Young boy stricken with cancer

ZILLAH - Every parent's dream for their child is a healthy life...the worst nightmare is a deadly illness.
Amy (Harris) and Jason Root are living that nightmare. She is a nurse for Toppenish Community Hospital, and he is a nuclear medical technician at Sunnyside Community Hospital.
The family's nightmare began when her son, Chase Morris, now 7-years-old, was first diagnosed with Osteogenic Sarcoma at the age of three.
A tumor was found on the right arm of Chase. His parents took him to Children's Hospital and the hospital removed his right humorous to extract the cancerous tumor. He endured a year of chemotherapy following the procedure.
Osteogenic Sarcoma, often known as Osteosarcoma, is the most frequent type of bone tumor commonly afflicting young people ages 15 to 25. It forms on the growing ends of the bones.
Amy said Chase seemed to be healthy after the chemotherapy, however they returned for a follow-up visit to Children's only to discover he had developed a new tumor in his right lung six months later.
"They removed a section of the lung with the tumor," she stated.
Again, the belief was that Chase would recover.
Another follow-up visit occurred eight months after the surgery. Another tumor was discovered. The tumor was discovered in Chase's left lung, according to Amy.
She said her young son was subjected to another surgery as a result of the discovery. "He had three more months of chemo," she added.
After a couple of years without any new tumors having been discovered, the family was breathing a sigh of relief.
This past summer, that relief was again met with a grim reality. "In July, we went for another check-up and another tumor was found," said Amy.
She said the tumor, located on the rib, was decidedly treated with experimental medications. "Chase spent a month at Children's and another month at home with the medication," Amy explained.
Over the course of time, Amy noted the tumor was not getting smaller. "I could feel it with my hand," she said.
Yet another surgery, this time to remove the rib affected, was scheduled. "He has had so many surgeries," said Amy.
She took Chase to Children's three and a half weeks ago to talk about the scheduled surgery.
"The tumor had grown to twice its size and three more tumors were found in his left lung," Amy cried.
The three tumors in Chase's lung are located near his airway, spine and blood vessels.
"Children's told me they felt surgery was no longer an option...We were told to get in touch with hospice," Amy said.
The current diagnosis is called Metastatic Osteosarcoma.
The family has found a cancer center in Los Angeles, Calif. that is willing to treat Chase. "They have helped a lot of people in similar circumstances," Amy said.
She said Chase has had a positive outlook through all he has had to endure. "There are days where he is tired or doesn't feel well because of the chemotherapy and medicine, but the center in California has given us hope," said Amy.
The other challenge of Chase's current condition is the amount of pain he experiences from the tumor in his rib. "Some times Motrin doesn't help and I have to give him Oxycodone," Amy explained.
She said he was in school for a short period of time, however the chemotherapy made him too tired, and the curiosity of his condition was distracting.
"Chase is doing really good," Amy assured.
Sunnyside Community Hospital's Malissa Garcia, who is helping with efforts to hold a fundraising yard sale to assist Chase in receiving treatment in California, said his diagnosis is terminal and the treatment he will be seeking is experimental, meaning insurance may not cover it.
"We don't care about the money as long as we can keep Chase," Amy said.
The hospital employees, however, want to help the family with the yard sale since the cost of treatment will be in excess of $600,000 and it will cost another $800 for the apartment Amy will be living in while Chase receives treatment.
"We're not ready for Hospice," said Amy.
The family will leave tomorrow (Thursday) to Los Angeles for Chase's treatment. "I have hope," Amy said.
The hospital's yard sale is to be held Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of South 11th Street and East Edison Avenue.
Garcia can be contacted for more information or donations at 837-1760 or 509-832-0641.

Working on Noah's Ark

My youngest attends a very wonderful preschool, and each year the preschool has a fabulous float in a parade held in Sunnyside during Sunshine Days. This year's float was Noah's Ark. Here are a few pics of the float before its completion. I will try to get photos I took of the completed project added soon.

The Me I didn't know I was

Christina Berry, a friend of mine, posted her profile on her blog and I was curious...Hmmmm!



ESFJ - The "Supporter" Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Free Test)

ESFJs are social butterflies that value relationships, supporting and nurturing others. Never one to shy away from social events, they are often the host. They are great encouragers of teamwork. ESFJs are responsible, dutiful, observe traditions and follow rules. ESFJs have a deep concern for others and often end up as caretakers. They are sensitive to criticism and have a need to be appreciated for the good they do for others. ESFJs are understanding, generous, have a quick wit and a knack for composition and beautification.

