Praising and Praying

Saturday afternoon Ethan had his 3rd blood test this week and his platelet count was still high enough to avoid a transfusion.  Although it's still dropping, the pace has slowed a bit.  Our doctor has been in correspondence this week with Vanderbilt, and he received an email late Thursday night that he printed out to share with us. 

They have scheduled a consult appointment for Ethan on August 3rd, which would be a day-trip to Nashville for some preliminary testing and paperwork.  If they have a cancellation on July 27th, we could go next week. This consultation is based on the fact the transplant coordinator has "reserved VERY good cord units for him."  This is very encouraging news to our ears.  Although we don't yet know anything about these matches, we have hope that they  have found good prospects. We do know that the matches they do have are cord blood units (blood banked from a newborn's umbilical cord blood). 

Ethan will continue to be monitored closely by his doctor at Children's Hospital until our consultation.  I am so very thankful that he still loves to play, run and tackle his sister even when he is so sick.  The Lord has kept his PICC line working, his platelets acceptable and our hearts encouraged this week.  We pray the same for the weeks to come.

Although we still have lots of questions and many unknowns, we do feel encouraged and hopeful. We are so very overwhelmed and blessed by your cards, encouragement, prayers and for the blood and DNA samples given in Ethan's name.

Journeying On,
Sara (and Jared)