Mrs. Janice Spieker
Subscribe to RSS feed
for Prayer Page
feed:
http://www.kubik.org/prayer.xml
Visit Prayer Page Home
UPDATED March 4, 2010
Janice Spieker has been on a combination of chemo and radiation treatments for two weeks and is tolerating it well, so far. Doctors were able to reduce the swelling around the tumor, so her dizziness has lessened. She will have a month of this daily treatment, then have no treatment for a certain time, then be tested to see how it has worked, and go from there. Janice is in good spirits, and greatly appreciates all your prayers, cards, and support that have been very encouraging. Please continue your prayers for her complete healing.
Willow Lake
UPDATED February 16, 2010
Janice has been at home and feeling quite well. The oral steroids are doing a good job of managing the swelling in the brain and headaches and other symptoms.
|
|
The family is overwhelmed with the outpouring of cards, calls, visits, food, and most importantly, prayers on her behalf. Our deepest thanks go out to all for the support given us, it truly is a help.
Janice says they feel comfortable with the direction they are taking for treatment and has a positive attitude overall. This Wednesday, Feb. 17th is when they will start to travel to Watertown for daily radiation treatments along with taking oral chemotherapy daily. That will continue for 5-6 weeks, after which treatment will be re-evaluated and a new MRI taken.
The entire immediate family (Sandra, Sue, John, Dave and Ann) from FL, CO, SD and NE have been home and it was a wonderful few days together. Harlan and Janice will have continuous help from all the children and their spouses as needed.
Please continue to pray for God's miraculous healing and intervention and guidance in the treatment process. Janice says "the common phrase, 'It is in God's hands' is definitely real and not just a religious saying".
42220 194th St.
Willow Lake, SD
57278
Harlan Spieker is an elder in the United Church of God.
February 5, 2010
We were able to go in to see Mom in recovery after her biopsy Thursday night. The surgeon spoke with us and said surgery went very well and just as expected. But they still feel it is the glioma that they suspected all along, before the biopsy. They took a small sample of tissue and did an analysis on it during the surgery, and it shows that it is glioma. However, they will continue to do more extensive testing over 2 days and won't be able to officially confirm that until then. Mom was in the ICU overnight is now in a regular room. Dad was in the ICU with her and we kids were in and out. She went from feeling very nauseous to being giddy as anesthesia wore off.
Things are going well Friday morning. The Dr. already visited mom and dad and has given us an OK to go home. Mom prefers to stay overnight one more night, in a regular room, and then we will be discharged for home tomorrow (Sat.) morning. The medical supply store in Watertown is already delivering supplies needed to their home. And oncology appointments have been set up for a Tuesday consultation in Watertown. Mom has chosen to start radiation/chemo treatments with the option of always saying "stop" if she wants to. So by the end of next week, we will be starting treatments 5 days a week in Watertown. Oral steroids are the only medication needed. It keeps the swelling in the brain down, which reduces her headaches and other symptoms. Mom is feeling and looking very good this morning and looking forward to being at home. :-)
Thank you everyone for keeping Mom in your prayers.
For those who like to send a card or note of encouragement, the Spieker's address is
42220 194th St.
Willow Lake, SD
57278
- Ann (Spieker) Murphy
February 4, 2010
|
Mrs. Janice Spieker, wife of UCG elder Harlan Spieker, was taken to Avera-McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on Tuesday afternoon, February 2, where she was diagnosed with brain cancer. The tumor is at the back in the right lower area, and is the cause of the dizziness and numbness she has been experiencing. The doctor was direct. The team all agreed that it is inoperable because of its location, and that it is a very aggressive, fast-growing cancer—probably growing for no more than three months. They gave her a prognosis of only six to twelve weeks to live without treatment, with the possibility of six weeks up to ten or eleven months with treatment, and called it “very dire.” They have given Janice meds to bring down the swelling around the tumor, which should alleviate her dizziness. They will continue to observe and examine. Janice is lucid, alert, and focused. She and her husband Harlan are talking it over realistically and are considering possible options with the doctors, including whether chemo-therapy is a viable possibility. She said that if it is God’s will that this is her time to die, then she will accept it. But she desires all of our prayers that God will have mercy and heal her completely. Janice and the surgeon discussed the possibilities and the best-case scenario—that the tumor be found to be benign, or even missing! We know of cases where that exact thing has happened. So the Spieker family and all of us are hoping for that same miracle—the mysterious and complete disappearance of the disease. But if not, we pray for strength and faith that God will heal in the best way and time. Most of the family (within 300 miles) are with her in the hospital and her other daughters are arriving Thursday. This has been a horrible shock to all of them, so please ask for God’s strength and support for each of the family members as well as for Janice’s healing of this evil disease. Mitch and Linda Knapp visited Janice on Wednesday evening. Janice is in good spirits, and enjoyed visiting with family members and a few friends today. It was a much better day than Tuesday. The big concern at this point is that a biopsy will be performed midday Thursday. This is necessary to confirm that the tumor is cancerous, but is considered to have a degree, (possibly high) of risk, due to the delicateness of the operation and the precise measuring required. Waiting to find out is stressful, so we are very thankful this can be done right away, with results known by Monday. Please pray for Janice in this surgery Thursday—first for her safety and a successful procedure. Then for healing—whether immediately, sooner, or later, with God’s divine guidance and wisdom, in his best way and time. And, we hope and pray, sooner! Be sure to remember the whole family in your prayers.
|