Preferences

Extraverted
Sensing
Feeling
Judging

Temperament
SJ (Protector)

ESFJ Population
Total: 10%
Male: 6%
Female: 14%

Primary Function
Extraverted Feeling

Secondary Function
Introverted Sensing

Tertiary Function
Extraverted Intuition

Least Function
Introverted Thinking


About the ESFJ Expert Quotes & Links

"Guardians of birthdays, holidays and celebrations, ESFJs are entertainers. They enjoy and joyfully observe traditions and are liberal in giving, especially where custom prescribes."
- ESFJ Profile (TypeLogic)

"ESFJs are people persons - they love people. They are warmly interested in others. They use their Sensing and Judging characteristics to gather specific, detailed information about others, and turn this information into supportive judgments. They want to like people, and have a special skill at bringing out the best in others. They are extremely good at reading others, and understanding their point of view. The ESFJ's strong desire to be liked and for everything to be pleasant makes them highly supportive of others."
- Portrait of an ESFJ (The Personality Page)

"...values relationships and families over intellectual pursuits, group oriented, follows the rules..."
- Jung Type Descriptions (ESFJ) (similarminds.com) "...take it upon themselves to arrange for the health and welfare of those in their care, but they are also the most sociable of all the SJs, and thus are the great nurturers of established institutions such as schools, businesses, churches, social clubs, and civic groups."
- The Portrait of the Provider Guardian (Keirsey)

"At work, ESFJs contribute their ability to cooperate with others and to complete tasks in a timely and accurate way. They respect rules and authority, and handle daily operations efficiently. They tend to be well informed and up-to-date on organizational actions that matter to people. They do what they can to make sure that personal relationships are running smoothly. Because they pay close attention to people's needs and wants, they are often involved in work activities that meet people's practical, day-to-day desires."
- ESFJ - The Helper (Lifexplore)





Famous ESFJs

Real ESFJ People

Danny Glover - actor
Desi Arnaz - actor, comedian, musician
Dixie Carter - actress
Don Knotts - comedian
Elvis Stojko - Canadian figure skater
Jack Benny - comedian, actor
John Connally - politician
Mary Tyler Moore - actress, comedian
Nancy Kerrigan - Olympic figure skater
Sally Field - actress
Sally Struthers - actress
Steve Spurrier - football player
Terry Bradshaw - football player
William McKinley - American President


Fictional ESFJs (Characters)

Donald Duck - Disney cartoon character
George Babbitt - Babbit (Sinclair Lewis)
Hoss Cartwright - Bonanza
Leonard "Bones" McCoy - Star Trek
Monica Gellar - Friends
Nurse Haleh Adams - ER
Rabbit - Winnie the Pooh





ESFJ Career Matches

ESFJs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Supporter/Protector personality.

Accountant
Administrative Assistant
Administrator
Bookkeeper
Child Care
Church Worker
Counselor
Dental Assistant
Family Doctor
Homemaker
Human Resources
Marketer
Nurse
Office Manager
Organization Leader
Radiological Technologist
Receptionist
Researcher
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Teacher
Trainer

What kind of vacation is this?

by Jennie McGhan
Each year I have a tendency to try and schedule my vacation at the wrong time.
There have been years where I have tried to schedule early and someone else on staff has already picked the same dates as I have chosen.
Other years, I found myself busy and didn't want to overburden my fellow employees with a special section or some pending deadline so I held off as long as I could possibly see fit. My mistake. By doing so, I landed myself into an impossible situation.
Another co-worker had a baby that year and her delivery coincided with the dates I had chosen for vacation. Fortunately, the "powers that be" saw my misfortune and granted me an extension that year.
There have been other years such as this year that have given me much desire to have a "re-do." I ended up ill during my vacation. Ugh!
This has happened a couple of times to me, and it stinks. What kind of vacation could I possibly have if I am not feeling well? That is why we have "sick days."
Though I had nothing special planned, I would have liked to have felt well enough to get out of bed. Instead, I lingered as long as possible each day that I was nauseous, trying to consume fluids and act as though I am half-human.
I felt fine the first couple of days I was on vacation and spent some much-needed time with my husband. I delivered two of my offspring to their respective classrooms on the first day of school and was asked to give a presentation to fifth graders on the fourth day.
I didn't get that housework I needed done. I did accomplish some reading and tended to a couple of other neglected tasks.
But, by Friday, I couldn't fake my way through the "yucky feeling" I had in my tummy. I wanted some TLC and no one could provide it.
The kids were at school most of the day, one was at his daycare after he insisted he would miss his friends if he didn't go and my dear husband was trying to catch some sleep since my daytime is his nighttime.
So, do I really want to take vacations? Yes. Unfortunately, I dread the thought that misfortune may strike again?after all, I have five more days to consider before January.

Nice Matters...Really?

I've just been given the "Nice Matters Award" by my friend Christine H.

"This award is for those bloggers who are nice people as well as good friends, provide inspiration to others and are a positive influence on the blogging world. Once you’ve been awarded please pass it on to seven others whom you feel are deserving.”

