Brad & Family need Prayers, Thoughts, Karma, Good Juju…we'll take it all!

[HeatherLou]

I’m sure a few of you noticed that Brad was missing from your lunch in Addison due to a family emergency. He has asked me to let our TPF family know what is going on.

A few weeks ago, his wife Alissa started feeling really poorly. She couldn’t sleep, got a cough that wouldn’t go away and was just generally not feeling well. She went to the Dr. and at the appointment; they did X-rays and ultimately found a tumor in her chest. They are not yet sure if it is cancer, but will be doing testing, probably including a biopsy next week.

Brad has asked that if you have any questions, photo, or otherwise to send them my to me. He will not be on TPF as often as normal. Another good friend of theirs is creating a website that will update everyone as they find out more information.

Here is the web site: http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612160/login/ sign up and in the comments, put that you are from TPF!

On a personal note, I can not tell you how great Alissa is. She is an amazing woman, who is sweet, funny, and who held me in her arms the day I found out I couldn’t have kids. I ask that if you pray, please pray for her, and for Brad’s family. If you don’t, send good thoughts, karma and good juju ….we will take it all!

[kenw]

well, I personally know prayers work, so tell them they're on our list.

Thanx for letting us know.

[smdebnam]

I will keep Brad and his family in my prayers. Heather, I know that you are in his "extended" family so that includes you too! Please keep us posted on updates and if I can do anything let me know!

[L Stegall]

I'll definitely keep Brad and Alissa and family in my thoughts.

[David_3]

Prayers sent.

[kneemeaux]

+1

[Lexie]

Brad, Alissa, and their family are in my prayers.

[l.mccormick]

We will keep them all in our prayers. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for them Heather.

[digitalpixels]

Thanks for the update Heather. The Bartons are lucky to have you. I'll keep them in my thoughts and send good karma their way - Alissa is a sweetheart, as is the whole family.

*hugs for everyone*

[brad]

Ok.. this is the post I'm making several places.. sorry for the copy and paste, but it is trouble just keeping up...

My wife has had a cough and a sore shoulder for several weeks. Over the last few days, we have finally discovered why.

She has a mass in her chest. We do not know what it is at this point, but all signs are good that if it is a cancer of some sort, that it has not spread anywhere. It is fairly large, nearing 7 inches long, and is located behind the sternum, between rib cage and lungs, and above the heart. It does not appear to be attached to anything, but even if it is not cancer, it still has to be removed since it is putting pressure on the windpipe, esophagus, and heart. We are probably doing a biopsy first thing next week, so we will know more after that. We will have a website up in a day or so where you can subscribe to updates if you want to follow as we learn details.

There are still some unanswered questions and tests to be run, but at this point, there is more good news than bad news. Yes, she will have to have surgery to remove it.. but it is not a "we have to get you to the emergency room and get this out of you NOW" situation. The doctor today said that he could see no current reason why he wouldn't expect her to recover from this and go on to lead a long, healthy life.

I am not one to ask for prayers.. but I won't refuse them. I will do my best to keep up with personal messages, but please do not be offended if I do not respond right away.. between our individual professional networks, the charity organization we volunteer with, and extended friends and family, we literally have hundreds, if not more than a thousand people to keep up to date.

[Texentric]

Sending good thoughts your way. Hope the biopsy doesn't reveal something truly bad.

[EyeBurn]

bless Alissa & your family, ya'll are in my prayers~

-Benjamin

[brad]

Thanks, everyone.

We now have a website where you can follow along.. you will have to be approved, just mention that you are part of the TPF family in the comments: http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/612160/

Now to try and get some much needed (and missed) sleep...

[CaptainTom]

Always in my thoughts. Things sound favorable and I'm confident she will be fine.

[dbphotos]

Brad, both of you are in my prayers.