My Visit to Good Sam....what ended up being my 4 day stay....2012

I am now home from the hospital after spending much too much time there!

 At this point they do not have an answer for what is going on with me...and have given me a lot of “no's" and not a single ""Yes, this is it!"

In a nutshell, after a week of what we thought was exhaustion and dehydration, I had become jaundiced and tested high in white blood counts and very high bilirubin counts...a CAT scan on Friday showed an enlarged liver and pancreas.

We got the initial blood results on Monday when my doc called and said get to the hospital NOW…I had been pre-admitted with an initial concern for some type of blood cancer, the tests began almost immediately to show no cancer or tumor markers though my liver enzymes continued to remain high and blood counts not altering much. The ultra sound showed the blood flow in and out of the liver was goodconcern for some type of blood cancer, the tests began almost immediately to show no cancer or tumor markers though my liver enzymes continued to remain high and blood counts not altering much. The ultra sound showed the blood flow in and out of the liver was good and the MRI showed there were no blockages of bile ducts or stones. I had a liver biopsy late Wednesday and after watching for concerns and taking more blood tests on Thursday, I was sent home to wait for the pathology reports to come back...which apparently can take up to a week...so better that I can wait at home and return to a more "normal" life style while I wait.

No medications were given to me in the hospital...only tests and more tests...they did not want to throw any meds into the liver to give it more work to do when it was already compromised. I do know that early on they were seeing things in the CT scan results that did not continue to show up in the MRI...

While there is confusion on what is going on...or rather what may have been beginning to go in internally, I am believing that God has stayed a life altering diagnosis, and answered our prayers with a healing. My doctor is not by nature an alarmist and would not have mentioned the possibility of cancer without having a strong case for believing it to be so.

I go back to the GI doc on the 27th and at that point hope to have some final answers...even if those answers end up being "we don't have any explanation"

...My strength is made perfect in weakness...2 Corinthians 12:9

o    This picture of Blake was taken in September 2011...prior to his cancer diagnosis...

      

       UPDATE from Christina | Friday, January 27:

Doctor told me on Wednesday Blake's platelet count was a little low. She told me to come back Friday and expect him to get a transfusion. The Holy Spirit prompted me to pray for an increase of platelets the last two days. I have been SO tired, and these have been brief, sleepy prayers. Went back today fully prepared to be there all afternoon, and his counts were so high he didn't need the transfusion! 2 Corinthians 12:9 moment "for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
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Our hearts are rejoicing with the news, and we are encouraged with the confirmation that God is faithful in the details ♥

Thank you for your faithful intercession as Blake's journey continues. We are so grateful that you continue to encourage us.

...Through the times when we don't know the details of what's going on inside our little warrior's body, but we are confident that the healing work continues...

...Through the times when we don't know how to pray, but we know that the only thing we can do is pray through to release...

...Through the times when we have no words to say, yet our hearts cry out...

Knowing you stand with us, gives us strength we do not have on our own.

And then a day like today comes along and we are encouraged with a report like Christina got today. We know once again that God has indeed heard every whispered prayer and He continues to hold Blake securely in the palm of His hand.

His ear is not silent to our cry...and His arm is not shortened to reach to where we are.

Along the way we are given the opportunity to increase our circle of care...we learn of other children who have become warriors at much too young an age. We add the names of Hudson and Zion to our prayerAlong the way we are given the opportunity to increase our circle of care...we learn of other children who have become warriors at much too young an age. We add the names of Hudson and Zion to our prayer list...and include the faces of children whose names we do not know. These little warriors and their loved ones travel together on their uninvited journey through cancer to healing.

We are encouraged with the reality, "no one fights alone".

And we are blessed that such an army of warriors carries our hearts into the Throne Room of our God who knows each little lamb's name.

May God richly bless you for your faithfulness in the care of hurting hearts.

An Unexpected Long Day

BLAKE UPDATE:
Christina and Blake were at the clinic at 9 am for Blake's check up and returned home after 5 pm. Due to low counts, Blake rec'd both blood and platelets today....a day long process.

We pray for peace and strength for Christina and Steven as they walk out the many emotions that accompany caregiving Blake through the healing...and for complete healing and restoration for our courageous little warrior!

Blake is scheduled for a full body CAT scan on Friday to see if there are any additional tumors growing elswhere in his body and to check in on how the protocol is progressing. We continue to pray and believe for a clean report.

Thank you for your faithful intercession and encouragement as they move forward into healing. We pray that they will be able to push through the "weary" moments to embrace the promise of complete healing that will unfold in the days to come.

