In a lot of ways, Katie's treatment regimen has gone very smoothly. It's fairly incredible that she hasn't been ill with one of the many viruses going around. It's almost as if she has been covered by a protective barrier (thanks, praying friends)! She has dealt with very few side effects overall and has had a great attitude. None of our other kids have been sick with more than the sniffles, and we have not had to miss too many activities that we wanted to be part of. That's a lot to be thankful for! In light of those blessings, I sometimes wonder why this season still feels stressful, challenging, wrong. I am grateful, but I am also pained. People shouldn't have to deal with cancer. Children shouldn't have to deal with it. Katie shouldn't have to deal with it.
Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world. When sin entered the world, it didn't just enter people. All of creation became subject to the effects. Romans says that as sin entered the world through one man, death came with it, and all creation was subjected to frustration and is in bondage to decay. This sucks. In addition to dealing with our own faults and failures, we have to deal with cancer, accidents, illnesses, natural disasters and all manner of sadness in this world. Fortunately, we can still have hope. Hope in the renewal of our bodies and all creation. Hope that God works things together into good. Katie finished another round of chemo earlier this week and is now in the recovery stage of this cycle. She had been postponed once due to low white blood cell numbers and was almost postponed a second time. When we arrived for chemo on Tuesday, January 17th, the first labs showed numbers hovering around the cutoff point. Initially, they told us to get ready to go home but then decided to redraw them to double check (there's a little more to it than that, but basically that's what happened). The second set of labs showed acceptable numbers so we proceeded with chemo treatments for this round. That made for a looooong day by the time we finally finished infusions! Thankfully, the rest of the treatments went smoothly without much to complain of. She will repeat labs next week and then hope to have her final round of chemo starting the following week. We still await a decision about the need for radiation based on a PET scan to be performed some time next month. Please pray for: - continued protection from illness as flu season has just started to hit our area - good recovery of red and white blood cells and platelets from this round of chemo - peace and positive attitudes - total abomination of any remaining cancer cells with these last two chemo rounds so that radiation is not needed Thanks for your encouragement! Blessings, Sarah
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This round of chemo was postponed until next week due to incredibly low white blood cell counts. No signs of infection at present, but we are generally avoiding people for a few days. Praying, hoping, and expecting to get back on schedule next week.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 Welcome to the new year! The last couple weeks have been packed with friends, family, games, and normalcy. Yay for opportunities to forget about cancer! We enjoyed lots of Christmas celebrations, a New Year's party with some close friends, and normal chaos while the other kids were out of school. Katie had some friends over, stayed overnight with some other friends, and went to the WinterJam concert to see some of her favorite Christian artists. She has certainly not let this diagnosis slow her down or dampen her spirit! For the most part, we have been able to allow for normal 13 year old activities with only a few restrictions. We watch her counts closely, wash hands more frequently, and avoid known sick contacts. We are very grateful that she has tolerated chemo so well and that we have been able to avoid so many yucky viruses this season (so far). Her courageous spirit shines on!
As we have been forced into the community of children with cancer, we have also become increasingly aware of the fights of so many others. Fights that don't always go smoothly. Fights that are often much longer. Struggles that sometimes don't end well. And what about the children in undeveloped countries who have the same massive tumor in their chest that Katie did - but with no one to diagnose it or no means to treat it? A cancer that is considered mostly curable in our country is mostly deadly in another. As a mother, this is heartbreaking to me. Initially, I asked the question of God, "Why does my child have cancer?" And now sometimes I ask, "Why is my family graced with the ability, and even opportunity, to readily treat this cancer?" I do not yet know exactly how all of this will change me, but I know it will. In the meantime, we remember, thank God, and pray for Gabriel and Jack and Luke and Graycen and Alecia and Jeremy. Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. This week starts Round 4 of Katie's chemo. She will hit the meds hard, rest a little extra, and iPad her way through treatments this week. Please pray with us in anticipation that all goes smoothly and she stays on schedule to finish chemo early next month. Blessings, Sarah |
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