[Jeff Head]

Thank each of you...everyone responding on this thread which has grown beyond my ability to reply to each one at this time, from the bottom of our hearts, for your thoughts and prayers, and faith. They continue to sustain us and bouy us up...to lift us up to our Savior.

Here's my latest update as of this morning from my journal on my site:

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16th Entry February 6th, 2010, 9:30 AM

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We spoke to Dr. Rhine's advanced partctice nurse, Gisela, last night.

She indicated that my Chordoma was not able to be presented to the MD Anderson sarcoma tumor board on Thursday, Dr. Rhine's had to be in surgery all that day, and that it would be presented on Tuesday. He will call us a couple of days later as a result, with our schedule for March, looking for a decision to go ahead. She took quite a bit of time with us (it was after 8 PM her time) and answered our questions and gave us very good information. We were very appreciative of it.

We are now back home in Idaho. Drove through some pretty good snow in Kansas as we tried to skirt the big storm to the north that started in New Mexico, moved across the Texas Panhandle (where we would have driven straight through it if we had gone our normal route) and is now pounding the mid-Atlantic and Washington, DC. We ran into som more snow on the boarder of Idaho and Utah. But it was only fifty or so miles and not too bad. Here's a map of the tript home:

Arriving home, I was led to exclaim:

"'tis good to be home...even for a few weeks!"

A scripture from the Nw Testament came to mind. Direction the Lord gave to an individual He had healed:

"Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." Luke 5:19

The Lord has truly been good to us in this set of circumstances and has guided our footsteps. We have felt His love and guidance, and the love and faith of our friends. Despite whatever hardship, that knowledge and feeling is pricelsss, now and for the eternities.

And now, we have a short respite. A time to prepare, get things in order, and visit woth our family and friends.

At home, someone put a large banner on the front of our house that says, "Welcome home. We love you!"

Thank you, good souls, whomever did that. It has warmed our heart and gives us all the more strength to prepare for the upcoming, major surgery and the life style changes and impact it will bring. We are grateful for the chance to have the procedure available to address this rare cancer, in spite of those hardships.

We are still examining the Carbon Ion Radiation treatment being done in Japan and also Germany we found. The two issues it presents...in spite of the fact that their data shows that it has every possibility of being equally effective to surgery without the disabilities thereafter, are these:

1) The US has not approved it and so our insurance (which is very good) would not cover it. The cost of the procedure and everything associated with it would have to born from our retirement savings and any other means we could pull together. I am committed to providing for my wife and family in any event I may face, so I am very relcutant to comnsider it given the risks in any event.

2) It is not clear to me how long it takes after the CIR treatment for the medical community to know that the irradiated tumor is incapable of any further spreading. In my case, there has already been spreading, so statistically I am behind that eight ball anyway. I know a tumor that has been removed (if they get it all) cannot itself spread any more. I am not so sure about an CIR treated tumor which begins to slowly regress after treatment.

On one side if we tried it and it did not work, then we could move towards surgery anyway. On the other, since mine has already spread, time is of the essence to catch it before it spreads to any organs. Thus far, it has only spread in two small places to bone...which is very slow to grow and spread like the original tumor.

So, those are the types of decisions we are faced with. I will speak more of it with the Dr. when he calls later this week. My own thoughts at this time are, that given the risks, it is most likely we will proceed with the surgery at the earliest date, barring some miracle regarding the CIR.

Again, our eternal and continuing thanks to all of those who are praying for us and exercising their faith and love on our behalf. I have felt the strength it brings in very trying hours. I also must say, that next to the guidance and direction and love of my Savior and my Father in Heaven, I must hold up and thank my dear wife, Gail, for her help, comfort, strength, and love and faith through this. She has been and remains an angel to me and I thank God in Heaven for her as my wife, my friend, my sweetheart, and the mother of my children and grandmother of our grandkids.

After hoping, praying, and wishing to see each of them following their Savior and partake of His Atonement, I could wish no greater blessing on my daughters and grand-daughters than that they seek to emmulate her...or wish no greater blessing on my sons and grandsons than that find and have a woman like her for their own wife and eternal companion.

