Here we go

Alright folks, as you can see, the blog is finally up. Sorry it took so long, but we've had a few other things on our minds in the past few weeks.

We are setting this up to keep you - our friends and family (and anyone we don't know who might have a morbid fascination with things like this) - updated as to Jana's condition and generally, how things are going. Jana will probably be doing most of the writing, but I will likely chime in fairly often as well. We probably won't be updating every day, but work is slow, so you never know. We'll also be making it a bit more pretty with pictures, a different background and numerous other enhancements (as we figure them out).

Please feel free to leave any comments/questions for either of us here as well. We want to hear from all of you, and talk to you about what is going on, but I am afraid we might not have the time to get back to each of you individually.

First, let me say thank you to everyone for your heartfelt wishes, prayers and offers of assistance. They really help more than you know. Since the diagnosis, we have been on a roller coaster trying to process everything that's happening and your words of encouragement have helped both of us deal with this. As for the assistance, while we haven't imposed on you too much yet, get ready. I am quite sure we will need as much help as we can get in the coming weeks and months. So enjoy your Spring Breaks - we're putting you to work when you get back.

Second, for those of you who don't know the specifics yet, Jana has been diagnosed with Type 2, Stage 2 Breast Cancer in her right breast. She also has a tumor in her Lymph Nodes. After consulting with a vast array of fantastic doctors and surgeons (both locally and in Houston at MD Anderson) - we finally have a treatment plan in place and will move forward in the next few weeks implementing that plan. We have been told by every one of our doctor's that the type of cancer she has is the most common and the treatment standards in place will help ensure that she will be healthy and cancer free in a little less than a year.

As of now, Jana is scheduled for surgery in mid-April. One question we have been hearing a lot is "Why surgery before chemo?" We have been assured that no matter which you do first, it doesn't impact the outcome. Most issues arise when people delay treatment too long because they can't make a decision on which to do first. We simply chose this option.

Third, we have told Georgia what is going on. She is understandably scared for her mom, but she also knows mommy will get better and will be healthy.

As a side note: Thank you to the parents of one of Georgia's school mates for telling your child that Jana had breast cancer. You really helped push up our time frame for how WE wanted to tell our child. I guess you didn't understand that kids that age try to one up eachother at every turn and brag about what they know. I am sure it helped soften the blow coming from someone she knows at school instead of her parents. I bet you are the parents who already told your child about Santa and the Easter Bunny too. Perhaps next time you should just say - "Oh that's too bad - we need to make sure Georgia is OK and really be her friend right now." Your child does not need to get their medical degree this early.

Finally, we really want to be back in our house when the treatments start and it's starting to look like that may happen. Again, for those of you who don't know, we decided to enact our own local stimulus plan and put an addition on our house. Since our plan actually puts people to work, we feel really good about it, but it has taken much longer than anticipated. The timing thing really didn't matter before - but now we are in hurry up mode get the sucker done.

That's it for now, but keep checking for updates.

Again, thank you all for helping us out. It means so much to us both.

P.J.