A collegiate swimmer fought a battle with Synovial Sarcoma from 2004- 2006. In reading his experience with chemo, the doctors were amazed that his blood levels would rebound miraculously overnight. He was an exceptional athlete and this helped him tolerate chemotherapy much better than most. Jon Dephouse is in this camp. It looks like nadir hit Saturday evening...and it has been uphill since then.
For those of you unfamiliar with chemotherapy, there is a distinctive parabola of dropping to the bottom of the curve and rising again. The hard part is sinking into the curve unable to see the bottom. Sunday was better than saturday, but he waited with baited breath. Today Jon walked a mile to my office and drank a tea from the coffee shop. Yes--it may be a little soon to be walking about in public, but it was energizing to leave our bungalow. Jon shaved his head preemptively this morning...and looks more like an ironman than a "chemotherapy patient". He is resting in this paradigm. Again, we are so moved by the outpouring of love from our friends, family, and anonymous well-wishers...Your prayers, support, and community hands are the backbone of Jon's recovery. He reads every comment and every text--even if he can't respond... and extends a tear-filled "thank you".
"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it." Psalm 139:14
ReplyDelete"I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow....praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. AMEN!!!!! (sing at the top of your lungs...that's how I sing. hee hee)
I love you Jon and Sarah Lynn!!
oxoxoxoxo
Great image of the two baldies on the sofa. :)
ReplyDeleteAlleluia that the nadir has passed! Our prayers continue for your endurance, strength, peace and complete recovery.
Peace, love and germ-free hugs,
Suzannah and Chadd
Hey Dep, you look good!
ReplyDeleteWe'll start raising up some prayers in GR for you, Sarah, and the boys.
What an amazing day! It sounds like that tea and walk were well-deserved. Thanks for your updates, Sarah, and I'm praying for you guys every day!
ReplyDeleteLots of love,
Emily
Many prayers to you guys, John!! If anyone can beat this, I believe that you can!
ReplyDeleteCathi (Velzen) Powell
Hang in there, Team Dephouse. Holler if you need us.
ReplyDeleteYay!
ReplyDeleteNASA has a plane dubbed the "Vomit Comet:" they load it up with scientists and trainee astronauts, and fly it almost straight up.
Then they tip forward and fly the "parabolic curve" straight down.
In freefall, everything and everyone inside turns weightless. The regular flyers wait to see which of the newcomers will re-christen the plane in keeping with its name.
After a few minutes of giddy, floating freedom, they nose up, enduring several G's, and climb back up... only to repeat it all over and over and over.
So here's a salute to those minutes and days of freedom. To sun and tea and the earth crunching under your feet. May you be a veteran flyer before you know it.
Love and Light from the McLaughlins.
Jon you are a stud man! As I've read up on the blog, its brought me to tears. You have tremendous strength and that will help you with your VICTORY. But now more than ever you will be using the tremendous strength you have in your faith to destroy this cancer. You know our story, Shannon's story. Fight brother, you can beat this, fight until you have won this race!
ReplyDeleteI will be in prayer for you and your lovely family. It's been to long, so I look forward to seeing you again. Fight until you win, fight to give hope to others.
Thank you Sarah for the updates.
Jon this seems to be an awful lot of smokescreen for an obvious situation. You're bald, Jon. You have to face this. All the cancer talk is just a cover. We're aware of it. How dumb do you think we are? "Shaving his head." OMG. You're bald. It's okay. You can come back to us now. No one will mention it. We still love you even if you have no hair. As a friend of mine once said, "God only made a few perfect heads, the others he covered with hair." One day at a time, my friend. Everyone's praying for you and your clan. You'll beat this thing. Chemo, radiation, surgery. Perfect for a Tri-Athlete like you.
ReplyDeleteI saw this quote and thought it might be appropriate:
ReplyDelete“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!” - Dr. Seuss
You walked a mile post chemo, Jon. Most people in LA don't walk at all!!! You are a rock star.
YAY!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJon and Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWe are lifting you and your precious family up in prayer during this time. It's evident already that you are drawing strength and hope from the great Healer. We'll pray for continued strength to keep fighting!
Love and blessings,
Juraj and Stacy (Courtright) Zahatnansky
Hey Dep, You are a strong and driven man of God!!!! My family and I will keep you and your family lifted up in prayer as you go through this battle.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Nate and Nikki Koetje
Praying every single day and standing ready to help anytime. So proud of your one mile walk and cup of tea. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
ReplyDeleteMuch love,
Jennifer & Scott
So glad you are feeling better Jon! It's wonderful that you were able to get out of the house and move around a bit. You are our hero, we are so proud of you. Before you know it you will be doing your next ironman. Hope Jojo is feeling better, and that everyone is able to spend some quality time together right now. We love you Jon, Sarah, Caleb and Josiah!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Jason, Elizabeth and Ethan
What relief to get out of the house and move a bit after the low point a few days ago. Praying for daily increases in strength for Jon during the remaining days of this cycle, and for the presence of God in the midst of the storm.
ReplyDeleteI was so amazed and impressed to see Jon yesterday... looking more "like an ironman than a cancer patient" is right! I didn't realize he walked to the office... you've got this bull by the horns! You two are such pillars of strength and your approach to handling this situation is inspiring. I love you guys and pray for you always.
ReplyDeleteJordan
love you...want to come visit!
ReplyDeletexox Carla
Hmmm - walking and tea - sounds as though a few ccs of British medicine must be in that mixture. Let me know when the cravings for Marmite begin and I'll send some over. Hugs and prayers, Mxx and D
ReplyDeletePraying praying praying.
ReplyDeleteWe continue to pray for your family and we can gladly add some bickies to your tea. Blessings and strength.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the club of bald, once you go bald you may not want to go back, it's not just a hairstyle it's a lifestyle! Thinking of you Jon! Big hugs!
ReplyDeleteGreg
Love you guys! Thinking of you always!
ReplyDeleteAlli