He is Risen! and a Puppy Nap

Sunday, March 4, 2010 – Easter Sunday, this is the first year in 23 years we did not do either an Easter basket or egg hunt for the boys. Just too much going on. Besides the real reason for celebration on Easter Sunday is Jesus’ victory over sin and death. This morning Heidi and Kory did go to church with Heidi’s dad. After church they came home to visit with Kellee and then I went to church because we still don’t want to leave Kellee by himself  the first few days while he is on the post-op meds. We have extra reason to celebrate this day because of how well Kellee came through the biopsy!  After the service as I was walking down the hall I guy came up to me and asked me how Kellee was doing. I gave him a brief report and then I asked him to tell me about what he went through with his brain tumor. His tumor was a bit different as far as symptoms, size, location, etc. He went through 6-1/2″ weeks of radiation to get rid of it. He said he was told after about 10 days of  radiation he would lose his hair, he said on day 10 he lost his hair just as they said it would happen. He came through fine and he is doing great now, it was encouraging to talk to him.

We picked up my dad and went to Gma’s for Easter dinner. Sister Sue and her son T.J. joined us which brought the total number of guests to 9.  Then it was back home and once again time for the obligatory Sunday afternoon nap. Kellee has claimed our recliner as his home post-op station and he proceeded to relax there. One of our puppies, Meijse (pronounced my-she and it is Dutch for little girl), often times likes to join who ever is sitting there for what we call a “puppy nap”. (The puppy nap was actually named by Kim, a co-worker and friend.) This afternoon she joined Kellee for a nap.

Meisje with Kellee taking a puppy nap

Kellee is still recovering and tires easily. His grandpa wanted to spend some time with him again tonight, but Kellee was just too tired and he wanted to sit and relax. Kory went back to Ames as he had a meeting @ 7:00. Kerry did go to spend some time with his grandpa since Kerry was not at home (he played drums at The Bridge’s two Easter services) earlier today when grandpa visited.

It is back to work for Heidi and I tomorrow. We will need to begin investigating what we would need to do to arrange how we will handle the getting Kellee to treatments for the 6-7 weeks. Right now if we can arrange to stay at Hope Lodge, we plan to stay there Monday – Thursday night, with the Monday radiation treatment scheduled as late as possible in the day and Friday’s early in the morning. Scheduling the treatments this way is what Dr. Smith suggested, if we were to use the Hope Lodge. Right now Heidi and I are thinking we would trade-off weeks as the caregiver staying with Kellee because Hope Lodge requires a caregiver to stay with the patient.  Both of us should be able to do at least a good portion of our jobs from there as long as we can get online and connected to the Pella Corp Network.  We did get a phone call this afternoon from someone who used to live in Pella, offering a second bedroom for Kellee stay during treatments. Just another example of the kindness and generosity people are showing us lately.

Gotta love the weekend… updated posts

Saturday, April 3, 2010 -  Not much to blog about today, it was nice that nothing much happened today. Slept in until nearly 8:00 am, (well I didn’t get to bed until 12;30 am watching the Star Wars movies). Got up, did some elliptical work and then went out side to do some yard work.

Today Heidi did some research on Hope Lodge in Iowa City. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/hopelodge/IA_IowaCity/rag_index.asp to see what it was like in case we end up trying to stay there during Kellee’s treatment. Kellee’s friend,  Jasen Dahm told Kellee he will look into a possible short-term job for Kellee at the U of I for during the treatment weeks if  we decided Hope Lodge is the way we will go.This way he can keep busy while there and earn a bit of money.

Tonight we watched the final four games with G-ma Faithe and Tami.  Tomorrow Heidi  and Kory are going to go to church with her dad and I will stay home with Kellee. Then later my sister Susie is coming down for Easter dinner at G-ma Faithe’s.

Just to let you know I posted some photos from Thursday back on some of the Thursday blogs. So if you want to go back and take a look at the post named “Biopsy Thursday and the Tumor Re-named!” and “Prayer Continues” for some photos and check out “Biopsy Complete New Update” for a new story at the end of the blog.

