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| Dr. Woolfrey |
Yesterday Daniel had his appointments at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to make sure he was physically ready for the bone marrow harvesting. He was cleared! (That's the reason for the thumbs up with Dr. Ruiz-Gutierrez) Dr. Woolfrey will be the one doing the harvest today, and Dr. Ruiz-Gutierrez will be assisting her. Dr. Burroughs is the one who had originally checked Daniel in at Children's, and Christa is a precious Christian lady who works in the child life area of S.C.C.A.. After his appointments, Craig took Daniel for a special Dad and son lunch. Daniel ordered bleu cheese top sirloin steak, you know to get that iron up! The wait staff gave them free appetizers when they found out that he was donating his bone marrow to his sister! He is indeed our hero! His willingness, yea, his eagerness has been a great testimony to so many!
Daniel's surgery will take place this afternoon and then Anna will receive the fresh marrow soon after. Daniel's recovery time will be about a month as he will be restricted from rough housing and wrestling around to protect his pelvis. The pelvis will be fragile as it will have between 200-300 holes in it that could shatter the bone if he were to take a blow to it. He will also be very sore for a couple of weeks. However, his hospital stay will only be a few hours.
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| Dr. Ruiz-Gutierrez |
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| Dr. Lauri Burroughs |
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| Christa Peterson |
We are very proud of Daniel as well as all of our children for being willing to make this sacrifice for their sister. We pray that all will go well with the transplant process. The process takes several weeks to complete. The easiest part will be getting the bone marrow put in. This will be administered through Anna's Hickman line. The hard part, as well as the most life threatening part, is the grafting process. Daniel's stem cells will have the journey of accepting Anna's body as it's own, and Anna's body will have the task of receiving Daniel's stem cells as it's own. This will be a long and drawn out time. The risk of liver failure or lung failure is very real during this process through a problem called graft versus host disease. We pray this will not be an issue for Anna. A little gvh is expected and even good as Daniel's immune system will become Anna's.
Anna still has a long road ahead of her. It will be some time before she feels like her old self again. I am encouraged though. Yesterday, as I walked down the hall, I saw many of the sick teens walking around with a bit of a bounce to their step. It's encouraging to see that Anna will start to feel better. Even if it takes a little bit more time and a lot more prayers. Which is where you all have been a help to us and a blessing! We know you are praying! We feel God's presence. His comfort has been surrounding us from the beginning. His faithfulness has abounded. The joy of the Lord is our strength. He has used His people to uphold us and to encourage us through every aspect of this journey! We have not had to walk this path alone! Nor will we have to continue on this path alone. Thank you all! And........
HAPPY TRANSPLANT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Free! appetizers for the HERO!! |
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| Dad And Daniel having a special lunch |
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| Happy Transplant Day!! |
What a wonderful testimony! We will be praying for you all and for your specific requests. Thank you so much for sharing your journey.
ReplyDeleteThe Hilsons
We can only praise our mighty Lord. The Lord is our light and our salvation. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
ReplyDeletePraying fervently! And waiting knowing that our God is mighty! "Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone." Psalm 86:8-10
ReplyDeleteLove you all!
Sarah S.
Daniel, I am very impressed by your willingness and excitement to sacrifice for your sister. You are an example to me. I pray that your recovery will be a speedy one, as I know not moving around a whole lot will be hard for you.:) Love you bro.
ReplyDelete"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies."-that includes cancer (Psalm 18:1-3). I love you guys.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.(John 15:13-14)
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for your speedily recovery and that the surgery will go well. I appreciate your example of sacrifice for your sister.
praying for Anna, Daniel and the rest of your family.
ReplyDelete~Sherri Wachowiak (Rick Potvin's sister)
Our prayers are many and long today as we are t-minus 1 hour until Daniel's procedure! We will be praying for him and his comfort throughout the process, and praying today and for many months for Anna's body's acceptance of Daniel's bone marrow and vice versa. I love you guys so much and pray for the continued support, comfort and peace for each and every one of you as you begin the acceptance and recovery phase of this life-saving operation.
