Health Issue

 I found a bump in my calf a while ago.  Went to the doctor he thought it was a Nerve Sheath Tumor, not a big deal in the medical community.
Had an ultrasound done on it, radiologist said there was nothing there that made him think cancer.
Went on Monday for a biopsy to be sure.
Wednesday night at 8:30 Dr. calls and says not a Nerve Sheath Tumor but instead a cancerous Sarcoma.
I was driving, it was stormy, didn’t ask questions I should have.
Got home had to tell Kristin, call our parents and siblings.  Really rough night.
Thursday Dr. calls me back tells me he has an expert for me to see on Monday.
I ask the questions I should have on Wednesday.  They don’t put tumors in “stages” like cancer, they grade them.  Mine is the most aggressive kind (Bad) but super-small (Very good) so he’d rate it in the middle.
I asked about long-term prognosis.  He said it’s so small they should be able to go in and remove it all in surgery.  I may need radiation to make sure it’s all gone.
Bottom line according to him, I’ll be fine.
I googled his expert and it’s the Chairman of the Orthopaedic Surgery Department for Northwestern’s Medical School.  We saw him this morning and he believes the tumor is self-contained.  If it is, I will have surgery to remove the tumor which will also include a skin graft.  I will be having a chest x-ray on Thursday to make sure the cancer has not spread.  I will also have an MRI so that the doctor has all the information he needs pre-surgery.

Please be in prayer that the cancer is contained within the tumor and that when removed all the cancer will be gone requiring no further treatment.
 
Right now Kristin and I are feeling confident but mostly our confidence is in our God, that He will see us through this.

Shalom!

Just wanted to inform everyone that I made it to Israel safely and am having an absolute blast! My study schedule is very intense as we are studying for 4 hours every morning in the classroom and then every afternoon we are out learning via walking the land doing field studies from 1-5:30.  Every night my friends and I are going out and touring the Old City of Jerusalem, making friends with the locals, and enjoying the Festival of Lights. I have also been watching the World Cup with about 50-75 Israelis most nights in the Old City.  We are 8 hours ahead here, so the games take place really late at night, which is kind of fun. Anyway, I'm not much of a blogger (this is my first ever post) but I will end by simply saying I love it here in Jerusalem! I'll try to keep you all updated on some of the trip.

  Dome of the Rock with the Mount of Olives in the background. This pic was taken from one of my favorite restaurants-Panoramic Golden City. (It's a balcony on the 4th floor of a building in the Old City. My new Muslim friend Ibrahim and his family owns it.)

View from the balcony right outside my room. Hinnom Valley directly below. Pretty awesome. 

Shipshewana

To all of the VanDrunen ladies and girls-
Wednesday, July 16th anyone who wants to go to Shipshewana is welcome to come! There will be lots of shopping, bargains, and Amish. Let us know so we can carpool!

GOLF LUNCH - SUBS

Dear Golfers,

Keith & Cher are bringing subs and drinks to the golf course for our lunch before we tee-off.  We will serve them from the back of Keith & Elmer's vehicles.

Golf Teams!

Team 1: Kristin DeVries, Nick DeVries, Taylor Richards, Wes Raley
Team 2: Eric Van Drunen, Karyl Van Dyke, Kim Vanderzee, Scott Zandstra
Team 3: Cher Van Drunen, Mike Vanderzee, Sam Staal, Rudi Gesch
Team 4: Amy Schutte, Conor Van Dyke, Kelly Richards, Kyle DeVries
Team 5: Georgian, Kathy Gesch, Keith Van Drunen, Mark Vanderzee
Team 6: Brian Gesch, Emily Zandstra, Jason DeVries, Scott Vanderzee
Team 7: Cole Van Dyke, Dyke, Jim Richards, Nicole Richards
Team 8: Caleb Richards, Craig VanDyke, Elmer, Karen DeVries

Van Drunen Open Teams

Follow #YousKids on Twitter tonight and tomorrow for commentary by Mark and me on the teams before they are released. Teams will be released at 8:00PM CST tomorrow! I can feel the excitement brewing already.