. An oligoastrocytoma has a mixture of oligodendrocyte cells and astrocyte cells, with the astrocyte cells being the more aggressive. So, for those of you following the blog along the way- you know that one of our main prayer requests was for the composition of the tumor to show more oligodendrocyte cells than astrocyte cells.....AND PRAYER WORKS!! The representative at Duke told me today that their sample confirmed an oligodendroglioma which means at this point no astrocyte cells were detected. Since they removed ~ 70% of the tumor they have a much larger sample to draw from and I firmly believe the Lord heard the prayers of many and removed those astrocyte cells! Praise the Lord!
Thank you to the God in heaven for being with us throughout this process. I thought that I would share the verses given to me on the morning of Reyn's surgery because they were so beautiful. My mom had read this in her quiet time that day and shared with me early that morning. Deuteronomy 31:8 "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
We know that we still have much to learn regarding Reyn's tumor and studies will continue from the sample that was taken until we return to Duke on March 25th and 26th. At that time we will have many answers.
Thank you again for checking in on us. I will post updates again soon.
Love,
The Connellys
Party of four
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Packed and Ready To Go!
I'm so excited to say that Reyn continues to improve and we are packed and ready to go home!! We can hardly wait to get our hands on Jackson....I miss my little man so much!
Tomorrow is a big day because Reyn gets to wash his hair for the first time since surgery ;). At some point we will decide what to do with his new haircut! I told him this is the only time in his life he might get away with a mohawk....so we will see!
Please pray for our trip home and pray for Reyn's continued recovery. I know that many of you will want to see him but the doctor said no visitors for a few weeks. Rest is the best form of treatment for him now so we have to make sure he is well rested and on the road to recovery! As soon as it is ok for him to have visitors we would love to see you all!
Thank you Lord for getting us to this point. I know that He has carried us along the way!
Love,
Jordan
Tomorrow is a big day because Reyn gets to wash his hair for the first time since surgery ;). At some point we will decide what to do with his new haircut! I told him this is the only time in his life he might get away with a mohawk....so we will see!
Please pray for our trip home and pray for Reyn's continued recovery. I know that many of you will want to see him but the doctor said no visitors for a few weeks. Rest is the best form of treatment for him now so we have to make sure he is well rested and on the road to recovery! As soon as it is ok for him to have visitors we would love to see you all!
Thank you Lord for getting us to this point. I know that He has carried us along the way!
Love,
Jordan
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Healing Begins
Many of you know already but Reyn did so well with his neurological checks and recovery in the hospital that he was released yesterday at 12:30..... Just 48 hours following a craniotomy! It seems crazy to me that someone can be released from the hospital after brain surgery sooner than I was after having a baby, but we are so thankful! He was able to come to the hotel and rest for the remainder of the day. He slept most of the morning today but I managed to talk him into a stroll through the hotel...just to get the blood pumping. His appetite is getting better but the pain medications along with the anti-seizure and steroid medications certainly make him sleepy! Sleep is the best thing for his recovery at this point so we are keeping it quiet around here and letting him rest when he gets tired.
I spoke with the neuro resident earlier today and they have given us the "ok" to leave on Wednesday. I am so happy that he will get to go home and be in his own bed. Also, we are missing our sweet little Jackson pretty badly at this point so I cannot wait to get my hands on him!
We also removed his bandages today and although the incision is large it appears to be healing well! Reyn's bruising looks like he got into a fist fight and he was the recipient of a nice right hook but other than that, very little bruising. He has been busy this afternoon looking for surgical caps to wear to work once he returns. Already thinking about work but the good news is he will be well rested once he returns to work.
At this point his sutures will be removed by next Monday and we can have that done at home. After that our next appointment will be up here at Duke in six weeks. Reyn will have a follow up MRI at that appointment so we will truly know how much of the tumor was removed.
Please continue to pray for healing and our trip home.
Thank you for your love and support.
I spoke with the neuro resident earlier today and they have given us the "ok" to leave on Wednesday. I am so happy that he will get to go home and be in his own bed. Also, we are missing our sweet little Jackson pretty badly at this point so I cannot wait to get my hands on him!
