Sunday, December 28, 2008

Please Pray






Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We had a very relaxing, low key Christmas at our house and it was nice.  The kids were super excited when they woke up to see their stockings full and lots of presents under the tree.  We enjoyed lots of good food, opening gifts and most of all being together.  We are so thankful for God's great love for us, that He would send His son to earth as a baby to be our Savior.  Jesus truly is the best gift of all.  

Last Friday we were back at the clinic first thing in the morning to see where Abbey's numbers were and to see if the next phase could start.  Unfortunately, her numbers were low again (they were the same as they were the week before) so it was very upsetting when we found that out.  Her neutraphils are the number that they look at to see if treatment can continue and they need to be 750.  They were around 200 so it continues to be a waiting game.  We were encouraged by her monocytes (these turn into neutraphils) because they were much higher than they were last week.  The doctor is having us come back on Wednesday to again check her numbers and if they continue to be low on Wed. then they will do a bone marrow biopsy on Friday to make sure there is nothing else going on in her marrow that they don't know about.  Please pray that her numbers will go way up by Wednesday so they don't have to do the bone marrow biopsy and more importantly, that nothing else is going on in her body.  Of course we asked the doctor what they would be looking for in her marrow if they had to do the biopsy and it was very hard to hear.  I have been struggling these last few days with several things and it is so scary for us to think about the possibility of a problem.  Please pray for us as we have this setback and pray that they would not need to proceed with any testing.  So far Abbey's leukemia has been pretty textbook with the way she is responding to treatment so the fact that her numbers have been too low to continue on to the next phase for three weeks is scary.  The doctor told us this can be normal, but the longer it goes on the less normal it becomes.  I would write more, but my heart is so heavy as I write tonight.  Please pray...    

11 comments:

Bethany said...

We will be saying extra prayers for Abbey over the next few days and will anxiously await news Wednesday. You all are so amazing and I know that the Lord is embracing you through this especially difficult time of waiting. Stay strong and know that we are here if you need anything. We love you--The Vitts

Anonymous said...

We'll be praying that the numbers are way up by Wednesday and that Abbey can continue on to this next phase of her treatment. We'll also be praying for you, Shelley. Don't let the "what if's" in...focus on how well things have gone so far and how "textbook" her treatment has been and how God has been so evident each step of the way. We'll be praying...
On a fun note, my boys have those pj's too! :o) We'll be waiting to hear how things go...Love, Beka

Anonymous said...

Hi. I am a friend of Amanda (Nagel) Gammons from Taylor. I have been keeping up with your blog and praying for your family, since I heard the news from Amanda a few months ago. I will be praying extra hard for you this week--that those numbers go up and that you can have God's peace and even joy in the meantime while you are waiting. Your family has been a blessing, an encouragement, and a great reminder of Christ's sufficiency to me. Thank you
Erin Farley

Amber said...

I am praying for Abbey! My heart is anxious for you...I know this is so hard for all of you...so scary and uncertain. Jesus is carrying you. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow; He never leaves you.

Melissa said...

you guys can do this, always remember that, you can do this, whatever lays ahead, you can and will do it. keep your head up, i know when it is already so hard to handle that one more thing seems like it will be too much. just take it one day at a time, breath, turn on some music and sing it really loud. Dance with your babies. She can do this, and so will you. We'll be thinking of you on wednesday.

Prayer Pals 4 Orphans said...

We will continue to lift Abbey up in prayer!

Amy K said...

Our family will keep praying for yours.
A

Anonymous said...

We continue to lift up Abbey before the throne of grace as well as the rest of you. Please keep us posted, maybe we'll chat between now and Wednesday.

With Great Love,

Alicia for the 7

Bekky said...

God is always with you...reading your blog made me think of Footprints in the sand. Such an encouraging poem to remember. With God all things are possible. I am keeping all of you in my prayers and extra prayers for Abbey's numbers to be up tomorrow! :)

Love, Bekky

Footprints

One night I had a dream--
I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord
and across the sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints,
one belonged to me and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that many times along the path of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest
and saddest times in my life.
This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it.
"Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you,
you would walk with me all the way,
but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life
there is only one set of footprints.
"I don't understand why in times when I needed you most,
you should leave me."
The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child,
I love you and I would never, never leave you
during your times of trial and suffering.
"When you saw only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

By - Mary Stevenson

Bearess said...

Shelley,

You are in my prayers. I can't imagine what is in your mind and your heart right now, but I pray that you will have peace that passes understanding.

Andrea said...

Hi Shelley
Praying God is again amazing the doctors with His ability to have Abbey's numbers come way up.

A couple of questions and misc. comment...
I received a pamphlet in the mail yesterday from the Leukemia & Lymphoma society regarding their "Team in Training" event. Is this something you've heard of or will participate in?

Through I blog I read (audreycaroline.blogspot.com), I found out about this great website which sells dolls which can be customized with scripture on their tummies and thought I'd pass the info along to you...the website, if you want to check it out is www.babybeblesseddolls.com. Not only does the site make these dolls, they also provide an opportunity to be a blessing to others. For December, they are supporting a little girl with cancer.

Finally, something that has been coming to mind as I think and pray for Abbey. It's more on the personal side of things so I completely understand if it's something your family isn't comfortable addressing. I wondered if these treatments will affect Abbey's ability to have children in the future and, if so, if this is something you'd want people to be praying for. It feels weird asking this, especially given the public forum, but because we're all believing God for her complete healing, perhaps there are things that can be future things we can cover in prayer as well. I hope this makes sense.

Love in Christ,
Andrea