Welcome to Jeremiah's Page! The youngest of our six children, Jeremiah was diagnosed with Pre B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on April 19, 2005, at the age of 3. We appreciate your prayers to the One True God on Jeremiah's behalf.
Our journey into the world of childhood cancer began in March, 2005...only we didn't know it yet. Jeremiah had been weak and lethargic for a few weeks by then, and I noticed that every night, he would sweat profusely, and he felt warm to the touch. I began to take his temperature, only to find that indeed, he had a low-grade fever. After a week or so of this, I realized that none of the other kids had caught what he had, and on our way home from a homeschool convention where we were selling our books, we stopped at the emergency room at Washington Hospital in Washington, PA - about an hour from home - to have him checked over. The doctors there thought perhaps he had strep, and gave him an antibiotic. Two weeks later, he was no better. By this time, I took him to our pediatrician, Dr. Negrey. I told her what had been going on, and that I feared he might have leukemia, as he had all the symptoms, and that I had had an uncle who died from leukemia when I was a child. I asked her to test him for it. But, she looked him over and said she thought he was just fine, that we should go ahead on our business trip to the Philadelphia area, where I was scheduled to speak at a homeschool convention, and bring him back in Monday if he was still not doing better.
We never made it that far.
Within 3 days, Jeremiah had become so weak that he was sleeping about 18 hours per day. He was so weak that he could not stand, and had to be carried. He was yellow in color, and would not eat or drink. We decided to take him to the hospital immediately following the convention. But, as I returned to our booth after my last speaking engagement, I saw how much worse he looked, and we decided to just leave the convention and run him to the local E.R. in Pottstown, PA. We left our kids at the booth, and Keith drove Jeremiah and me to the Pottstown Medical Center. I remember vividly how I carried Jeremiah's limp, yellow little body through the breezeway and into the hospital, wondering if he would even come back out alive. When I walked in, I carried him over to the receptionist and demanded that they do bloodwork immediately. She took one look at Jeremiah and jumped up, almost dragging us back behind the double doors into the E.R. center.
After TEN tries of the nurse trying to get an IV into his tiny, dehydrated little arm, they finally called in the RECEPTIONIST to try. He got it in right away, and was so excited, he knocked it back out! A few more tries, and they had it back in. Jeremiah sobbed throughout it all, but was too weak to even cry aloud. That did not stop me, however.
After a short while that seemed like an eternity, the nurse came back in, along with some other nurses and the receptionist. I could tell from the look on their faces, and by the fact that they brought Jeremiah a teddy bear, that it was bad.
They told us that we were being sent immediately by ambulance to CHOP - the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I called Keith back at the convention with the other kids. They packed up and met us at the hospital in record time. I remember vividly riding in the ambulance with Jeremiah during the hour-long drive to CHOP while seeing our motorhome through the ambulance's back window, watching Keith and our other children waving at Jeremiah, as they could see him through the back window. He was so out of it, he could only stare off into space, surrounded by the teddy bear from the nurse, and the other one the ambulance attendant had given him.
When we arrived at CHOP, they immediately stuck him with another IV, and did a CBC. Shortly thereafter, they pulled Keith and me into a side room where the doctors scrubbed up to tell us that they thought that Jeremiah possibly had some sort of leukemia.
That was the end of life as we knew it. Our journey into the world of childhood cancer had begun.
After a few more days in CHOP, the diagnosis was confirmed. Jeremiah had leukemia, or cancer of the blood. In fact, his bone marrow aspirate showed 99% leukemia cells.
After 3 weeks at CHOP, which during Jeremiah's 12 year old sister, Haley, and I stayed with him while his daddy and other 4 siblings continued to travel every weekend to homeschool conventions around the country to sell our books (since this is how we make our living) and came back during the week to live in our motorhome in the hospital parking lot, since CHOP is located 7 hours from our home, Jeremiah was released on the day of our largest convention, in Harrisburg, PA. The cancer was now under control, but, he had put on 12 pounds in 3 weeks, and was having some other major complications from the steroids which had become part of his treatment, and 5 days after being discharged from CHOP, we were readmitted to the hospital that was to become out "regular hangout", Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, for 5 days, with kidney crystallization and other chemo-related problems. I remember taking him to the playroom there one day, where he saw his reflection in the mirror and buried his head in my lap sobbing, "I'm ugly and fat." Poor baby...the steroids were not a pretty drug.
