Update as of Saturday April 21, 2007

Hello Everyone,

Today is such a beautiful day. I hope everyone is outside enjoying it!

We have posted a lot less frequently in the past months. A friend of mine said, “You need to post so we can keep those prayers coming!” I am grateful to have this site to come to and post when I feel I need to talk or have something to say. It has been very healing for me to be able to do that. I don’t ever like to force the words, and I’m not one to detail each day. There is so little time in the day for us it seems. Maria has needed us greatly in the past couple months and we are trying to spend every moment we can with her and together as a family. Please understand how appreciative we are to all of you for your concern and prayers. You have all been so wonderful to us! We know how much you love Maria and we will try to post when we can. I ask that you continue to pray for Maria always- even without a post. Prayers are always needed here. Now, more than ever.

The week after Easter we all caught the rotavirus. This was hard on Maria as she could not keep anything down. Dehydration is never good with a brain tumor. We have been focusing on strengthening her and getting her better. The virus took a toll on her and increased the number of symptoms we have been seeing. It has been slow moving but she has shown signs of improvement. We are concerned for her. We do, however, remain as upbeat and joyful as possible, trying not to despair because it will bring no good and we know God wants us to put our trust in Him. Whatever happens will be God’s will and we want to work with Him, not against Him. We are hopeful. I continue to ask God for complete healing. I look to Him to show me the way. We have turned it over to Him. I know she is in the loving hands of Someone who loves her more than we could ever imagine. I always hope that He will allow her to remain with us. No one knows, but Him.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Maria always.

Love,
Ed and Megan

Update as of April 10, 2007

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick but important message that we wanted to get out to everyone. I had the opportunity to meet with Robert Indian of the State of Ohio Health Department. He is the one heading up the Leukemia study for Avon Lake. He has been working in the past year and a half and has gathered a lot of data in regards to Avon Lake and childhood cancer. He is going to have a report out in July with all the details.

As a separate study, he is taking a closer look into all the children’s cancer in Avon Lake. He wants to reach out and talk with every family whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer. So here is what you can do to help. He is going to do a detailed study of every child (15 years or younger at the time of diagnosis) who has had cancer diagnosed while living in Avon Lake from 1994 up through April 15, 2007. He will meet and talk with all of them if they so desire. The only catch is he has to know about them in order to include them in the study. He needs to know who these children are in order to get a better understanding of the numbers. So, we need to help Robert Indian and get him the following information no later than April 15, 2007. We only have 5 days. Please email the foundation with as many children's information as possible. Send the following information to info@prayersfrommaria.org :

Name of Child
Type of cancer
Date of Diagnosis
Address
Phone number

No family has to participate. Robert Indian will contact them to discuss details and ALL information will be kept confidential. He would still like the basic information so that he knows about all the cancers, but you don't have to participate. If you don't want to email this information to the foundation, you can call him directly. Email us for the phone number so that not just anyone will call.

Please send this information ASAP. Even if you don't know all the information, please send us what you do know. You don't have to be living in Avon Lake today, just on the date of diagnosis.

Please call, email and talk with everyone you know in Avon Lake today. We need this information to make sure that the information is accurate.

God Bless,
Ed and Megan

Update as of Sunday April 1, 2007

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to all of you who are checking in with us on our one-year anniversary since diagnosis. Palm Sunday. It is a special day for us and we thank God for the time He has given us with Maria. We are celebrating life today, and we hope that you do too.

Maria’s attitude and the love that she shares are better and stronger than ever. She continues to draw the most beautiful pictures for us and she laughs a lot. We love hearing that laugh. Marc Quayle, Sophie’s dad, was over the other night for dinner and when he got here he asked where Maria was and I told him she was outside playing. We both smiled and he pointed out what a beautiful thing that is, and he is right. We are so grateful to God for each day and every little thing that comes with it. Maria is outside playing right now as I write this post. She just stepped in to get a grocery bag because she is going on a “nature walk” with her friend next door. My smile is from ear to ear.

We continue to prepare for whatever may come our way. A couple of Maria’s symptoms have gotten slightly worse, but we remain joyful, hopeful and positive. It is important to us that the atmosphere surrounding us stays upbeat. No, it isn’t always easy. I struggled a bit at Church this morning, but my good friend said to me, “Believe, Megan. Just believe.” And that is right. If we believe, things will be ok, no matter what the circumstances.

So there may be a few more of those cold winter days left, but we’re looking forward to the Spring.

God bless all of you and thank you for your continued prayers for Maria.

Love,
Ed and Megan