Fall 2009: Jake and Nancy learned that Nancy's breast cancer was stage four. Winter 2013: They are still fighting. This is a gathering place to follow their story, offer support, love and prayers... to be by their side.



Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Surgery one week out

Hey everyone, Nancy here, feeling well enough to post a quick update to the blog.  THANK YOU to all of you, our dear family and friends for helping us through.  We honestly can't begin to express how grateful we are for the food, flowers, cards, gifts, visits, calls, emails, prayers and well wishes.  We feel completely supported and love you all so much.

I'm up and about, feeling well, and have very little pain.  The bruising is fading along with much of the swelling, the human body has an unbelievable ability to heal.  I'll post more soon, just wanted to let you know all is well.  Love to all.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Letter from Jake: Day 3

Nancy's progress has continued. It seems that every time I go into her room, she is either gone (she was transferred to an intermediate care unit yesterday afternoon) or there are less tubes and wires attached to her. She has been awake and talking all day. I think she wanted to sleep, but I wanted to talk. She had her MRI this afternoon (good results). Her doctor just visited with some great news, she'll be discharged tomorrow morning! Nancy is ready to rest and recover in the comfort of her bed with her bulldogs and some home cooking (pita pizzas, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches). Oh, and Operation Lemon Cake was a huge success! It made her birthday celebration complete. Thanks again to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and kind notes. Your support was pretty incredible and she was deeply touched. Have a great weekend! Jake

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Post surgery Day 1

Jake reports that Nancy is doing great today. Her pain is subsiding a bit, and she is recovering well from the procedure. Tomorrow her surgeon will use the cyber knife as a follow-up to the surgery, and she'll have an MRI. Rumors abound that Jake is covertly trying to smuggle in a lemon cupcake... things are looking good!Thanks for continued support, love and prayers!

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

July 24th

celebrating Nancy
Many of us woke up this morning with a heavy heart, feeling a little anxious, and scared. I know I did, and my phone's been going crazy as friends and family fire off thoughts and prayers, and little notes of encouragement to pass along to Jake and Nancy.

I know a lot of you are coming to this Blog for updates and information. I'm going to try to keep as current as possible with information.

Here's what I know now: Sweet friends of Jake and Nancy arranged a downtown flat for them to stay last night because Nancy was at Swedish yesterday afternoon for a baseline MRI and attachment of reference points to her head. They'll be used to guide the probe to the tumor today. The surgery will happen sometime this afternoon.

Today is Nancy's birthday. Don't worry!! She got her cake and was totally celebrated and loved on.
Monday night was a surprise meal at Canlis, and the weekend was an outpouring from friends. We are all by your side, Nancy and Jake...

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

The next mountain to climb

Nearly three years ago, Nancy loaded her pack and set out with Team Survivor to conquer Mount Adams. She endured harsh conditions, pushed herself mentally, physically and emotionally to the summit. She did it, and we all followed, encouraged, and celebrated with her, as she overcame this huge and really, really hard challenge.

As most of you know if you've been following this Blog, the past few weeks have been eventful, and Nancy's headaches have been quite bad. A brain scan last week indicated that a lesion has grown to the point that it needs to be removed. So a week from today, on Nancy's birthday, July 24th, she will undergo brain surgery to remove this tumor and then remain in the ICU for 3-4 days following the surgery.

 It's difficult to know how to support and love Jake and Nancy in the scary days and weeks ahead. We will be setting up a meal calendar upon her return from the hospital. If you would like to provide your support in this way, please email me at jacksonfamilytn@comcast.net so you can be included in the meal-scheduling email. In all likelihood, we will be working through a caterer to minimize traffic in their house while Nancy recovers.

 Thank you for your continued support for Jake and Nancy. This is one of those hard times in Nancy's cancer fight, so right now is when our thoughts and prayers mean a lot-- right now 'by Nancy's side'.