This week Dempsey had FIVE appointments and ONE procedure. Jake took Dempsey to the Infectious Disease follow-up Tuesday morning where they were given the all clear and didn't need to schedule any more visits. Praise God! I took Dempsey to his Tuesday afternoon infusion where he was accessed (needle in chest) for the week. All went well. I took Dempsey to his Wednesday and Thursday infusions as well. All good appointments. We also discovered the Infusionarium this week. Fun little "theater" in the clinic. Sawyer enjoyed it especially. Jake took Dempsey to his appointment/ procedure this morning. Lumbar puncture went well, no complications or side effects from anesthesia. Praise God. Infusion went well, also.
See, LOTS to praise God about this week!!
I also had a wonderful conversation with another family at the clinic yesterday. Their daughter, Sabrina, is at the 7 month mark of her Pre-B ALL journey. They too do doTERRA essential oils, use nutrition, and incorporate other alternative health practices. Sabrina looks wonderful. Her parents look worn out but I'm not surprised because they have three kids under 7 and the middle one has leukemia. It's a lot for parents to shoulder.
People keep asking "How's Dempsey doing?" I honestly don't know how to answer that. It used to be such an easy question. Now it's loaded with exceptions and qualifiers. I tend to reply "He's doing well, all things considered." People understand and accept that response. I mean, shoot, he runs around now, he laughs, he trikes, he kinda wrestles with Sawyer, he takes his chemo pills like a champ, he handles getting accessed with courage and resilience, he sleeps well, he eats pretty well (his appetite is waning ever so slightly), he eliminates well, he still has most of his hair, he hasn't puked, he hasn't had a bad experience with anesthesia or his many lumbar punctures, he doesn't dread the clinic, he likes his nurses, he makes friends at the clinic, he uses his manners more than most adults, he has wonderful character qualities, he uses leukemia-journey terms like "I'm accessed" as he gently pats the needle in his chest... All of this is AWESOME. But, he still has cancer. Can you say someone is "healthy" if they have cancer? Can you someone is doing "well" if they have cancer? I do say those things but you'll see me do finger quotes when I do.
I just popped over to Facebook to read a heart-wrenching post written by a mom about her daughter #katherinethebrave. You see, sweet Katherine has been given just two weeks to live. She's fought so hard and her mama just wants her to have peace. I'm tearing up at the love and heartache of a mother who will say good-bye to her child if God chooses to let that plea for a miracle be answered with a "no".
Friends, that is not Dempsey's prognosis. Dempsey's doctors only talk in terms of hope and absolute confidence that this will end with him winning on the other side. I work hard to believe that but a parent with a cancer-fighting child knows the risks. There is fear. Scripture tells us to not fear, so I try not to. Some days it's just too hard.
We need your prayers. When we are strong and positive- we need your prayers. When we are weak and scared- we need your prayers. When Dempsey is doing well- we need your prayers. When Dempsey has procedures no child should endure- we need your prayers. When Dempsey is acting like a 4 year old- we need your prayers. When we tuck our boys into bed- we need your prayers. When we rise from a solid night of sleep- we need your prayers. When we are on the road- we need your prayers. When life is going smooth- we need your prayers. When life hits some speed bumps- we need your prayers. When we're together- we need your prayers. When we're apart- we need your prayers. Do you see what I'm getting at? No matter what life is like or what is happening- we need your prayers. I am no longer afraid or too prideful to ask for anything. It feels like I just don't have time to allow those weaknesses to delay ANY help for our family.
We love you. I love you. You are co-authoring this journey's pages with us. Some of you provide the ink. Others the paper. Some of you provide the text. Others the spaces. Regardless of your specific input, you are there (here) with us. God is the inspiration for this book and we look to him as the editor and publisher. Thank you for being on this journey with us.
WE LOVE YOU AND ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOU- ALL OF YOU!!!!
Chick fil-A Fundraiser: June 7th from 5-8pm @
Chick fil-A La Habra Marketplace
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