Melissa Hogan's Heroes Blog

Prayers for Brynlee

melissahogansheroes — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:13:05 +0000

Just a reminder that Brynlee Hope will be having her Heart Catherization on April 14th in Fort Worth at Cooks Children’s Hospital. Her time got bumped back for an emergency case so instead of 7am she will be going between 11 and 12. She should only have to stay 1 night if everything goes well! Her Open Heart Surgery has been scheduled for June 2. Please pray for her and the rest of us..this is always a tough time for everyone. This will be the 7th Open Heart Surgery between our 2 children and it never ever gets easier. I would do it for them if i could!

I will update the blog when I can…and I will also be updating our Facebook support page…Fight Like A Hogan!

Thank you all for your prayers!

My heart if fixed, O God, My heart if fixed! I will sing and give praise. Psalms 57:7

God is Great!!!

melissahogansheroes — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:43:18 +0000

I had my 4 month check up at Houston this week and my scans were all clear. THERE IS NO CANCER IN MY BODY!!! Praise the Lord! We are so relieved with this news. On April 16 I will be 16 months cancer free! My doctor asked my how long I had gone cancer free and I told him and he just shook his head. You can tell by his actions and emotions that he just can not believe that I am still here and that my body is cancer free. God has answered our prayers once again and given us a miracle and we are oh so blessed and thankful!

The Dr recommended that I see a neurologist. He says I am having migraines and that can be from all the damage from the treatment and cancer and that this needs to be treated. He also said I have to quit worrying and stressing so much as this makes the headaches worse and just isn’t good on my body….easier said then done..haha!

Tonight (Friday April 8th) I am a guest speaker at the Archer County Relay For Life! I am so honored that they want me to share my story…yet so terrified to do it! If you know me you know that I think I sound pretty goofy and am so self conscious about speaking. I also have nothing written down or no clue what I am going to say…I plan on just speaking from my heart! God will give me the right words and guide me through the speech! Please say a prayer for me!

Brynlee will be going to Fort Worth Cooks Hospital Wednesday for her Pre-Op and will be having a Heart Catherization on Thursday morning! If all goes well we will be released to come home Friday morning. Then we will meet with the heart surgeon to schedule her Open Heart Surgery. We are aiming for the end of May or early June! Please pray for Brynlee and all of us as this will be a tough time for our family.

We are dealing with Insurance and they are not wanting to pay much coverage for this procedure and surgery! This is so stressful to me. We have an outrageous deductible and Out of Pocket to be met before the insurance will cover the surgery at 100%. So we would like to Thank you all who have made a donation to our family! We are so appreciative!

Please subscribe to our blog and share it with your friends…the more prayers the better!

God Bless You All!!!

He Carried Our Sicknesses (to the cross) and by his stripes we are healed! Isaiah 53:4-5

Help for the Hogan Family

melissahogansheroes — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:47:34 +0000

Many of you know the Hogan family has been through more than their share of health problems and obstacles. Once again, they are faced with more trying times. There is a trip to Houston for Melissa April 5-6 for her to see her cancer doctor for a checkup. AND 3-year old Brynlee Hope will have a Heart Catherization April 14 to make sure her heart is strong enough to undergo her 3rd open heart surgery scheduled for May 2011. They are not the type of people to ask for a handout, but I asked the family to see if I could write about their obstacles and difficulties. Melissa has been so sick for so long that she hasn’t been able to work much. The family is facing new exorbitant deductibles, co pays, and out of pocket expenses, as well as lodging, meals, and traveling expenses. Brynlee could be hospitalized 2-6+ weeks depending on how she does. I, like most of you, would love to save them the stress of worrying about money (which I’m sure they’re already anxious). Wouldn’t it be great if they could focus on the well being of Brynlee, as well as Melissa, and the rest of the family? I noticed that at one time there were many followers on one of their websites, plus others on FB. If everyone gave just $20, can you imagine the huge impact it would have on easing their burden? You may not can give much, but TOGETHER we can help this family! Also, please pray for their anxiety to ease, for them to have peace, as well as healing for Brynlee and Melissa and Hestan.
The family has a blog with a PayPal button that you can donate to online. The page is www.melissahogansheroes.wordpress.com

Or, there’s an account set up for Melissa Hogan’s Heroes at Chase Bank in Wichita Falls, TX where donations could be made as well.