We also removed his bandages today and although the incision is large it appears to be healing well! Reyn's bruising looks like he got into a fist fight and he was the recipient of a nice right hook but other than that, very little bruising. He has been busy this afternoon looking for surgical caps to wear to work once he returns. Already thinking about work but the good news is he will be well rested once he returns to work.
At this point his sutures will be removed by next Monday and we can have that done at home. After that our next appointment will be up here at Duke in six weeks. Reyn will have a follow up MRI at that appointment so we will truly know how much of the tumor was removed.
Please continue to pray for healing and our trip home.
Thank you for your love and support.
Friday, February 15, 2013
A Weight Has Been Lifted
Hello all!
As many of you already know Reyn made it through surgery exceptionally well. He went into surgery with a BP of 112/72 so this tells you my sweet husband was truly at peace. Even I had a calm that could not be described while he was in surgery. I know it was certainly the "peace that surpasses all understanding" made possible only through Christ.
The team at Duke began surgery just before 8AM this morning and it ended around 12:30PM. Reyn is spending the night in ICU and as long as he continues to do well he will be moved to a regular room. We have been told he should be released by Sunday or Monday and we will then spend a few days in Durham in order to ensure we are close if an emergency does arise. We were finally able to see Reyn around 4:15PM and he was pretty groggy but doing well. His facial, hands, and leg movements are excellent and he "smiles" on cue. The nurses are constantly asking him to smile to check facial movement. He even cracked a couple of jokes so I know that "my Reyn" is still my Reyn. He asked the nurses for Sake (the drink) when they told him he was maxed out on pain meds for the moment...only Reyn!
Dr. Friedman did stop by the ICU-(which I am told can be a rare occurrence right after surgery) and answered some of my questions. He said that he did very well and was recovering as he had hoped. He determined that the tumor is still a low grade tumor, so this is favorable news. His best guess is that he removed approximately 70% of the tumor but we will know more once we have our follow up appointment in 6 weeks. At that time they will perform another MRI and we will get to see the new "picture" of his tumor. We should also have the pathology report by Tuesday of next week and it will reveal the composition of the tumor. We will have a better idea of the percentage of aggressive vs. less aggressive cells.
Tonight no one can stay with Reyn but we will be there to see him first thing in the morning. Hopefully at that time he will be moved over to a normal room and we can spend more time with him. (There are certain visitation restrictions in ICU.)
I will update you all as I know more but I just want to say thank you to all of you for caring about our family. I continue to be overwhelmed at the prayer vigils, sweet notes, phone calls and meals being sent our way. We even had a homemade dinner delivered to us tonight by a person I have never actually met...talk about God's love! You have truly been the hands and feet of Christ to us and it's so amazing to watch the body of Christ function as God intended it! I only hope that I can return the favor to you all someday.
Now I am off to love on our sweet baby girl and get some rest.
Love,
Jordan
As many of you already know Reyn made it through surgery exceptionally well. He went into surgery with a BP of 112/72 so this tells you my sweet husband was truly at peace. Even I had a calm that could not be described while he was in surgery. I know it was certainly the "peace that surpasses all understanding" made possible only through Christ.
The team at Duke began surgery just before 8AM this morning and it ended around 12:30PM. Reyn is spending the night in ICU and as long as he continues to do well he will be moved to a regular room. We have been told he should be released by Sunday or Monday and we will then spend a few days in Durham in order to ensure we are close if an emergency does arise. We were finally able to see Reyn around 4:15PM and he was pretty groggy but doing well. His facial, hands, and leg movements are excellent and he "smiles" on cue. The nurses are constantly asking him to smile to check facial movement. He even cracked a couple of jokes so I know that "my Reyn" is still my Reyn. He asked the nurses for Sake (the drink) when they told him he was maxed out on pain meds for the moment...only Reyn!
Dr. Friedman did stop by the ICU-(which I am told can be a rare occurrence right after surgery) and answered some of my questions. He said that he did very well and was recovering as he had hoped. He determined that the tumor is still a low grade tumor, so this is favorable news. His best guess is that he removed approximately 70% of the tumor but we will know more once we have our follow up appointment in 6 weeks. At that time they will perform another MRI and we will get to see the new "picture" of his tumor. We should also have the pathology report by Tuesday of next week and it will reveal the composition of the tumor. We will have a better idea of the percentage of aggressive vs. less aggressive cells.
