MRI Results

We spent about an hour with the Oncologist today and reviewed the MRI Results. The short version is that the results are what was expected. The tumor does not look like it has increased in size, nor were there any new growth anywhere else in Jenny's brain, so the radiation and the chemotherapy did it's job! The blood tests came back will all of the numbers being right where they need to be, so that is all good news.

We all agreed that overall Jenny is doing great and is generally lacking any symptoms that would indicate that the tumor is impacting her like it was before the surgery and the 1st round of treatments. We had a lengthy discussion regarding potential progression courses and treatment options, none of which we'll need to worry about over the next month. Jenny's sister's perspective is that she can she increases in Jenny's energy level, activity level, and overall increases in "Jennyness" each time she is here.  

They ordered the next batch of Chemo pills, and when they are delivered, we will start a 5 day on - 23 day off cycle, at the end of which Jenny will have another MRI and we'll see a clearer picture of what is going on in there...

Jenny and I are going to take this opportunity, when the doctor visits are few and the energy level is high, to get away on vacation for a week on the sunny beaches of Mexico, so in a couple of weeks off we go! I'll try and post some pictures....

Thank you all for your continued prayer support and care!

MRI Update

Jenny had her "post-treatment" MRI today, we go in for the consultation tomorrow. The MRI itself went really well and Jenny, although a little apprehensive going in - since she does care much for confined spaces, did great. As an added benefit, the Starbucks Grande Soy Latte that we purchased prior to the MRI was the perfect temp for Jenny to consume by the time the MRI as completed. I will give further details on the MRI tells us tomorrow, after the consultation appointments.

Thank you all for your prayers, God's grace was readily observable today!

Looking Forward to 2013

We have had a wonderful Holiday season here at the Mulligan house. We just sent off my Mom and Stepfather, who we here for a very enjoyable couple of days. Jenny's parents are stopping by on their way to Florida this week, we look forward to seeing them again. We have had the opportunity to spend time together as a family as school was on break and even our children that are working retail had a few days off. We are all really enjoying Jenny's vacation from treatments and doctor visits!

The end of the calendar year always gives opportunity for reflection, so here are a few of our thoughts at the transition point from 2012 to 2013:

• God provides grace for us each day and provides us hope and mercies never ending. We do not know what 2013 will bring, but what we do know, just as the writer of Lamentations said, in the midst of trials and tribulation:

But this I call to mind,

and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,

“therefore I will hope in him.”

        (Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV)

It is not hard or difficult to call to mind all of the ways that God has shown us His steadfast love, even with the reality of a brain tumor, we have seen hundreds of ways that God has used this circumstance to bring us closer to Him, remind us of the eternal, and help us focus on loving one another, allowing us to let the less important things go.

• No matter what happens in 2013, our greatest need has been taken care of, making everything else of a lesser importance. There are no concerns or worries that cause us to fear the future.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ...And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ...But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ...But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV)

Seeking the Kingdom of God can look a lot of different ways, as each of us have been given a unique part to play, with specific gifts and skills which we have been given. My prayer is that in 2013, we have much less anxiety and much more kingdom seeking...

When we are able to place our trust in the provision of God's son's death for our sins, by His grace, we really have nothing else to be anxious about, our eternal destination has been secured, and we can be free to focus on fulfilling our calling, unencumbered by temporal concerns.

Jenny has her "post-treatment" MRI on 1/15, then we do the consultation on 1/16, until then we have no doctor visits or treatment. Jenny is taking a nap every afternoon, but other than that, life it pretty normal around here. 

Thank you for all of your prayers, cards, emails, and calls. I could not imagine walking this road without you! Your kindnesses have allowed us to experience a small taste of the Kingdom of God here on earth. Happy New Years!

The Christmas Picture

This was taken a couple of days prior to Jenny going in for her surgery, Richard Israel, a well-known professional photographer heard about our story and offered to take a series of portraits, out of kindness and desire to serve our family. Thank you Richard, for being another way that we have been able to observe God's grace in our lives.

Today, We Celebrate!