ReplyDeleteMuch love and prayers,
Gilead Rose
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
Psalm 3:5-10
Praying for all of your family, but especially Daniel and Anna (and their parents!). Your family has been a blessing to us, and we pray for a speedy recovery for Daniel and steady progress for Anna.
ReplyDeleteDan & Janet Abbott
Praying much here!!! It always amazes me every time I learn new intricate facts about how God created our bodies... and then to know that He entrusts that knowledge and wisdom with folks so that they can help others in need. Humbling. Thank you for sharing this with us. Anna, thank you for allowing us to share in your journey like this. ((HUG))!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Daniel, for being there for Anna! I'll be praying that you will be just as willing to take care of yourself and lay low from the roughhousing with the guys... I know that will be hard for you... and for all the guys, too. :)
I love all of you! Counting down the days till you are all together again! Hugs to all, Grace
Daniel,
ReplyDeleteI know I have teased you about how ornery you have been lately but please know that we have been praying and will continue to pray for you! You are a brave and honorable man. I will be praying that your bone marrow will give Anna the immune system that she needs. Praying that God will continue to protect her body and that she will again be healthy and strong. That you will have the recovery that you need and that God will help you through this transplant.
Love Mrs. Harper Hebrews ll:6.
I woke up early this morning praying for Anna. Just read this to everybody at 12;10 just as Daniel is being prepped. We all prayed together, Grandpa too. We love you all and praise the Lord for being with you during this time.
ReplyDelete"O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God." Praying for you guys.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, we are so blessed by your willingness to suffer for Anna, as I know all your siblings would also have been happy to do. We are praying for you to heal quickly and for your bone marrow to do its job quickly as well. We agree with Jackie, that you are a brave and honorable man. We love you and are proud to call you friend.
ReplyDeleteAnna, we are also praying for you. Your smile and wonderful attitude are such a testimony of the inward beauty you possess. You make us think of the teabag illustration. When you are put in hot water, what comes out of your teabag? We are not surprised at what we are seeing come out of you. We love you and are proud to call you friend as well.
Praying fervently for you all!
Daniel is a strong man... i read that Daniels immune system will become anna's... an i got to thinking of stories you have told me about his strong personality when he was young... ;) and... i have high hopes! ;) its kind of neat to think about them being so closely connected! i wonder what it would feel like share the same marrow... (not that i like the situation at hand, but it was kind of an interesting thought...) it takes "Houstons stick together" to a whole new level... tell that marrow that the rule is "Houston stick together"... sorry if it sounds like im making light of it..... my thoughts kinda spill out some times:)
ReplyDeletei will be praying for Daniel to be healthy and safe after his surgery... hugs! ~Ray ray
Our family is praying today, too. We pray the Lord's protection over Daniel as he goes through his surgery. And for Anna as her body receives the new bone marrow. And for you and Pastor Craig as you watch your children go through these medical procedures.
ReplyDeleteYou are an amazing family, and the Lord's grace shines through!
Happy 3rd Birthday, Anna!!! :-)
Love you all, Suemes :-)
The Conifer Ridge Bible Study group prayed for the entire family last night but especially for Anna and Daniel. Y'all are such an inspiration to us all. My neighbor and I also got together and prayed. We love and will continue to be vigilant in our prayers. Remember you are always in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteJan Broxton
We love you Daniel you are a hero, we are praying for you as well as your sweet sister Anna we will continue our vigilant prayers please know that you are all so special to Ron and I Houston family! God is a Miracle maker and we are going to shout from the roof tops and sing His praise!!! The Isom's from Astoria
ReplyDeleteDaniel,
ReplyDeleteYou're a REAL trooper. I'm so thankful that the Lord is using you to be able to help your sister Anna. Continuing to keep both of you in prayer.
God Bless you,
Mr. Potvin
Pr. 3:5-6