Thought I’d send a quick update. The facilities here in Houston are amazing. It

I had a friend share some great advise with me. She told me that I have been assigned the most important patient I have ever taken care of; I am managing the most important project of my life. We have a date and are ready to begin the planning phase of our new project. To my friends at work who I so kindly refer to as my magic guys (guys being gender neutral), I am temporarily replacing you with my new project team at MD Anderson in Houston. This is only temporary and you all will make the top of my list once I finish this project.I have an appointment with my team on Tuesday, March 27th at MD. I understand they will keep me quite busy and the evaluation will take 5-7 days. In other words, it may be a week or two before we know if I can be treated in Fort Worth or will be treated in Houston. My mom is going to travel with me. We are leaving either Sunday or Monday. John is going to come down when we conference and review our options. We are trying to keep life as normal for the kids as we can right now. The kids struggle with focus and understanding. John and I feel a routine is important for all of us. We have so many questions and unknowns. My challenge is to maintain a sense of peace, patience and trust. This part of planning seems to be taking forever and it is hard for me. Once we have a plan, we can begin the real work of battling this disease.

This isn’t very easy news to share. As all of you know I was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in June of 2005. We ran the rules using the best, most aggressive treatment available. I have been kept under a microscope with very frequent follow up. Many of you shared in my success of completing the Komen 3-day 60 mile walk in October 2006. I never quite bounced back from the walk and had begun to have some issues this past month. I had test run lat Friday and more today.

Today I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer with metastasis to multiple lobes of my liver. The news wasn’t exactly what John or I have planned for or were expecting. In the old days, there wasn’t a lot of hope. They do not yet have a cure but they promise me we have many more drugs and some trials that are offering much promise. They are sending me to MD Anderson in Houston for follow-up and a second opinion. We will leave this week or next.

God is great and with a prayer circle like mine God will hear our prayers. So all you mighty prayer warriors it’s time to go to battle. I know he has a plan for me and we can beat this.

We love you all,

Stephanie, John, Jennifer & David