Grace like Rain

God is faithful! Once again, He has heard the cries of His people on Kate's behalf and has poured His grace out upon us like rain. The scans of Kate's brain, spine and pituitary were all fine! We are rejoicing and thankful and for His handprint upon her MRI. It was a very long day in Pittsburgh beginning with an appointment at 9:00am, the next appointment with her oncologist was at 1:00. The MRI was scheduled for 2:15 but never got started until 4:00. True to form the MRI concluded almost 3 hours later and we departed Children's at 7:00 pm. Long days of sitting and waiting have a way of zapping your energy. By the time we got home about 8:00 we decided that it would be better to get a good night's sleep and get an early start this morning to drive the hour and forty minutes to Malone rather than start out last night when we were so tired. Maggie and I got the car unloaded and Kate was ready to head off to class. About 11:00 as we were driving back home, the nurse practitioner called and gave us the wonderful news of the good MRI. Yesterday's visit was positive and upbeat. The tweaking of Kate's meds over the past month has seemed to make a huge difference in her nausea and vomiting. Kate enthusiastically reported to Dr. Jakacki the lingering problem of nausea is for the most part gone. We were delighted that we are taking 3 medications out of Kate's regiment of daily meds and are beginning the weaning process of another. WOW so much progress to report in one visit and no new issues to deal with! Thank you Lord! While Kate's leg muscles seem to be getting stronger, her gait is still considerably wobbly. Dr. Jakacki is referring Kate to a neurologist to see if they will have any insight into this issue. Kate also had some extra labs drawn to see if they can get a handle on why her hemoglobin has been dropping recently. Yesterday's hemoglobin was ok, not as high as we'd like it, but a real plus was that the red blood cells showed a decrease in size (you may remember the enlarged size was a symptom of the anemia we have been treating). We'll do some blood work over Thanksgiving break to keep an eye on that hemoglobin level. We are grateful for your prayer support carrying us through the MRI and waiting time. God is at work moving the mountains in Kate's life. We rejoice and know that you do too in praising God for the very specific and positive answers to your/our prayers on so many levels.

The great MRI report was the perfect end to a wonderful weekend together with Kate at home. It was a non-stop time of special times shared with family and friends! We are looking forward to a wonderful Thanksgiving celebrating God's bountiful blessings, provision, and faithfulness so evident, every day of the year!! Blessings to you and yours as you celebrate His goodness and grace in your lives!

Malone University

Fall Reflections

It's hard to believe that it's already November. I'm sure like many of you the days of fall are quickly flying by, much like the blowing colorful leaves that our little dog Grace chases after, attempting to catch them and hold onto them. Unfortunately, we can't hold on to these quickly passing days of fall, but must relinquish our hold on them as the colder days leading to winter creep up behind them and we turn our clocks back tonight. I'm not a lover of the cold and this week's cold frosty early morning dog walks are only a warning of the what's yet to come with winter. As I worked in the yard this afternoon, enjoying the beauty of God's autumn paintbrush, I was filled with a sense of thanksgiving for God's grace and blessing over the past two months. These past months have been non-stop with all the usual things, but also were a time when I felt a little more immersed in the world of hospitals and doctors than I normally do. Between Kate's lingering issues, and Maggie's headaches, I also walked beside my parents as Dad had knee replacement surgery and Mom had cataracts removed from both eyes. With both of them having some driving restrictions, I was the chauffer to surgeries and follow up appointments. How glad I was for the opportunity to serve them in this small way, after the countless ways they have been there for the girls and I over the journey of these past four years. How blessed we are that both did extremely well and were cleared by their respective surgeons last week and are back to their busy retirement schedule.

As for Miss Maggie.... we are thrilled to report that the once menacing headaches are gone! After the clear MRI, Maggie's pediatrician, in an effort to get to the bottom of the headaches suggested that we try a daily dose of iron, as Maggie's blood work had indicated that she was borderline anemic. She was so borderline that in normal circumstances she probably would not have intervened with the iron. However, a week later Maggie noticed a significant difference and was able to begin running again and complete the last two weeks of her cross country season. She was so pleased that even after over two weeks off, she was able to run a previously run course with an improved time. How thankful we are that this headache problem was so easily remedied. With cross country season over, we are enjoying a lighter afternoon schedule, since Maggie determined that she would not play basketball this season. She is looking forward to winter track beginning. This afternoon as Maggie ran and Gracie and I walked at the park, Maggie shared how much she enjoys running.

Kate continues to adjust to college life. While she enjoys Malone, she still misses home and time with Maggie and Mom. The on going battle with fatigue and weakness have not helped Kate's adjustment. She uses up the majority of her energy for class and school work so there's not much left for socializing or activities. The week before Kate came home for fall break, she seemed especially fatigued, even falling twice at school. While on break, she had a follow up check up at Children's gastro department. While there we stopped by the oncology clinic for her flu shot and had them draw some labs. Sure enough her hemoglobin had dropped again necessitating a blood transfusion - not quite the way Kate planned on spending time on her fall break. Since the transfusion Kate feels better and has more energy so that this past week she was able to attend a Bible study on her floor and proactively went to the campus wellness center to work on strengthening her weak muscles under the direction of a physical trainer. She has been getting to know some girls and it looks like some friendships are developing. Kate's next MRI will be Monday, November 10th. It is after her clinic check up, so we will likely not get the MRI report until the next day. As always we would be grateful for your prayer coverage in advance and for the scan. In addition, Kate's doctor and the hematologist, who did her stem cell rescues, will order some additional blood work then to see if they can find a reason for Kate's hemoglobin to keep dropping. Please pray for wisdom and insight for the doctors and that whatever the cause for the hemoglobin dropping that it will be an easy solution for whatever is behind this problem.

As for me, I'm so thankful the gift of each new day. Many have asked me if it is hard having Kate away at school. Absolutely, but I know that she is in God's hands and He takes so much better care of her then I ever could. I am thrilled that she has the life and breath to be able to go to college. There was a time in the journey that we wondered if she would have realize her goal of going to college. We pray daily that God will move the walls of fatigue, weakness and processing difficulties for Kate, much like he move the walls of Jericho for his people. We miss her, as she misses us, making the weekends she is at home fun and special for all of us. Over the years of Kate's illness Maggie has so lovingly taken a back seat, as so much of my time and attention had to be focused on Kate's needs. With Kate's health relatively stable and her being at college, Maggie and are enjoying some catch up one on one time together. She's a delight and so much fun, as long as I have the energy to keep up with her!

Reflecting over the past ten months, I have been to the funeral home far too much. I am saddened by the number of dear ones on the cancer journey, and other long time special family friends that we have said good by to. My heart aches and tears come as I pray for these that have lost their precious loved ones. Other dear friends are facing huge challenges with their children and families, their jobs and their reputations. The reality of death and the challenges of life are painful and oh so very hard. We are all faced with burdens, though they may be different, they are heavy to carry, and hit us on every level... body, mind and soul. How precious are the prayers of God's people to Him as we cry out in our own personal agony and as we intercede for others facing their own mountains of crisis. I am confident that it is the power of prayer that has sustained us through the darkest of days and know that as we lift others before the thrown of grace that it is the prayers of the many praying for them that will also sustain, encourage, strengthen and carry them through their darkest of days. So keep praying, keep believing, keep hoping, and keep trusting God, the one who hears our every prayer!