Giving Thanks...

This year has been a tough one for so many people. That's why this year especially, I am trying to count my blessings. I have a wonderful family, great friends, a warm place to call home, and good food to put on my table.

For me... especially over the last couple of months... it's been really easy to get wrapped up in the negative. Things at work are tough right now, I haven't been feeling the greatest (although, I must say that today my head has not bothered me AT ALL!!), and money.... well.... let's face it. Who couldn't use a little more of that?! I've tried to stay positive, but I have to admit that my attitude hasn't exactly been improving.

Then... with one simple e-mail... I am quickly reminded of just how lucky I am, and just how thankful I should be.

I received the following letter in my e-mail just a few days ago:

Dearest Friends & Loved Ones:

Our triplet daughter, Tonya, had no choice but to undergo another total jaw replacement surgery on March 2, 2009. This was Tonya’s 7^th jaw surgery. Dr. Day, a Maxial Facial Surgeon, one of five surgeons who performs this type of surgery in the world, attempted to pin and put a plate in her left jaw to hold it in place in June of 2008. That surgery failed. The only option was to replace her left jaw with the same titanium parts that he earlier surgically placed in her right jaw in 2006.

Tonya does have health insurance, but no pre-existing condition is covered. The costs have been astronomical and we are still paying for previous surgeries. I am going to do one more raffle. Our friend, Betty Lester, gave me a beautiful “Irish Chain” quilt top to do for the raffle. My little sister, Suzy, put cute borders on it and I quilted it. My friend, Charlene McCutcheon donated a framed quote surrounded by flowers she got in my garden to match the quilt. Also, I have an awesome piece of art done by our friend, Kim Trickey and a hand quilted baby quilt I made for the raffle. So there will be a 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place winner!

A brief history of Tonya's jaw:

Tonya wrecked on her bike and cut her chin open when she was 10 years old. The doctor stitched her chin up, but there was extensive damage done to the growth plates in her jaws - not detected at the time.

Eleven years later, she underwent her first jaw surgery on January 11, 2001, while she was serving a mission in Salt Lake City. The surgeon cut the condyle - the head of the jaw needed for the movement of the jaw – off her right jaw and that just made matters worse. At this time he went in on the left side also. August 16, 2001, while still on her mission, this same surgeon went in again on the right side.

In 2006, Dr. Day analyzed the surgeries done in 2001, not understanding what had been done to either jaw. He informed us that at this point, the only solution was total jaw replacement on her right side, which he performed on November 27, 2006. A follow up surgery was necessary on October 15, 2007, to relieve her locked jaw due to the extensive scar tissue.

Her 5th surgery was on April 3, 2008, an attempt to repair her degenerating left jaw. The 6th surgery on June 2, 2008, was a second attempt by Dr. Day to secure the condyle and disc in her left jaw with screws. Both these surgeries were unsuccessful because of the earlier extensive damage.

Tonya had one option left. She required total replacement of her left jaw in order to be able to talk and eat normally. Tonya is still blending all her food and drinks a lot of protein drinks with her fruits & veggies, but her healing this time around has been astounding. (Thanks to everyone’s fasting and prayers!)

The drawing will be held on December 21^st. If you are interested in this raffle, the tickets are 1 for $1.00 or 6 for $5.00. If you are the winner, you will be contacted right away. If I cannot hand deliver your prize, I will mail it to you immediately!

Please continue to keep Tonya in your thoughts and prayers and thanks!

Love,

Todd & Julie Bosen

P. O. Box 1087

Eagar, Arizona 85925

We all know Tonya, and we all know what a kind person she is. However, I don't think very many of us understand the pain Tonya has been in over the past few years. Honestly... I don't think we want to.

I wasn't asked to post this here, and I'm not trying to make anyone buy raffle tickets. I'm simply posting this to remind you to look around... And be thankful!

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE THANKSGIVING!!

Here we go again...

On Decenber 8th... I'll be going under the knife... Again.

Except it's not exactly a knife in the surgical blade sense... and I don't know as though I'll actually be going "under" much of anything.

In a little over a month, I'll be spending a long day at the James Cancer Hospital here in Columbus having Gamma Knife Radiosurgery. I'm not responding to my medications anymore, so this procedure is pretty much my last shot at killing whatever it is that's decided to call my brain "home" for the past few years.

Gamma Knife is basically a precise, high dose of radiation, delivered to abnormal brain tissue... With the hope of killing it. It's also a one shot deal, so I only have to go that one day... and there's not hospital stay... WOO HOO!!

I'm a little nervous because as with most medical procedures, there are some risks. This procedure could possibly damage my pituitary gland, resulting in the need for lifelong hormone replacement therapy (not too huge a deal... I could deal with that). However, because of where my tumor is located, it could also damage my optic nerve which could result in visual impairment (not too thrilled about that). My neurosurgeon says that Gamma Knife has about a 2 millimeter "safe zone". Meaning that only the tissue within 2mm of the radiation beam should receive the radiation. My tumor right now is about 4mm away from my optic nerve. It's a small window... but it's a window.

On the other hand, I am hopeful that this procedure will eliminate the need for me to depend on medication, as well as do away with the horrible headaches I have been living with, day in and day out, for the past few weeks. I consider myself a pretty tough broad... but I just can't handle this pain anymore. I'm just about at the end of my rope. I feel badly for Steve because I can't be a very fun person to live with right now. I'm always tired... I don't feel like doing anything... and lately I've become pretty damn grouchy. He and the girls continue to put up with me and for that I am extremely thankful. He truly is an amazing guy.

My neurosurgeon and radiation oncologist are very optimistic that this will do the trick, and say I have about a 70% chance of a "home run". That is... everything coming out the way we want it to. I'm putting my trust in them and taking the chance.

I'm praying for a home run.