Keep Stepping

It seems that once a month is realistic in my ability to update the blog site! Some days feel like a year has come to pass in those 24 hours and others we have been able to just enjoy the hours. My family made it safely across the miles with all their luggage and just in time to enjoy our Kansas City special for Easter...20 degrees and 3 inches of snow! A little bit of a change from the 80 degree weather in Bangladesh:) We were able to take a trip to the park on Easter day as it warmed up to play some football and just mess around. There is a gorgeous lake about 20 minutes south of where we were living and the pictures here are from there.

The week before my parents and Gail arrived, Will began having a bit more trouble speaking. We had just received the results of MRI #? and the tumor growth was small, almost unremarkable. MD Salacz heard our concerns though about conversation becoming more difficult for Will and switched Will's oral chemo to cyclophosphamide vs. etoposide while still giving the IV Avastin. We were just praying this one now would be effective. Mom, Dad, and Gail were able to go that Friday with Will and I to his chemo session. It was special to have them all be a part of that piece of life.

Even though Will was having more difficulty communicating there are some things in life where words aren't as necessary such as Easter cookie decorating! Gail and Will had a ball with the frosting and left just enough for a snack that night!

Abigail and Lynn arrived in time to let the 3 travelers get over their jet lag...Well almost....As you can see we just enjoyed being together!

Abigail has just turned 15 months and gave us many opportunities to run around and adore her. She has a darling little smile and just loved her grandad and uncle Will! She loved to be fed by anyone, favorite food being cheese, and would run up and cuddle for some sweet times on the couch. Mostly though, her time was spent running from one room to the next trying to explore all of the new fun things in this house.
Abigail is still learning to play with all of the new cousins....:)

while Will, Mom, and Gail did just fine! Soccer in the front yard was a favorite and hours of monopoly on freezing spring days were our pastime until we gave the family a whole new project to undertake..........

MOVING.....!! We did buy a home in the middle of April and my whole family was there to see the new place. We rented a truck and people from our church and Will's family came to load the truck at the duplex and unload it at the new house. We were transferred in a matter of hours. What a blessing! There is a lopsided photo below and if we take any more we can post them at another time but it just give you a little idea of what the new Will and Ruth Reno household looks like! (As well as what Dad looks like after a day of moving)

Cousins (the one cousin that even shares the name Ruth) even came from Texas on their way to Chicago to give us their fridge!

I can say for the most part we have moved in. The house had everything we were looking for including a stone fireplace that we were so intent on having in a new home. It seems to be very providential in timing to have a first floor master bedroom and bath that leads into the kitchen, living room, laundry, deck, and just 2 stair in and out of the house. Will's trouble talking has progressed to also having difficulty walking and with balance. There have been many changes over the past few weeks including not always being able to know what Will is understanding. There are times when we can tell he comprehends everything and just can't express and others where we are just making the best decisions with the wisdom the Lord has given us for that day.

On Thursday the 3rd we made another trip to MD Salacz to discuss the MRI from the 2cnd of May. We met with a doctor at Kansas University where we are going to transfer care to when MD Salacz goes to Duke. She recommended with so many changes we should get an MRI to see if the Avastin was effective any longer. It did not come as a real surprise but did come with great sadness that the new MRI showed the tumor has progressed significantly. Not only that but the Avastin has been causing some bleeding in Will's brain as well as there is swelling in the ventricles of his brain.

We sent the MRI to his neurosurgeon who had completed the past 2 surgeries just to see what he thought. His input was that since the tumor is close/intertwined with several intricate brain structures, the recovery from the surgery would outlast the benefit. We continue to look into other options in Birmingham as well as at the NIH in Bethesda but are having trouble weighing the consequences of dragging Will around the USA and beyond. If there was a sure treatment we would travel ANYWHERE but our goal is to have good time together and ultimately healing is up to the Lord. We just continue to pray for wisdom.

Will and I were reading the other night before bed and our devotional had us read Isaiah 43 which is titled : Israel's Only Savior. Verses 1-5 are as follows: " But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west."

I am not sure still how all of the promises made to Israel transfer to the church now, but I know God was faithful to the wandering children of Israel and he fulfilled his promises. He has promised to never leave Will and I and never to forsake us since we are his children. The Lord never told us it would be easy but I often balk when it seems so tough. We will not be burned drowned or left alone. The Lord will be at our side and although I don't see why all this is happening I know ~ "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." So we continue to pray for faith and more and more of it for we truly are blessed. Christ came for us and on top Will and I still have our families, each other, and the love of our Savior.









Thanks for lifting us up as we put one foot in front of the other!

You can find us now at 928 E Elizabeth St.

Olathe, KS 66061

(913) 972 3130 (ruth's cell)

829-4459 (home)

221-6287 (will's cell)