Donations

Bobby is officially home from Afghanistan to help provide care during this difficult time. I know that several people have asked about making donations, so Bobby and I have gone ahead and set up a site to make this possible. If anyone would like to make a donation to help with our travel expenses to and from Birmingham we would be so thankful! Thank you for all your help and support.

To read our story...go here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/terijoreese

Love, Teri Jo and Bobby

Combat to Cancer: Bittersweet Homecoming

Well looks like Bobby is home for good! Yay! Let us take a moment to be thankful for that!!!

I'm sure most of you know the circumstances, but for those that do not I can provide a brief update. Shortly before Thanksgiving I saw a doctor for some pain in my right leg. It felt a lot like the beginnings of sciatica, which both my Mother and Grandmother have had issues with in the past. The results of several scans revealed the the pain was in fact sciatic nerve pain; however, the pain was not caused from a slipped/herniated disk or inflammation, but rather a large tumor in my pelvis that is displacing my sciatic nerve.

I've been through about 3094309 tests, and I have been traveling to Birmingham Alabama to UAB, a five and half hour drive from Tallahassee where I currently live, to see an orthopedic oncologist who specializes in this area. As of right now, we're still waiting on diagnosis and treatment plans. The doctors have their suspicions, but won't say anything conclusively yet. What we do know is that 7 gawillion MRIs revealed the tumor, a CT scan revealed spots on my lungs, and both a needle biopsy and surgical biopsy have come back inconclusive.

Luckily Bobby was scheduled to come home for his two week break in mid-late December when both of my biopsies were scheduled. Originally Bobby was to come home in mid-late January, but God worked his magic allowing Bobby to be with me during this difficult time. We put in for him to have extended leave, and though it was not under the best circumstances, Bobby is able to stay home with me for the duration of his deployment. We are so thankful for that. It's such a blessing to have him here with me. This is not an easy situation, and I would never wish it upon anyone, but having Bobby by my side makes all the difference in the world. If you are so unfortunate to experience something like this, I encourage you to find your own Bobby Hull, whoever that might be, and hold on tight to him/her, because it is people like Bobby that can make such situations 10x easier.

It's funny....Bobby and I are always joking how he's so lucky, and I'm so unlucky...and it really is true (just ask my best friend Kari). So I said to him, "Here's my luck again...something like this would never happen to you," and then Bobby said, "But this is happening to me...it's happening to us...and we're in this together." And it's things as simple as that, that make he so glad to have him during this time. We're in this together, along with great family and friends. We've been overwhelmed with support, and I want to thank everyone for that. It means the world to us.

It's strange that we started our journey worrying about Bobby going overseas...thinking it was him we would be having to worry about. Who know that the real danger was right here at home. We're in for a fight, and I'm glad to have everyone by my side. I may start my own Caring Bridge Blog...if we ever get some freaking answers from the doctors. We'll see.

Psalm 27:3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

Psalm 27:13-14 3 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Slackin'

Well what can I say I've been slackin'. Hardcore. Let's just say grad school got in the way.

But Bobby's doing well. I've been able to talk to Bobby off and on through the last months/weeks...obviously or I'd be going insane. Most of the time there's not much to report on. I do most of the talking...updating Bobby on what's going on at home. I could get on here and blab about that if everyone wanted? Yeah, didn't think so.

He had a good Thanksgiving overseas. They were provided with some form of Thanksgiving dinner, and it said it was pretty nice. There's even a couple pictures on facebook if anyone wants to check out Bobby's profile. He says some days are busy and some days slow...just like things are here on the other side of the world. He's hanging in there though. Unfortunately, little Ali his dog was killed :( So that was sad for him, but he's managing fine. She was a good companion while she was there though, and we're thankful for that. Bobby also said that it's getting cold over there, so any kind of warm clothes, hand warmers, gloves, socks, hot chocolate and soups...would be awesome. He'd greatly appreciate it, and so would I!

Also-----Good news is that Bobby is headed home for his 2 week break in January, and it couldn't come fast enough. We're really excited for him to be home, and just the thought of spending time together sounds AMAZING!! Can't wait. We're looking forward to it.

So there's not much to say, but I'll try to keep updating more regularly. I may have some of my own updating to do here shortly, but we'll see with time.

Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Much Needed Update: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Well I've been slacking. Hard core. It's that time in the semester though, and I've been running around like a mad woman doing 823982139812 gawillion different things. Crazyness. No time for blog updates!!! Ahhhhh.

I've been able to talk to Bobby off and on since the last post. He's doing great! He's in high spirits and keeps mentioning something about buying a motorcycle when he comes home...I try not to listen to the motorcycle part much...and just concentrate on the coming home part! Haha. Nothing exciting has really been going on for him, which I'll just take as a good sign!!! In fact, I hope it's boring as hell over there, and that there isn't a lot of excitement going on (unless it has something to do with him coming home....I'll take that!) He says it's starting to get cold there, which makes no sense to me. I'm still sweating down here in Florida. I'm almost ready for it to get cold! Maybe I can ask him to send of that my way. Bobby sends his thanks though, and he greatly appreciates all the care packages that everyone has been sending. I know a good number of people have sent care packages to his friends as well. We can't thank everyone enough for their time and effort. I really believe that everyone's support does make a difference, and I hope we can keep it up! Bobby and I are so lucky to have such a great support system that many are not lucky enough to have, and we thank God everyday for that.

I've also posted this recent picture that Bobby was able to send. It's Bobby with another North Georgia friend, Patrick. They ran into eachother, and I know it was good for him to see a familiar face. And no...Bobby didn't shrink...Patrick is just really tall. hahahaha.

Thanks again for all the support! It is because of you all that Bobby is doing well and remains in high spirits! I can't thank you enough!!!!


"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Bobby's Puppy - (Muhammad) Ali

I've been slacking. I got some good pictures to share soon hopefully!!

Here's a picture of Bobby's puppy - Ali (pronounced like Muhammad Ali)
She's grown a lot since then though! I think she's been a really nice companion for Bobby, and she's keeping him motivated. I'll let her fill in for me for this year, but after that she's gunna have to give it up. Ha!

Like I say I have more pictures to share, but I've been swamped with school. Bobby's doing well though. I've heard from him a couple time over the past couples of weeks which has been nice. He sounds great!!

I'll try and update this weekend. Thanks for all the support!!!

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18

Website

Bobby's doing fine. Here's a website on Bobby's unit that I came across. May be interesting to some. Sorry I don't have time to write more.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/continuingcoverage/continuingcoverage.aspx?id=28

I miss my best friend.

"Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?" Proverbs 20:6