Update on Tonya

So many of you reblogged Tonya's story, or send out a Facebook message, or an email for her. Your prayers and encouragement for my friend were so kind and gracious.

Her story spread like wildfire through another blog called Healthy Tipping Point run by her neighbor Caitlyn and from there so many unknown to Tonya started to show support. Even a fitness magazine re-blogged Caitlyn's post! As of last week people from over 25 US States, 5 countries and 4 continents were signed up to pray for and help the Breen family via her Lotsa Helping Hands site! And over $16,000 given to their family to help with medical bills and needs to date!!!

The community that rallied around the Breen family is amazing! God Bless each of you!

As I said in my update last week, Tonya's surgery last Friday went well. Thankfully, they found exactly what they expected to find based on the results of her MRI, but her official results from the biopsy haven't come back yet.

Tonya in pre-op

Our friend Krista who works at CMC, Tonya's sweet Daddy, Tonya and her rock of a husband Kevin

I have the privilege to spend Friday afternoon with her in the hospital post-op. She was in amazing spirits, talking, hugging visitors and taking pictures. I was so shocked to see how small her incision wound was - it didn't even seem like she had brain surgery just a few hours before!

Tonya post surgery - doesn't she look amazing?

Tonya, me and my husband Matt

 Saturday morning before she was discharged, I brought her and our friend Jessica some Starbucks and we sat and talked and laughed. Saturday night a few of us went uptown to the hotel room her and Kevin were staying in (for some peace and quiet) and prayed over her.

As I was sitting there watching her tell us about treatment options, show us her MRI photos, talk about God and how He is using this cancer of hers as a gift to encourage and bless others, my heart just started to melt. I am so proud of Tonya's positive attitude, her grace, her strength and fire to beat this. She is such an inspiration to me!

Jessica, Tonya, her two former co-workers and me on Saturday

Check out time!

 Tonya spent the rest of the weekend and week trying to follow the doctor's orders - lots of rest and relaxation. Her pathology results were scheduled for yesterday, but were rescheduled to next Tuesday. Also, she has been assigned to Dr. Wendy Brick who is supposed to be fantastic! More to come. 

And in case you wanted to see her tumor, here it is:

Front left side of her brain. She named it Justine for fun

I'm believing Luke 8:47-48 for Tonya today. It is the story of the sick woman who touches Jesus' cloak in faith that she will be healed - and she is healed! "The woman knew that she could not hide, so she came trembling and knelt down in front of Jesus. She told everyone why she had touched him and that she had been healed right away.  Jesus said to the woman, "You are now well because of your faith. Go in peace."!" 

Tonya, I love you and I'm so proud of you. There is an army praying and believing and fighting for you!!!

*Tonya will be starting a blog so you can follow along and receive updates directly from her site. Until then, if you feel so lead, sign up on her Lotsa Helping Hands site, or you can donate to their fund here.