| Author | Message | ||
     Jerry_haughton |
 From: the Ware Family Sent: Monday, September 25, 2006 5:40 AM Subject: Update on Matt Ware! September 24, 2006 Everyone, There is an old saying that 'stuff' just happens. If you are like most, you have had your fair share of 'stuff' lately. Well, sometimes really great 'stuff' happens too! As you know, we went to Detroit this past week and Matt had his follow-up MRI. An hour or so later they showed us the films and we could hardly believe our eyes... the big tumors were transparent and all but faded away!! Now that is some great stuff!! It means the radiation was very successful... beyond anyone's expectations. The next step in this battle is some very nasty chemotherapy (CPT 11 with Avastin) which will be administered here in Grand Rapids at a place we fondly refer to as 'chemoland'. Chemoland is a very comfortable, family room type setting with nice big recliners (for the patients), big windows looking out over the woods, and really nice people everywhere you turn. Oh, and it doesn't hurt that there are dozens of homemade cookies and such as well (ones waist-line is the last consideration when one begins chemo - ditto the Dads of those beginning chemo). I am not sure that there are many chemotherapy clinics around that are this non-clinical in appearance or bedside manner! Matt is doing so much better now, he is way ahead of the curve and way ahead of most in his situation. That is not to say that he doesn't have his challenges because he does. However, in the overall scheme of things, he is doing great. And, his future certainly looks better right now. It is almost safe to say that we definitely won this round. However we will have to wait a little longer to make that proclamation. We will have another MRI in 6 weeks, then I am sure we will declare total victory for this particular round with the beast. In the meantime, Matt's spirits are high and his outlook positive. He is talking about getting back to work, and putting more normalcies back into his life. That positive attitude is very important! He still has some issues to deal with like the loss of some of his eyesight (from the stroke nearly a year ago), as well as some short term memory challenges, but for the most part he is doing great! Attached is a recent photo of Matt taken on game day at Alma College where Matt's youngest brother Scotty attends school and plays football. The Alma College people are 'class' all the way (no pun intended). Every single experience we have had with the administration, faculty, staff, and coaches has been nothing less then wonderful. Head football Coach Jim Cole gave Matt the 'team ball' a week or so ago. Matt is so very proud of that. The ball was signed by the players (including Scotty of course). Coach Cole penned a very thoughtful inscription of encouragement to Matt. The ball is in Matt's house on permanent display! Several people in the administration at Alma (you know who you are J ) supported Team Matt Ware financially at the Relay For Life... and they had never met nor laid eyes on him. His story touched them and they opened their hearts being the loving compassionate people they are and felt led to make a contribution. So from all of these experiences, we think Alma is a great school and great fit for Scotty. We are thankful that they have embraced our entire family including Matt!! IF haven't done so in while, check out Matt's photo website. There are lots of new photos of the Kentwood Relay For life as well as recent photos of most of our new friends at Henry Ford Hospital; the radiation machine with Matt in it (very cool, if you like that sort of thing...); Matt and his college buddy Kevin attending Tiger games (they are a perfect 4 and 0 with Matt in attendance... hint, hint Mr. Leland); Matt having lunch with one of his mentors and world famous engineer, Professor Bell from Kettering University; the Alma College team ball presented to Matt; Alex Pryor and his buddies who motorcycled in from the West Coast just to say 'hi', and many more. When you go to the website linked below, you can click on the icons on the right hand side of the page, then click slideshow and sit back and relax. Or, you can just scroll through the photos and take in all of the fun and feel the joy! There is a provision to leave a note if you like on any given photo for Matt and others to enjoy. Very cool! Just go to Matt's photo page at... www.flickr.com/photos/team_matt_ware It is so very humbling to have so many praying for us! Prayer moves the hand of God. He hears and He answers. Sometimes we get the answer we hoped for, other times we do not. This journey will make an interesting book one day, in part, to chronicle how God continues to provide for us. When Matt needs money, it appears. When we need accommodations for hospital stays, they become available. When we get down and need something or someone to pick us up, someone does some unexpected act of kindness and our spirits are lifted! We know there are lots of people praying regularly for Matt and for us as a family. Thank you. Your prayers have once again been heard and answered. If we may be so bold, we ask that you would pray for us as parents... that we would be the best parents we can be, not only to Matt, but also to our other three boys that have been somewhat in Matt's shadow through all of this... Dan, Tim, and Scott. They are so supportive of their brother. They have been great with all the attention, time and energies we have all given to Matt's situation. However, they have individual lives and needs too. We work hard at being sensitive to that, and supportive of them. We strive to be there for them too, but sometimes that is not possible. Fortunately, they understand and are very gracious to their Mom and Dad. As always, thank you for your kind thoughts, prayers, as well as your emails and phone calls. Matt enjoys each and everyone! If you have any questions or just want to chat, drop us line or give us a call, we look forward to hearing from you! Have a great week, Mitch and family gr_wares@hotmail.com | ||
