Reframing of Vocabulary

When people ask you "How are you doing?", how do you respond? "Good." "Great." "Can't complain."

I used to say "Good" all the time. Now, when people ask me that question I just stare at them blankly because there are too many words to fit into such a fleeting greeting.

What does "good" mean anyway?  Good used to mean just that, good. Now "good" means "I'm breathing", "I'm standing", or "My baby is still alive."

Every. Single. Word. is now on a spectrum.

"Healthy" is another word that has had its definition upended.

It used to mean no sickness, no sickness in a long time, vitality, able to enjoy life how I wanted, when I wanted.

Now? Now "healthy" means "not as sick as once was but still very sick".

Lets talk about "tired" while we're at it. Tired used to mean "I've been up too long, need to go to sleep." I used to use "tired" when I had done a ton of yard work and worked my muscles good. Now, "tired" means "I woke up and my emotions are still running amuck and using all my RAM so I have very little space/ capacity to function."

So many words that are in our every day vocabulary have been reframed since April 3rd. I feel like they will be reframed even more still in the future.

The Plan

The plan has commenced.

Assuming everything goes according to plan, Dempsey will be done with treatment in 3 yrs and 3 months putting us somewhere around July 2019.

The plan has phases. We are in the INDUCTION phase. Our goal is to get to maintenance.

There are MANY details to the Plan and I don't have the strength to go through them with you just yet.

New prayer requests:
MIRACULOUS HEALING
No pain
Limited nausea (or none at all)

Maintained or appropriate weight gain (no weight loss)
Wisdom as we answer his hard questions
A routine
Restful sleep
Acceptance of all meds (physically and mentally)
Distractions
Go before us in prayer for upcoming bone marrow biopsies (2 at least)
Test results showing all the best results throughout this journey
Protection for hearts, minds, bodies
Ministry opportunities
Sustained and increased faith
Strength for all of us
Pray away and against infection of any kind
Wisdom for doctors
Steady hands for surgeons
Pray away any fears Dempsey might have about anything and any time
That God's presence will be tangibly felt and seen
For this family to grow closer even when we are separated
Health for those around Dempsey because he will be so immune-compromised
Increased trust on medical professionals
Daily release of control for me (Coral)

Ways You Can Help

Okay, friends/ family/ anyone supporting us in any way... here area a few more options for you to "do" something. The outpouring of love and support we have already received is astounding. We are beyond grateful. Words really cannot capture the width and depth of gratitude we are feeling.

• Dempsey's Amazon Wish List
  Not just for birthdays and Christmas anymore. When you're a kid with leukemia life changes.
• Sawyer's Amazon Wish List
  Because when your brother has leukemia life changes.
• PayPal
  If you select "friends and family" PayPal will take NO money from your donation.
• Donate Blood
  To become a Blood Donor for Dempsey (and other kids) please call 714-509-8339 or email them at donatebloodforkids@choc.org || CHOC 505 S Main St Suite 185 Orange, 92868 || www.choc.org
  Blood and Donor service hours Monday-Friday 7:30am-5pm
  *When you donate, you can specify that your donation is for Dempsey Kenagy.
  Dempsey is blood type A+
• Gift Cards (desktop version can see list in right column)
  Gas (we typically use Chevron but aren't picky)
  Amazon
  VISA
• NeoLife Supplements
  We are going to NEED these and if we don't have to stress about it that would be awesome. You can order from my site (shopneolife.com/coralkenagy).
  Items we need from NeoLife:
  NeoLife Shake- any flavor
  Vita-Gard
  Vita-Squares
  Acidophilus
  Carotenoids
  Flavonoids
  Tre en en
  Aloe Vera Plus (juice)
  Lecithin
  Salmon Oil Plus
  Vitamin E
  Vitamin A
  Cruciferous Complex
  Tre en en
  NEOLIFE Bars
  LDC (home care product)
  Green (home care product)
• doTERRA items
  You can order them from my site mydoterra.com/coralkenagy
  Click HERE for doTERRA items we use.
• Amazon items

Again, there is NO expectation attached to this post. It is simply our attempt to answer your loving questions of "What do you need?" or "How can I help?" We appreciate every single one of you. Your prayers are VITAL and they are being answered. Even when this mama questions God and his allowance of horrible things, I know YOU are praying me (us) through this and it matters! We love you.

Candyland

Today's Pictures

A Heart's Cry

God in heaven... WHY???? I've tried to be faithful but in this moment I just can't. That's my baby lying there. How can their little bodies stand it? Why haven't you crushed the sin of this world? Why haven't you come back? Why are your children still suffering? WHY?! I am empty, Lord. All out. I grasp for hope. I hear stories of victory and joy. I hear the praises of those who have gone before and flourished. All say "it WILL get better". How do they know? What if my baby's path isn't a success story? Then what? What if I have no strength? Heaven help me I try not to dwell in the worry of tomorrow but I'm SCARED! Scared I tell you!! Rescue us.
#prayfordempseykenagy

To My Husband

Jake,

You are amazing. The way you love our boys melts me. The way you are here for Dempsey when I know your insides are falling apart is remarkable. You sit. You listen. You love. You pray. You play. You are so good at picking up where I leave off. There are no words to convey my appreciation for how you allow me to leave the hospital nightly so I can attempt to engage in self-care... a relatively new concept and application for both of us.

My love, this is hard. This unthinkable journey we are on is hard. But I'm WITH you in this. I'm leaning on you and will be there when you need to lean on me.

I am praying for you. I am praying for Dempsey. I am praying for our marriage. I am praying for our family. I am praying. All day long, I am praying.

I will keep saying "Dempsey will be okay" until we believe it. In 3 minutes, 3 hours, 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3 years... we will believe it at some point.

God is with us. God is for us. God hears us. God tests us.

There is NO ONE I would rather be refined through fire with than you. Your mere existence makes my life worth living.

I love you more each minute.

With everything I have,
Your Wife