Songs on Healing

Sunday, March 28, 2010 – Woke up @ 4:00 am this morning, couldn’t get back to sleep. Got up and went into the living room and tried to pray, but did not really know how to pray. I find that anymore  I am praying for one thing; healing for Kellee. With all the people telling us they are praying and many telling us they are believing God will heal him, shouldn’t he have been healed by now? Why isn’t his double vision gone? Wouldn’t a sign the tumor was gone or shrinking be the double vision going away? Please Jesus, be the miracle worker in our lives!

Both Heidi & I went to the 10:30 service in the auditorium at TRC today. We got there a bit late and found a couple of seats in the back row. Most of the songs either had a version of the word healing in them or referenced healing. I couldn’t sing and keep dry eyes. Andrew told me he woke up @ 4:00 this morning to pray for Kellee, he wasn’t sure what it meant, but perhaps we could talk later. And here I thought I woke up at 4:00 because I couldn’t sleep. Maybe I am supposed to make better use of the times when sleep won’t come, oh I don’t know…praying perhaps?

Monday, March 29, 2010 – Today work was, well, work. I feel guilty, there are times I find I just have to get up from my desk and walk. I can’t concentrate on one thing for too long because my thoughts keep going to Dwight the tumor. So I get up and try to do a bit of praying, but mostly I just walk to try to clear my head so I can get back to work, at least for a moment.  

Monday when we got home from work, Kellee told us he had posted another song, this one is called “Everything New” – http://www.myspace.com/kelleevanhemertmusic . Monday night was once again time for Barefoot Warriors at TRC. Since it was Andrew’s last night, there were many more men than usual in attendance tonight. During one section of prayer time, I was led to John 14: 12-14 where Jesus said “…I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will even do greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me anything in my name, and I will do it.” (emphasis added by me) I was able to talk with one of the guys there about this verse and he told me I needed to have faith and believe it (healing for Kellee) would happen and then I would know it. I told him I wanted to know it happened so I could then believe it. He prayed for me and we then joined in a time of worship. It was another great night of prayer. We ended with a time of prayer and blessing for Andrew. Then it was off to HyVee to get milk, home to finish this blog and now it is time for bed. I hope I can sleep tonight!

More Waiting – but another song!

Monday, March 22, 2010 – No news today from Iowa City. Last week the first call came on Tuesday so we are thinking this week will be similar. Kellee was in the basement today recording another song and he heard the dogs barking upstairs and found out it was his G-ma working in the yard.  Turns out – Heidi’s mom came over and began the task of cleaning up the gazillion sticks from our trees. She completed the front yard and we are very much appreciative of her hard work and her support.

So yes, Kellee wrote,  recorded and posted another song today. This one is called “Never Comfortable.” He took some of the lyrics directly out of Job 38:4-7.  It was the first one he wrote on this journey in which Heidi & I did not cry after the first listen. http://www.myspace.com/kelleevanhemertmusic

We received a nice card today from a family from church, in it was a quote which spoke right into our situation, “Patience is not passivity, its concentrated strength.”

Tonight, Heidi made a meal to place in the freezer while I went to the Barefoot Warriors prayer at TRC. There was more prayer offered up for healing for Kellee and patience for Heidi & I. Once again I was glad I went besides the prayer, there were nice words of support! When God’s people gather to pray, it is a good thing!

The Bridge – Part II

Sunday, March 21, 2010 – My sisters picked us up @ 9:00 and we arrived at The Bridgeview Center around 9:45. This makes two weeks in a row I was able to attend The Bridge. We were greeted by Marty and I thanked him for being able to stay at his house last weekend. He mentioned that his wife says Kellee makes the bed in their guest room better than almost any other guest. Then I remembered Kellee had mentioned what Jenny and said about his bed making skills last week as we were making the bed. Kellee was hoping to live up to the pressure of such a reputation so he made sure we did a good job!

We were able to talk briefly to Kevin who was there to deliver the day’s message and to Cy who had just returned from Cambodia with Marty and the rest of the team.