Or, if you would like to personally send the family a donation along with an encouraging note, to their home:

The Hogan Family

215 NW Cherry Ave

Cache OK 73527

Thank you for helping this wonderful family who have already been through so much. God Bless You!

Please repost this on your FB to let your friends know about this family and a way they could help as well. Please share this blog with friends also!

Judy and Steve Lewis, friends of the Hogan family

Some History on the Hogan Family

Hestan 7 years old has undergone 4 open heart surgeries…numeruous heart catherization and a few other minor surgeries. Hestan faces another heart surgery in the near future to repair a leaking valve and will also more than likely be considered for a heart transplant in the futue.

Brynlee 3 years old will be having her 3rd open heart surgery in May this year and will be having a heart catherization on April 14. Brynlee was recently hospitalized with pneuonia. Brynlee will be considered for a heart transplant in the future.

Melissa was diagnosed with a rare form of tongue cancer in May 2009 and underwent intense treatment only for the cancer to return in Dec 2009. She underwent a 14 hour surgery to have the majority of her tongue removed. Melissa still stuggles daily to speak and eat and cope with the changes to her body. Melissa has been cancer free since Dec 16. 2009

Jeremy is the leader of the family…he takes great care of Melissa and the kids and works as a principal at Cache Oklahoma to provide for the family!

So much going on!

melissahogansheroes — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 16:44:38 +0000

Hestan had his first Spring Soccer game this past Saturday! The Cache Blasters played a GREAT game and won 8-3. It is such a blessing to see Hestan out on the soccer field. He enjoys it so much and has a smile on his face almost the entire time. He does get winded easier than the other players and needs a little more rest…but he knows his limits and will come out and rest if he feels he needs to. We pretty much keep him at goalie so he is not having to run up and down the field so much.

I have my 4 month cat scan this week…as well as blood work and x-rays. I will be traveling to Houston next week go meet with the doctors and get the results. If my results are clear (they will be)…I will be coming up on 16 months cancer free! Praise the Lord! I have been having headaches..mainly on the left side with ear pain and a little off balance but I think that might be from TMJ that my dentist diagnosed me with. I am hoping and praying that is what is causing the pain!

Brynlee is scheduled to have her heart cath on April 14th. She should just stay 1 night if everything goes well and get to come home on the 15th. After this we will meet with the heart surgeon and set a date for her big heart surgery…probably at the end of May!

We have so much going on at this time…please remember us in your prayers! We really need them at this time!

Thank you all for your continued support! We appreciate it so much!

Jeremy Melissa Hestan and Brynlee

Our little soccer player!

Brynlee’s Heart Surgery is Fast Approaching

melissahogansheroes — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:34:37 +0000

I just wanted to update everyone that I got a call from Cooks Childrens Hospital and Brynlee’s Heart Catherization is scheduled for April 14th. This will check the pressures…strength and function of her heart. If there are no complications Brynlee should be released to come home April 15th. As of now…there is not a definite date for her big surgery. We are thinking probably the last week of May. They will open the chest and do a lot of work so this would give her basically the whole summer to recover and recuperate before she starts school in August!

Getting this phone call hit me hard. I knew this was coming…and I thought I was prepared for it…but I guess just having an exact date and talking with the scheduler made it real for me. I just hate it for Brynlee. This will be her 3rd Open Heart Surgery. This will be our 7th Heart surgery as a family (Hestan has had 4)…and I tell you…It NEVER gets easier. Brynlee is a tough girl and I am sure she will be a little fighter and make it through it fine…but I still just hate the fact that she has to go through it at all.

Last night I was making some chicken salad…and Brynlee was such a BIG help (sarcasm). I told her maybe she should let me finish it myself and she said “Melissa..you are the baddest sister I have ever had…you bad bad girl” I told her “Brynlee…I am not your sister..I am your mommy” Brynlee replied “Well then…Act Your Age”!!! Hahaha! She is such a mess! She keeps us laughing all day everyday!

Please remember our family in your prayers! This will be such a difficult time for all of us! We will need all the prayers we can get!

Ps 108:1-O GOD, MY HEART IS FIXED; I WILL SING AND GIVE PRAISE, EVEN WITH MY GLORY.

