Letter from James
05/21/2006
5/21/2006 1:52 PM
My heart is at peace, full and spilling over, this morning.
About three days ago Sydney was listless, had a fever, not eating, and her lungs seemed to be deteriorating. It was clear the Doctors were worried about pneumonia. Within twelve hours her condition began to turn for the better. By Friday evening, we were having a pizza party in her room with all her brothers.
Earlier that day we had met with the doctors. The diagnosis was Mylo Dysplasia-refractory anemia with excess blast-monosomy 7. These meetings are terrifying. Until the thought crosses my mind, and He reminds me that God is going to get us to the other side.
Early this week I read in the gospels were Jesus told the disciples to get into the boat because; they were going to the other side. (Matt 8:23-27, Luke 8:22-25, Mark 4:35-41) A storm arose and the boat was about to sink. Jesus was asleep in the front of the boat. The apostles woke him and said, "don't you even care that we are about to drown". Jesus then calmed the storm. Jesus took them to the other side. The main point in this story to me, is that when the Creator of everything says he is going to get you to the other side; you are going to the other side.
I was sinking a little, that evening at the pizza party. We hadn't received much encouraging news from the Doctors that day. I looked up and there was a couple with two children standing in the doorway. I was not in the mood for visitors but, I headed to the door. We did not know this family. We have yet to figure out what mutual friend told them about us. I couldn't figure out what they were doing here. Then the husband pointed at has beautiful eleven year old daughter, Mollie, and said she was on this very floor just one year earlier. She had full blown AML. That today was her one year anniversary of being cancer free. What a breath of fresh air. The Lord keeps showing up in unexpected ways.
Saturday, they said if Sydney is stable, she can go home. Just before noon the Doctor came in and said we could go home. We started emptying the room as fast as possible. Sydney gave away a few things to other kids on the floor. Then the doctor came in and said her fever was back up to 100. You have to wait two hours to see if it it goes back down. We ate lunch and piddled around. Two hours finally passed. Temperate good. We ran out of there.
We had great afternoon. That evening, I was in bed with all four kids, watching a movie, when I feel asleep.
We head back to the hospital this afternoon. Sydney will have a small operation Monday to put a port in. Chemo starts Tuesday.
Please pray for . . .
- Sydney to be healed
- the Doctors to come up with the perfect game plan and that they all whole heartedly agree on.
- a perfect bone marrow donor match, from one of her brothers.
- God's continued strong presence, strength and comfort in our lives.
- Sydney to have no difficult side effects from the chemo.
Grateful to you,
James
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you.
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