| Sleez |
awesome!! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
indeed!!! | ||
| Prior |
Definitely awesome. Thanks for posting Jerry, been a bit under the weather lately and have been studying up for finals... I'm sure Mitch will keep us updated with the ongoing good news! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
you're welcome, Alex! (sorry to hear not feeling so good - drink more Yuengling!) | ||
| Rr_eater |
Ferris, Any chance of making it to Al's BBQ on the 14/15/16thish to share these fine stories in person? Thought I would ask!! I will buy the first round at the MB!! Bruce | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Bruce, we're certainly doing some serious scheming about being there (and Joanne is "leaning" on us pretty hard to come, too. ) keep your fingers crossed -- ours are! FB&D | ||
| Tripper |
Good to see Mr Bueller out n about the countryside. I am SOOO jealous. Thanx for the Matt update. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
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| Usroute66 |
FB & D...I am only going up on Saturday afternoon for one night. Maybe you'all can come over for a rare-special-guest- appearance. Otherwise, someone might have to print out your movie poster and put it on the wall of the Brewery! LOL, ROF, LOL.  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
very funny. as it stands right now, we are considering the same plan as you, heading over on Saturday morning and staying just that night. and truth be told, no one wants to see me - everyone wants to see Denise. that's ok, i certainly understand. | ||
| Sleez |
you are so understanding!!! do you even need to come?!!!  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
no, really i don't, and i doubt anybody would even notice (or care). but, if i DO show up, RR_Eater has promised to buy the first round, and i'm pretty sure he meant for EVERYBODY! | ||
| Sleez |
all jokes aside......i miss you too!!! i still haven't heard back from the doc, but i'm trying to get him motivated as well!!! | ||
| Rr_eater |
Hey Ferris Remember I am just a lowly E6 in the Navy Brother!!!! But then you never know!! Bruce | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 on Monday, Labor Day, me, Gentleman Jim and Oldog bid Wade and Fort Jackson a fond farewall, and set off for Franklin, North Carolina and the official start of the BRATPAC II ride. on JB2's recommendation we made it a point to check out Bob's Place on the way north, located in the middle of nowhere, on 178 near the SC/NC border. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this place is as old, rustic and real as they come. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 when the party at Bob's Place requires food (or more room), the Road Kill Grill fires up. black tie not required. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this is the bandstand - cool! (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 Oldog went to pull up and chair and get out of the rain, but hesitated when he noticed the dollop of shicken chit left behind by one of the resident fowl mouths. he tipped the chair so the fertilizer would fall off, but the stuff stayed put. "I reckon that one's a mite fresh," opined one of the locals. indeed it was. Oldog opted for a different chair, and out came the cameras. chit happens. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 Real. Old. Bar. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 "Fear leads to anger...anger leads to stress...stress leads to doobies...doobies leads to Twinkies." ah, the circle of life. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 this was pretty cool, to see an old Lou Usher/Mystic Roadshow flyer tacked to the wall. why? you'll see. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 28, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Hey Ferris Remember I am just a lowly E6 in the Navy Brother!!!! But then you never know!! done! | ||
| Stingaroo |
Excellent, I'm so glad to hear the good news! Sorry I could not have made it for the ride up to see Matt, hopefully I get my back pay someday... Alex, let me know when you are visiting Matt agian, I WILL be there. Brian | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Brian, you were with us in spirit. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 we made it to Franklin by late afternoon (having coped with rain, Bob's Place, rain, drivers that wouldn't unclog the road in front of us, rain, cholesterolic drivers, rain, slow-poke drivers who wouldn't use a turn-out if their life depended on it, and more rain), and hooked up with JB2, Henrik and Reepicheep. as always, it was good to see old friends, and make new. i hadn't seen JB2 since our "Out of Words" ride a couple of years ago, hadn't seen Henrik in seven years (is this the infamous "itch"???), and altho i knew Reep from BADWEB, this was our first in-person encounter, and we hit it off immediately. after we unpacked and cleaned up, it was off to Mike and Sue Breedlove's new digs, just up the street, for a party in BRATPAC's honor. as you can see from the pix, bikes got star treatment. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 29, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
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| Jerry_haughton |
 view of the sunset from Mike and Sue's. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 29, 2006) | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
 Mikey's newest addition. it's ok, i guess, if you like white Harleys.  (Message edited by jerry_haughton on September 29, 2006) |
