Today is day 3 of Caleb's treatment for leukemia. I wonder if we told you all that yet. In all of the rush and bustle with the surgery and it's complications, that part has kind of been lost. Today I began to think more about chemotherapy and all that will mean for Caleb. I'm trying to take a little bit at a time, which is most wise, but I'm currently very aware of the long road ahead for him and us.
Chemotherapy will last for 2 years and 32 days, if there are no bumps or changes in his status of "standard risk." The hardest part will likely be these 32 days we are in right now. I really hope it is. For 32 days he will receive various forms of medecine, all aimed at either reducing or blasting the blasts in his blood, and any that could potentially form elsewhere (like in his CSF). We may be able to do 2/3 of this time as outpatient. I'm hopeful that will be the case, although these past few days have shown me just what all can happen.
The whole course of the chemotherapy treatment is divided up into phases. We're in the prophase (before it really starts, although he's getting steroids right now). Tomorrow we'll be in the remission induction phase, which lasts for 32 days. After the 32 days, the doctors will test Caleb's marrow and hope to find no blasts, which they'd call "remission." You can begin to pray for that now! After remission, the 2 years of chemo following are all aimed at keeping Caleb in remission. It feels to me sort of like reinforcements--maybe sandbags against a flood? There must be a better analogy. Some of the phases of chemo will require us to be in hospital, but most of it should allow us to be home together. We'll be making regular trips to Mac for a long time.
I am most impresssed with the study and research that has gone into beating leukemia. We have heard so many amazing stories of healing. We treasure these stories. I have been able to connect with a few families who's children, now grown, fought leukemia when they were small. Tears of shared pain have healing power and give strength. Thank you.
Caleb had a good day, all things considered. It is not easy. He had his chest tube removed this morning, which gives him more freedom of movement. He can't really get out of bed right now, and frankly, he's so exhuasted that he probably shouldn't. I have come home for the night, hard to do, but Tim is staying with Caleb tonight. The PICU (we're still there) doesn't have cots for parents and so it means a night in a chair. I'm trusting and hoping that Tim can sleep anywhere, and praying hard that Caleb can have a good night's sleep. Thank you for your prayers.
J
3 comments:
Thank-you for the information/update. We are praying, our church is praying, and we will keep praying. This made me think of Psalm 56:8 (ESV) "You have kept count of my tossings;put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" God knows your struggle right now, and he remembers you in all your pain. May you come to know that grace more and more as you go through these times.
I like the word remission. As for the treatment phases, you know well the concept of still taking it all one day at a time. Yet, with your explanation, it helps the rest of us know for what and how to pray. Be brutally honest with us all if you have to. There are many listening hearts.
May sleep come quickly tonight for you - and with little or no cramps in the neck for Tim. A special prayer of blessing to your in-laws as they care for and love your girls.
You are loved. Mom's Bible had the passage in Lamentations 3:19-23 underlined. The summary? Our sorrow will not consume us, for our God is faithful. His faithfulness guides our hope.
God will be up all night again. He never slumber nor sleeps. That's our job, the sleeping part.
spot
hi jess,
not sure if you would remember me or not (from redeemer), but anj directed me to your site and i want you to know i'm praying for your family.
my older brother passed away from leukemia when i was little, and i know that in that 25 years since then SO MUCH has been done in the research and treatments!! i believe that if he was growing up in 2010, he would have access to so much more than he did then. i just KNOW that your family's story is going to be different than ours! keep your faith strong.
glad to know you have a great support network in your family and church family... they will be your lifeline. may god heap blessings upon your heads in the days and months to come!
hayley morgan
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