Fri 6/27

Hello Prayer Warriors, Erin is doing o.k. today. She had a terrible day yesterday with a lot of nausea and stomach pain. We think the multiple antibiotics she has been on are really hard on her stomach. She has had a better day today. She is eating and drinking better, maybe in part due to the threats I made about taking her back in if she didn't eat. God is watching over her every step of the way and takes good care of her, especially when I make threats. We so appreciate all of you out there praying for Erin, especially those of you who don't even know her. What a blessing it has been to see God's grace in these details. We are counting down the days until she is done and recovering. She has lots of plans to play when this is over. Bless you all for your love and support. God is good all the time! hugs, janet

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34:7-10

Home, Sweet Home

Greetings friends....Bill again,

We finished up with the chemo yesterday and got Erin home around 7:00 pm. The new drug was administered in the form of not one, not two, but three shots in the rumpus (not sure if that is the correct medical term) as opposed to all the others that have been administered through the central line. Anyway, Erin did not enjoy getting the shots and had a little bout of nausea on the ride home. She slept through the night until mid-morning and for the most part is doing pretty well today. Janet did not get called back in to work and was able to spend the day with Erin yesterday but is at work today. She said they are very busy today and within 30 minutes of getting to work she had delivered her first baby....no easing back into the job for her!!

The schedule for the rest of this round is recover at home for 5 days, then back to the hospital on Monday for 2 more days of chemo (essentially the same chemo cycle we did this week including the new drug). Hopefully, we'll be back home next Wednesday and then recovering for 3 weeks. And that will complete the chemo protocol!!! After that we continue to pray for no relapse and Erin will go on a monthly clinic visit schedule to get check ups. As you all know, it has been a long journey as we close in on the 7-month mark but we are thankful to have arrived at this point with hope that Erin is cured and can resume a semi-normal life! We recognize that there is still a long way to go but know that with God's help and your faithful prayer support we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel!

We pray God's richest blessings on each of you today and always! - Bill

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." - John 1:16

So Far, So Good....Home Tonight?

Hello friends.....Bill here,

Erin did pretty well yesterday and last night and there are several praises. The doctors were able to straighten out the loop in her port using a wire and get it oriented correctly late yesterday morning. Erin said it was not fun but it is way better than having to get it replaced. She received blood, had her second chemo dose in the early afternoon, had a late lunch and slept through most of the afternoon. Although she initially did not want any dinner, I think the smell of good food from Boston Market got her appetite going and she had a light dinner. No nausea...another praise! Laura visited for a while and then went to hear author William Young speak at Buckhead church. For those of you who have read "The Shack", you know what a cool book that is. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it as a great work of fiction that provides an interesting perspective on God (it's very sad and tough going in the first part, but a great read). I will be interested to hear about his talk from Laura.

Last night I thought we were going to get kicked out of our room for making too much noise! Amanda and Kyle came to hang out and Tom brought his backgammon set and between rousing backgammon games and flipping between Georgia baseball and Wipeout we got a little rowdy! I'm not sure what it says about us when we laugh so hard watching people on TV getting physically pummelled?? I told Erin we might have to stay tonight to watch Georgia in the final game since they got blown out last night...she said no way! So, we expect to get her last 3 hour dose at 1:00 pm and a single shot of the L-Asparaginase (the new drug) at 5:00 pm and should be released an hour later. Please pray for no reaction or side effects with the new drug so we can get home tonight. This morning Erin said that the rib pain is improved...yet another praise!

Janet was supposed to start back to work today which was a real emotional challenge for her to be away from Erin while she is still in the hospital. It turns out things were slow today at the baby factory so they let her go out on call (in case they need her) and she was able to come be with Erin at least for a while..... so that's another praise! Along with praying for Janet to have a smooth return to work, please pray that God will equip me to pick up more of the active support role for Erin over the next few weeks while she completes this round and recovers! Janet has set such a high standard of care, it will be hard to maintain. Fortunately, I know I will have family helping me and the awesome prayer support of all you dear friends to carry us through!

Sorry to be so long-winded...I will close for now and leave you with my favorite scripture which I have posted in the past but it remains the verse I refer to over and over again....


Blessings......Bill

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. " - Jeremiah 29:11

Tues 6/24

Dear Prayer Warriors, An early post for early concerns. Erin's central line is looped inside. They said they don't know how these things happen, but they need to fix it. So she will be going to radiology soon to get it adjusted. We don't know if they will have to sedate her to fix it. We have been so thankful not to have any "issues" with her line so far. The PA told us most people have multiple lines over the course of their treatment due to infection or other issues. Please pray this will be an easy fix. Hopefully they can run a wire into it to redirect it without anesthesia. Also, we got further word on the CT of her lung. The Dr said there is a little infection in the lower left lobe, so small they could barely see it. So another round of 2 antibiotics should take care of it. They actually weren't sure that it was related to her pain. They finally got her chemo running at 11 p.m. last night. She gets 4 doses of this drug and then the shot(s) of the new drug on Wed afternoon. We are still hoping she can go home Wed after the shot. But since they got started so late, it may mean another night in the hospital. Then we will do this all over again next Mon-Wed and we will be done. Erin is battling nausea as usual but otherwise seems to be doing fine. She walked her mile yesterday after the Dr told her that it would help the pneumonia. At this point I think she would do anything to be better and out of here! Thanks for the love and prayers. Please see us through to the finish line. And Vicki, I thnk Gatorade sounds like a splendid idea - on Bill of course! hugs, janet

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:3-6

Mon round 5

Dear Prayer Warriors, Round five is finally going to get started. They called us this morning to come in for a CT for the rib pain she has had all weekend. Then they called 15 minutes later and said they had a room for us also. Erin had her CT and now we are in room 601 and are all settled in and waiting for the chemo. She is also going to need blood because her H&H dropped since Fri. Please pray for decreased nausea and protection for her organs. Erin is feeling o.k. but scared as usual for the chemo. This round is 2 days now and 2 days next week and then we are done and can concentrate on recovery and regaining strength for the fall semester to start. Thank you all for your support and prayers. We depend on you all so much and are grateful for a loving God who surrounds us with friends like you. Blessings, janet

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

Thanks for helping us hold on!

Sun 6/22

Sunday, at home. Sorry to say we are still here on pins and needles, waiting for a bed at Emory. We know God's timing is best, so we are trying to wait patiently. It's very hard. Erin's rib pain is still there but has decreased a bit in intensity, thank you Lord. Erin was able to go to church and see everyone which was a great boost to her spirits. Two weeks in a row is some kind of record I think. Thanks for the prayers. We will let you know when we get started with round 5.
love, janet

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5

Sat Still at home

Sorry to say we are still home. No call yet from Emory. Erin has some pain under her ribs which we can't figure out. I called about it and they said to wait until admission to get it checked out unless she runs a fever. It's always something. They say if you're gonna worry about it, don't pray but if you're gonna pray about it, then don't worry. "They" obviously are not mothers. I can do both, pray and worry, multitasking is an artform! Thanks as always for the prayers. You all are marvelous to us. God is listening and definitely teaching us every step of the way. Please continue to pray for a room and rapid recovery following this last round. Unfortunately I have to go back to work on Wed. and will not be able to stare at Erin 24/7. I may have some serious withdrawl problems. So, if you catch me talking to myself, step back, I might just blow up. Seriously, giving up my caretaker roll may be harder than I expect. I could use prayers for that as well. love to all, janet

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:5-8