Remission

Today our doctor used this word to describe the effectiveness of Caleb's treatment.:)   Yes, we believe it is good news.  The Chemo is working so far.  Not that there hasn't been some side effect issues.  This week Caleb spent four days and three nights on two different trips at the Children's Hospital is Vegas.  He spiked a fever on Sunday and off to Vegas he and mom went.  But, Caleb was able to do two performances of the musical "Beauty and the Beast" last Saturday and made the choir concert on Thursday.  Caleb held down and led the Tenors as they sang among others a medley from "Phantom of the Opera."

Today, Friday, May 18th, we consulted with our wonderful Dr. Walsh and she gave Caleb what to expect the rest of the month.  He'll be getting treatments four days a week.  This may mean four days in Vegas.  Thankfully, school is out in two weeks.

Again the best news is that the Chemo is working.  Our next big decisions is whether to pursue a bone marrow transplant.  We will consult with the doctors at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the next few weeks to prepare ourselves.  We are praying we can avoid this and that the treatments will heal Caleb of all the Leukemia.  If the transplant is needed we will decide at the end of these intense four weeks of treatment.

We are continually amazed at the chain of prayer warriors that are lifting Caleb.  It seems every day I hear of another church group, individual or family telling me they are praying.

God is showing himself mighty in all of this!

I'm encouraged by the song based on Psalm 40-"I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined unto me.  He brought me out of the miry clay and set my feet on a rock.  Many are thy wonderful works which Thou hast done O Lord my  God.  Many are Thy wonderful works and I will speak of them."  I know its Caleb who is enduring the greatest of all of us-but I believe he is encouraged to know of those who are praying for him.      

Returning Home

Caleb was back home this week.  We allowed him to go to his music classes one day and he also went to a musical rehearsal.  His blood counts were very low so he received a blood transfusion on Thursday.  The doctor is still encouraged at the treatments.  In the next few weeks we will be looking into a stem cell transplant(aka bone marrow transplant).  If this is needed we most likely will go to UCLA Children's Hospital since Sarah's family will be close.  We would love to be able to avoid this treatment.  We are hoping the new medicine will do its work and God will give healing without the transplant.  Please continue to pray that God would do His perfect will in all of our lives.  We believe God has the power to heal!

Pray for Caleb-he is a bit down now that he realizes that things are just not the same.  He's trying to makeup as much work as he can-but his eye problem is still there and is making it hard to get things done for school.  The musical "Beauty and the Beast" is this week.  Caleb has a minor role but is hoping that he can do this part at least one of the performances.  Pray that he has the energy and can do it.  He really loves doing his role.  Hope all of you locals will be there:  Thursday, May 10th,  6:30 pm, Friday, May 11th, 7:00 pm, Saturday, May 12th, 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.

Thank you all for your wonderful support.  We truly appreciate all that you have done and especially the wonderful prayers.

A Long Day Ending in Singing to the Lord

Yesterday Caleb had a Chemo treatment, flew to Tucson, Arizona, had dinner with his buds for the first time since his diagnoses and sang with the 200 member all-state choir.  It was not easy for him.  He didn't get sick but got tired and had to lie down for a few minutes.  But, Sarah told me that as soon as the choir started to sing one of his favorites he jumped up and finished out the rehearsal.  We give praise to God for the answered prayer that he is even in Tucson.  We continue to pray that he will stay healthy while he is in Tucson.  With his white blood count down his immune system isn't functioning like it should-but God is in control.  He's already been able to live part of a dream.  Pray with us that he'll be able to complete the weekend.

Our doctor-Dr. Walsh- we really feel blessed to have been assigned to.  She is really wonderful and has a great compassion for her patients.  I think she knows that Caleb being there with his singing buddies was going to make a difference in these initial days of treatment.  Other doctors might have not seen it the same way.  But, whether he makes it through the rest of the rehearsals, we believe she's made the right decision for Caleb.

The kids are singing a Negro Spiritual at the festival that comes from words from Scripture-it goes like this-"Sing unto the Lord a New Song, Sing unto the Lord all the earth," from Psalm 96:1.  So, we sing during the bad and good times knowing God is Sovereign and knows the future.  May all of us live out this hope!

Prayers Answered

Thank you all who prayed that Caleb could be in Tucson on Thursday for all-state.  Our doctor, Dr. Lexi Walsh, felt like she could change his treatment schedule so that he could be treated on Thursday instead of Friday.  This will make it so Caleb can be there at nearly all of the rehearsals.  We need continual prayer that Caleb's stamina and strength will remain good up until and during the music festival. 

Caleb is officially enrolled in the study to be given the new treatment for his Leukemia.  The results of this new treatment so far have been really encouraging.  Please pray that the treatments are effective. 

Thank you all for your prayers and concerns-we greatly appreciate all of you. 

Caleb Is at His Second Home!

Today Caleb was finally discharged from the hospital.  After a lumbar puncture and chemo treatments he went home with Sarah to the Ronald McDonald House for the rest of the week.  We praise the Lord for the excellent care that Caleb recieved so that he would be strong enough to get back to semi-normal. 

We heard some scarry news and then some really good news that made the scarry news way less scarry.:)   Caleb has the Philadelphia chromosome type of Leukemia.  15 years ago this was very bad news and the prognosis was not very good.  But, there are new chemo treatments that are having excellent results in stopping this particular type of Leukemia.  We were encouraged to know that there are many people who have recieved this new treatment that are cancer free. The results (so far) are very encouraging.   But, since the treatment is new the long term results are still not known for sure. 

Continue to pray for Caleb that these treatments will be exactly what he needs to get rid of this disease.

We are still hopeful that Caleb can make it to all-state next weekend-but pray that it will be the right thing for him at this point in his journey. 

Thanks you for all you prayers!

These verses have been encouraging to us throught this great trial:

Psalm 40:1-3
 ¹I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
 ²He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
 ³And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Continued Progress for Cal

We've had a great week and Caleb continues to respond postively to treatment.  Please pray that we can work out his all-state participation.  Right now he is listening to a Monteverde Madrigal.  It is the least exciting of the pieces that they will be doing next week.  Caleb is in good spirits and is now checking facebook on his own.  We've been able to get a device that makes it really easy for him to communicate with his friends and family.  

God willing he leaves the hospital on Saturday or Sunday.  He will stay in Vegas until his journey to Tucson for all-state.  After that hopefully he will be able to return home and maybe even go to school a couple of days a week. 

All of these things we pray in God's perfect will.

Again, thank you all for how you have lifted us up in prayer and Spirit.  We have been touched in a way that we cannot express in words. 

Again, God encourages us through the words of the Psalms:
Psalm 125:1-3

¹They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

 ²As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

Mohave High School-A Place of Caring

"A Place of Caring" would really have to be an understatement.  Today I was overwhelmed with the support and love poured out by our student body.  There has been some negative press about our school--but I just won't believe it.  After the incredible show of support and love for my son-I can't imagine a better group of kids for Caleb to be spending time with .  Many of my students have showed heartfelt compassion for Caleb's situation.  I'm saying this for Caleb and all of my family:  We truly feel like we can climb this mountain.  On Friday I didn't know how we could do it-but today I know we can do this as a throng of people who care at Mohave High School are lifting us up!  God is Good!

Caleb had another day of getting stronger.  He was up and about and tomorrow they'll put in a line that will make him more mobile as he is treated.  He's on his way out of the ICU and will have much more independence from now on.  Continue to pray for his recovery!