Tuesday, April 14, MRI GOOD!!!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009, Jon had his 6 month MRI of the head and spine!  Dr. Ungar commented that the scan looked good and Jon has made a great recovery!!!  Jon’s MRI lasted about 2 1/2 hours through which he fell sound asleep!  Jason the tech was concerned and woke J up asking him if he was ok.  He told J that he was snoring!  I guess after so many MRI’s it becomes somewhat routine…it was great to hear that Jon’s MRI was good and that he will have his next one in 6 months.

Jon was accepted to Bloomsburg University in the area of speech pathology and audiology!!!!  He and Travis have already found an apartment for the fall!!!  Jon and his parents visited the campus and several adviser’s.  It will be a great experience for him that he is looking forward too!

A couple of weeks ago Hempfield hosted its first mini-thon!  It was a great time and the students and faculty raised over $38,000 for the Four Diamond Fund!  That is so awesome!

This year Sangrey Strength will be walking in The Lancaster Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society on June 12 and 13 at the Conestoga Valley High School.  Come out and hang out with us!

THANK YOU!!!  FOR ALL OF YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!!!

Hope Everyone had a GREAT Holiday!

Wow we are into the second week of Jan. 2009 already!  We hope everyone had a great Christmas holiday and a good start to the new year.  Jon enjoyed being with friends and family and wonderful food.  He starts classes this week at HACC.

On November 12th Jon had the priviledge to meet Mrs. Longeneckers 4th grade class at the LandisvilleIntermediate Center.  They are reading books and raising money.  Jon shared some of his experiences withthem and discussed answers to their wonderful questions.  It was a heartening visit ending with an exciting  nute race!

In the beginning of December Jon and his mom traveled to Pittsburgh.  They met with a physical therapist who is very knowledgeable in dealing with palsy of the face.  He worked on many different exercises with Jon.   Jon was measured for nerve movement of the face through a computer program which showed that he has some movement, how EXCITING!  As he continues to work on his exercises we see improvement…just amazing!  We will travel to Pittsburgh again some time in February.

Jon did have his wisdom teeth out on December 16th.  The surgery went well.  He had minimal swelling and almost no bruising.  That should be the last of surgeries.!

Our Relay for Life team, Sangrey Strengthhas signed up to participate in this years Fight against cancer with the Lancaster Cancer Society.  We will be selling t-shirts again this year.  More information on that to come.  We have Domino Pizza cards available for just $10 dollars, you receive a free pizza and other great coupons!

Thank you to all who participated in the dress down day at the Landisville Primary and Intermediate Schools!  You raised over $350 dollars for the fight against cancer!!!!

Thank you for all of your prayers and continued support!!!!

MRI is Good!

Yesterday, Tuesday, October 14 Jon had a MRI at Hershey.  The results were good!  His next scheduled MRI is now extended for 6 months!!!  That is another huge mile marker!!!!

Jon’s SMILE is returning!!!  As many of you know his right side of his body was affected with weakness after surgery including palsy on the right side of his face.  Last Jan. Jon underwent surgery to repair nerves in his face.  We have slowly seen improvement but the greatest was yesterday when the doctor asked Jon to smile, AND HE DID!  How awesome!  God is Great!  His doctor asked if he was motivated? ( Jon, Motivated?)  We all know that he is more than motivated with such a great attitude!  Dr. Fedok commented the next step would be to go to Pittsburgh to work with a trained therapist on using the muscles to work the face to resume symmetry!

It has been a little over 2 years since Jon was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Time goes by so fast, though it seems as if it were not so long ago.  So much has happened in the past  2 years and we have met so many awesome people! 

Jon and his parents along with Ashley (Jon’s adopted friend from Penn State) and her mom Kim and many others, walked in the 4 Miles for Four Diamonds fundraiser a  few Sundays ago.  Last year Jon was able to walk 2 miles, this year he accomplished 4 miles without any difficulty!!!  We are so thankful to the Four Diamonds and all of those associated with it for helping us and many others through  difficult times!!!  The Penn State THON fund raising has begun, so if you see canners at the mall drop them your spare change.  Every bit helps! 

Jon is currently taking courses at HACC and doing well with them!  He is working part time at QVC.  He continues to work out at the Rec center and overall is doing well.  Your continued prayers and thoughts have been very much appreciated!

Last week at the dentist Jon was informed that he needs his wisdom teeth out!  That is scheduled for mid December when he has break between semesters. 

What an awesome smile!

Skydiving

Recently Jon, his sister Amanda and Mom went skydiving!  What fun!  Kids wish donated the experience or Jon’s wish and Damons played his skydiving experience on the big screen!  It was all truly amazing, Jon has come a long way from last year!  Moving forward!

This Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 we will be at Relay for Life.  It is being held at Lancaster Catholic High School track.  Our team name is Sangrey Strength!  This is our first experience with relay and we are looking forward to it!  Everyone and anyone is invited to come!  There will be ongoing music and activities from Friday 6pm to Saturday 6pm..yes 24 hours of fun!

Thank you for your continued support and prayers, Jon’s next mri is scheduled for July.

MRI is GOOD!

Thank you for your continued prayers and thoughts!  Jon’s MRI this month was good!!!  He will have the next one in three months.  His face is healing nicely from his Jan. surgery and his hair is growing in, quite curly!  His classes at HACC are going well. He continues to go to the gym to workout!

 

Diploma!!!!

Today Jon received his 2007 Hempfield High School diploma!!!  He was very surprised to see many of his past teachers, coaches and supporters!  Thank you to all for making this special for him!  Your support and prayers are what keeps him moving forward and he holds a special place for each of you! 