Tonight no one can stay with Reyn but we will be there to see him first thing in the morning. Hopefully at that time he will be moved over to a normal room and we can spend more time with him. (There are certain visitation restrictions in ICU.)
I will update you all as I know more but I just want to say thank you to all of you for caring about our family. I continue to be overwhelmed at the prayer vigils, sweet notes, phone calls and meals being sent our way. We even had a homemade dinner delivered to us tonight by a person I have never actually met...talk about God's love! You have truly been the hands and feet of Christ to us and it's so amazing to watch the body of Christ function as God intended it! I only hope that I can return the favor to you all someday.
Now I am off to love on our sweet baby girl and get some rest.
Love,
Jordan
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Game Time!
Hello there everyone. Reyn here. I am relaxing in my room and am ready to go in the morning. We will be starting early tomorrow. I have had a lot going on, of course, and have not been able to answer every call,text,or email. But I wanted to let each and every one of you know how blessed I have been by you and how much I appreciate all of your support, prayers, meals, encouragement,etc. Continue to pray that God will be glorified in all that transpires. I am feeling good, and know that God has things under control. The peace of Christ is such a gift, and I am grateful for His grace that He has given me.
I am so thankful for my friends and family, especially my wonderful bride! She has continued to be the rock of the Connelly family through everything. She is a great mommy and even better wife. I love you Jordan!
We will update the blog and let you all know what is going on tomorrow. Thanks for caring! We will talk soon....
I am so thankful for my friends and family, especially my wonderful bride! She has continued to be the rock of the Connelly family through everything. She is a great mommy and even better wife. I love you Jordan!
We will update the blog and let you all know what is going on tomorrow. Thanks for caring! We will talk soon....
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
We made it
We made it to Durham. We are all exhausted but we are happy to have made it safely. Reyn has a pre-op appointment at 1PM tomorrow, followed by an MRI and admission to the hospital. He will spend the night at the hospital tomorrow night in preparation for surgery on Friday. Surgery should take place during the morning of the 15th but there is a possibility of being "bumped" if an emergency comes in ahead of us.
So, our first hope and prayer is that he goes in for an MRI tomorrow night and the doctors walk away stumped because his MRI reveals a perfectly healthy brain! We know God can show off at any time so this is my prayer tonight. If God has another plan, then we pray Reyn is healed through surgery. We believe in modern medicine but our trust is in God first.
I'm keeping it short because I am so tired but more updates to come. Please continue to pray for peace and pray specifically that Reyn would not be anxious....so far God has answered these prayers for us!
We love you all and are grateful to you for following our story.
Jordan
So, our first hope and prayer is that he goes in for an MRI tomorrow night and the doctors walk away stumped because his MRI reveals a perfectly healthy brain! We know God can show off at any time so this is my prayer tonight. If God has another plan, then we pray Reyn is healed through surgery. We believe in modern medicine but our trust is in God first.
I'm keeping it short because I am so tired but more updates to come. Please continue to pray for peace and pray specifically that Reyn would not be anxious....so far God has answered these prayers for us!
We love you all and are grateful to you for following our story.
Jordan
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
I Will Trust You, Lord
This past week has been a tough week for me emotionally. The great deceiver has been working hard on me and bringing a lot of "what ifs" to mind. The reality of such a daunting surgery is knocking on our doorstep and I have felt overwhelmed. God has reminded me that His Son experienced every emotion I am feeling and every tear that I have cried He has accounted for. I know the Lord loves me and loves our family because His Word says so. Satan wants me to believe differently but I know where my strength and security lie. I share this all to say thank you for your continued prayers and please continue to pray for PEACE specifically. We have felt your prayers and are so grateful for your support. Many of you know our story but I feel it necessary to share with you some of the circumstances surrounding us over the past few years...because if you don't believe God is constantly at work in your life, maybe this will change your outlook.
