Jenna’s swelling has gone down

Jenna just before surgery

G’day from Ohio! I’m on tour this week with Alabaster Box doing shows in West Virginia and Western New York. I will admit its kind of hard being away from my good friend, Jenna – who if you’ve kept up with my last two blogs you’d know has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor. I wanted to post an update from a friend, Mandy, who’s been with her so you can know how to continue to pray.
(Please see previous blog posts at http://www.aussiejoyslife.com)

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Hey everyone! Thank you for all of your prayers and love towards Jenna. It has been felt for sure. I have been amazed by her joy and peace in the midst of this. Today a few of us went to the hospital to have a church service with her since she is unable to get to church. We read scripture, reflected on what God is doing and even got to just worship a bit. As I played my viola I had one eye on my precious friend who worshipped and praised God without any hesitation. She looked so peaceful and just enthralled with God. Knowing that she is facing a very taxing surgery and recovery period I just marveled at how she just rested in God’s arms and just enjoyed Him. Jenna truly is a testimony to all of us on what it means to just trust. She counts it ALL a loss… even her life… compared to knowing Christ. That is so apparent in the way she has responded to this trial on her life.

Honestly it is hard to even call it a trial because of what we have seen God do throughout the entire journey. Nurses, patients, friends and family have all been transformed by Jenna’s faith. People that haven’t ever met her are begging for updates and stories. It is amazing.

Speaking of updates… the swelling is starting to go down and her headaches are gone. This is a very good thing! She is still drugged up on steroids but she is progressing nicely towards surgery. They expect that surgery will take place on tuesday but still haven’t locked in a date. I hope we will know more on monday. We were told that there is a potential that she will just be taken into surgery without a final MRI and we are praying now that they will decide to do an MRI and that when they do the scan, the tumor will have disappeared. We have proof that the sucker exists so how incredible would it be if they went in only to find it has disappeared… and we want that discovery to be made BEFORE they shave off her hair (although we have some exciting things planned involving a pink wig) If however it is still there and they proceed into surgery she will have roughly a 5 day recover time at the hospital and then will go home to finish out her time of recovery. We are getting there…

How can you all help?! Many of you have expressed the desire to see Jenna or help in whatever way you can. She is slowly seeing people but honestly at this point the best thing we can do for her is let her rest. She is preparing for an intense 3 hour surgery and months of recovery so there will be plenty of time to love on her.  We are of course still working through the list of visitors and trying to get as many as we can in to see her before she goes into surgery. Today she is really tired so she is going to have a true ‘sabbath’ and just rest. You are still welcome to send cards and gifts… let me know and I can get you the address. And she will be needing financial support as she is facing a lot of bills and will be out of work for at least 6 weeks if not more. And, meals, we would love for help with meals. She has family coming in to stay with her once she comes home and so it would be nice to bless them so they can focus on Jenna and not cooking for themselves.
Thanks again for everything! Jenna feels so incredibly loved and supported. Her spirits are high and she has a joy and laughter like never before. God has used this situation to lift her spirits believe it or not! She has had some sweet times with the Lord. Thanks again.

Take care! And, I have included a picture for all of you to enjoy.  That smile on Jenna’s face is not just for the picture… that smile has been plastered on her since she has been in the hospital. We call it her ‘supernatural response’ to this part of her journey. K, have a great day!

Mandy DeSutter

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