Chemo #5 and #6

It's Jessie.  Sorry for the delay in posts.  Over Christmas, I hope to add more info, but with teaching and coaching right now...it is crazy!  I have to be at work at 7:15am and don't leave the school until 7pm due to basketball.  That leaves me 3 hours when I get home to eat, plan lessons for the next day and grade papers. Oh yea, and there this thing called FAMILY!  So, I just wait to plan the lesson for the next day during my planning period...1st period on the day of that lesson...it is a Crazy cycle, but it's working.  For now...I will be so thankful for Christmas break...I time to get ahead!  And, teaching...it's awesome...not glamorous at times, but even though I'm in public school, I love it.  I really love teaching at public school.  These students need attention...and there is no telling what goes on at home.  But, more about that later.

Briefly, Mama's chemo #5 went well.  She had to have 25% less of a dose because her white blood cell count (wbc) was low...But praise the Lord - she still received treatment!  That's the important thing.  Chemo #6 was the same thing, except her platelet levels and hemoglobin was down as well.  On a positive note...Mama has had her best week - as far as how she feels this week.  Her nutritionist said she looks awesome and we are thankful for the wonderful protection God has over her life!

Sorry for the brevity, but wanted to give an update.  Chemo #7 is next week.  We're halfway!

God is good ALL THE TIME!

I can't believe this Thanksgiving is already over!!!! It comes and goes so fast. The time spent with family is always a blessing. I have so much to be thankful for. I was looking through some pictures on facebook and I saw a picture of Merideth and Maggie holding a trophy of when we won districts (i think). I miss playing on that team so much. It was a team that truly played for the Lord and you don't find that too often. I was watching this show called "boys of fall" it is a documentary by Kenny Chesney. They showed it on ESPN. I totally recommend it. So for those of you that are still playing on teams don't take this time for granted. You will miss it sooo much!!!! I constantly think about it. I loved my highschool basketball team so much and it is a memory I will never forget.

On another note could you please keep my grandmother in your prayers. We had to put her in a nursing home and she is not doing the best. Thank you!!!!! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend and GOD BLESS!

On to a new life

On Monday my mom had a very cool thing happen to her. She had her port taken out. For those of you who do not know what a "port" is, it is a device they put under your skin to have easy access to the blood stream. They also do this so they do not have to poke you every time you get chemo or shot, etc.

Knowing that my mom's port is taken out is huge for her. She is finally talking about the rest of her life again. Thanks for all your prayers. She has her next CT Scan in 6 months.

Keep continuing to pray for the Marshall family. It is not fun seeing your mom go through chemo. It makes times really tough. It is alway comforting knowing your friends are there for you even if you have never been through this before.

God Bless.

Nov. 2, 2010 - Chemo #4

Today Mama went in for chemo treatment #4.  Every time she goes in for a treatment, the doctors have to check her vitals and blood counts in order to determine if she is able to receive the medicine.  Sometimes people treated with chemo experience a drop in their white blood cell count (wbc).  This wbc drop weakens their immune system and prevents them from receiving another dose of meds.  Today was another evidence of God's greatness.  Mama's wbc count was just below normal and her red blood cell (rbc) count was NORMAL!  This is very good.  She received dose 4 and is doing well.  Tired, but well.  1 John 5:18 "¹⁸ We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them."  The evil one cannot harm Mama because she is born of God.  She knows Him and believes in Jesus Christ as His son.  A son that was sacrificed on a cross, and later rose from the dead!  Jesus conquered death, and He is definitely capable of conquering cancer in Mama's life.  Praise Him!  


Side-note:  Mama had some spots show up on her face last week as a consequence of the chemo meds.  They really got to her self-confidence, making her feel ugly...and c'mon girls, don't we all agree...if we had big spots on our faces, I'm sure we'd all be a little disappointed/unsure/shy/etc.  But, Daddy assured her she was beautiful.  And, any compliment from Joe Marshall helps your day get better.  The Lord shines through Daddy's optimism.  One of his spiritual gifts is encouragement.  He is a great encourager, and he has been Mama's #1 cheerleader...although he does have some tough competition when you consider GranGran and Granmama (Mama's parents), Uncle Jim, Uncle Shand and Aunt Patti (Mama's brothers and Uncle Jim's wife), us 5 girls!!! and many special dear friends like Mrs. Beougher, Mrs. Law, Mrs. Magnuson, Mrs. Benson, Kilpatrick family, Kom and McKemie family (who also know how to deal with colon cancer first-hand), Shubert family, and so many others!!!  We cannot thank you for your prayers enough!  Please, keep praying.  The Lord certainly hears our prayers.  

Praise God

My family has had a huge answered prayer. My mom went in for a CT scan last week. After her CT scan we do not get the results for a week later. That week is always the worst week for us. Basically my dad and I get zero sleep. We know everything is in God's hands, but we lived and saw what my mom went through with her chemo and radiation and we never want to see her go through that again.

