Hello to all! We, my mom “Gigi”, my aunt, Barb, and myself are writing from sunny Marina del Rey in California. Please be patient with me while I get going on my new Blog. This is by far all new to me and I don’t have my computor savy girls, Britt and Ash, to help me get going. I do have Mike Harper in Kansas City helping me get started, “thank you Mike!”
We arrived last we and immediately had doctors appt.’s to get started. I am seeing a Sarcoma specialist who has a clinical trial I am very interested in. My very dear friend, Liz McKay, found Dr.Chawla on-line last month and spent countless hours researching him for me. Everyone needs a friend like Liz when going through an illness like this. She researched him and got everything here set up for me and even came out on my initial visit a few weeks ago. She has four children of her own and I owe her so much for getting me here, where I need to be!
I though I would be able to start treatment last week but my plateletts are too low to start. Everyone keeps asking “what” exactly to pray for. PLEASE right now pray for my plateletts to climb to 100,000! They are at 62,000. In the mean time all I can do is shop and for anyone that knows me knows I am a pro at this. I could be on my last leg but you could probably still find me at Nordstrom’s!
The girls and Jack are at home with my very dear mother-in-law. “Mimi” has stoped her life in Sedalia and brought her husband, Bill, to stay with the kids so they can be in their own home and continue on with their summer. My dad who so many of you know is also 4 houses down and takes care of his grandchildren like they are his own. I don’t know any other “Grandpa” that is so good to his daughter and her kids. My kids and I are truly blessed to have him be such a big part of our lives! He is such a good role model to all men!!!! If you see “Joe” at church say “Hi”. He truly loves meeting new people!!
We are staying at a place called Oakwood apartments. The address is 4111 Via Marina Marina del Rey, California 90292. It is truly a wonderful happy place to be. It has lifted my spirits tremendously. Last night we had a welcome to summer bar-b-que party by the pool! We decided we feel like we are back in our 20′s, 3 girls on their own for the first time!
So many of you have made this possible for us to stay here with your generous donations. I am so blessed!! Please know how grateful I am to have so many of you care about me and my family. Bo Govea really pushed me to get my Blog going. He said it is so nice to have out there what you specifically need people to pray for. He is right. I feel so much better that this is out there and can inform you all what is going on because so many of you have helped me for over a year with out asking too many questions. I hope to post any new information as it comes. My next doctors appt. is next Tuesday to check my platletts. If they are up I will start treatment! PLEASE PRAY for PLATLETTS!
Thanks for taking the time to read about what’s going on with me! I am blessed to be in such a caring community!! Bye for now the laundry is calling, some things never change!!
Andrea, I am so glad you did this! Now I have two blogs to keep up on, but I am telling you the outpouring of love and prayers you will feel will be tremendous. Hopefully we can all lift you up from KC! God bless all the doctors and nurses that will watch over you while you are there. Bless your children and all those caring for them.
We love you tons and pray for you daily. I will say a rosary for you on my trip this weekend for high platlets! Please know that your strength, perseverance, and fighting attitude are in inspiration to all!
Andrea,
Somehow my response ended up under ways to help, look for it there!
Liz
Hi Andrea: I really enjoyed your blog and I think it is a terrific idea….you did a really good job on your first post and I am really looking forward to more!
Your friends are amazing (especially Liz) it just goes to show you how much you are loved and how much you are in our thoughts every day. I love you very much.
Take care of your Mom and Barbara…like me…sometimes they need it! I miss you guys and can’t wait until you and all your babies come to the lake. Later…Uncle Mike !
I am so glad you have set up this site. It makes you a little vulnerable to put your story out there, but the increased number of prayers and support will sustain you and your family.
You and your family are so strong! That is why I call you the
“Hu-strong” family! Most families would have folded after what you have been through, but the strength of your family is not a story of pity or sorrow, but a story of courage and love.
I am a big fan Andrea!
There are going to be thousands of people praying the Family Rosary today at Kauffman stadium. I know thousands of those prayers will be for you and your family.
Hu-strong? You are strong!!! And our God is strong enough and big enough to bring home a miracle. That is exactly what we will be praying for. More platelettes
All our love in KC and Salt Lake!
The Goveas
Andrea, thanks for helping me get on your on blog. This is a great way for all of us, and I know it will be for you and Darlene. We all miss you and send powerful energy and prayers to all the Husongs. Love you, D
Andrea:
I just was spending some time on the Govea website today and noticed a change in people to pray for. I am now finding myself here. We are relatives of Bo and Stacy and find their blog to be a wonderful site for prayer and encouragement. Everyone needs someone to admire too. Just look at Bo and Stacy they are what I would consider famous in Kansas. They have had over 50,000 hits. You are about to become just as admired and famous too! Your story will touch many and the word will pass quickly- there will be so many people praying for you, it will amaze you. We will add you and your family to our prayers each day. Our family is all too familiar with Cancer and believe that prayer is the best cure for it. May God give you the strength that you need to fight this!