15 months Cancer Free…and Married 8 Years

melissahogansheroes — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:59:07 +0000

Today, March 16, I have been Cancer Free for 15 months. This is such a miracle and a blessing for me! I honestly thought I would not make it to 6 months cancer free. I am so grateful to God for giving me this time with my family and friends. I am looking forward to the next 15 months and 15 years.. If that is Gods plan! I would have never made it though these past 15 months without my precious children…my loving and caring husband…my best friend..my momma…and a lot of other people that have stood by me! Thank you God for giving me good health and strength to make it through this battle. Thank you all for the many prayers. I ask that you continue them…each month I am cancer free is such a blessing. And it would never be possible without my faith in God and all your prayers.

Also…yesterday..Jeremy and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary. He has taken such good care of me and been a true God send to my life. He is what I always prayed that god would send to me. Each year gets better and better. I am thankful that God blessed us with 8 years together…and here is to another 80 years of happiness!

Thank you all for your continued support.

Prayers for a Special Family

melissahogansheroes — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:18:00 +0000

Please pray for the family of Mark Brown. Mark passed away last night. He has been battling cancer for a while. Mark was a young father of 3…a husband..a friend…and a Man of God. Mark fought his battle with such dignity and strength. There was a time that Mark had a clean scan..and I had cancer that showed back up on a scan..and Mark felt guilty about celebrating his good news..however my family celebrated his good news at all times! I know Mark is having a HUGE Welcome Home party in Heaven…he is no longer suffering or in pain. The family was expecting this and prepared for this.however I can’t imagine the emotions they must be going through. Please keep them in your prayers at this time. Cancer doesn’t care who you are…how old you are…or what kind of person you are…its a mean terrible thing that has taken a good person away from this Earth. I pray that a cure for cancer will be discovered sometime in the near future.

Psalm 27:4-5
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock

I am going to try to manage this blog a little bit better!

melissahogansheroes — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:36:24 +0000

Hello All! Wow..it has been 10 months since my last post…I am not very good at this. I am really going to try hard to keep better updates coming! WE are all doing good! On March 16..I will be 15 months cancer free..Praise the Lord! I have been feeling well and getting stronger. Hestan is doing good…He is in 1st grade and is playing soccer and LOVES it! Brynlee is 3 and will be in Pre K next year…they are growing up too fast! Brynlee is taking dance classes and she really enjoys it..she has her first recital coming up and we are looking forward to that! Jeremy is good also…he stays busy at work and taking care of all of us!

We took a trip to Disney World last July…throught Make A Wish Organization for Hestan…it was amazing. We had a blast! Brynlee will also be getting a trip but we plan on waiting til she is a little bit older to take hers!

Hestan was in the hospital in Ft Worth a few weeks ago..he tested positive for the Swine Flu..he made a quick recovery and is doing very well now! Prayers pulled him through once again. Brynlee was also in the hospital a couple weeks ago with low sats and pneumonia and bronchitis….her oxygen level got down in the 50′s…she was a very blue baby girl! She is home and doing much much better!

Brynlee has an open heart surgery coming up in May! This will be a very big surgery for her. Hestan had this particular surgery in April of 07 and really struggled with it . Brynn will be having a heart catheterization in April then open heart surgery at the end on May..we will be needing lots of prayers during this time..for everyone! I am dreading it and have been doing a lot of prayers about it! I have an appt coming up in April for my cancer scans..please pray for that also!

I hope people remember this blog and keep informed on it. I will try to manage it better and will update

frequently during Brynn’s surgery! God Bless you All!

Wow..its has been awhile!

melissahogansheroes — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:04:24 +0000

Thank you all for your continued support for our family! We are doing very good! I am still at this time CANCER FREE! Praise God! I have an appt at MD Anderson this Month..May 24-27 for follow up tests and my 3 month cat scan and we are hoping and praying that I am still cancer free! I am starting to talk more but still remain hard to understand. I am eating on my own but have some trouble with it. I have lost almost 60 pounds but for now I have stopped losing and am maintaining my weight!

The kids are doing great! If you remember the kids were both due to have open heart surgeries this summer. Hestan in May and Brynlee in July. Those have been postponed as of now because they are doing so well! Brynlee will have hers next summer and we will just wait and watch Hestan to determine when and if he will have another one! GOD IS GREAT!

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! It means the world to us and Im so sorry I have fallen behind on the updates! I play to try and update once a week!

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/may/09/struggle-support/ This is an article done on our famiy in Times Record News for Mothers Day

12-23-09 update

melissahogansheroes — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:18:28 +0000

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.