We never know when the unknown, difficult moments will invade their hearts / minds and exhaust their reserves...We do
know we are at the beginning of this journey and we are so grateful that we do not walk alone. Thank you for taking us with you when you enter the Throne Room...♥...

2011 Comes to a Close

December 30, 2011
UPDATE FROM CHRISTINA:
Part A: Early morning visit to the clinic to check blood levels today. Praying and believing they will all be up so we don't need to wait for a transfusion. One week from today will be a full body catscan to check for new tumors. Asking for your renewed prayers this week!
 
Part B: the result of the blood levels | Platelette counts were low so Blake got more of those.
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I don't know the details of the counts, or the many numbers and the specifics the docs are looking for. However I do know that when it comes to knowing and understanding the many facets of medical care for Blake - I am thankful that THEY know what they are looking for :)

So if the end result of getting additional platelets means that Blake continues to move forward into healing, than knowing he got those platelets makes me a happy Grammy.

We understand that life doesn't always go the way we would have scripted it. There is a measure of peace in knowing that in every seeming setback, God will show Himself strong and is ever faithful to with us.

We ask for your prayers:
♥ ...For continued appetite for Blake and his ability to consume the necessary calories to give his body strength for the chemo battle he is in.
♥ ...For rest and restoration for Steven and Christina as they watchcare over Blake and continue with the routines of life.
♥ ...For a clean scan when Blake goes in on Friday, January 6 2012 for a full body scan to check out his internal condition.

As the year comes to a close we recognize more fully just what strange new territory we have entered...the days ahead will be no more certain than the unfolding of our past has been...

While we are marking off the calendar days to Friday, our hearts are grateful that God is already there.

Thank you for your faithful intercession for our little warrior...♥ ...

May God richly bless every corner of your hearts and homes with much love and laughter in 2012 ♥ ...

Home for Christmas....Eve :)

Steven's Update this morning |   "We'll be home for Christmas. You can count on us."

Just got the word from the Docs: we'll be discharged this afternoon!

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Now, we can start thinking about Christmas :)

...Shopping and baking and paying attention to the list making has been put on the emotional back burner...It feels a bit like the Christmas Carol...taking another deep breath just in time for Christmas ♥.

Your faithful intercesion has carried Blake through a very difficult week of treatment. What a gift to the heart to have our little boy wake up in his own bed to greet Christmas morning with the wide-eyed wonder of childhood...and best of all to be home with Mommy & Daddy...what a perfect gift ♥

From our house to yours, we the very best of Christmas love to you and yours. In this season of miracles ♥ stay close to the foot of the cross...there is no greater gift, there is no deeper love...

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life...(John 3:16)

Seemingly Small Moments

Christina's Update: Today, December 23:  Despite the tough round of chemo he is enduring, Blake's doctor commented that she has been very impressed. His appetite has increased, and he is full of energy and personality. I even had to threaten time-out today...so my stubborn, strong-willed, charming and hilarious little boy is back in full force Merry Christmas!

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I can't think of a better Christmas gift ...thank you for your prayers and for celebrating the seemingly simple steps that are such giant leaps for us these days.

In the growing list of "who would have thought" that we are walking through, we add another few today...Who would have thought that a simple meal of ham and cheerios, a couple of pieces of pizza and a "threatened" time out would be such cause for celebration...but these days, they certainly are.

How appropriate to the season that today we celebrate the seemingly smallest of moments.

Today my heart slips to a moment in time when Wise Men followed a star...and Shepherds ran looking to find...a babe in a manger. In a city filled with people and places and things...what a seemingly small moment.

With every passing day, I recognize more fully that the greatest gifts to my heart often come wrapped in the smallest of moments. I realize that the moments that arrive without intentional fanfare, aren't really so small after all.

Today, I am grateful for a little boy, who had the energy to have a "threatened" time-out cross his path.

Thank you for your prayers...and the very best of Christmas Blessings to you and those you love.

Enjoy the small things that cross your path today, you never know how big those moments will be tomorrow.

Two Slices of Pizza!

Steven's update today:   It was a good day. Blake handled his meds well, ate 2 slices of pizza and is now sleeping comfortably as we watch White Christmas - "Snow, snow, snow, SNOW"

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 Two days down, two to go and pizza!...this is very good news indeed.

We know they sleep tonight because the Father holds them close....and we know the Father holds them close because of the hearts that carry them into the Throne Room.

Thank you for your faithful intercession ...