Update from Elaine

Friday started off with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. After three days straight of this, Kate and I were both discouraged and teary. She had to once again resort to the anti-nausea medication that knocks her out. As I've shared before, the majority of days Kate is positive and very intentional about focussing on living each day to the fullest and forces cancer to take a back seat to living life. I reminded Kate that she's more than entitled to having down days where she lets her guard down and releases the emotions of sadness, frustration and even anger. In her weariness she shared that on tough days like this, she wonders what she has gotten herself into and is it all worth it. It breaks my heart to watch her go through all that goes with the treatment of cancer. We sat together on the bed and prayed as she drifted off to that heavy medication induced sleep.

Psalm 10:17 says: "You hear, O Lord , the desire of the afflicted and you encourage them and you listen to their cry."
God did indeed hear our cry and in His infinite mercy about a hour and a half later encouraged us when the stem cell doctor made his rounds. I asked him what we could do about the nausea. He was very proactive and determined a game plan that we all think should make a difference. He then shared the great news that Kate's WBC count had turned around.
~Praise - once again, for still another answer to a very specific request you have lifted up.
Yesterday's count was .1 today was .3!! With the turn in counts he stopped the two antibiotics which should decrease the stomach distress and improve the diarrhea. When he asked if there was anything else we thought would help, Kate replied "going home". He responded with the best news, that they had been discussing this and that they were considering a weekend discharge. They will monitor various blood levels through the night, to determine if she needs to go home again on IV fluids, and given that Kate remains fever free we are hoping to get home Saturday or Sunday.
Request: Please ask that in our anxiousness to go home, that we will trust and wait on God's perfect timing. We don't want to get home and have to come back via the ER and be admitted again.

God also encouraged us once more by the special people he surrounds us with. The afternoon brought a visit with Pastor John which always brings good conversation, laughter and encouragement. Tonight Kate's friend Brandon's parents and sisters visited. Brandon's parents determined I needed to get out for dinner and his sisters stayed and kept Kate company.

While our day started walking in a valley of weariness and discouragement it has ended on the mountain top of HOPE!

We are living the difference that your prayers make - thank you!

Covered by grace,
Elaine