I’m a tree lover. I am compelled to bring to your attention that tomorrow is Arbor Day. God did a great job with trees. He provides some wonderful benefits through them. We’d be in a world of hurt without them. A great friend points out that trees host the most abundant/important machines in the world; tiny little protein enzymes that helps extract carbon dioxide from the air, splitting oxygen back out for us to breathe and carbon to grow trees bigger (Thank you Louis J.M.). But the benefit I am most thankful for right now is that the bark of a species in the Pacific Northwest is used to make one of the drugs that is treating Tara’s cancer. I mentioned this four years ago too and it never gets old to me.
Monday and Tuesday started out great and led us to believe the chemo might not hit hard. Wrong! Tara has been hurting yesterday and today, although you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. We are hoping the weekend is better. Monday she gets another dose, this time with only half the concoction. Spirits are high most of the time around the Maier home. Tara is trying to stay active and doing a pretty good job. And life just keeps going on. The help we have gotten has been critical. Thank you friends. Tara sleeps as I write. Peaceful. Content. Joyful. God is faithful.
Perspectives From The Tree Tops 
Keeping Tara in my prayers as well as all of you! I know how hard it must be but am praying for her to be sustained through this and to get through this. I admire you all for your faith and her attitude during this time. God is faithful!
Amazing that a tree bark is helping with the chemo too. God’s blessings to you all!
Love and hugs,
Pat Melder
Thanks for the update Jay. Praying the next round next week will be less discomforting for Tara. We will continue to be praying for all of the family.
Thank you for the update. Prayers continue from the Callanans. Hope you know ALL the LOVE coming from us in North IA. ❤️Aunt Cathy and Uncle Mike
The path that we walk with God a our side is not always a pleasant joy. Sometimes it is our test again and the Lord is with us with every step we take. lease know that our hearts and prayers are with all of you. We love you Tara …. and Jay — like I told you I Love you for the person you are. and what a blessing you are to all of us. I wish I could take this journey away and make everything ok again. My heart knows that the Lord is good and each of us has this gift of lie to touch others lives in a way that we can’t always express in words. Tara, you are the bomb — and as I have always said I am high on breathing……. you inspire me to be a better person, take more time to understand others, pray a lot, love with all my heart, hold all memories closer than I ever thought I needed to, enjoy today even when I question what lies ahead — live today as if it may be the last day. My faith is growing stronger every day . You hang in there young lady …. I am very proud to call you my niece — you are a WARRIOR and we are on you sidelines with positive thoughts & prayers. With much LOVE—
Aunt DeeDee
I keep thinking about you guys and praying!