Praying for Platelettes!
Lauren Brady
Dear Andrea:
Carl and I are freinds here in Kimberling City of your Aunt Barb and Uncle Mike. She has kept us up to date on your health and you have been in our prayers for sometime. It is our prayer that God will give you the strength to get through all this and that God will give the doctors the knowledge to make you well again. From the comments I have read you are a very blessed young lady. Don’t let your Aunt Barb get lost out there in CA.
When you get down this way we will have a chance to meet.
Love and God Bless you and yours
Carl and Sandi
Hi Andrea,
I was so thrilled to find your blog. The English’s have been praying for the “Hu-strongs” for many months and now we will be able to track your progress. We will definetely be praying for more platelets! As you know, that is a familiar prayer in our house! Don’t worry about sweet Ashley for the summer… She is always welcome and easily becomes a part of our chaos! Please let your in-laws know we are just around the corner and will help in any way.
Stay Strong!
Love and Prayers!
Lisa
Hi Guys,
Your blog is amazing, you all are really good at this.
Today we’re staying home, I just made potato salad for tomorrow. Lynne, Jack & Barb will be here for dinner.
Right now, Bob is on the treadmill, & has the Indy on, so I’ll be deaf before I leave the downstairs!!
I want to hear all about the shopping, I know it’s great there.
We ARE praying for Platlets!! They WILL go up!!!
Sounds like you’re in a really good place, that’s nice.
I’m sure the weather has improved.
Stay as strong as you all are, Barb, Darlene, & Andrea.
All of our love, & prayers,
Sally & Bob
Hi Andrea,
I’m a neophite at this – I too, posted my good wishes under ways to help – hopefully, I’ll get this right! Looking forward to your updeates and trust that you are doing well. Stay strong and take care – we miss you!
Hi Andrea: Wish you the best on your blood test tomorrow…think “up” ..let me know how it goes. Hi Babe and Darlene too…I miss you all. Love…Mike !
Hi A,
My reply also went under ways too help. Look for it there.
Cyn
Hi Andrea..Sooo good to hear from you..These blogs are great!!! It makes it seem like you and your Mom are not so far away!!! It’s Monday morning and pouring rain!!!! I asked some friends to pray for you especially on Tues..So those platelets can be @ 100,000!!!!!! I’m praying hard for you ,Andrea and your children too!!! Darlene, you too are in my prayers dear friend. ” Keep your chin up” as my mother would say and know that there are soooo many prayers..Love and prayers,
Betty
Andrea,
It is 10pm, read your latest post….. You are in my prayers as always tonight. Keep the faith that the magic number will be there. Love to you!
Liz
Hi Andrea,
We’re all thinking of you today and are hopeful that all will go well at your appointment tomorrow. We’ve all become “prayer warriors” in your behalf and want you to know you are in our hearts and thoughts.
We had a nice holiday weekend and topped it off w/all the McKay’s, Wiskur’s (Kathy) & all the kids, and also celebrated our Tommy’s B-day w/a BBQ here. As always, there is much laughter when Liz/Tom are w/us. Yesterday was Family Rosary day @ Kaufman stadium and you were remembered in our prayers. Last evening, we all enjoyed the Philharmonic’s annual Memorial Day concert, complete w/fireworks.
We look forward to your news and please let your Mom know that she too remains in our thoughts and prayers. Take care…..
Peggy
Just getting ready to call it a night back here in MO. Prayers are going up for all the numbers to be there tomorrow.
Hope you all found something fun to do today. Carl is on the sickly list so we hung around home Sunday and today. Didn’t even go to church on Sunday.
I think you have the message that everyone will be checking this sight to get the answer to all the prayers.
Everyone have a good night.
God bless
Sandi
Hi Guys,
Sure hope you all “hit” the BIG Drive today. The shopping there is great, or at least it was many years ago when I was last there. The platelets are just going to love it, & get really big for today!!
Love,
Sally
Andrea, We are counting on those platelets to go UP UP UP!!!! Know you’re in our prayers. And mom and Auntie (aren’t aunts the greatest!) and the kids. Jean Hinman
Andrea,
Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you and pray for you and your beautiful kids. You have an unbelievable prayer chain and no one deserves it more than you. You are a very strong girlfriend and I know that’s what you need to be! I love it that we can talk to you and check on you! Thanks for creating your blog! We love ya…. keep on shoppin!
