I have been delaying this update for some reason. Almost every day over the past 8 days, I have planned to log on, but each time I am distracted and decide to delay another day. For that I apologize, I know many of you have been faithful to pray for JC and our family and reach out for support.

JC has had two appointments since my last update. She has not needed a blood transfusion which is an answer to prayer! Her hemoglobin actually went up slightly from last week to this week which has not happened in over 1 year! In addition, her iron decreased quite a few points over these last two weeks! It is still too high, but it is on the downward trend. This is cause for praise and thanksgiving!

As elated as we are with the above results, there was some unfortunate news as well. Between last week and this week, her platelet and white blood cell counts dropped fairly significantly (after finally moving on the upward trend). These numbers are still higher than in early September. Also, her creatinine count reached an all-time high which indicates her kidney function is not working as well as it normally does.

The kidney problem is an unfortunate side effect of the chelation therapy. They need all her organs to be as healthy as possible for transplant. Therefore, they have decided to stop the nightly chelation therapy for a couple weeks to give her kidney function some time to repair itself. She is still on an oral chelation therapy drug at this time, so we still may see a drop in her iron overload numbers; however, it will be at a slower rate.

JC has been more in good spirits for going through so much. She loves to smile and make others laugh. She has her tough days. Every day is a day to cherish, and I am reminded often that God’s mercies are new every morning. Much of our life has been reduced to planning week to week and often day to day which is not good for pre-committed plans, but there is a realization as well that this day is the one we are living; this is the present moment.

We continue to pray and seek God especially regarding JC. A friend reminded me that when trouble hits, that is the time we should lean in and cling to God and His Word. It is in God we find love; it is in God we find strength, and it is in God we find hope. As always, thank you for your prayers. Prayers specific to JC would be that her hemoglobin would continue to be stable, her platelets and white blood cell counts would increase, and her creatinine levels would decrease. Continued prayers for peace and wisdom are always appreciated as well.

I know; I know. I promise we celebrate Thanksgiving, and we have much to be thankful for! However, JC was adamant earlier this month that we put up a Christmas tree! She has been watching The Polar Express movie quite a bit and decided it was time for the Christmas tree and train. We have been reminding her that Christmas is still a way off, but she has been enjoying the tree and train each day.

With the seasons changing and the holidays quickly approaching; I have been reminded of a passage in Ecclesiastes that talks about seasons of life, and it speaks volumes to me right now:

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

God has put us here in this place and time, and we have a choice what we do with the life we have been given. Do we choose to pursue Him and His goodness in EVERY season and seek His will for our lives, or do we choose to make be our own God, make our own way and seek out all the material/physical items this world has to offer?