Prayers appreciated...

It's been quite a while since I've updated everyone on Beau's condition. A lot has happened since the last post where I told everyone that his cancer had spread. Over the past few weeks, Beau's health has taken a turn for the worse. His lungs are covered with tumors and he's been fighting to breathe. From a purely medical standpoint, Beau should not even be here.

Last Monday, March 21st, Beau came home to Macon and saw the doctor who removed the original tumor from his lung two years ago. Scans were done and Dr. Brown told Beau that his cancer had progressed even more since he was scanned a month ago. From the look of Beau's lungs, Dr. Brown said it was possible that he only had days left. That same Monday night, a group of people from our church came out and prayed over Beau for healing and strength. Ever since then, Beau has gotten a little bit better and stayed pretty stable.

In my last post, I mentioned that we were trying to get Beau in with a particular doctor in New York. Initially, he turned Beau down based on his medical records and history because he did not believe he could help. With the help of some special friends, Beau was finally able to get an appointment with Dr. Gonzalez and was miraculously strong enough to make the trip up there on the March 29th. Beau, Jessica and I flew up to New York on the Newman's plane and with the help of Preston and Ted (the pilots) we were able to get Beau to and from his appointments. This was no easy task when you consider we were traveling with a wheelchair, about 10 small oxygen tanks, an oxygen machine and Beau who gets worn out pretty quickly right now. We could not have made it without Preston and Ted...thank God for them!

Dr. Gonzalez was impressed with Beau's determination and even more impressed with his test results. He said that a lot of Beau's numbers and levels were much better than many of his first-time patients. If Beau can stick to the program, Gonzalez believes that he can help him. This program consists of a strict organic diet and a pile of supplements and enzymes in pill form that Beau will have to take daily. There are also a lot of detox regimens that he will have to do. Please pray for Beau to have the strength to keep up with the program and for it to work like it's supposed to!!

Thanks so much to Ryan and Krissie Newman for making the trip possible...and thanks Preston and Ted for lugging us all over New York City. It couldn't have been done without y'all.

Dr. Gonzalez said that as Christians we can look at Beau's situation and know that whatever happens, this is only the beginning...and he's right. Thank you all for making this journey with Beau. You have no idea what all of your prayers, kind messages and visits have meant to Beau, Jessica and our family. Please continue to pray for Beau and Jessica as he begins Dr. Gonzalez's plan. I will update here when I have something new to report.

~Maggie

We're tired of speed bumps already...

Friends and Family,

Beau learned today that the "infection" in his shoulder was actually more cancer. I'm not sure exactly where it was or how much of it there was but Dr. Frankle was able to cut much of it out during Beau's surgery, which should help with the pain.

For the past few months, Beau has been undergoing alternative treatments for cancer up in NC and he is going to continue on that route. The fact of the matter is that chemo just doesn't work on Beau's type of cancer. It didn't work the first time and he hasn't been given any indication...even by M.D. Anderson... that it could do more than give him extra time...but not a cure. That being said, Beau is currently trying to get an appointment with a doctor in New York who is doing incredible things with cancer patients and alternative medicine. Jessica has spoken to a woman with synovial sarcoma who is under this doctor's care and was very encouraged by what she had to say about her response to the treatments.

For the time being, the doctors in Tampa recommended that Beau receive palliative care to manage the pain caused by the tumor and the surgery. He's being fitted with a pain pump and hopefully when the pain from the surgery wears off, he will be able to wean himself off of the pump. He should be getting out of the hospital today.

As most of you would expect, this setback hasn't seemed to slow Beau down! He will be staying in Florida through next weekend and going to some of the Speedweeks events in Daytona including the Daytona 500.

Please pray for strength for Beau as he faces this ordeal head-on...and pray for Jessica as she faces it with him.

Thank you Randy, Anne and Jason Tidwell for giving Beau and Jessica a place to stay in Daytona. Thank you David Prim for EVERYTHING you have done for Beau...there are no words. Thank you to our amazing friends and family for supporting Beau through this. He needs the prayers and support now more than ever.

~Maggie

2nd Surgery Updates

Beau went in for surgery in Tampa on Monday to fix what the doctor thought was a misalignment that was causing swelling and pain in his shoulder. When the doctor got in there, he discovered a good bit of infection. He cleaned it up as much as possible, replaced some parts and closed Beau back up to begin fighting the infection. Beau will be on some strong IV antibiotics for a while but they can be administered at home so he won't have to remain in the hospital for that. He's doing really well so far. He's been up and walking around every few hours and Buster says he's in good spirits.

Beau could get out of the hospital as early as tomorrow and he will be staying down in Florida for a couple of weeks. Thanks to Jason, Randy and Anne Tidwell, he's going to be able to stay in Daytona between doctors visits and get his antibiotics at their house without having to go in to the hospital. He will have to go to Tampa sometime next week to have his stitches removed and then again at the 6-week mark for a follow-up appointment.

I had mentioned in an earlier email that he would have to have surgery again to totally fix his shoulder but that isn't necessarily true. They will wait until he has healed up and been through some rehab to decide if they are satisfied with his mobility. Another surgery might not be necessary so that is a good thing. Sometimes things get lost in text message translation so I'm sorry for the confusion about all that :)

Thanks for all of the prayers and support that have been directed at Beau, Jessica and our family throughout this whole ordeal. We have the greatest family and friends that anyone could ask for and are so grateful for each of you.

I will update more when I hear anything new!

~Maggie

Home with new hardware...

Beau and Jessica are back in North Carolina and he's doing great. He said he could tell almost immediately after the surgery that his arm was in much better shape than it was beforehand. The pain was different and has gotten much better and his shoulder looks alot more normal and in proportion now...probably because it's actually staying in the joint! He's already off the pain pills that he got after the surgery! Below is a picture of the prosthesis that they removed from his arm and a shot of his new hardware...

The bright white pieces are the new prosthesis and from about an inch below the screws up to the top of his arm is the new cadaver bone. It's pretty amazing what they can do these days...

Beau will be beginning physical therapy after his follow-up visit with Dr. Frankle and he's already started working on his cardio by riding an exercise bike. He wants to be in top physical shape so as soon as the time comes, he will be ready to get back in a racecar!

Thanks for all the prayers and support...please keep them coming!

~Maggie

Today Hopefully?

Beau didn't actually get to go home yesterday. His hemoglobin was low which required a blood transfusion and they wanted to make sure they got his pain controlled before he was able to leave so he's still there. Jessica said he was feeling much better today and they've found some pain meds that are working so he should be getting out today and heading back to NC this weekend. Thanks again for the all the prayers and thoughts.

I'll let everyone know when I hear anything new.

Thanks!
Maggie

Checking out...

Beau will be getting out of the hospital tomorrow! He's already had two physical therapy sessions and walked around his floor hallway a few times. He will have another meeting with the Doc on Friday and a follow-up appointment in 6 weeks. Thanks for keeping up with Beau through all of this and please continue to keep him in your prayers!

~Maggie

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Out of surgery and resting...

Beau came through the surgery just fine and his doctor said that everything went great! Beau will be in the hospital until Wednesday and he has to go to a follow-up appointment on Friday. Then he will be heading back home to North Carolina. Thanks for all of the prayers and support for Beau...please keep them coming!

~Maggie