Shortly after the opening set of worship songs began, my sister Sue moved to the end of the row to take a picture of Kellee. (Sue if you read this, send us the pix.) He was at the back of the stage so we did could not see him well. But it was good to see him up there, wearing his hat. After the songs, Cy introduced a video of the Cambodia trip. Then Marty got up and he mentioned Kellee and his tumor, he said when one person (part) of the body of Christ hurts, it impacts the entire body.  Then he had the church body stop and pray for Kellee. Kevin’s message was based on Jeremiah 29:7, “Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” One take away was God has placed each of us in a city, job, situation for a purpose to be a light and point others to Jesus.

After the service there was opportunity to go for prayer, Heidi suggested we go up for prayer with my sisters, we did and it was very good!

When we got to Faithe’s for Sunday dinner, Kerry was there. He had returned from his Spring break trip early Sunday morning. He shared with us the highlights of the trip. Sounded like it was a fun trip!

Watched some more b-ball games and napped in the afternoon, which was good. Heidi mentioned it was nice to have a day knowing we weren’t going to get a call, it was kind of like the pressure was off for a day.  Tomorrow is back to work and waiting…

But the fruit if the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, PATIENCE, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

Friday – One week +1 day

Heidi and I went to work Friday morning but on the way we stopped at Wal-Mart to see what they had for hats. We thought if we could one fairly decent we would pick one up for Kellee, but no luck, we should have known. Anyway we worked the morning and decided to take the afternoon off. Our son Kory has been home all week for Spring break and he has been working almost every day we have not spent much time with him. So we arranged a game afternoon with G-ma Faithe, Kory, Kellee, Heidi & I.

We ate and then Kellee asked me to get out the hair clippers to trim his hair. Since he had 5 spots shaved for the fiducels, he wanted to try to even the rest of the hair out. We didn’t go too short, yet. Kellee was going to see how short his buddies who had agreed to cut their hair in solidarity with him, had cut their hair. He said we end up going shorter. After the hair cut, Kellee put on a hat we found that we had here at home. It works fine for now, but Kellee says he may search online for something else.

We played a card game called “Up and Down the River”, Heidi won. Then we started playing another game called 313, Heidi won again.  We did not get any phone call from Iowa City. More waiting… Kellee went out to hang out with some friends, Kory went to work and Heidi & I watched a movie and then the NCAA’s. What a lot of upsets this year!

One thing I forgot to mention about Thursday, on the way home Kellee mentioned that now he will be able to go to the Bridge on Saturday. If the biopsy had taken place today, (Friday) there was some uncertainty if he would be able to go. He wanted to go because of who was going be the guest pastor (Kevin from TRC) and because the team that went to Cambodia is supposed to back.  Kellee called the guy filling in for him leading  and asked him if he needed another guitar player. Heidi being concerned about Kellee driving down by himself asked if he wanted us to come down was well, Kellee had arranged for Pil (the bass player from Sons & Heirs) go with him so he won’t be going down on his own, but he said we could go if we wanted to. (We took that as code for – don’t worry about me, you guys don’t have to come down.)  So Kellee will be going to Ottumwa on Sunday.