Ann Moses
Dear Friend,
I am praying for you today and always. (so are my prayer warriors) My heart is with you too. Know I will help in anyway, just let me know if you or the kids need anything. You take care and know we are praying for you every hour in Kansas City and other cities around the US. Take care and keep your chin up and the platelets too.
I love you FRIEND,
Jackie Davis
Andrea,
You and your family continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. I hope your appointment went well today, and that your platlett level was good.
I am adding your blog to my blogpost, http://ourspiceoflife.blogspot.com/, in hopes that will increase the number of people praying for you!
Blessings,
Bridget Ley
Hey Girl,
I logged on to see how the day went and if you had an update. Looks like no news yet. I hope you didn’t get stuck on Rodeo Drive and miss your Doctors appt. HA! I’m Thinking about you and praying for you.
Love ya,
Cyn
P.S. Tell GIGI I watch John and Kate plus 8 too. It always make me feel better about just having 3!!! I love how Kate is always bossing John around. That makes me feel better too! Not that I boss Steve around ever.
Oh, how I wish I could be there just to give the 3 of you a hug. It is getting late here in MO. but, just wanted to check your blog one more time tonight to see if there is any news. We will send up extra prayers tonight. But, God never gives us more than we can handle. So, you and yours must be of good stock for Him to give you this much. Again just know that we are praying hard for you.
Love and God Bless
Sandi and Carl
Thank you Dear God!!! We are retiring early tonight. After finding out that Carl has asthma – I picked up a booklet at the doctors office and before I went to bed read all about dust, dust mites, mold and etc. In my dreams last night I scrubbed the entire house washed and rewashed our bedding. I was so tired from all that dreaming I didn’t get much done today. Enough on us.
Just so happy for this good news before bedtime. I can only wonder how some doctors can be so caring and yet some are so rude and don’t seem to be able to give you the hope you need. This man sounds like a real great person. Again, we will pray that he won’t hurt to much. Just think that a little hurt might go a long way in finding the answer to make you well.
Goodnight and God Bless you and yours.
Sandi
So glad that your Dr. is back. It is good to be in the “best hands” & have confindence that he is doing his utmost to help you. I remember about the bone biopsy, stings!!!!!
It will be ok soon, though, for you to be able to “sit”, as I remember. We’re praying for good results, & soon!!
Talked with Connie yesterday & she says that they are doing fine & the girls are great, & Jack, of course, is super.
So blessed to have them all.
I cut some Iris from the yard & brought them in Sun. There were 2 buds on the white one, this morning I went into the living room & there they were in flull bloom, perfect white blooms, they reminded me of you, so pretty & delicate, but blooming, inspite of being inside, out of their element.
As always, we’re praying for healing,
Love,
Sally
A,
Good morning! Sorry for not communicating very well this week. It’s been a crazy week and before I knew it it was over. Brandon graduated 5th grade on Wednesday. I can’t tell you how proud I am of him. There is nothing that’s more perfect in my life than being a father! I want you to know that I pray every day that God takes care of my friend in CA. As always I believe he holds you in his arms and is going to give us every miracle we ask for, big and small. I have faith that he will deliver my friend back to me healed. Every customer I talk to across this country, if the opportunity arises I ask them to pray for you. I want the world to know my amazing friend and how precious she is. As I was getting ready to come in to the office I just sat down in the floor of my bedroom and prayed. I think God knows everything I’ve had on my mind this week. Tell Gigi and your aunt hello. Even though this is a very cool idea, I don’t think blogs are meant to be books!!
The boys and I think about you every day! We miss you! Stay positive and strong!! Remember, “Faith as a grain of mustard seed”!!! Movin’ mountains!!! That’s what it’s all about!!
I love you!
B
Hi Andrea! This is my first time on your website. I am so pleased to be able to keep up with your progress so we can know exactly what to pray for during your treatment. Good job Bo on the Hu-strong nickname! Your courage, beauty and grace inspire me, Andrea! Ditto on Ashley…she is welcome here anytime!
Love,
Clare Geiger and family
Hi Andrea!
We love being able to read your blog. Our prayers are with you, as they have been during this whole ordeal. We are confident that your new treatment will be the one to beat this.
We are so glad that you have your mom and aunt there with you. And so glad that the treatments are so simple.
Looking forward to seeing more good pictures and hearing more good new.
Love,
Richard and Pat
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is more than I expected for when I found a link on Furl telling that the info is awesome. Thanks.