2 years ago Reyn was asked to be in a Men's group (CLC) at Johnson Ferry. It was a great commitment as the 12 men in the group had to commit to diligently study God's Word and meet every Monday morning from 6AM-8AM. Reyn's day began at 4:45AM! When Reyn went into this study he loved the Lord very much but the growth and knowledge he developed for the Lord throughout this study blew me away! He committed to this group and reaped the benefits of a deeper relationship with God. I find God's timing so interesting and know that He was preparing Reyn to trust Him when faced with the diagnosis of a brain tumor 21 months after beginning his CLC study. Once again, God has perfect timing!
Also in October of 2011 we were faced with another obstacle. My mother lost her job. She is single and we knew she would need help...little did we know we would be the ones needing more help than she needed from us! When she lost her job God provided a way for us to "finish" our basement within a 6 week period and build an in-law suite for her to come and live with us. She began keeping Jackson for us throughout the week, as did my mother-in-law. The relief I felt knowing that he was being cared for by family was tremendous and allowed me to focus more on my job! Then came Reyn's diagnosis November 19,2012. If my mother were not here with us right now I would not be surviving. She not only helps with Jackson but also helps me with Grier! The best part about this entire scenario is that Reyn & I made an offer on a house that I LOVED in 2007. It had the most beautiful kitchen and walk-in closet but God didn't see fit for us to buy that house. I was so mad at Him for not giving us that house, especially when I found out months later that it sold for the EXACT amount we had offered a few months before. It didn't make sense to me at the time but God reminded me years later when my mother lost her job-- that the house I just had to have, had NO BASEMENT. He knew we would need my mom here for this time in our lives so thank you God for your provision and for the gift of reminding me that you know what the future holds, even when I think I have all of the answers!
I'm sorry if I have bounced around a bit but felt the need to share the above. God has given us such sweet time with our family and newest addition. We are just loving our cuddly sweet baby girl. I think she already has daddy wrapped around her finger! We continue to prepare for our trip and we are just ready to get through surgery. It will be tough to leave Jackson at home but I know that Pop Pop and Momo with take great care of him! I will update the blog with any updates on Reyn while in Durham. Please pray for safe travels on the 13th and for peace of mind leading up to surgery on the 15th.
Love,
Jordan
2 years ago Reyn was asked to be in a Men's group (CLC) at Johnson Ferry. It was a great commitment as the 12 men in the group had to commit to diligently study God's Word and meet every Monday morning from 6AM-8AM. Reyn's day began at 4:45AM! When Reyn went into this study he loved the Lord very much but the growth and knowledge he developed for the Lord throughout this study blew me away! He committed to this group and reaped the benefits of a deeper relationship with God. I find God's timing so interesting and know that He was preparing Reyn to trust Him when faced with the diagnosis of a brain tumor 21 months after beginning his CLC study. Once again, God has perfect timing!
Also in October of 2011 we were faced with another obstacle. My mother lost her job. She is single and we knew she would need help...little did we know we would be the ones needing more help than she needed from us! When she lost her job God provided a way for us to "finish" our basement within a 6 week period and build an in-law suite for her to come and live with us. She began keeping Jackson for us throughout the week, as did my mother-in-law. The relief I felt knowing that he was being cared for by family was tremendous and allowed me to focus more on my job! Then came Reyn's diagnosis November 19,2012. If my mother were not here with us right now I would not be surviving. She not only helps with Jackson but also helps me with Grier! The best part about this entire scenario is that Reyn & I made an offer on a house that I LOVED in 2007. It had the most beautiful kitchen and walk-in closet but God didn't see fit for us to buy that house. I was so mad at Him for not giving us that house, especially when I found out months later that it sold for the EXACT amount we had offered a few months before. It didn't make sense to me at the time but God reminded me years later when my mother lost her job-- that the house I just had to have, had NO BASEMENT. He knew we would need my mom here for this time in our lives so thank you God for your provision and for the gift of reminding me that you know what the future holds, even when I think I have all of the answers!
I'm sorry if I have bounced around a bit but felt the need to share the above. God has given us such sweet time with our family and newest addition. We are just loving our cuddly sweet baby girl. I think she already has daddy wrapped around her finger! We continue to prepare for our trip and we are just ready to get through surgery. It will be tough to leave Jackson at home but I know that Pop Pop and Momo with take great care of him! I will update the blog with any updates on Reyn while in Durham. Please pray for safe travels on the 13th and for peace of mind leading up to surgery on the 15th.
Love,
Jordan
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