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Sunday, October 9, 2016

Gearing Up- Again

Please hit your knees in prayer, again. Dempsey starts a new phase of treatment THIS TUESDAY. It has the possibility of being a doozy. There are a few new-to-him chemo drugs... one of which is known to have a negative side effect that impacts the... wait for it... HEART!! I shudder as my mind runs away with all the horrible things this could mean for Dempsey.

Lord, hold me tight! Amen

Here is a breakdown of the next two months of Dempsey's treatment. Please be prayerful in both specifics and generalities.
Day 1 (Oct 11)

Day 2-7
  • daily dose of Dexamethasone
Day 8
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
Day 9-14
Day 15

  • Vincristine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Doxorubicin
Day 16-21
  • daily dose of Dexamethasone
Day 22-28
  • DEMPSEY HAS A BREAK
  • We will work to restore, detox, and strengthen him for the next round in this phase
Day 29
Day 30-32
  • Cytarabine (ARAC)
  • Thioguanine (TG)
Day 33-35
  • Thioguanine (TG)
Day 36
  • PROCEDURE: lumbar puncture (yet ANOTHER needle into my baby's spine)
    Intrathecal Methotrexate
  • Cytarabine (ARAC)
  • Thioguanine (TG)
Day 37-39
  • Cytarabine (ARAC)
  • Thioguanine (TG)
Day 40-42
  • Thioguanine (TG)
Day 43
  • Vincristine
Day 44-49
  • DEMPSEY HAS A BREAK
  • We will work to restore, detox, and strengthen him for the next round in this phase
Day 50
  • Vincristine
Day 51-56
  • DEMPSEY HAS A BREAK
  • We will work to restore, detox, and strengthen him for the next round in this phase
Day 57: BEGINS MAINTENANCE (IF his ANC is 500+ and his platelets are 75,000+)
________________________________________________

Supporters,
This phase is said to be easier than the previous one. I'm trying to hold onto that. However, there are two new drugs for Dempsey. Each of the underlined words above is a link to that drug's side effects. Please, take some time and read the pages those link to. Your eyes will be opened, your heart broken, your fear stirred, your faith tested, and your knees will beckon you to hit them... HARD. Those links will give you just a glimpse into this part of this journey.
Please pray that we will continue to hold onto the Lord during this phase, and every single day that follows until He calls us home. I TRY so hard to believe that HE IS ALREADY THERE in the future moments. That he already knows what is coming for Dempsey. I get scared when I think that he might allow something awful to happen to my baby in the fulfillment of his grand plan. Yes, God is still good if that is his plan. Yes, he still loves us if that is his plan. Yes, I will shake my fist at him... and kick... and scream... and cry... and wail if that is his plan.
Scripture is rarely comforting when I feel what I'm feeling right now. Not because it's not true. Not because it's not applicable. Because I can't accept it. My humanity is in the way in these moments. So, what do I do? I look over the past moments of this journey, look to find God's fingerprints- the proof of his presence, and then grab faith by the horns and stare it square in the eye as I let this fact take root... the fact that God IS in the past and that past was once the FUTURE and HE WAS THERE. God doesn't just show up in the past... that's just where we can actually see evidence of him. God is not bound by space and time... amen?! So, although my finite mind is on the verge of fragmenting, God is loving, gracious, merciful, present, perfect, and he sees the Big Picture.
These are the moments where I imagine myself, weak and weary from a flood of liquid emotions (tears), falling into my Father's arms as he strokes my hair and rocks me until I'm so exhausted I fall asleep. Then he speaks truth into my dreams and when I awake, still weak, but confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to place my feet one in front of the other just as he has been doing.
You see, we do not do ANY of this by our own strength. No. It is SOLELY (or soul-ly) by the Holy Spirit's abilities and God's orchestration that we manage. Your prayers are a HUGE part of that orchestration. Please don't ever think your prayers aren't being heard or that they are returning void. They are powerful and sustaining and we NEED them.
May God bless you in tangible and deeply meaningful ways. We love you and appreciate you more than my well-crafted words can convey!!

PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray for peace of mind and heart
Pray for miraculous healing
Pray for miracles along the way
Pray for safety
Pray protection over every organ of Dempsey's body
Pray protection over every facet of Dempsey (mind, spirit, emotion, potential)
Pray for Sawyer... this journey is hard on him too
Pray protection and depth over our marriage
Pray blessings and ability over each doctor on Dempsey's team
Pray for everyone touched by Dempsey's story
Pray that we will never miss an opportunity to spread the Gospel
Pray that God gives us platforms throughout this journey and that we allow the Holy Spirit to use us as needed
Pray against negative side effects (there are many possibilities)
Pray for wisdom
Pray for courage
Pray for strength
Pray for depth of character
Pray against agents of darkness that seek to steal our joy
Pray for a continuous RIGHT perspective
Pray for Kingdom vision
Pray as you feel led

___________________________
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