Monday Day 5

Monday, March 15, 2010 -  The neurosurgeon told us to live life as normal for now,  so it was back to work. I have to admit my head was not in it and there were times I just had to get up from my desk and walk. I had asked Kellee if he would want to come to the Monday night prayer, (Barefoot Warriors) to be prayed for. He was going to be at  church anyway for his Systematic Theology course so he could come over from there. He agreed and I did spend a portion of my day to  try to let the leaders know he would be coming. I wanted to give them a heads up and make sure it there wasn’t something else planned. I eventually made contact with one of the leaders and was told a situation like this is exactly what the Monday night prayer is all about. Typically at the Monday night prayer there is some time at the beginning with music playing as guys are arriving and there is time to get quieted before the Lord. Then we gather together and the leader for the evening maps out what he has at least tentatively planned for the evening. We are always open to how the Holy Spirit leads. We were gathered the leader for the evening, Dave said we have a plan for what we are going to do for the evening. Then he turned to me and asked me if I wanted to say anything. Which I did, (See earlier posts, but I did try to shorten the story and just give the highlights.) I finished by saying I had contacted the leaders to make sure it was OK because I did not want to hijack the meeting. Then Dave said something like, “I recall a story in the Bible where guys carried their friend up on a roof and cut a hole and they pretty much hijacked Jesus’ meeting and he stopped to heal the friend, so it is a good thing to be praying for Kellee. Before we  started a couple of guys wanted to say some things. Jon had picked up a rock approximately peanut sized. He said he had learned in praying for healing it helps to visualize what to pray for rather than be general. Pray in metaphors and also specifically for healing. Another guy spoke up and said I think we need to pray that the tumor will be completely gone. I thought Amen! That is exactly what Kellee is praying for!  It was time to start praying and Kellee had not showed up yet. (Turns out he was also being prayed for in his class.) The guys had me sit in the middle and sit in proxy for Kellee. The prayer time was awesome! After a while, Kellee came in and he took the hot seat.  When we were done and Kellee left, all the guys just kind of sat around and didn’t say much for quite a while. In the past I have been told you could tell when a prayer time was good, because people don’t want to leave and just like to sit around, the prayer time was like that. It was a good night.

Kellee & I were in the kitchen again that night and he said to me he was at peace. He was OK with what ever happens. If the tumor is gone he said, he would have something really powerful to talk about when he is on stage with Sons & Heirs, the band is in with his brother Kerry. (Checkout their music @ http://www.myspace.com/sonsandheirsmusic or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/sonsandheirsmusic?ref=ts ) If  the tumor is not gone and other treatment is needed, he is fine with whatever outcome God has planned for him, he said he is in a really good place.

Heidi said to me she is so glad Kellee lives with us right now, and this is one of the reasons – to be able to share moments like that in the kitchen are priceless!

Sunday – Day 4

Sunday, March 14, 2010 – That morning after a McDonald’s breakfast we were back at Bridgeview Center by 7:45am. Kellee and the band began to prep for their morning practice, while I went and called Heidi to tell her how the night had gone. There was a group of leaders at the Bridge who met at 8:00 to pray for the service.  After prayer for the service they group gathered around Kellee and myself to pray for Kellee. Until the service started I wandered around the Bridgeview Center trying to avoid too much interaction with people because I wasn’t sure how I would react. I did have a few people come up to me and say a few things and express their concern for Kellee and the situation.  After the service, I spoke to a couple other people and then helped with the tear down and load out.

When we in the van for the ride home, Kellee and I talked about how God might use this situation to bring glory to himself. Kellee said he felt pretty good and good about where he was at. But he is not without some questions. He asked how much prayer is needed for healing? Is one prayer enough or is one person praying enough? Or after getting for instance 100 people to pray for healing does God say, “That was the number of people needed, now Kellee you are healed.” Good questions! Of course being the great theologian that I am I gave a great response. “I don’t know, I am sure more prayer does not hurt.” When we got home We ate and then it was time for the obligatory Sunday afternoon nap, well for the family but not for me. I was off to Theisens to get new tires put on one of our vans and get the oil changed. When I got there I was told it would be at least 1-1/2 hours before they would be done. I decided to go for a walk. I ended up at church in one of the prayer rooms. I read and prayed for about 15 minutes but then I fell asleep. God in his mercy allowed my a Sunday afternoon nap afterall, God is good! I woke up in time to walk back and pick up van.

The rest of the day we just hung around the house, we watched the NCAA selection show and Amazing Race. Later that night I was in the Kitchen and Kellee mentioned someone on Facebook had told him about a family member with a tumor who went through treatment and was fine now. I said that is the outcome that sounds good to me. Kellee said he is hoping and praying for the tumor to be gone and the doctors being baffled as to why and the only reason could be because God intervened. There my son was showing his faith again and encouraging me. I went to that night and slept the best since the ordeal started.