Jane completed the third round of chemotherapy together with the new drug, ABT 348, on Tuesday December 20th. Jane's sister Annie and her mother were in town to provide love, encouragement and support. Although Jane had a rough couple of days from the side effects, she is regaining her strength and energy level.
Jane has been overwhelmed by the offerings of prayers and support during the clinical trials that have extended into the Christmas season. You have no idea how touched we are to have such a wonderful family and beautiful friends and love ones who are assisting us through this time. We really appreciate and are grateful for all of the rosaries, masses and prayers in support of Jane.
We want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Update - December 19th
Since the last round of chemotherapy on December 9th, Jane has rebounded and her energy levels are returning back to a more normal state. Additionally, her white blood cell count is back where it needs to be.
Jane's sister, Annie, from England will be in town for a few days and her mother will be in Houston as well for a couple of days before Christmas.
Jane is preparing for another round of chemotherapy with the standard protocol as well as the new experimental drug. This will occur on Tuesday December 20th.
We continue to appreciate all the many cards and prayers.
Jane's sister, Annie, from England will be in town for a few days and her mother will be in Houston as well for a couple of days before Christmas.
Jane is preparing for another round of chemotherapy with the standard protocol as well as the new experimental drug. This will occur on Tuesday December 20th.
We continue to appreciate all the many cards and prayers.
Update (December 9th)
Jane completed the second round of chemotherapy on Friday, December 2nd at MD Anderson which included a new experimental drug called ABT 348 in addition to the standard protocol. ABT 348 comes in the form of a 50 mg pill and the theory behind ABT 348 is for it to, among other things, disrupt the cancer cells' growth cycle. The side effects were kinda rough on Jane, but she pulled through towards the end of the week.
On Friday December 9th, Jane had the second dosage of only the ABT 348 pill. The doctors are monitoring Jane's white blood cell count so she will need to stay away from crowds, pets (Sparkie, the Abear's cat, is kinda sad nowadays) and folks with sniffles, colds, etc.
Jane continues to appreciate the many prayers and thoughts from all of you.
On Friday December 9th, Jane had the second dosage of only the ABT 348 pill. The doctors are monitoring Jane's white blood cell count so she will need to stay away from crowds, pets (Sparkie, the Abear's cat, is kinda sad nowadays) and folks with sniffles, colds, etc.
Jane continues to appreciate the many prayers and thoughts from all of you.
Continuing Rosaries for Jane
Please join us as we continue gathering to say the rosary for Jane on Monday nights at 8pm in St. Jude's Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Church and on Thursday afternoons at 2:30pm until school is out on Monday, December 19. On Thursday afternoons we will gather at St. Vincent de Paul in the Cry Room of the church. You may want to arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time.
Also please remember that the larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue on Thursday afternoons. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access.
Please tell others who may be interested as well. Thank you.
Also please remember that the larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue on Thursday afternoons. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access.
Please tell others who may be interested as well. Thank you.
Update (November 27)
Since the first chemotherapy treatment, Jane has recovered most of her strength and energy levels. Jane's family from Shreveport including her mother and two of her three sisters plus their families spent Thanksgiving in Houston. It was a great holiday filled the sights and smells of the holidays and reminiscing about old memories and making new ones. Jane expresses her sincere thanks for the many holiday treats and goodies shared with Jane and her family. Yum!
Jane starts the second round of chemotherapy on Friday, December 2nd at M D Anderson. This round will include a new experimental drug in addition to the standard protocol. Jane continues to appreciate the many prayers and thoughts from all of you.
Jane starts the second round of chemotherapy on Friday, December 2nd at M D Anderson. This round will include a new experimental drug in addition to the standard protocol. Jane continues to appreciate the many prayers and thoughts from all of you.
Rosary for Jane
Please join us to say the rosary for Jane today, Thursday, November 17 at 2:30 at St. Vincent de Paul in the Cry Room of the church. You may want to arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time.