Jon was able to walk with his class in commencement last June but he was working on finishing his credits.  Due to his many obstacles or “bumps in the road”, as he would call them, Jon finished his credits for completion of the requirements through an on-line schooling.  We are proud of Jon’s accomplishments!

The Sangrey Strength Relay for Life Team thanks all of you who are supporting the fight for life! 

Sangrey Strength

It has been six weeks since Jon’s surgery and he is healing nicely!  Last week he went back to the gym to start working out!  School is going well and soon it will already be Spring Break!  Time goes by so quickly!

Jon’s last MRI was clear!!!  So Awesome!

We traveled to Penn State for THON!   It was so awesome to be there and for Jon to be feeling good to enjoy it.  They raised over 6 million dollars, unbelievable.  THANK YOU!  Our dancers Jill and Lauren seemed to be holding up well and we hope you have recovered.  We spent time with Ashley and many of Jon’s Penn State friends.

We have decided to put together a Relay for Life team in Jon’s honor.  The team name is Sangrey Strength!  If you would like to help out in any way we would love and welcome your support!  He has shown great strength through his journey to battle cancer and we would like to help raise money to continue the fight against cancer!  The date is June 6 and 7.  The relay is held at Lancaster Catholic High School.  You can email us at josang817@aol.com

We are in the process of having t-shirts made.  The front will have Sangrey Strength Crushing Cancer and the back will be business logo’s and company names of those who donate $50 or more.  We would also like to recognize and honor friends and loved ones who have battled cancer for a donation of $10.

When I look back over the past year and a half I am awed by the compassion, comfort, prayers and strength that so many of you have shown our family.  It is through you and the strength of God that has Jon moving forward!

Jon is home from surgery!

Jon had the 7 12 nerve graft surgery on Monday, Jan. 21!  Dr. Fedok grafted Jon’s 12 th and 7 th nerve to restore movement to his face on the right side.  The surgery took 5 hours and Dr. Fedok commented that the surgery went well.  He loves his work and for that we are grateful!  Jon looks good!  He can swallow and his speech is clear (of course my worries)!  He came home yesterday and we are heading back up to Hershey to have his drain removed.  Thank you for your prayers and support, stop in and say hi or send a comment!

Port removal surgery

Jon’s surgery to remove his port went very well on Friday, Nov. 30th!    He is recovering nicely but is very tired and bored!  That was the finale of his chemotherapy treatment!!!!  

The EMG of his face went well.  Jon is so brave, he never once commented that the test was uncomfortable in anyway until we were walking out he said, “Oh, I feel like someone punched me in the jaw!”  Tuesday he has a follow up visit with his ENT and oncologist.

Several of Jon’s Adopt-a-School friends stopped in for a very nice visit.  They are from the Penn State group associated with Four Diamonds who have adopted our family.  We are so fortunate to have such great support from them!

He enjoys visits from those of you who have stopped in to see him at work!

Thank you for your continued prayers and concern.

FINISHED WITH CHEMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAHOOOO!

Thank you everyone for your faith and support!  Jon had his last chemotherapy on Nov. 6.  He is starting to feel better.  This last round was probably the worst for him,  but he is looking much better!!!!  They have scheduled surgery for his port removal on Friday he 30th of this month.  He can’t wait!  He would have had it out immediately after his last iv push of chemo.  Jon has been lifting weights at the gym and not been able to bench the whole way to his chest because the port is raised about an inch and a half. 

Last week  Jon visited an otolarynology doctor (ear, nose and throat) at Hershey.  He suggested a  procedure called  the 7th and 12th nerve.  As many of you know Jon has palsy on the right side of his face.  Previously he had an awesome smile and would like to have his smile back!  He and all of us miss it!!!!  He still looks extremely handsome now but the doctor has had great success with this surgery.  The 12th nerve is the tongue nerve which would be removed and replace the 7th nerve.  It is amazing what the doc’s can do!  He is scheduled for an emg on Dec. 11, to measure his muscle movement of his face.

Jon has been working at Banana Republic and enjoying the social aspect of seeing many faces!!!!  He amazes me, even though he doesn’t always feel so great he goes to work!  He has started his class at HACC and enjoying it very much.

Last evening (Sunday) Jon and a few friends went bowling in Harrisburg with others from THON.  Jenna, a chair person from THON of Penn State, put together a fun evening with other teens and captains.  A fun time was had by all and it was great to meet everyone!  Many of the Penn State students involved with THON will be “canning” at the mall and other stores and locations.  Before last year I was unsure of who these college students were with there cans outside in the bitter cold asking for donations.  They are the ones working hard to raise money for The Four Diamonds Fund.  The Four DiamondsFund helps with many expenses for those treated with cancer at the pediatric oncology clinic at Hershey Medical Center and to help find a cure for cancer. We are THANKFUL to those who work So hard!  It amazes me how they find the time and energy to go to class, plan activities, raise money and meet with families.  So if you see students with cans on the corner or at the store they are helping so many, help them raise money to meet their goal for THON ’08 in February.

Congratulations to the Hempfield Midget Football teams, what a great season!

Last Thursday we shared a bit of Jon’s story with the students who attended The Good News club at LPC.  I was quite touched by the young children who pray to God for Jon’s health and wellbeing.  They had so many great questions and comments I could see why Jon has enjoyed working with them!

Jon and all of his family are looking forward to EATING a huge Thanksgiving dinner!  We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving.  Stop in and say hi!