I appreciate all the wonderful things Christine has said about me and I hope to honor that by continuing in my efforts to be uplifting. I don't always have much time to post on my blog. However, I intend to spend more time and devotion on my "me time," which includes my blog in the near future. God has not always said "yes" to my plans and that is why I say "I intend." I just hope that those who do visit my blogs are touched by my words in some way and God is glorified in everything that I do. May God Bless each person who has been so kind to me since my journey began. :)

I would like to pass this along to my friend Christina at Christina Berry: Posting with Purpose. http://authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com/.

She has been very kind and sincere with me, offering me a little laughter amidst some tiresome days. Thank you, Christina, "Nice Matters."

Welcome one another

I have attended many churches in my life. I don’t claim any particular doctrine, however I can say I have noticed differences in the various churches I have attended.
I strongly believe the Bible was inspired by God. I believe what is in the Bible is truth.
I don’t often tell anyone what they should believe. The Bible clearly instructs us to live our lives as an example. I don’t need to shove my beliefs in someone’s face to demonstrate my faith.
I have attended a couple of churches in the Lower Valley since I moved here nine-and-a-half years ago. It amazes me the difference in attitude more than doctrine.
The first church is a very popular church among community members. I am not entirely certain why since I not one time felt welcome at that church.
This struck me as odd. We are supposed to love one another and my experiences the many times I attended the church did not give me a feeling of love. I felt scorned or ignored each time I attended the church services.
I encountered people I knew in the community and attempted to say hello to them. Often times I received a wane hello in return and they moved on. Other times, the attitudes struck me as though certain individuals questioned my even being in their church.
It is not so much as what is said, but the body language and tone of said individuals was nothing I would consider friendly.
I am a straightforward, overt person. I approach others with a smile and eagerness that doesn’t always appeal to one’s sense of decorum, given certain circumstances. But, in church, I would believed the warm, friendly approach would be welcome.
The experiences at that particular church led me to wonder if people attend it because it is the popular place to be. So, I sought another church.
It was more by accident that I began attending the second church than merely deciding one Sunday to attend a specific service.
My first experience was when my oldest child was my only child. We went to an event hosted for children. The "family" of that church welcomed me, approached me to announce their pleasure at my attendance and invited me to stay longer for additional activities to follow the event.
They embraced me.
After that experience, I attended a few other events hosted by the second church, all the while attempting to give the first church time to grow on me.
The first church never did grow on me and I often wonder if anyone at that particular church even remembers I once entered their "sanctuary."
The second church has since become my "church family." I may still be a face many are gradually becoming familiar with, however the warmth and grace is there nonetheless.
The reason I write this is not to state that any church is good or bad, but merely to emphasize the fact that we all need to feel loved and welcome.
This community is a loving and welcoming community. There is a lot of warmth in the people of the Lower Valley.
In our daily lives, I believe there are people whom we encounter that feel as I had when I attended the first church.
I believe it is up to us to break that particular image when we are going about our daily routines and embrace the individuals we encounter as the second church embraced me.
We can all make a difference in how the community is perceived by just being warm and friendly.

Hope prevails in ‘A New Promise’

by Jennie McGhan
A new book written by a new author from Federal Way, A New Promise, delivers on its title.
Julie Eller’s first book focuses on a family in crisis. Set in the Wenatchee area, the Parnell family is suffering through the loss, but not the death, of the mother and wife of the family.
Rachel Parnell is suffering in the late stages of Huntington’s Disease. She is confined to a nursing home and is on life support because her husband has not yet come to terms with her wishes left with him four years ago. The Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order and her request to "…Let me go, Scott," have haunted him throughout the years.
Meanwhile, the couple’s children are suffering. Tyler is in a state of anger and rebellion against his father and life. He is afraid that his mother may have passed on the gene for Huntington’s Disease to his little sister, Tawnya, and himself.
Tawnya is growing up under her father’s nose and he hasn’t realized she is in desperate need of dental work and some of the care that accompanies puberty.
The family is falling apart and Rachel’s sister, Celeste, decides it is time to help her brother-in-law and the family to cope with their needs. She is a successful accountant in Seattle, who finds she loves her brother-in-law as more than a friend through her interaction with the family.
The fact that Rachel is still alive becomes an issue and a struggle for Scott and Celeste because neither of them wishes to dishonor the marriage, however Scott is faced with financial burdens and the time has come to finally honor Rachel’s wishes.
Scott struggles with the need to inform his mother-in-law and children regarding the DNR and his desire to hold on to Rachel, while facing his increasing feelings toward Celeste.
The family has a lot of obstacles to overcome, however there is A New Promise that will be granted.
This book is a journey of heartache and hope. It addresses the needs of those struggling with questions in the midst of a loved one’s illness and the very real helplessness those left behind can feel.
I strongly recommend the purchase of this book, published by Tate Publishing and available by pre-order through Barnes and Noble. A New Promise is set for release Sept. 11.