Fasten Your Seat Belts, As We Prepare For Takeoff!

Anna-Renee Ruth Houston

The ball is rolling and it's momentum is a bit faster than we had expected! So here is a recap:

Last week Anna came to me and said, "Mom, I think it's time." Her side effects were getting unbearable again. Craig called and left a message for Dr. Irwin on Friday. Monday, he called to let us know that he had made the call to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and he expected to hear back from them by Tuesday. He said he would call us when he heard anything and that he would see us on Wednesday. Tuesday, every time the phone rang, we all jumped to get it. Dr. I never called. Wednesday, we set out for Anna's appointment stopping off to get a frozen yogurt treat. With Craig being in California for the week we decided to try Face Time through Anna's laptop...it worked and Craig got to be a part of the appointment. Dr. Irwin asked all of the usual questions and then shared with us what S.C.C.A. had said. It seems they had an open slot on the 18 th! They didn't say a month so logic told us that that meant THIS month!!! S.C.C.A. had tried to get a hold of Craig, too, so he would make the call back after the appointment. Apparently they weren't available by the time he did get to make the call so he expected to hear from them yesterday (Thursday). After her appointment, Dr. Irwin scheduled an appointment for the 20th, just in case, but said he doubted that he'd see her again until after transplant. The goodbyes were a bit somber yet hopeful. The nurses all said their goodbyes and made Anna promise she'd let them all know how she is doing. This is truly a family of families when you see them just about every week for six months. After Thursday's call we have confirmation that Anna has her appointment set for Tuesday, March 19. That is 11 days from now!! It's hard to explain just how you can be anxious and yet at perfect peace all at the same time, but that's exactly where I am at right now. 

So what does this all mean? What all will be happening and when? Well, we expect a packet of instructions to come in from Seattle soon. But what we do know now, is that first of all, Anna must not hug people anymore! (You all at church know what I mean!) She must wear a mask now and, as Dr. Irwin put it, "Where you were careful before, it's time to become paranoid." This is VITAL! Anna will spend two full days of intense scans of her body as they look at every organ and search every nook and cranny of her body for any signs of hidden pockets of infection, and they will insert a pic line in her chest from which they will draw blood from as well as put in the bone marrow etc.. Any infection found will delay transplant. Anna will then receive 3-5 days worth of extremely high dose chemotherapy. After all of this, she will be injected with her new bone marrow. It will take weeks for her body to start producing this marrow in her bones and she will be monitored closely. Once released from hospital care, she will live with us close by the hospital and S.C.C. A.. She will still need to be seen daily. This process will take around 100 days. (adding on the preliminary stuff will make it more than 100 days).

We are standing on our Rock for strength!

We are currently scrambling to get things in order here at home as we also look for a place in Seattle. Craig has possibly found a couple of rental houses, but to be able to pay for them is another story. We trust that God will guide and direct us and that He will make this possible!  We desire to have as much time together as possible in the next.....week....wow, that's soon. Our time with Anna is precious. Our hearts are filled with fear of what could be, but also of hope with what God can do! I don't know if this makes any sense to you all, but that's the sum of it just the same. We know and trust that God's ways are higher than our ways and that He will do His perfect will. We covet your prayers and seek your understanding in these last few days of "normal" family time. Thank you.

Houston's Stick Together!