Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. They truly keep us lifted up. I think it was not a typo that Robin wrote Erin got a "God" nights sleep. We know He is blessing her rest. She slept well again last night. We are all taking turns sleeping on her floor next to her in case she needs something. I think it helps her rest better. She isn't feeling so great today yet. She has a nose bleed today that is worrying her. Her platelets were 59 on wed and 34 on thurs, so we figure they are very very low today. She is scheduled to go in tomorrow morning to the clinic so I know she'll need some platelets by then. A huge thank you to all of you who regularly give blood and platelets to the Red Cross. Erin is blessed by your generosity. Jesus said "It is more blessed to give than to receive." That is true, but Erin is very blessed to be receiving at this time!! You are literally saving lives by giving blood!! We are so grateful!
Please continue to pray for her remission. That is the next big step toward the transplant. She hasn't lost her hair yet but we know that is coming any day now, it took about 14 days last time from the first day of chemo. If you know Erin, you know she has really been measuring her hair growth and been very excited to finally see it grow. So it will be a devastating day when it falls out again. On the bright side, that means the chemo is doing it's work and that is what we need it to do. Please pray that her spirits stay high even on the low days. Thank you!! We hope you all have a blessed family day today. Huge praise, Kyle got a job yesterday. He will be the band director at Loganville Christian Academy!! WooHoo!! Love to you all, janet
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Home Sweet Home
Thanking God for the 10 hours of uninterrupted sleep in her own bed. Erin woke with very little nausea and the energy to take a quick shower. Now she is facing the bucket of pills!! I made her a tent (Stephen can imagine) over her mattress in the family room so the sun doesn't bake her. Takes us back to when the girls made tents all over the house with sheets and chairs! Fun. Anyway, thanks for the continued prayers for reduced side effects, complete remission and encouragement for the long haul ahead. We depend on the grace and mercy of our sweet Lord. Happy 4th of July. We are praying for "independence" from cancer!!
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9
This refining by fire stuff is not for wimps!! Glory to God!! janet
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3-9
This refining by fire stuff is not for wimps!! Glory to God!! janet
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Home!!!
Dear Prayer Warriors, Thanks for the prayers. We are home. The trip home seemed to last forever with the traffic and Erin's nausea. She is home being doted on by her sisters, laying on her bed in the middle of the family room. I have been running to a couple of pharmacies to find the unique meds they ordered for Erin. The dreaded "Posi" is hard to find! So we are just now settling in and ready to watch Dancing! Happy Birthday DL!! Happy 4th everyone! Praise the Lord with us for His unending mercy!! love to all, janet
Home today/Donor Found
Halleluia, we are supposed to go home today. Erin needs some blood first and we have to get all the ducks in a row as far as Rx and supplies. Thanks Jason and Jennifer for posting the sign on the Little Barn. That made me cry. Kim, thanks for the thought of getting more specific testing, but actually once you are on the registry they have all they need unless you come up on the computer search as a potential match, then they do further testing. However, yesterday afternoon the transplant coordinator called to say the donor they had picked out for her last time is still available. We didn't even know they narrowed it down to one donor last time. So we are set I guess. We don't know anything about the donor but that's the way they like it until you are a year out. So, Thank the Good Lord for his provision. Now we just have to get Erin into remission. They will do a bone marrow biopsy in a couple of weeks to check on that. Until then, the prayers are for no infections, no side effects, encouragement, and Remission. Thanks for taking the time to talk to God on Erin's behalf. It blesses us to know you are on our team petitioning the Great Physician for complete healing. We will post again later when we get out of this joint. hugs, janet
"Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." For this is what the high and lofty One says-he who lives forever, whose name is holy: :I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite....I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the Lord. "And I will heal them." Isaiah 57: 14-15, 18-19
"Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people." For this is what the high and lofty One says-he who lives forever, whose name is holy: :I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite....I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near," says the Lord. "And I will heal them." Isaiah 57: 14-15, 18-19
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
rough night
Dear Prayer Warriors,
Thanks for the prayers. Erin had a rough afternoon and night. The mylotarg they gave her yesterday came with a bunch of side effects that could potentially hit any time within the first 24 hours. So even though she did o.k. during the infusion, we weren't out of the woods. After lunch she was hit with a sudden powerful headache and huge stomach cramps. They were able to help the headache but the stomach ache lasted throughout the night. She said it was the worst night of her life. Yikes! But we are praising God this morning that she is feeling better! We are still hoping to go home soon, but we don't know exactly when. Her numbers bottomed out this morning. WBC are 0.3 which is as low as the machine can count. So her immune system is zero. We still welcome visitors, but don't come if you are sick or have been near anyone who is sick. Happy July! Please keep the prayers coming for a healthy and willing donor, few side effects, and