Today is a day of celebration in our house, it marks two important events for us. The first is that 17 years ago, our only daughter entered the world. She has indeed been an example of God's grace to us, with her joy for life, love of the Savior, and servant's heart. Happy Birthday, Grace!
The second celebration today comes with the last day of combined Radiation and Chemotherapy. Today is the 42nd and last day of the combined treatments. Now, that is a reason for celebration!
Jenny has shown amazing character as she has undergone the daily process and dealt with the side effects of the patchy hair loss and the lack of energy. She has not once complained, and has started to entertain what the next stage of life will look like, with this behind her. She drove herself to the grocery store the other day, so watch out world, here she comes!
It feels that we are "rounding the first turn" in the race. We knew about these 42 days, now we start into a straightaway. The next appointment is Jan, 15th. It will be the MRI to determine the damage that the combined treatment has done on the tumor. We will meet with the Oncologist on the 16th to review the MRI and determine the appropriate dosage of Chemo going forward. The standard treatment is 5 days of Chemo, then 23 days off, repeated over a number of months - all in pill form. We are looking forward to a nice break over the holidays, and spending time together as a family. 
I will see about posting a family Christmas picture for all to see. Thank you all for your prayers, notes, emails, and meals - your support has been overwhelming and has allowed us to observe God's grace everyday in this process through you all. 

3000 Miles to a cure

I have been so fortunate to observe God's grace up close in the Mulligan family and community.  It has been incredible to see the vibrant faith of Jenny, Ray, Charlie, Ethan, Tim, Grace and Joe.  They have shown me every day in every word and decision that they trust God. I have experienced such joy with them in the last 3 months. 

What has really blown me away though is the response of this community.   Thousands of people have reached out to support Jenny and the Mulligan family. I cannot begin to list all the wonderful ways, it's almost too much to take in. Thank you.

Charlie, Tim and I have been working on a project related to Jenny's brain cancer in the last 6 weeks. We have set a goal to raise $1 million dollars for brain cancer research. Our project is called 3000 miles to a cure.   I am planning on riding across the country in June in a very challenging bicycle event called Race Across America. It will be the most difficult physical thing I have ever attempted.  Like many of you, I feeI I must do something. This will be an international platform to bringing awareness and money to brain cancer research. 

Charlie and Tim are working hard on spreading the word as far and wide as possible through social media and any other ways they can think of.  We all hate brain cancer.

We need you, Jenny's loving community, to help us.  Please like our facebook page, ask your friends to like it, go to our website and read about the project, consider donating, follow us on twitter, and most importantly, spread the word. We can only succeed in this huge project if we touch thousands and thousands of people with the incredible story of the Mulligan family. 

Grateful for you all,

Maria Parker (Jenny's sister)

How many days until Christmas?

I think I have reached my quota of Christmas commercials for diamonds, cars, and other expensive things and its only December 4th. It seems to me that these commercials are saying (some more overtly than others) that these material things are supposed to make up for a year of not expressing our love and attention to the ones we love by giving them something expensive and shiny. 

With the new perspective of time that we have gained with Jenny's diagnosis, I have become freshly aware of the need to express my love and appreciation to those around me in the moment, not putting it in a box, wrapping it with a bow, and placing it under the tree, waiting until Christmas to open up the gift of communicating compassion and care.

Those that know me personally, realize that this is not my strength, as a matter of fact, one of my sons lamented the other day "Dad, you never said things to me like you say on the blog..." A good and fair indictment of the gap between what I feel and what I express in words to those I spend time with. So, don't wait for Christmas - tell the ones around you that you appreciate them, that you see God at work in them, and that you appreciate that they spend some of their time thinking about you.

John, in his letter, says: "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:16-17 ESV)

The world would say that diamonds are forever, commercials try to convince us that the right gift will re-invigorate our neglected relationships, and that Christmas presents will change our lives and not end up piling up in our hallway closet and garages within a month.

I am convinced that we should invest in the eternal, the people that God puts in our lives are what is going to last forever. We each have a very short time on this earth and then it is off to eternity  - either worshiping the reason for the Christmas season or lamenting that we viewed it as just a good time to get some end-of-the year bargains and attend some nice parties....

Jenny is doing great, she ordered a pair of pink running shoes this week, is planning on attending a number of Christmas celebrations, is starting to plan hospitality events at our house, and has generally stopped taking naps. The radiation oncologist told her this week - "I wish all my patients were doing as well as you" 

So - can I just express to each of you how much I appreciate your support, how much Jenny is enjoying your cards and letters, and how thankful we are to have been blessed with knowing you on this side of forever.