I've been negligent in posting updates lately. I suppose its because thankfully there isn't much to report. January 9 was our "cancer-iversary". Our diagnose date, one year ago. Looking back at all that he went through (and Facebook "helpfully" reminds me with memories), I continue to be in awe of what God sustained us through. Thank you again for all of you that walked with us in the valley and prayed for us and encouraged us with notes, texts, meals, and other great acts of service.
Jonathan continues to do well. He had another series of ultrasounds the last week of December on his belly (where all the tumors were) and it continues to be clear. He has some scar tissue on his liver but thankfully no evidence of any new cancer. They ran a full blood panel last week. His basic blood counts were completely normal. They did a ton of tests looking at his antibodies and other details of how his immune system is doing. I haven't received a call yet with official results but I've seen some of the results being posted to our patient portal. His immune system isn't back to full strength yet. They're looking at his antibodies to all the childhood vaccines he's had and he may need to be re-immunized to some of them. The chemo did such a great job knocking down his immune system that he may have lost the antibodies gained through vaccines. Other than that, Jonathan is continuing to grow and thrive. The doctor showed me his growth chart. Before he got sick, he was always around 90% height. During his treatment and afterwards, he fell off his curve down to almost the 50% height. Every month he's grown and he's close to being back on the 90% line. His weight remains a little low but its normal for him...both my kids have always been in the tall/skinny camp. We're getting out and fully enjoying our "first" Colorado winter. We've been through one but just watched it out the window of the hospital. The kids love playing in the snow. We think we'll wait another year before introducing them to skiing. They will re-run basic blood tests next month. March will be another series of ultrasounds. April will be our 1 year of remission mark! Then our monthly check ups start spacing out. Every month we get further into remission, the odds of the cancer coming back are dropping. The magic mark at which the cancer can't come back is between 15-18 months so we're getting closer to that. Our trust, though, is not in doctors and statistics but in God. If the cancer returns, we know that God will be faithful to walk with us and sustain us again. The last few months have brought loss and new life to those we love. We lost an amazing woman who stood in the gap for our family throughout the treatment. She was on a plane and in our home watching our daughter within a day of Jonathan's diagnosis. I shed a lot of tears at her celebration of life service but with grief, I also find myself focusing on gratitude that she was in our lives. "The Lord gave and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21 Another dear friend is unexpectedly pregnant and we rejoice with her in the new life she's carrying. Its easy to get caught up in the turmoil and hand wringing going on in our country over the new president. Yet God continues to remind us that He is in control. Bad things will happen. Joyful things will happen. Throughout it all, we place our trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ. So I leave you with this verse of encouragement, Hebrews 4:15-16 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. God bless you!
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AuthorOur family has been through non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with our 4 year old and throughout it all we felt God's presence. My life verse is Romans 8:28. "God works all things together for good..." Archives
February 2017
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