Jeremy is officially neutropenic today, which means we’ll probably be in our room for the duration of this block of treatment.

It was another rough day for Jeremy.  He woke up at around 8am, but woke up really uncomfortable and wanted to go back to sleep.  If you know Jeremy, he hates sleep.  He slept for another two hours and was still sleepy, uncomfortable, and told us that his tummy hurt.  We told doctors and they said it could be a number of things – gas, hunger, nausea, mucositis (a side effect of chemotherapy where the lining of the GI tract is broken down causing sores and stomach upset).  He was really uncomfortable for about a half hour when the nurses decided to go ahead and get an x-ray done to be sure there wasn’t anything obstructing his stomach.  They also gave him some pain medication to make him more comfortable.  Praise God that the x-rays came back with no obstructions.

Jeremy was more himself by midday, before he took a nap.  When he woke up from his nap, he had more stomach upset, but it passed after a short while and he was feeling better again.

Meal times are still challenging.  Because Jeremy woke up so late today, he really only had two meals and both were just ok.  Calorie intake will help him through the neutropenic and recovery periods, which is why we’re constantly offering him food.  We also want to avoid him getting IV nutrients as it can be harmful to his liver.  It gets frustrating when he doesn’t understand that the food we’re giving him will help him in the long run.  But then I remember that he’s 2 and he’s been stuck in a hospital room for the majority of the last two months.  Still, despite the ok meals, we praise God that Jeremy is eating something.  The doctors and nurses tell us that he is actually eating and drinking more than most patients.

And that reminds us that we are on the pediatric oncology floor at the hospital.  I sometimes get so engrossed in what’s going on with Jeremy that I become absent minded about our neighbors – all children who are suffering with some type of cancer.  We’ve seen children ranging from infants to teenagers in these halls and it’s a reminder that we are here as a witness to the one who offers relief from all pain and suffering, to the one who offers eternal hope.  It’s been difficult to get to know our neighbors since all of us pretty much have to stay in our rooms, but we do pray for them, especially when we hear crying through the walls.

Jeremy, through the stomach upset and grumpiness today, continues to amaze us.  The following is pretty cheesy, but I’m going to share it anyway.  Today, because of his grumpiness, he hit me in the face while I was holding him to wash his hands for dinner.  He’s done this in the past and he’s been disciplined for it as well.  This time around, he hit me several times, but on the last occurrence I firmly told him that it was not ok to hit.  I sat him down with Alice for dinner, then walked out of the room frustrated and slightly angry.  I felt so bad for getting upset.  When I came back, he looked at me and said, “Sorry for hitting on the face, Daddy.”  He did this on his own, without any prompting from Alice.  Then he stretched out his arm, wanting a hug.  I felt so weak.  My son, holding no grudges and ready to reconcile, while I, the adult, walked out of the room not being able to handle my own frustrations.  I crumpled, we hugged and exchanged I love you’s.

Jeremy has a dressing change tomorrow.  Each dressing change exposes his central line to the possibility of infection, especially now that he is neutropenic.  In addition to this, Jeremy’s skin has been very sensitive to the cleaning agents and adhesives used to change his dressing.  It almost seems guaranteed to irritate him for at least a night or two before it subsides.  We are praying that the dressing change tomorrow will not cause any infection and that it will not cause him any skin irritation.

Praise God that word is getting out about the bone marrow donor registration drives.  We see a lot of activity on Facebook and in our email inboxes.  We’re sorry we can’t get to everyone’s emails, but please know that we are reading and seeing all that you are doing.  We really are touched and overwhelmed by all of you and how firmly you stand beside Jeremy, beside us, lifting him up in prayer everyday. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Praise God:

• word is spreading about the bone marrow registration drives
• we are surrounded by awesome family and friends
• Jeremy remains fever free
• Jeremy is eating
• Alice and I continue to be in good health

Please pray (new/updated items in bold):

• that God would continue to use this situation for His glory
• that we would be obedient to God’s plans for this situation
• that we would continue to cast our worries and fears on the Lord
• that God would provide full and complete healing and total health for Jeremy
• that God would sustain Jeremy through this block of treatment
• that God would give Jeremy an extra portion of His strength for this block of treatment
• that we would not encounter any side effects that would affect his appetite – nausea, vomiting, mouth sores and that Jeremy would have a good appetite throughout the entire block of treatment
• that Jeremy would not experience any more stomach pains
• that Jeremy would not encounter any life threatening side effects
• that Jeremy would not have any brain, liver, lung, kidney, pancreatic, heart, or any other type of organ damage as a result of the chemo
• that God would protect Jeremy’s heart with the new medication (mitoxantrone)
• that Jeremy would not encounter any fevers due to bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections, especially now that Jeremy is neutropenic
• that God would provide with the whole process of finding a bone marrow match, the risks of transplant, and the anxiety of it achieving long-term remission for Jeremy
• that word would continue to get out about the need for a perfect bone marrow match and that one would be found for Jeremy
• that Jeremy’s little brother would be a match and that there would be a sufficient volume of cells in the cord blood to qualify for a good transplant
• that God would continue protect Jeremy’s central line and there would be no infections as a result of it
• that the dressing change tomorrow will go smoothly and not cause any infections or skin irritations
• that Alice and I would not get sick in order to care for Jeremy
• that baby brother would be full term before deciding that he wants out
• for our neighbors who are also enduring trials of their own