BIG News || Big Prayer

Oh, where to begin? Where to begin!

Part One
As you know, Dempsey had an appointment this morning. It held labs and a meeting with his primary oncologist. Jake and I had a rough night. All the anxiety had been building for the last week. What were we going to learn? Good news? Bad news? We just didn't know what our hearts could handle. We prayed. We tried to rest. We tried to cozy up with our faith and sip a cup of patience.

Dempsey was called back to take his measurements. It appears he's grown a centimeter since we started this journey. At least that's what it looked like to me... and I love it. The gal who called us back was a familiar face from our inpatient days, Victoria. She told us Dempsey was recently on her mind and she had been thinking about us, missing us even. It was great to reconnect a little. Then, back to Room 3.

While we were waiting for the nurse to come in, access him, draw labs, and de-access him, his primary oncologist came it. She was radiant. We weren't quite sure what to make of the ear-to-ear smile but knew it meant there was some good news coming. We just had no clue what good was coming.

She began with his bone marrow report.

What this tells us is that the percentage of cancer in Dempsey's bones is down to less than 5% from 80% (when he was diagnosed). That is AWESOME! She is so very proud of this report and we are too.

Then, she continued with his hematopathology (MRD) report.

When Dempsey was diagnosed his MRD number was 3-point-something percent. After Induction (first month) his MRD dropped to a depressing 2.1% when we needed it to be 0.01%. Today, however, his MRD is at ZERO!! Zero means PERFECT RESULTS!! You guys, remember, you've been praying for perfect results since day 1. It took longer than we would have liked but God saw fit to grant your/ our requests. Praise God for these numbers!!

Prayers are working.

Treatment is working.

Dempsey is strong.

Dempsey is thriving!

YOUR SUPPORT IS PROVIDING.

Join us as we praise God for his protection of Dempsey through the journey thus far.

Part Two

BIG PRAYER

With the amazing news above there also comes some hard news. Treatment must continue. Dempsey enters into the phase called Interim Maintenance. This is a phase where the ante gets upped.

I know it looks tricky, this basically tells us what chemotherapy and other drugs/ procedures will be happening to him over the next two months. This is some scary stuff, friends. That column with the long downward arrow... that's telling you he will be taking his nightly oral chemo pill for two months straight. His little body will be hit HARD with High Dose Methotrexate (HD MTX). He will also have steroids at several points over the two months. He will have spinal taps/ lumbar punctures and labs. Lastly, Dempsey will be admitted (inpatient) several times, because the treatment is that intense. *super sad scared face* He will be inpatient for 4-5 days then outpatient for 10 days... this repeats four times over the two months. We will need A LOT of grace and understanding as we work through this phase.

So, the BIG prayer requests are, but not limited to:

Pray for miracles

Pray against negative side effects**

Pray protection over every single organ and part of his little growing body

Pray that we will know how to properly nourish is body during this intense phase of treatment

Pray for our faith

Pray for strength for all of us

Pray that Dempsey will enjoy taking his nightly pill, protect his psyche

Pray that we can make the hospital stays fun

Pray for our rest

Pray against fevers

Pray against neuropathy 

Pray against nausea

Pray against mouth sores

Pray against pain

Pray against discomfort

Pray against boredom

Pray for our medical staff

Pray that seeds we planted in April are growing, that we can encourage their growth, that we can plant new seeds in the Kingdom's garden

Pray that we may be salt and light to all we encounter

Pray protection over Sawyer, all of him

Pray for our support structure that we will need to rally for us again in big ways

Pray peace over our Mommy and Daddy hearts- I can feel emotions bubbling to the surface and am preparing for some really ugly crying time

Pray over Jake's coworkers as they will be asked to be flexible and understanding (they have all been pretty incredible so far)

Pray that we will see God's will for us clearly and that we will obey His leading

Pray that we will have the wisdom to stand up and be our Dempsey's advocate if necessary

Pray that we will be diligent in continuing our protocols of holistic care for Demps

Pray that we will practice self-care as well during this trying phase

Pray as you feel led

**negative side effects: fever, nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, mucosal membrane sores (from mouth all the way through colon), neuropathy (nerve damage), liver complications, kidney complications, bladder complications, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, lethargy, etc.

Keep in mind that Dempsey hasn't had any of these! God has been so good in His provision of knowledge and capability of both Jake and myself. He has given us the tools to help Dempsey thrive during treatment and we are grateful. Truly grateful. Your prayers have kept these side effects at bay! YOU ARE VITAL TO THIS JOURNEY!!! Please know that our Lord hears your prayers and requests. He has been gracious to us in answering the ones specific to "no negative side effects".

Please, please, PLEASE keep praying. I cannot beg you enough... we cannot plead our case enough.