Unexplainable?! We Know Better!

Getting her chemo started 

Still able to smile!

 This morning at 2:00 a.m., Anna received her last two hour dose of Busulfan, which has been administered four times a day for four days. Today she will begin her two days of Cyclophosphamide, a more extreme chemo drug that is given only once a day. After tomorrow, Anna will be done with "conditioning". Conditioning is the term used for the six days of intense, high dose chemo therapy that prepares or conditions the body to be able to accept the bone marrow which will be given on Friday.

After a few days, not feeling so well..but still smiling!

Thursday will be Anna's "day of rest"; however, Daniel will be busy with appointments at S.C.C.A. all day. Daniel will get the last minute check-ups and blood draws to make sure he is ready for the marrow harvest. He is so excited! People keep asking if he is nervous, and I honestly have to say that he isn't!

Anna has kept a positive attitude throughout this process though she has been feeling worse as the days go by. Her vision has been blurred making it difficult to be up walking around as well as to read. This has been a source of frustration for her.  Also, her nausea has been pretty bad, making it difficult to eat food. Some of the anti-nausea meds make her really sleepy.

Yesterday I stopped in to deliver a couple of books to Craig and give Anna a kiss and hug. Emotions ran a bit high, so I stayed longer than I had expected. I held my baby girl for as long as she needed. I was able to help her get freshened up and then we sat on her bed together and watched as a storm passed over us. It was beautiful to watch. From the strike of lightening to the down pour, to the sun breaking through once again. I told her how beautiful a picture that was for us. That through the storms of life, God is always there shining His light.

Anna was excited to get gummy bears from Irv (at church), delivered by Michael. She eagerly opened them and had a few~ an amazing feat since food is not very appetizing right now. Thank you Irv!!  We sat and enjoyed each other's company for a little while until she got sleepy. Again tears, I laid down next to her in her bed and held her in my arms, promising to stay by her side for as long as she needed me. Sometimes a mommy's arms is the best place to fall asleep. I am thankful for that time. Right now we live life moment by moment. A "quick trip" to the hospital can easily turn into a couple of hours or more. But that's okay. This is just for a season, and though it's difficult for the younger children to understand, they do know that their sissy is very sick and has extra needs right now. I hear it in their prayers as they ask God to "help Anna not have cancer anymore".


~"The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
I must share about the doctor's rounds yesterday..... Dr. Woolfrey and the P.A. come in the mornings for rounds. They read off Anna's numbers from the blood work that has been done and Craig asked about Anna's liver numbers. The Dr. said that Anna's numbers were amazingly perfect! She said it was completely UNEXPLAINABLE! (you see, we know that her enzymes had been bad back in January due to the TKI's, or cancer drugs, but her bilirubin remained elevated and actually climbed a bit while her liver was supposed to be "cooling off". Well, this made them think she may have something called "Gilbert's (pronounced jheel-bahyers) syndrome" which is actually common and just means her liver has issues processing the red blood cells. This was not a concern regarding the transplant so we had gotten the green light to move forward.) Well, Craig responded to Dr. Woolfrey's comment of the "unexplainable" perfect liver numbers with, "This is totally explainable Doctor, we literally have people from around the world praying specifically for Anna's liver! God has answered those prayers!"

What a great testimony of God's handiwork through the prayers of righteous people from all over the world! Thank you all for your diligence in praying for Anna! This brings great joy to my heart knowing we can share such things with the doctors and nurses whom we hope to spread the light of Christ with at every opportunity!

My exhortation to each of you today is to seize the moment! Take each opportunity to vocalize God's goodness to all you come in contact with! Share the light of Christ, pray for lost souls to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus! Especially in the storms of life, the darkest clouds can cover that light, but you don't have to let that happen...you can allow His light to shine through you and spread that hope to everyone!

Enjoying her gummy bears!

**Please pray for my father-in-law, Larry, he is currently in the hospital in Astoria, OR. We are unsure what is wrong with him, but know that he received 3 units of blood last night. Pray for wisdom from the doctors and for Craig in knowing when he may need to head down there to see him! Thank you all!**

Asleep in her mommy's arms.