Well the results came back this Monday and the doctor said everything looks great. He said that she can get her port taken out and that she will not have to have another CT scan for 6 months!!!!!!!!!!! She was getting them every 4 months. PRAISE GOD!!!!

Through the past year and a half I have learned so much. It crazy to think what a sickness can change in people's lives. My family has seen God work in so many ways through my mom and the most wonderful witness that she is. While getting her chemo instead of being upset, down on herself or feeling sorry for herself she is witnessing to those around her getting chemo as well.

We have maids that come into our house each week and they do not speak very good English. We had them come in because my mom couldn't clean the house anymore and all of us work full-time. My mom went and bought a spanish-english Bible for them to read and they are asking so many questions about Christ. They knew my mom was sick and when they saw what she was going through they were the most delightful people to be around. It is just really neat to see God work and the people that he puts in our lives. Just think if my mom never got sick she would have probably never been able to witness to these ladies.

Well please continue to pray for my mom. She still loses energy very easily and has a lot of different effects on her body from the chemo. Thanks again for all your prayers and God bless!!!

Marshall/Kilpatrick Family Updates

Friends and Family,

I know that some of you follow this blog to check up on my mom's progress in her battle with colon cancer.  I have finally found a moment to describe a few brief updates and prayer requests.

Mama is back in Louisville, KY receiving treatment.  She wanted so much to have her treatment in Tupelo, MS.  We all thought treatment in Tupelo was God's will for her so that she could be with her family, but God has placed her back in Louisville for reasons only He may know.

You see, there is a shortage of the chemo medications that Mama needs.  She is on three medications via IV infusions bi-weekly for a total of 24 weeks.  Tupelo's cancer center cannot guarantee that she will receive all three medications.  The best they could do was say that they would give her what they have....give her what they have?  Really?  That's it?  This is my mother's life here that we're talking about and there was no way to get her the medication prescribed to help bring healing to her mortal body?  This was very hard for our family to take.

It must be understood that chemo meds are very specifically prescribed.  One med opens the cells, and another med kills cells, and other meds do other specific tasks.  You must have all the meds working together in order to fight the cancer.

So, Mama began looking for doctors in Memphis and Birmingham...anywhere close to the family that would guarantee the treatment.  However, it seems that the best place is Louisville.  Her doctors in Louisville have the medicine and plan to have it for the duration of her treatment.  However, please pray that this shortage might be overcome with an abundance of the proper drugs.  Other families are struggling with this shortage.  We are blessed that Mama had options, and for that we are thankful and praise our Lord!  Our Provider!!!

Mama received her 3rd treatment this week, so 9 more treatments left.  She had a bad day today...very tired and nauseated.  Please pray that the Lord heal her.  He can cure all ailments, by His Spirit living inside her may her mortal body be healed (Rms. 11)

As far as Josh and I, I thought I'd give a very brief update.  We have been extremely busy since day 1 of being in NC.  North Carolina is beautiful.  We have been blessed with a beautiful home and new German Shepherd puppy. The puppy's name is Julie.  She is about 3 mo. old.  Josh is working and flying everyday.  I am working everyday as well, and will begin Master's coursework in the spring.  I got a job teaching high school earth science and biology at a local public high school.  Additionally, I have been given the opportunity to help as an assistant coach for the varsity girls' basketball team.  God is so GOOD!  We have INCREDIBLE neighbors and friends so far, and could not be more richly blessed.

Just wanted to dedicate a post to a few updates.  Thank you for your prayers!  Oh, and yes, to those that have asked...I did have surgery.  I've been having a few health problems, but nothing too serious.  The surgery was on my hand and wrist.  I had about a 1-2 in. ganglion cyst removed on Tuesday.  My sodium has been a little low lately, so please pray that the Lord also bring healing by His Spirit living inside of me to my mortal body as well.  Our God is the Master Physician.  There is peace and comfort knowing that He is always present and never forsakes His children.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle

I have learned that life is not defined by how much money you make, but by what opportunities have been put before you and how well you take advantage of those opportunities.

Finally I did my first sideline reporting game. I have actually done 2 since my last post. IT WAS AWESOME. I have a lot of learning still to do, but it is very exciting to be doing something that I love.

Throughout my life I always thought I would be a basketball player, but God had a different plan for me in my life. In middle school and high school that is all I wanted to be. I would work every day after school, on the weekends, and even sometimes before school. That is literally all I focused on.

In my Sophomore year of high school that is when I tore my first ACL and Junior Year tore the other ACL. In my junior year that is when I started playing golf and i realized then God had a totally different plan for me. It was hard for me to accept, but I trusted him.