NOTE: The larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access.
Another opportunity to pray with us will be next Monday night (November 21) at 8 pm in St. Jude's Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Please tell others who may be interested too. Thank you.
NOTE: The larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access.
Another opportunity to pray with us will be next Monday night (November 21) at 8 pm in St. Jude's Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Please tell others who may be interested too. Thank you.
Update (Nov. 14)
Last week was the first week after the first round of chemotherapy for Jane. The first couple of days were okay but the next few days were very rough, as Jane felt the full severe side effects of the chemotherapy. Thankfully, the doctors were able to provide appropriate supportive care to address the side effects and Jane is feeling much, much better. Jane's appetite is improving and she is taking good walks to build up her strength. Jane's energy level is getting better each day. Thanks again for all the support and assistance. We are very grateful and humbled by all the prayers and especially those who prayed the rosary together at SVDP!
Rosary for Jane
Thank you to everyone who prayed the rosary for Jane on Thursday. For those of you who may not have been able to attend please join us as we gather again on Monday evening, November 14 at 8pm in St. Jude Chapel at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Please join us to say the rosary for Jane
Please join us to say the rosary for Jane on Thursday, November 10 at 2:30 at St. Vincent de Paul in the Cry Room of the church. You may want to arrive a few minutes early so we can start on time.
NOTE: The larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access. Thank you.
NOTE: The larger parking lot (on Holcombe) is being utilized by all grade levels for carpool due to construction on Buffalo Speedway so car traffic may be an issue. Parking in the Vanderbilt Square parking lot or in the neighborhood across Holcombe may be advised for easier "in-and-out" access. Thank you.
Update
Jane completed the first round of chemotherapy starting on Friday, Nov. 4 th and over the weekend at MD Anderson. Jane feels pretty good and felt well enough to watch the LSU Tiger victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday night. The remainder of the month will be spent in and out of MD Anderson for lab work.
Jane's next big day is December 2nd when she meets with the doctors to review her status and move forward into Cycle 2 of the drug study.
Jane and the family are very appreciative of the many kind gestures and prayers. Jane's spirits are high!
Jane's next big day is December 2nd when she meets with the doctors to review her status and move forward into Cycle 2 of the drug study.
Jane and the family are very appreciative of the many kind gestures and prayers. Jane's spirits are high!
Here we GEAUX...our first blog update from Jane's family
Jane and her family have had many family members and friends provide support and offer prayers for Jane during Jane's present battle with cancer that has reoccurred after ten years of living cancer free. The family sincerely appreciates the prayers and support during this difficult time.
At this point, Jane's treatment regime is expected to be as follows at MD Anderson's Center for Targeted Therapy. Jane is presently scheduled to have three separate 21 day cycles of chemotherapy combined with an experimental biological agent at M D Anderson Cancer Hospital starting on Friday, November 4, 2011. Jane did not have either drug ten years ago hence the drugs' effects on Jane or her cancer are not entirely clear. The first 21 day cycle ends right before Thanksgiving and is not expected to be too hard on Jane. As Jane progresses through each cycle, the family expects to have a better understanding of the drugs' effects and correspondingly what the families' needs will be from time to time. The last cycle ends around early January at which time MD Anderson will assess the effectiveness of this clinical trial.
During this time, many of you have offered to assist Jane's family, which is greatly appreciated, for carpools, meals, errands, whatever, etc. At this time, four of Jane's friends have agreed to act as coordinators and will compile a list of available persons who are ready to help out. These friends will organize resources, to the extent needed, and, again, the family sincerely appreciates all the assistance and support. The timing and needs for assistance will greatly depend on Jane's progression during the clinical trials. Do not worry, the family will not be bashful about requesting assistance. If you wish to assist, please post in the comment section in the blog your willingness to assist and one of Jane's friends will contact you.
