Valentine's Day
Saturday, February 14th, Valentine's Day
What a week it has been since our last blog update. Let’s recap, February 4th evening we were all home together and surprisingly enough we were able to be home the rest of the week (excluding our normal clinic visits on Fridays). Ez had a great week! He went sledding with everyone twice and could walk up and down the hills showing no fatigue. His energy levels were right back to his normal Ezra ways. This Matt and I know is because his blood work was fantastic on Friday (high neutrafils, great Hemoglobin etc). Our team’s understanding is that the influenza A is starting to finally leave his body FINALLY. This after having it for 2 months. Crazy! We were able to visit with friends and see family without the concern of neutrpenia (low neutrophils) but still being cautious of infections, colds or otherwise before visiting. Realistically it’s cold and flu season and we can only avoid so much right now but we try our best to be aware before having people over or visiting other places. Matt was able to work a full week excluding Friday when we went in for our normal round of chemo (this being the 5th set/round). This was tough for me to be home without him here but thankfully our time was filled with company to help make the days feel less lonely. Finding normalcy when we are home has been challenging for me and for the kids too. What do I accomplish today that could be put off for tomorrow but what if tomorrow we are back in the hospital and I can’t get to that task then. I want to spend every moment with the kids because I miss them terribly when I’m away but at the same time I’m pulled to also keep our home running so it won’t be chaotic for whoever is here when I’m at the hospital. If you all would please keep me in your prayers in this way I would greatly appreciate that.
I listened to a podcast today that helped with understanding and bringing light to Gods work in our lives today. The season we are in is hard, but God is giving us a gift. It doesn’t feel like that and it almost sounds weird when you say it knowing what the struggles are. We have been given the opportunity to walk by faith and not by sight. Durenda Wilson said these words and they struck differently. In seasons of suffering and hardship we lean more closely on Gods word and his promises to us. Re reading and reading again his mighty and powerful words/commands on our lives but also the reassurance to rest upon. She mentioned the passage Deuteronomy 31:8 “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” How comforting this passage is. This one alike, Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
As our family looks to the future, we know that God holds us together. He has a much mightier plan than we can ever imagine, and even on those hard days where it feels hopeless, God never leaves us alone. Truly, we have been very thankful for all that God has already provided us through the communion of Saints in our church, our friends and family, and the little ways that he brings comfort into our lives. One day at a time and sometimes even one minute at a time.
Looking ahead, the next couple of weeks will be decently low-key until Friday February 27th. That morning, Ezra needs to be at the hospital by 5:30 for his MRI and CT scan. This is an updated scan to show the doctors how much the mass has shrunk in the last three months of treatment. This will also determine the following steps concerning surgery or if Ezra will need to have more chemo rounds before we retake more scans.
This being said if the scans are what we are praying for they are looking to have Ezra finish his sixth round of chemo (which also starts February 27 and goes until March 4Th) and plan for surgery to be the week of the 16th-20th. Please pray that this mass has shrunk immensely and that the surgeons/our teams doctors feel that it is able to be removed in full so that we can continue with chemo and possible radiation to remove the last little bits.
Please also pray that Ezra will have a good birthday this year as it will be spent at the hospital for his 6th round of chemo. Thankfully, Lord willing, we should be able to leave the fourth in the morning so maybe we can have a good day after that. His birthday is March 3rd and he turns four.
Update, Feb 20: We are in clinic today and found out Ezzie is neutropenic again and will need a blood transfusion. Please pray for him and us as he receives this.
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