a spirit of hope for Erin. We love you all, janet
"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30: 4-5
Thanks for the prayers. Erin had a rough afternoon and night. The mylotarg they gave her yesterday came with a bunch of side effects that could potentially hit any time within the first 24 hours. So even though she did o.k. during the infusion, we weren't out of the woods. After lunch she was hit with a sudden powerful headache and huge stomach cramps. They were able to help the headache but the stomach ache lasted throughout the night. She said it was the worst night of her life. Yikes! But we are praising God this morning that she is feeling better! We are still hoping to go home soon, but we don't know exactly when. Her numbers bottomed out this morning. WBC are 0.3 which is as low as the machine can count. So her immune system is zero. We still welcome visitors, but don't come if you are sick or have been near anyone who is sick. Happy July! Please keep the prayers coming for a healthy and willing donor, few side effects, and
a spirit of hope for Erin. We love you all, janet
"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." Psalm 30: 4-5
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
last chemo day
Praise The Lord, Today is the last chemo day for this round. They just started the Mylotarg a few minutes ago. They had to premedicate her for this drug which worried her a bit. This drug is supposed to be a smart bomb. It only goes after the leukemia. Please pray for it to work well. After this we just wait for her counts to recover a bit so we can go home before the transplant. Erin slept well last night. They actually wrote an order for her not to be disturbed from 12-6. Why didn't we think of that before? Erin did her 21 laps yesterday with some crazy steps from Laura. Lunges, high marching steps, booty crunches etc. It was funny to see Bill doing the bunny hop. Laura entertained Erin yesterday with some Fourth of July toenail paint. Very stinky stuff but cute flags and fireworks. All in all, a good day. Thanks for the prayers, God is faithful in the details!!
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Prase the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." Psalm 103: 1-6
Thanks a million for all the prayers!! We have the best prayer team around!!
Go team!! hugs, janet
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Prase the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." Psalm 103: 1-6
Thanks a million for all the prayers!! We have the best prayer team around!!
Go team!! hugs, janet
Monday, June 29, 2009
Feeling Better!
Hey Ya'll..... Bill here,
After 4 pretty rough days, the doctor prescibed a dose of steroids yesterday and shortly afterward, Erin was up and eating breakfast! She walked her mile yesterday, played games with the family and visited with friends. Erin rediscovered her taste for fruit smoothies and Grandmommy and Aunty Jo had the great idea to get a single serving smoothie maker so that Erin can have a smoothie whenever she wants and I don't have to run all over the place trying to find one! After crossing the line with the fridge in the room, what's one more illegal device, right?? Yesterday evening, Jo brought a great meal and we had eight of us in this tiny little room all enjoying the great food. This morning Erin had a bagel and smoothie for breakfast followed by leftovers from yesterday's dinner. She definitely got her appetite back and we are thankful for answered prayers!!
Last night was my second stay with Erin and I thought I had done my job well and that we had a quiet evening.....evidently, I had a quiet evening but Erin did not. While she was feeling better, there were constant hourly interruptions and she did not get much rest. In addition, she said I was snoring and unresponsive when she tried to wake me....I think she is putting me on double secret probation and that I better shape up or she is going to bench me. I figured I better share this with you lest you hear it from someone else:))
"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer." - Ezra 8:23
Thank you all for your continued prayer support! Our prayer request is that Erin will continue to feel better, for the perfect bone marrow donor match for Erin, and for a miracle of healing for her.
Blessings..... - Bill
After 4 pretty rough days, the doctor prescibed a dose of steroids yesterday and shortly afterward, Erin was up and eating breakfast! She walked her mile yesterday, played games with the family and visited with friends. Erin rediscovered her taste for fruit smoothies and Grandmommy and Aunty Jo had the great idea to get a single serving smoothie maker so that Erin can have a smoothie whenever she wants and I don't have to run all over the place trying to find one! After crossing the line with the fridge in the room, what's one more illegal device, right?? Yesterday evening, Jo brought a great meal and we had eight of us in this tiny little room all enjoying the great food. This morning Erin had a bagel and smoothie for breakfast followed by leftovers from yesterday's dinner. She definitely got her appetite back and we are thankful for answered prayers!!
Last night was my second stay with Erin and I thought I had done my job well and that we had a quiet evening.....evidently, I had a quiet evening but Erin did not. While she was feeling better, there were constant hourly interruptions and she did not get much rest. In addition, she said I was snoring and unresponsive when she tried to wake me....I think she is putting me on double secret probation and that I better shape up or she is going to bench me. I figured I better share this with you lest you hear it from someone else:))
"So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer." - Ezra 8:23
Thank you all for your continued prayer support! Our prayer request is that Erin will continue to feel better, for the perfect bone marrow donor match for Erin, and for a miracle of healing for her.
Blessings..... - Bill