To your family, from this family....
December 13, 2011
December 10, 2011
Biopsy Results
It was taking a little longer than I wanted it to. So, when we hadn't heard anything about Ethan's bone marrow biopsy last Friday (12/2), I e-mailed the office coordinator the following Thursday (12/8). I know, I'm not very patient. But I knew they had to have the results back by then since it only took about 36hrs to process in the lab. The coordinator said she would check with our doctor to make sure it was ok for her to give us the results.
I received an email later that afternoon stating that Ethan's marrow showed no leukemia (huge praise!!) and that the number of cells with MDS/Monosomy 7 was about 10% (about the same as his last biopsy in August). They want to continue his monthly blood work and repeat a biopsy in 3-4 months.
All of that to say that we still don't really have any answers. Doctors are uncertain why his levels went down, and have stayed down. One possible explanation is that the partial immune suppressant therapy he received in July (when he was being treated for Aplastic Anema), allowed his marrow to "reset" and make mostly healthy cells to sustain his body. However, they aren't sure, because patients with MDS/Monosomy 7 are not usually treated with immune suppressant therapy. Another, very likely explanation is that God has provided an unusual season of health and rest for our family. He has given Ethan great strength and joy...
...and we are so humbled, and thankful to be where we are.
I was reminded by the doctor we saw Friday at Vanderbilt that they still fully expect him to need a transplant at some point. We don't know if they would give him the immune suppressant therapy again, just to see if it would lower his percentage again or not; we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The same doctor also reminded me that Ethan is a ticking time bomb for leukemia, and there is no way to predict when it might happen.
For now, we'll take these new, but same results with gratitude. There is comfort in the familiar. Thankful for the three months of health and strength Ethan has had, while praying for more months. We'll take each day, one at a time, trusting God to sustain Ethan. It is certainly a battle of the heart and mind to speak this Truth to my heart each day, but I have to because joy is at stake. And to have true joy and peace from Jesus Christ is worth me giving up my worries.
Thank you for rejoicing and praying!! Hoping there is time in heaven for us to sit down with each of you and truly express our gratitude:)
Journeying On,
I received an email later that afternoon stating that Ethan's marrow showed no leukemia (huge praise!!) and that the number of cells with MDS/Monosomy 7 was about 10% (about the same as his last biopsy in August). They want to continue his monthly blood work and repeat a biopsy in 3-4 months.
All of that to say that we still don't really have any answers. Doctors are uncertain why his levels went down, and have stayed down. One possible explanation is that the partial immune suppressant therapy he received in July (when he was being treated for Aplastic Anema), allowed his marrow to "reset" and make mostly healthy cells to sustain his body. However, they aren't sure, because patients with MDS/Monosomy 7 are not usually treated with immune suppressant therapy. Another, very likely explanation is that God has provided an unusual season of health and rest for our family. He has given Ethan great strength and joy...
...and we are so humbled, and thankful to be where we are.
I was reminded by the doctor we saw Friday at Vanderbilt that they still fully expect him to need a transplant at some point. We don't know if they would give him the immune suppressant therapy again, just to see if it would lower his percentage again or not; we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The same doctor also reminded me that Ethan is a ticking time bomb for leukemia, and there is no way to predict when it might happen.
For now, we'll take these new, but same results with gratitude. There is comfort in the familiar. Thankful for the three months of health and strength Ethan has had, while praying for more months. We'll take each day, one at a time, trusting God to sustain Ethan. It is certainly a battle of the heart and mind to speak this Truth to my heart each day, but I have to because joy is at stake. And to have true joy and peace from Jesus Christ is worth me giving up my worries.
Thank you for rejoicing and praying!! Hoping there is time in heaven for us to sit down with each of you and truly express our gratitude:)
Journeying On,
December 6, 2011
Guess Who is 2?
CAUTION: lots of pictures!
I am very aware that not everyone who reads this, or graciously receives blog update emails desires to know about all these little details in our life. So thank you for being patient with me. You see this blog is more like my journal or scrapbook (although I haven't given up on actual scrapbooking yet). I would like to believe that someday my kids would want to go back and read my journal from their childhood (I know this might not be a realistic expectation, but one can hope). So I do often post little thoughts, lots of pictures and, most importantly, evidence of God's hand at work; so thanks for being patient!
We celebrated Sunday night with family and had a fantastic time. They ate up the attention and were spoiled by grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends. If you need some baby toys, you might check out KARM this weekend because we will be making a delivery of our preciously loved toys:)
*A special thanks to Lindsey who became our photographer for the evening and allowed me to host and play instead of worry about capturing each moment. THANK YOU!
Journeying On,
December 2, 2011
Biopsy Complete
Ethan and I traveled to Nashville today for his long awaited bone marrow biopsy. He did great! Was so patient and well behaved for a 2 year old that had to wait several hours and ride in the car for 6 hours.
So now we...
It's hard to believe that a small sample of blood and marrow can determine so much. The results of Ethan's test today will provide direction for our family in the upcoming year. As we wait, we know that there are three possibilities. His cells could look perfectly normal. His cells could look worse. His cells could look the same. Whatever the results, we hope the Lord has chosen to heal him of MDS and Monosomy 7. And whatever the results, we expect our God to glorify his great name; whatever that means for our family.
Thank you for praying with us, for investing in us, for journeying with us. It is a humble honor to walk beside so many of you.
Journeying On,
 |
| Playing |
 |
| Resting (for about 2 seconds) |
 |
| Waking up after a GOOD nap:) |
So now we...
It's hard to believe that a small sample of blood and marrow can determine so much. The results of Ethan's test today will provide direction for our family in the upcoming year. As we wait, we know that there are three possibilities. His cells could look perfectly normal. His cells could look worse. His cells could look the same. Whatever the results, we hope the Lord has chosen to heal him of MDS and Monosomy 7. And whatever the results, we expect our God to glorify his great name; whatever that means for our family.
Thank you for praying with us, for investing in us, for journeying with us. It is a humble honor to walk beside so many of you.
Journeying On,
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