Jillian O'B. - Health Update

Life update #2: 

I have been overwhelmed with the amount of support, notes, gifts, diet cokes, licorice, and hugs 🙄, I have received over the last couple weeks. Thank you for your love and kindness, not just for me, but to the whole O’Brien/ Yardley family that has been and will continue to navigate this journey with me. Since you have all been so supportive and want to be kept in the loop, I will give “Life Updates” as I feel comfortable. So here’s Life Update #2 and some back story. 

I went in for my first routine mammogram (hello 40), on April 23rd. I was called back for another mammogram and an ultrasound on May 14th. While everyone was trying to reassure me that this is all protocol for first mammograms, I could tell the ultrasound that they were looking at wasn’t “normal.” Since then, I have had 3 biopsy’s, 2 MRIs, and a CT Scan. 

Which all have come to the conclusion that I have Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, Triple positive, Stage 2, with the possibility of Stage 3 cancer. Still waiting on some more tests to rule out stage 3. (Ladies, don’t put off your mammograms. I had zero symptoms!) 

We recently met with my Doctor Squad (nurse navigator, oncologist, radiologist, and surgeon) to go over treatment options. As of now, I will be starting chemo in 2 weeks, for 6 months. This will give us a chance to kill the cancer cells before surgery. Around Jan or Feb, I will have surgery. Waiting on some more tests results (genetic testing and PET Scan) to find out what kind of surgery will be recommended. Then radiology will be determined at a later date. 

Now that we know what my treatment will entail, I would love your continued support and prayers. For those who have gone through a similar situation, what are must haves that I need during chemo treatment? Making an Amazon list of all the things. 

Picture 1: the day after my ultrasound results came back and was recommended a biopsy. I went down a google rabbit hole on breast cancer ultrasounds and was pretty certain it would come back malignant

Picture 2: Mike tried cheering me up by getting me a cherry dilly bar

Picture 3-5: modeling the pink wardrobe I get to wear at all the appointments and procedures

Anna H. - Health

Thank you all who lifted the prayers on my behalf this week. This trip to the hospital was unexpected and a little unsettling. But we are back home and I am regaining my strength. Hopefully this treatment will help and I could continue to dream, to live, to work, to create and to praise my Jesus through all I do. I am grateful for every prayer warrior who stood by my side this week. Thank you #grateful #familyofgod #hewritesmystory #godisfaithful

Frankie - Health and Heealing

Frankie has been in the hospital for a few days. He went home under the medical teams care and was recently brought back to Kaiser. May God's Healing hands be upon him and heal him. May He feels the presence of God during this tough time. 

Steve M. - Sisters Health and Healing

Please keep my sister 

Janie in your prayers 

She is at kiaser Santa Clara 

Cespis 

105 fever 

Diabetic 

Namona 

Mike O'Brien- Wife's Health and Healing

#cancersucks

We’re still in the early stages of appointments, plans, and figuring out next steps, but we wanted to let our friends and family know and invite you all to pray with us as we navigate breast cancer.

The journey ahead is full of questions, but we continue to have faith and trust that God is still good.

Prayer, encouragement, humor, Diet Coke, and Red Vines are all appropriate ways to support Jillian on this sucky detour. ❤️

(ps. If you are wanting to send something, we’re still living in the rental after the flood/asbestos treatment in our “real” house 🫣. Shoot me a message for the address if you wanna.)

Toni H. - Cancer and Health

Now that it has been confirmed and it will be very obvious soon as the weight continues to drop off  of me - Most who are close to me already know - but to dispel any rumors or questions I will finally let you all know that I have been diagnosed with stage 3 Ovarian cancer that has spread to my pelvis and abdominal wall.  

I have had two surgeries already this week - one to find and confirm the diagnosis and the other to put a chemo port in.  

 I will be starting Chemo real soon.  There will be more surgery then more chemo after that in the hopes of putting me in remission.  

I believe in a God that is bigger than cancer, and I know He will see me through this.  And as the song says, “No matter my lot, You are still my God, it is well, it is well with my soul”

I am so thankful for all who have been praying for me, sent me cards, flowers ,texted , or called- your love and support truly is comforting and I covet your continued prayers as I face the fight of my life.

But I really have to say that my loving husband DeWayne Halstad has been my rock through all of this.  From His loving care, making sure I have everything, holding me when I cry, doing anything I need to keep me comfortable and even tucking me in bed at and praying over me before  I go to sleep has really been a blessing.  He truly assures me we are in this together- I am not facing this alone and I am so grateful for that.God really blessed me with a wonderful man to do life with and I am truly blessed!

Thankful for a loving son who cares and checks up on me.  For my sister and brother in law and all my family who are also supporting and encouraging me and lifting me in prayer.

I also have an ARMY(Salvation Army) of prayer warriors praying for me as well.  

Keep those prayers coming! The battle has just begun! 

But I trust in God and His will be done!

Believers in India

More than 180 Christian families in 32 villages in India’s Chhattisgarh state have been denied access to communal water sources, jobs, and key sources of income in what local Christian leaders say is an effort to pressure them into giving up their faith. Families in the Antagarh region say they have been blocked from using hand pumps, taps, ponds, and rivers, while others have also been shut out of government work programs and forest-based livelihoods.

Community leaders say the boycott is meant to force believers into “Ghar Wapsi” reconversion rituals. Civil rights groups have filed complaints, but the affected Christians were still facing severe hardship at the time of reporting.

This is not an isolated case. Christians in the same region were previously denied burial rights for deceased relatives, adding to fears of a wider pattern of pressure and discrimination against believers.

Photo: Shutterstock

#India #PersecutedChristians #ChristianNews #ReligiousFreedom #Chhattisgarh #PrayForIndia #FaithUnderFire #ChristianPersecution