I got a golf scholarship to University of Louisville and redshirted my freshman. Although I never really bloomed into a star player, I learned how to lead a team when you are not the best player. That was some huge learning for me because I always wanted to be the "star".

I began to blossom in my public speaking and eventually got nominated to be President of the Student Athletes. I never thought in my entire life I would be President of all the athletes at Louisville. What an honor. I knew I always wanted to be in front of people, speaking or whatever. I wanted to be apart of God's plan. I absolutely love sports and I knew that is all I ever wanted to be around. I remember practicing when I was younger reporting a game or something like that.

Now when I look back I seriously just can't believe all that God has done for me. He continues to open doors for me that guide me to my dream. I will now be able to do all of Wazoo Sports football and basketball games as their main side line reporter. How awesome is that!!!! God has been so good to me. If He isn't in your heart then He needs to be because you are seriously missing out.

I understand that when bad things happen the first thing you want to do is blame God, instead of blaming God look for what you can learn from that experience. My mom was diagnosed with Colon Cancer last year and it is sooooo awesome what this Cancer has done for people that she loved. She has been such a witness. But that whole story is for another blog.

Well that's all I have...look out for the next blog...God is doing some awesome things in my life and i know He can do the same in yours!!

Faith is Being Sure of What We Hope For (Heb. 11:1a)

Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Linda Marshall is my amazing, God-fearing, loving, kind, gentle, selfless, compassionate, words cannot describe her... Super-MOM!  This post is dedicated to her recent journey.  A few days ago, I read Hebrews 11.  I have read Hebrews 11 a few times before, but never did it become more alive to me than now in view of my mom's battle with colon cancer.

It was July 3, 2010...easily one of the best days of my life.  It was the day that I married Josh Kilpatrick.  After a wonderful wedding, we went back to Fort Rucker, AL where Josh had to report on Tuesday for work (flight school).  We didn't have time for a honeymoon due to Josh's rigorous flight school schedule, but we were overjoyed to finally be together!  Plus, Danielle and Casey were planning on coming to visit Thursday afternoon.  They would be staying for a week!  Josh and I were so excited to have them come!

They arrived on Thursday, and we spent a few wonderful days in Enterprise, Monroeville, and Gulf Shores.  On Wednesday, Danielle was getting ready to go back to Louisville.  We hugged each other goodbye, and Casey and I had one more day together before I would be driving her back to Louisville.  That Thursday, July 15 my dad called to tell me that Mama had been to the doctor for a thyroid check.  They did a few other tests while she was there, one was a colonoscopy.  She had just had her 50-year physical/colonoscopy the year before, so nothing was expected to come back abnormal.  But, the unexpected happened.  Daddy called and told me to pray for Mama because they found a medium-sized tumor on her colon.

"What?!"  I thought to myself.  "It must be benign.  She's never had an issue and has no apparent symptoms of cancer."  We discussed the situation, and I decided to leave for Louisville the following morning.

About four hours into the trip, Daddy called Casey and I.  The results were confirmed.  The biopsy had been done, and Mama had a malignant tumor.  How could this be happening?  Twelve days after the wedding, a time of great joy and thanksgiving.  Now, I felt like someone was laughing in my face as they knocked the wind out of me.  My mind started racing.  What did this mean?  What was the next course of action?  Surgery?  Radiation?  Chemo?  She is too young.  You are not supposed to get cancer at 51 yrs. old, right?  My faith...where are you?  I would not survive without faith.  Faith in the only one true God, the master physician, creator of the universe.  Surely He was powerful enough to handle this.  Yes, He is.

We entered the season of waiting.  Multiple appointments were set.  The appointments came and went; they seemed to provide us with no more information than we already had.  A CT scan was run, ultrasound, and another biopsy.  Mama was scared, very scared.  Finally, a course of action was decided.  She needed to have surgery followed by 6 months of chemo.  She would have 10 inches of her colon removed, including the tumor and several lymph nodes.

I will never forget the day that my mom went to meet the surgeon.  I sat at home feeling helpless.  All I wanted to do was help in some way.  I wanted to be there for my mom, but I was 550 miles away in Enterprise, AL.  I had always lived within 45 min of my parents, and now, right after I moved away...this was happening.  I cannot explain the pain I felt through the separation.  I felt as if I was betraying Mama by not being there.  She had always been there for me through my hospital stays, sickness, injury, pain, etc.  Now, I could not reciprocate the care.  But, what an amazing God we serve.  As I sat at home, praying, reading and fiddling around waiting for my dad to call, I got a text.  It was Heather Barker.  Heather is a dear friend of mine from UofL.  She's in Medical school at UofL, and that day, she had been assigned to be the assistant doctor on my Mama's case!  Thank you God.  It was such an encouragement for Mama to walk into such a scary appointment and see a familiar face.  Heather was an answered prayer.  She called me and told me the details about the appointment.  Mama would have surgery August 5, the day before her and my dad's 27th anniversary.

