Hey this is Jeremy updating for Melissa once again, I always swore that I would never get on a social networking site, yet here I am the past few days. Oh Well, thats definitely the least I can do for Melissa. Melissa has been in alot of pain today. The pain is similar to what she experienced before the surgery and was caused by the cancer. However, the pain is in the other side of her face. We have questioned the doctor about this and he said it is referred pain caused by caused by the nerves and tissue regaining feeling. He also reassured that have scanned her repeatedly and that there is currently no cancer there. We also has a minor scare today as the nurse couldn’t find s pulse in the flap (new tongue). Eventually, she got another nurse who was able to find it. That would have been all that Melissa would have needed, was to undergo another lenghty surgery and hospital stay. I found myself sitting beside her feeling helpless once again, but sayin silent prayers and turning it over to the Lord once again. As usual he came through in the clutch and blesses us and ceased our worries. I truly do not see how any individual could live their lives without knowing Jesus Christ as their savior. We praise him once again and thank you all again for your support. Hopefully the weather will not be as bad as feared on the way home and we cannot wait to see Hestan and Brynlee! I will not be able to post an update tomorrow but will try to on Christmas Day if I get a chance.

Hey this is Jeremy updating for Melissa again. Melissa is continuing to make progress. She said a few words last night and today. In particular she told her mom and me “I Love You” and as you can imagine it was very emotional. She worked with a speech pathologist today and said a few more words but could not keep her trach capped to talk. She is still very swollen and is in considerable pain. She said that the pain is worse today than it has been in the last few days. Melissa also got to take a trip to the hospital salon to have her hair washed, blow dryed, and chied (new term to me). This made her feel much better. Hestan is also doing much better, which is a big relief. As of right now they are planning on letting her come home on Thursday. However, Melissa is very concerned about coming home with the trach still in and about the kids seeing her like this. It will take some adjusting but we will all be there to help and support her 100%.

Melissa says thanks again for everything and that she loves you all!

Hey this is Jeremy. We just recieved word from Melissa’s surgeon that he recieved the results of the tissue removed from the surgery.The margins and nodes came back clear, which means that after the cancerous tumor was removed, they had to remove additional tissue around it to insure they get all the cancer. So according to the doc all the cancer is gone! Melissa is still in alot of pain. She still has the trach tube in and will come with it in along with atleast one drain. She really is not ready to come home because she does not want the kids to see her this way. I will say that she is toughest person I know, for what she has been through you cannot imagine and words cannot explain. Her faith is unquestionable and her strength and love is undeniable. She does still have a long road of recovery with lots of rehab. Thank you all so much for all your prayers and support!

Praise the Lord, Melissa is cancer free!

FYI: please pray for Hestan he has been very sick and has been at doctors office all day recieving IV fluids and anti-biotics. This has also been very tough on Melissa because she always been there every step of the way during our childrens own health battles.

Thanks and we love you all!

Hey guys…I did not get to talk or text Pam today so here is a re-post from her facebook today.

We had a long,long night. Melissa did walk a little this morning, she has a scar from knee to thigh on R leg from the tissue removal.  She wrote  that it hurt bad. Please just keep praying, I know the not being able to talk is awful for her. You know we love to talk.  Our bodies are getting tired but God is giving Jeremy and I strength.

Pam said it was a very long night.  Melissa kept having episodes of feeling like she couldnt breathe due to secretions in the trach. They say its normal, but its very scary to watch.  Pam stayed with her all night so Jeremy could get some rest. Jeremy took the day shift today and Pam went to the cabin and got some rest.

Melissa has slept alot through the day but cont to have the episodes with the trach.  She  is staying in ICU again tonight.  She will be moving to a step down floor tomorrow. The graft for her tongue is taking well and continues to have a good pulse so thats great.

Pam and Jeremy are so appreciative of all the texts and comments on here and on facebook!!  As always, continue to pray, pray, pray!

Melissa is still in ICU but she is awake and alert.  She has the trach and is breathing on her own but requiring oxygen. She has had a hard day and is in a lot of pain. She has written several times on paper that she is scared.  She does have a PCA but it is making her nauseated and she is fearful of vomiting with the trach.  Her mom, Pam said that today has been very hard for her and Jeremy to watch her suffer.  In addition to Melissa, she asks that you please pray for strength and peace for them.

“Calling all prayer warriors…calling all prayer warriors. I have right around 2 hours for God to grant me that miracle i’ve been begging for. How awesome would it be for the Dr to get in there and the tumor have shrunk or be gone completely. Please God. I will be on a ventilator and breathing machine and kept sedated …til Thursday evening or Friday morning. I expect when I wake up for my profile and status to be overwhelmed with prayers-support-encouragement and Love…show me some love people. Love you all and am so fortunate so have such great family and an awesome facebook famili;-)”

As of about an hour ago, Melissa was still in surgery.  She had all of the cancer removed from her tongue and they removed just pastt the midline of her tongue.  They also removed some lymph nodes in her neck.  They started reconstruction about 7 hours ago and took some muscle from her thigh to reconstruct her tongue.  This part is very tedious.  Thank you your prayers…continue to do so.  Melissa posted this status update this morning on facebook…my hope is that people will overwhelm her facebook page, her hogan’s hero group and here with prayers and comments!

Tomorrow Melissa will have her surgery at 7 am.  There is nothing new regarding the plan of care.  She will be in ICU for a few days after surgery with a total of 7-10 days in the hospital recovering.  Santa and his elves did visit Melissa yesterday with Christmas dinner.  We took tons of food (all of Melissa’s favorites…thanks Aunt Lisa) and Santa showed up with some toys for Hestan and Brynlee.  We had a great night and it really reminded me of what Christmas is truly about.  Thank you to everyone who made it happen.  We had people who made food, bought gifts and the Kuhn family graciously opened their home to us.

Please pray specifically for rest and peace for Melissa’s heart and mind.  Tonight will be a long night.  Pray for Melissa’s dr’s and nurses.  Pray that they get ALL of the cancer and that they are able to reconstruct her tongue successfully.  Pray for pain control.  Pray for Jeremy, Hestan and Brynlee, Pam (Melissa’s mom), Pam (Jeremy’s mom) and Brent (Jeremy’s dad). They are carrying a heavy load and need God’s people praying to help them get through each day.  Pray for Melissa’s extended family that are traveling to Houston to be with them. Thanks in advance, Bev

It’s Bev updating.  Melissa’s biopsy confirmed that there is indeed a large cancerous tumor in her tongue.  She is scheduled for surgery next Wed.  She will have a portion of her tongue removed and will have reconstruction done at the same time.  She will have a tracheotomy and feeding tube inserted also.   The surgery will last about 8 hours and she will be in the hospital 7-10 days. Melissa is still trying to come to terms with the news and she is also thinking about all of the things that she has not gotten done before the holidays…presents, Christmas cards addressed, pictures with Santa…etc.  The other thing that is bothering her is that she REALLY wants to eat Christmas dinner!!!  She has been through this feeding tube thing before and she is not looking forward to it.  The family is continuing to stay in Houston at this time.

Please pray specifically for peace, strength, pain relief, for Santa’s Elves to bring a Christmas dinner to Melissa before Wed at 12 am, for as much as possible of Melissa’s tongue to be spared so that reconstruction is successful, the health of her children, for her husband Jeremy and strength and peace for the rest of her family.  Thank you to everyone who has already been praying and who has taken the time to text or comment on her blog or on facebook.  Melissa reads every comment and cherishes every word.  Thanks for all the love and support for her!!!

Melissa will have her biopsy at 7 am Friday morning.  Please be in prayer.