A message from Barry...

By now I am sure that everyone knows what has happened to me this last year. That I have diagnosed with Brain Cancer. To me, a very big shock. At that point in my life, I thought I was in the best shape of my life. I felt 20 years old. I was working out every other day, I was lifting weights, I was training for a 5K which is the equivalent of 3.3 miles. I was doing this every other day.


The next day at work, I had a seizure and did not know what hit me. Thank God that Texas Instruments had a great response team and I was taken to Medical City Dallas where they performed an emergency craniotomy. I found out about the Brain Cancer Diagnosis soon after I was released form the hospital.

Thank s to my wife and children, they have been there by my side the entire time. I have pulled through this. The last MRI has shown very positive results and hopefully will continue.

Thank you Mom for raising me as a Christian and for being by my side, supporting me mentally and sometimes financially when times were tough. I could not ask for a better Mother and Father. Chris, I thank you for your strength, knowledge and the perseverance that you taught me throughout the years. I am blessed to have you in my life.

Christy, I thank you for leading me to an amazing medical staff at UT Southwestern. Dr. Maher has been a Godsend to me and that is all thanks to you and your knowledge of the medical field and the great people in it. Christy, you are always there providing comfort to me and my family and we thank you so much for everything you have done.

Dennis, thank you brother for being there for Kari and I. It meant so much to me that you came to see me every day that I was in the hospital and have since made sure that me and my family are ok. Even though you couldn’t fix my garage door.

Jerry, what can I say, I can’t believe that you and Jake broke the speed barriers making your way to Dallas to be by my side during my surgery, wait, that was how you usually drive… ha ha. To see you standing there when I woke up was so meaning ful. I knew that you had driven all night and were exhausted, but you were there for me. Thank you brother. I thank you seventy five times a week.

I never imagined that I would have people from all parts of the world praying for me throughout this last year. I have received hundreds of cards, emails, texts and phone calls. Thank you all so much.

Don’t take anything for granted. Eat right and stay in shape.

The Lord has blessed us all. Do not take the Lord for granted. He has blessed us all.

Get back in touch with your Savior. Without GOD I would not have survived any of this. If you have lost touch with Jesus, now is the time, surrounded by family that love you, gather together and ask for forgiveness. I have experienced the Lords healing powers first hand. I feel that the Lord is working through me to bring more people into his kingdom.

Family Gathering...

 

Friday, July 22nd, we all gathered at Lake Texoma for a wonderful family weekend. Kellie found us a six bedroom cabin near the lake for us to share with the immediate family and our additional family members found lodging in the same campground. It was the perfect place. There were wall to wall people, but it worked out perfect.

Barry was very tired during our stay. He had a chemo infusion the day before we left for Texoma. The cabin was set up so that we had our own room and he was able to relax throughout the day and evening. Thanks so much to everyone for bringing all the food and snacks. We had tons of food throughout the vacation. Special thanks to Mom for the hard work she put into making sure everyone had plenty of breakfast and for making her amazing sausage casserole. Thanks Norma and Guy for the great home-grown tomatoes, goodies and the cute t-shirt aprons! Thanks Ron and Christy for all that you brought and special thanks to Ron for braving the additional heat from the grill! Everything (burgers, sausages, ect.) were great. We all appreciate you so much. I know everyone brought something to eat and contributed in some way and for that a big THANK YOU to all.

One of the highlights was watching all the children swim in he lake. Watching the older kids take care of the younger kids. It was awesome to see how well they got along. Seeing family everywhere we looked was wonderful. Kids playing volleyball, adults playing washers, kids tossing the frisbe, fun was shared by all.
The next day, Barry venured out on a jet ski with Dennis. That meant the world to him. He really enjoyed getting out on the water, even if Dennis did dunk him in, hahaha. Jerry did his best to throw everyone off the tube being pulled behind the boat. To all that helped pay for the boat and Jet skis... THANK YOU so much! I know that my children had so much fun on both. That was such a wonderful addition to our trip.
Jerry and Kellie - thanks for the amazing shrip boil on Saturday evening. Everyone enjoyed it so much. I know it was so much work and just wanted you to know how wonderful it was. m.

MRI Results...

Barry had an MRI two weeks ago. It was the news we have been waiting to hear. The new tumor growth is a bit smaller than the last MRI. Dr. Maher said that was a good sign.

Barry has been feeling a little better than around the holidays. He still gets the headaches, but he doesn't get them as frequently. He is back on the Avastin/Ironotecan combination for three more treatments (one every other week) then he will have another MRI. Your continued prayers are appreciated and needed.

With the heat exceeding 100 degrees daily, we have not been able to get out of the house much lately. Barry can't take the heat and the chemotherapy makes him very sensitive to the sun. He has been extremely tired recently, but doing better mentally.

We take each day as it comes. We pray for his health and recovery daily.

Don't stop believing.