Praise the Lord, her surgery went beautifully.  She recovered exceptionally well, and was discharged by the weekend.  Amazingly, that same weekend, Josh and I moved Geena and Casey to Tupelo, Mississippi.  My dad received his dream job around the same time as my mom received her diagnosis.  But, that is an entirely different story for another post.  So, we brought Mama home.  Got her settled and then took her baby girls to Tupelo to be with Daddy until Mama was ready to make the move.  She would follow as she was physically able.

God is good, so good.  Mama was able to come to Tupelo shortly after the surgery.  However, there was the question of where she would have her treatment...in Louisville, where my grandparents could take care of her?  or in Tupelo, so she could be with her family?  Mama met with the oncologist in Louisville, and after that appointment, it was black and white.  She would not be away from her family for 6 months.  She decided to get her chemo treatment in Tupelo.  She has 6 months of treatments, 24 weeks.  Week 1 is down...only 23 to go.  She goes to the hospital for an infusion on Mondays.  They send her home with a pump tied like a necklace around her neck.  She gets it changed out on Wednesdays with more medicine, and Thursdays she gets it taken off!  Then, she has a week off, no infusions.  It's an off/on type of process.

Right now, I am here in Tupelo.  It is week 2, so no infusions this week.  Mama had a bad headache yesterday, but has been feeling great today!  I am sure that God is healing her...I am sure because I have faith....faith through Christ.  "Faith is being sure of what you hope for"...I am sure that Mama is being healed, and "certain of what we do not see"...I am certain that all Mama's cells that I cannot see are being restored.  And, I have this faith because of Christ.

Dream Job

Well the day has come for me to have my debut for my dream job. This Thursday September 30th I will be sideline reporting my first football game. The game will be Shelby County vs. Eastern Highschool. It has been an up and down battle for me. I would get opportunities for this and then the door would be closed. I continously kept praying to God that HE would lead me in the right direction. I want to follow God's plan for me and as we all know sometimes it gets frustrating when the doors seem to always be closed.

If there is one thing that I learned that every time you get a "no" that always means you are getting closer to a "yes". I have really focused on when I pray to not pray for one thing. I pray that God will give me direction that corresponds with HIS plan for me. When I do that he brings me contentment and I have no worries.

So the moral of this blog is you are going to have up and downs that's life, but if you are living it the way God wants you...then their is no doubt in my mind that you be successful in anything you heart desires!!

"Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." - James 1:24, RSV

Some things never change...wait yes they do!!!!

When Jessie asked me if I wanted to start blogging back and forth about our lives and I immediatley said that is the greatest idea ever. Though I do have a funny story about blogging. When I was a freshman in college (goodness I feel soooo old) I had an English class that we had to blog twice a week and I will admit I thought it was the biggest waste of time ever!!!!! I told myself I would never ever blog again, well God was laughing at me and He said "Oh yes you will!" So yes things do change and I am blogging again.

Jessie and I have been friends since the 3rd grade. So if you think about it we have been friends over 15 years. I have never thought about it that way, but that is AWESOME!!!! We have encountered so many battles together and I think this is the best way to share what God has done in our lives. As you read these blogs there might be tears, laughing, giggling, and probably a lot of stuff you can relate to. So enjoy reading our posts and please do not hesistate to comment!!!!!!

God is in Control!

Do you ever look back on the past year and think, "Wow, so much has changed!"  I have been doing that a lot lately.  A lot, A lot!  There have been times to laugh and times to cry, but one thing I know is for sure...God is in Control!  Not me, not disease, not school, not family, not anything!  God, the one and only God is in control.  By grace I have been saved, through faith, and this is not of my own doing...it is the gift of God (Eph 2: 8).  Before another word, you must know: Jesus Christ is my Savior, the son of the one and only God, who came from heaven to earth...because "God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)."  Jesus lived a perfect life; He never sinned; and He was crucified on the cross.  His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, paved the way for me and you to be with Him forever.  His grace and mercy are overwhelming.  I am nothing, He is everything.  Everything good you see in me is from Him.  And you must know that before anything.  I pray that Jesus is your Savior too!  If you do not know Him, please contact me.  I would love to talk to you, and pray that you would accept Him as your Savior too!  He is waiting for you.  All you have to do is ask Him, and He accepts you with open arms.  Jesus Loves you!  Nothing else is more true.

So, Danielle and I decided to start this blog.  The purpose of Together Faith is simply to relay what we are learning together, as friends and sisters in Christ, on this journey of faith, following our Lord as He leads us.  We will share updates about our families, each other, and lessons we are learning in life.  It may not be grammatically correct, full of typos, and maybe senseless at times...but we trust that God is in control!  That's why we continue together in faith because we rest in the peace God has given us because He is in control.