So Many Prayers...

Caleb is doing great!  Clinic went well today.  He feels good, he feels strong, he’s happy. His counts are way up, and we believe his body is ready for the next heavy-duty round of chemotherapy. 

Encouraging words from Cal's nurse and Child Life Specialist & using a heat pack to warm up his hand before blood work.

We have taken a lot of quiet time the past week to pray for others suffering from the results of cancer.  We're devastated to learn a boy diagnosed with leukemia the same week as Caleb lost his battle.  He was doing great on chemo, but with low counts, couldn’t recover from an infection. 

Plus the adult daughter of one of our dear friends is now under the care of Hospice because of cancer.  Our hearts weep for them, yet both of these families still find the time to give us encouraging words.  We can’t get over their strength.   

 

Caleb got an amazing new reward system today, courtesy of one of my dear friends I grew up with.  (Thanks Rita!) 

His “Caleb’s Courage” necklace allows him to add a bead every time he goes in for treatment.  Everything from lion beads to super stars, & even bright, smiley faces.  Each bead will have quite a story behind it.  It will be an amazing keepsake for Caleb to share with his own children someday, to show them all that he went through and how many times he went through it. When Rita and I turned Sweet 16 together, we never would've believed she'd be offering this type of support one day.

Next week is HUGE for Caleb.  He will begin the toughest treatment that he’ll have to endure.  We haven’t told him and aren’t sure how to prepare him.  We’re just praying more and hoping he’ll pick up on it.  We don’t want to unnecessarily worry him.  Next Monday, he'll undergo a spinal tap and begin a very powerful chemo.  This is why he recently had his heart tested, to make sure his body can endure it.  It’s a bright red medication that will make his tears and urine turn orange or red.  We know this is going to scare him, but we’re already thinking of funny things to say to make him laugh about it.  Unfortunately, older patients have nicknamed the drug, “The Red Devil”, just to give you an idea of how tough it can be.  The potential side effects and warning labels are too overwhelming to even think about.  

As for specific prayer requests, please consider asking God to help keep Caleb strong enough to comfortably endure the next few months.  Please pray for the Lopez family and the Conner’s, whose hearts are breaking right now.  We know there is a very real God who is watching over all of us.  Thank you for caring about our little guy and these other deserving families.