I pray that my expression of these feelings does not embarass anyone, or are not thought improper or inappropriate. It's just, that at times like these, times that sooner or later we all must face to one degree or another, as a father and grandfather, I cannot forebear.

Sincerely, and in Christ,

Jeff

[DollyCali]

Jeff Head UPDATE - PING at 936

[Fawnn]

You remain in my prayers. (Making decisions anytime can be hard; during stressful times it can be overwhelming. You’re a living example of the power of guidance granted from faith and prayers.)

[trisham]

Prayers are on the way.

[McGavin999]

I'm glad you are home Jeff and there is nothing improper in your words or sentiments.

We'll keep praying as long as you need us. Sounds like you are in good spirits and that's half the battle.

[mkjessup]

Brother Jeff, your continued and consistent witness for the Lord is overwhelming. I find myself thinking that if I were in your shoes, I would not have a fraction of the spiritual strength that we are all blessed to observe in you.

I continue to lift you up in prayer, “if God be for you, who can be against you?”

Enjoy being home in Idaho, that was quite the trip. I went through the Denver area back in ‘97 and a freak snow storm blew up literally out of nowhere, glad to know your journey was a relatively smooth one.

The Lord be with you Jeff.

MKJ

[okie01]

God be with you and yours, Jeff.

[hoosiermama]

Prayers for you and Gail and your family.

[Jim Robinson]

Continuing prayers, my friend. God bless.

[mysterio]

Prayers continue.

[WVNan]

Praise the Lord for the safe journey home. Now for some well deserved rest and relaxation. Thank you, Lord, for being such a strong presence in Jeff’s life. May you continue to be with him and his family. Jeff, you are a fantastic witness for our Lord. We can’t underestimate the power of your example for all of us.
Hugs,
Nan

[Bahbah]

It is wonderful to hear from you. The strength and goodness of you and your family are an inspiration.

And we love you too :)

[editor-surveyor]

Glad to hear that you had a safe trip home.

Prayers to continue!

Speak your healing with power daily. Declare it unwaveringly. The spoken word created the universe, and all that is in it, and surely the same will be so with your healing.

[stephenjohnbanker]

I hope you all were able to enjoy some of the scenery.
Prayers continuing.

SJB

[Pegita]

May the Lord grace you and Gail with the wisdom and knowledge of the path on which He would have you take ... that the Holy Spirit would witness to your spirit that you are in the center of His will ... that each path and each procedure will bring forth that for which we all pray ... that you have been restored to the fullness of health, to the everlasting Glory and Praise of His Blessed Name. Amen ...

[Palladin]

Glad you got home safe and avoided the worst of the storms.

By coincidence, after I read your update yesterday, the TCM movie last night was “The Shootist”, starring John Wayne. I had never seen it before. In it JW was a gunslinger with incurable cancer. Well, while making the movie, JW himself was dealing with his last illness. Won’t give away the plot, but all I could think about was the wonderful advances made in cancer treatment since the time in which this movie was set (1901). Plus JW’s enormous courage to keep on working while dealing with his illness.

Anyway, first time I ever cried during a JW movie. I was mostly crying because I have been moved by your enormous courage, too.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for keeping us informed! Prayers continue...

[LucyJo]

Thank you for the ping, Dolly.

So glad that y’all are safely home, Jeff. What a refreshing of spirits the sight of your home must have been after all that y’all have gone through lately, and especially with that banner bearing a message of love and support!

You have inspired such fondness and respect among those of us on this site who know you only through your writings and posts. It’s no surprise that those who know you personally have such high regard and love for you.

Your expressions of faith and love for your family and fellow man are more to be cherished by those who read them, rather than to be embarrassed by them, Jeff.

All that you are going through now puts into perspective the truly important things in life, and how imperative it is to take a stand for them boldly and unashamedly.

May the Lord bless and guide all of us who diligently seek Him into more perfect faith, understanding, and obedience of His Will and Way.

You and yours remain in my prayers, as do all those who tend your physical health and well being.

[JDoutrider]

More humble Prayers Jeff... you are in our thoughts and hearts.

[EternalVigilance]

Still prayin’, friend.

[mojitojoe]

It’s so good to hear from you. I keep you in my prayers.