He has not forgotten us

My Mama shared these words, or something similar, in the early days after Jaxon's diagnosis. They've been forefront on my mind today. 

This morning brought frightening news from a fellow pediatric leukemia family - a reminder that there is no "good cancer" for a child to have. Their news of a relapse could be the very same for us at any time.

This afternoon we learned tragic news from a family we know through our camp, homeschool, and church communities. They are walking through the dark valley of the sudden loss of an adult son and brother.

For several days this week I have been supporting and praying for a friend who has a very sick little boy ... and there are currently more questions than answers about what's going on in his body.

Tonight as I watch my babies sleep, 
I'm holding to the promise that our God is with us. 
He has not forgotten us. (link)

Proud Papa

Paul shared this on his FB yesterday.

A little over a year ago he couldn't even walk. Could...not...walk! 

Today, well, he's doing pretty good!

Thank you Jesus for your grace in our lives.

Thank you family for your continued support as we find our pace again.

Thank you friends who continue to understand that not everyday is this encouraging.

Thank you co-workers who take the time to say special hello's and allow him to "help" you with certain tasks.

Thank you doctors and nurses who help guide us through these waters and do so in a way which seems as though you enjoy it...because you probably do...because you're awesome.

Thank you Jaxon, for inspiring us to persevere and believe the best about ourselves. You are a special special boy and your tender heart and willingness to help others continues to blow me away.

Two more years of treatment to go...each day is a new day and each day is a gift.

Psalm 91:4

REMISSION!

It was right around suppertime, exactly 4 weeks ago, that we were given the news that Jaxon has ALL. 

Around suppertime today, we were told that Jaxon has achieved complete remission!

My facebook post:
Complete. Remission. Achieved!

From Paul:
Bone Marrow results are back ... Zero. Negative. None. Gone. Bye-bye.
In other words, no traces of Leukemia present and we are onto phase two of the process. Can I get an AMEN People!!!

We still have a very long road ahead. The battle has really just begun. The treatment over these past four weeks, the Induction phase, has done as it was designed and expected to do - to eradicate the Leukemia from his cells. We will soon begin the next phase, called Consolidation. We will learn more about it from our Oncology team over the next few days. 

Other really big news of the day is that Jax finally got out some air and other stuff that has been trapped in his lazy gut. Docs have been watching his abdomen closely, as it has been causing him great discomfort and has often looked distended. He went for a third x-ray of his belly today. The scan showed that he had a considerable amount of air, and though it wasn't clearly seen on the scan, it is believed that he has some impacted stool. I'll spare you the details. We know that his bowels are working at a basic level, but he won't be discharged until his poops normalize and the cramping/bloating subsides. He's had some pain again when he pees. They are still working on the theory that there has been some injury to his kidneys. A combination of the dehydration and a suspected stone or crystals. Both the pee and poop issues are expected to resolve on their own. After the results of the x-ray came back late this afternoon, there was talk of him getting an NG tube to alleviate the pressure on his gut. He must have gathered all the details he needed to know about that as shortly after he spent a long and very successful time upon the throne. Who can tell me why all the toilets in this children's hospital are built for adults? So tall and imposing. Horseshoe shaped seat. My boy's little bum and chicken legs just don't do well on such a monstrosity. PZ went and bought a cheap training potty. It sits on the floor beside his bed so we don't have to get him, two supporting adults, and his IV pole into the tiny bathroom with the giant toilet. In the training potty, he can have his feet on the floor and sit comfortably. There was added complexity this evening when docs ordered a urine analysis (to be caught midstream, thank you very much) and a stool sample. They must not be mixed. We rigged up a system on the big toilet, with the removable seat from the training potty.  The nurse was very impressed, and our efforts were "rewarded". He has been returned to NPO (no food or drink by mouth) status, though if he's really hungry or really thirsty, he can have some clear fluids. This is to ensure that the gut continues to awaken and work its magic.

Our sweet nurse Marina just came in to give me the results of the Electrolyte and Metabolite portion of his blood work from this evening. Everything is as it should be, no "flags" to show that any of the levels are out of the normal range. He could still be passing crystals or sediment, but the numbers show that his kidneys are functioning perfectly. 

I don't really want to end this post talking about bodily fluids ...

The cancer is gone. Now, let's keep it that way.

Thank you, Loving Heavenly Father. Our helper, our healer, our hope.

Safe to shore ...

This song has been on repeat for us these past few days ...

Rend Collective - My Lighthouse *lyric video*

* official video! *

i will climb this mountain

my friend shared this blog post today, with a link to a new song she has learned. 

i enjoyed listening in the quiet darkness of BCCH Oncology Ward, Room 8.

(click the link below to her blog post, scroll down for the song)

Nothing I hold on to ...

PZ : Faith

Although Christians often use the argument that macro evolution doesn't exist because the greatest factor within it is "billions of years," we would do well to remember that on this day we claim to believe in something that happened a number of years ago as well; that we are trusting in the historical account and whatever empirical evidence supports the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

On the other hand, if macro evolution is not true, the worst that could happen is a few professors lose their jobs and many people now have to come up with another way to understand how we got here and what the meaning of life is. But for Christians, if Jesus was not raised from the dead then we are ruined. Without hope. Lost.

Once a person responds in faith to Jesus and experiences new life, the alternatives are somewhat gloomy. Sure, someone on the outside looking in can easily say that Christians are brainwashed, supported by a crutch, or even just too "simple" to get the grander story. And to some degree, they'd be right. Christians don't know the whole story. We recognize our need for a Savior. And when faced with incredibly confusing and painful situations I have to say that the alternatives to a loving God who paid for our sins and offers new life don't really measure up.

As our journey has now brought us to deep dark places of emotional undoing, I can't imagine going through it without faith. And I know that I cannot "prove" that my faith is real or that God is real to those who wish to disregard it, but I can say that the alternatives simply do not bring any hope.

Being a Christian doesn't make sense. The irony in it is that one must lose their life in order to find it. Being a Christian means we don't have all the answers, don't understand all the complexities of life, and don't feel we have to. This isn't being naive, it's being real. Who in this world ever could know everything! By trusting in Jesus we release our need for control and in so doing we find that our lives begin to make more sense. While embracing mystery we discover that God tends to do things a little different than our wisdom might suggest; He asks us to trust Him and when we hand our lives over He gives us a peace that is unexplainable.

I believe that Jesus died on the cross and took upon Himself the sins of the world; that on the third day God raised Him from the dead; and after showing Himself to His followers He ascended to the right hand of God. Call me what you want, but I cannot imagine life without faith in Jesus Christ.