Lauren and I again want to thank you for your prayers, encouragement and love along our journey!

I had my six month follow up appointment this week. They do a CT Scan, some blood work and then we spend some time with our doc. This was my second follow up appointment, and an important one because it’s the first where we have a side by side scan from my 3 month appointment to compare growth of anything unusual post surgery.

We are very happy to report that the scan was CLEAR and that the medical team believes there are NO SIGNS OF REMAINING CANCER! Hallelujah!

They are pushing my follow up scans out from every 3 months now to every 6 months :-)

I am having complications from the surgery in the form of an ugly umbilical hernia, which is a direct result of the surgery. Essentially the tissue that holds my abs muscles together is super stretched out and helping bring things from under my abs for a visit above my abs.

The good news here is that it is not painful (just weird looking) and they do not believe we need immediate action on repairs. I will meet with a new surgeon in the coming weeks and schedule for another surgery to repair the herniated part of my previous wound. It sounds like this too will be a challenging surgery and recovery. He told me to expect at least a couple nights in the hospital and another recovery window of rest.

Honestly, this new challenge only feels like a minor inconvenience compared to everything else we’ve been through this year. 

Thank you all for your friendship. Lauren and friends took all the notes you wrote me and pictures you sent and turned them into two books that she just presented to me today. Reading through them is still quite moving. Thank you all for taking the time in the ways you have to encourage us and our family through this whole journey.

God is good. And is good no matter the news we would have received. We are grateful for the gift of more time together and are doing our best to make the most of it.

Love you all!

Jon and Lauren