As you can imagine, during this time Jane will need to conserve her energy to be strong and fight hard. The family requests that we respect their privacy and family time and rely on this blog for information about Jane's treatment. We will keep you updated so everyone can continue to pray for Jane's full recovery.
Servant of God Don Alvaro, Intercede For Jane!
Prayer for Jane
Jane is asking her friends to pray the following prayer as they light a candle (or say it without the candle). She would appreciate prayers through the intercession of Don Alvaro for a cure, if it is God's will.
For those who may not know Don Alvaro was sick for most of his life, but no one would have ever known it. He carried on with joy and peace always looking for ways to serve and help others in spite of his suffering.
O God, merciful Father, you granted your servant Álvaro, Bishop, the grace of being an exemplary pastor in the service of the Church, and a most faithful son and successor of Saint Josemaría, the founder of Opus Dei. Grant that I too may respond faithfully to the demands of the Christian vocation, turning all the circumstances and events of my life into opportunities to love you and serve the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Deign to glorify your servant Álvaro, and through his intercession grant me the favor I request ... (here make your petition). Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.
You may also find the Don Alvaro prayer card via this link:
http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=7547
For those who may not know Don Alvaro was sick for most of his life, but no one would have ever known it. He carried on with joy and peace always looking for ways to serve and help others in spite of his suffering.
O God, merciful Father, you granted your servant Álvaro, Bishop, the grace of being an exemplary pastor in the service of the Church, and a most faithful son and successor of Saint Josemaría, the founder of Opus Dei. Grant that I too may respond faithfully to the demands of the Christian vocation, turning all the circumstances and events of my life into opportunities to love you and serve the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Deign to glorify your servant Álvaro, and through his intercession grant me the favor I request ... (here make your petition). Amen.
Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory be to the Father.
You may also find the Don Alvaro prayer card via this link:
http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=7547
Candles for Jane
This blog "Candles for Jane" started as an email to my friends asking if anyone was going to Paris or knew anyone in Paris...could someone light a candle and say a prayer for a friend of mine named Jane in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame? Within 24 hours I received a phone call...a friend of a friend was leaving that afternoon and gladly agreed to go to the Cathedral. Then the emails began coming...people forwarded my original email to their friends who passed it on to others. One person suggested that I put the emails in a book and give it to Jane. Then God whispered to me, you know the kind of thing where an idea pops in your head and then you listen to your heart and you know that the thought was really heaven-sent. This blog is meant to lift Jane up in prayers to our Father in heaven that He might find it in His will to eradicate Jane's illness. You see Jane recently was diagnosed with a recurrence of cancer, adenocarcinoma.
Who is Jane...Jane is many things to different people but I think that everyone who knows her would all agree that once you meet her she's the kind of person who makes you want to be better, do better. She is a devoted mom to three boys who are well on their way to becoming wonderful young men, a wife adored by her husband, a graceful soul who is generous and caring towards everyone she comes into contact with.
If you are reading this please find it in your heart to lift her up...stop for a minute where ever you are to say a prayer for Jane and her family, maybe light a candle in your church, send a positive thought of encouragement to her on this blog, any good and hopeful thing. It doesn't matter what your religion is, just that you have faith that miracles can and do happen. For those of you who have already done so please leave a comment with your name and where you are in this small world of ours. Those that love and admire Jane thank you very much.
Who is Jane...Jane is many things to different people but I think that everyone who knows her would all agree that once you meet her she's the kind of person who makes you want to be better, do better. She is a devoted mom to three boys who are well on their way to becoming wonderful young men, a wife adored by her husband, a graceful soul who is generous and caring towards everyone she comes into contact with.
If you are reading this please find it in your heart to lift her up...stop for a minute where ever you are to say a prayer for Jane and her family, maybe light a candle in your church, send a positive thought of encouragement to her on this blog, any good and hopeful thing. It doesn't matter what your religion is, just that you have faith that miracles can and do happen. For those of you who have already done so please leave a comment with your name and where you are in this small world of ours. Those that love and admire Jane thank you very much.
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