home at last

Tray here...

We brought Jake home yesterday evening. He is doing better than anyone ever expected. We feel so blessed.

He will go back in on Monday to get his stitches out and meet with Dr. Menezes again. He will have MRI’s every 2-3 months for the first year and then every 6 months for a couple of years. If they see any change he will start radiation therapy immediately.

For the next 3 months he is supposed to have no intense physical activity and should not lift over 10 pounds. Jake is more disturbed about that than anything. He is now 137 lbs – he started the summer at 155. He thinks he is way too skinny and wants to work out but can’t. Keeping him compliant with doctor’s orders is going to be a challenge.

His doctors say he can probably go to college this fall if he can get back to University of Iowa Hospital for his MRI’s. They also say that they will not approve a mission outside of the US – ever. A mission in the US is probably okay after a year or so from the surgery if all is well, but they reserve judgment until then. Dr. Menezes says even then it is only OK if he can get back to Iowa to have MRI’s on schedule.

Overall we feel very blessed. We cannot thank each of you enough for your prayers, thoughts, and acts. We found that he had candles lit for him in an Italian Basilica, he was being prayed for in a monastery, he had a special prayer in his behalf by the Mormon Tabernacle choir, he was prayed for in a Jewish synagogue, and was prayed for in many churches and homes across the world. We believe that there had to be divine intervention to have received such an unexpected and positive outcome. He also had friends (both adult and his age) in the hospital comforting and entertaining him every day. People helped with meals, with our boys, with my work and Tammy’s teaching, etc… Again thank you all very much, and especially thanks to God for the miracles we have seen.

If anything changes we will get back to you all, but for now, we are signing out…. (I am signing out. Tammy may have more to say, as I often miss things.)

Love to all,

Tray