As of now, Jeremiah is in remission. This does not mean his is cured, it simply means the cancer is diminishing. He will be in treatment for a total of 3 1/2 years, which is the standard protocol for boys with standard risk A.L.L. Things are looking better these days, and the Lord truly has been good to us. In fact, He has been so good, we would welcome you to read the "journal history (link below) to see just how much God blessed us during those "tough months" right after Jeremiah's diagnosis.
In June, 2008 Jeremiah finished up his required 3 1/2 years of chemotherapy. On July 28, 2008, he had surgery to have his mediport removed. We praise the Lord for His goodness in bringing Jeremiah through this battle, and appreciate your continued prayers as Jeremiah continues to be monitored for the next five years - and to hearing the words at that point, "He is cured!"
Journal
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 7:59 AM CDT
I am not good with change. When Caringbridge changed their entire format, it took me a couple of MONTHS to figure out the new way to access the "author update" section of Jeremiah's website, since the change was not accompanied by directions of any sort. Of course, having been used to accessing the site in the old way for 4 years, once I finally figured it out through much trial and error, it was quickly forgotten again!
Imagine my delight this morning to find myself, after weeks of trying to figure things out again, back here in the "access" area, ready to type an update! Thankfully, I wrote down the steps on a sticky note, which is now attached to my computer.
Jeremiah appears to be doing well. We just finished traveling for the season (except for 2 more conventions that Dad has to fly to out west), concluding with the SEARCH convention - the convention that we were at 4 years ago when Jeremiah was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with cancer, as well as the convention that we were at last year at this time when we got the call from Dr. Terzak, telling us that Jeremiah's end-of-treatment bone marrow aspirate came back clear of leukemia cells. For obvious reasons, this convention has a special place in our hearts. It was nice to complete it this year uneventfully.
We did have lots of people coming up to us and asking about both Jeremiah and myself, as they have been praying for both of us all these years. We had a few who picked up the tract I wrote, 'Why Would a Good God Let a Little Boy Get Cancer?" (email if you would like us to send you a free copy!), which we keep stacked by each cash register, and ask, "Did he die?" To which I delightedly answered, "No! This is him right here! The Lord healed him!"
Always good to share a testimony of God's goodness.
I have been a bit concerned about Jeremiah lately, as he just has a bit of a peaked look - slight dark circles under his eyes, and a bit more quiet than usual. But Keith will say something like, "You should have seen him over at the playground!" (there is an indoor playground at the SEARCH convention - the highlight for Jeremiah!), which keeps my fears at bay. Still, I look forward to getting a screening in August. He will also go back to Children's - the brand new hospital - for bloodwork in August. I'll feel better, as always, when that is all past, and the results are clear.
Other news on the homefront - Haley will be taking a course in herbal medicine for her last 2 years of homeschooling science. Alongside her, I will be taking a course to become a certified holistic wellness professional. Nothing else to do, you know. I am excited to learn more about the type of medicine - homeopathy, specifically - that God used to heal us from cancer. Of course, this statement is not FDA approved, so please disregard it as medical advice. ;oP
We are, as usual, working on new books, new projects, and new job positions at church, ranging from Sunday school teacher to bus route driver to sound booth technician. Four of the kids are involved in the church stringed ensemble - Kiley, Haley, Evan, and Luke. Casey plays the piano for junior church. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Didn't someone once say that idle hands are the devil's playground? We're trying to keep ours busy, if you can't tell!
This is the first year (upcoming) that I have to keep a homeschool portfolio for Jeremiah, who will turn 8 in Octbober. Such is the law for 8 year olds in Pennsylvania. Part of that portfolio includes a list of every book read by the student that year. Yesterday, Jeremiah read his first entire book for the booklist - "God Made Animals." In our house, we have a "treasure chest." All of the kids have always, as an incentive, earned a free item of choice from the treasure chest for each book they add to their booklist. Jeremiah, who is still working on mastering the advanced phonics in his "Language Lessons for Little Ones, Volume 3," has never had this incentive. He has always gotten to pick an item from the treasure chest for each batch of pills that he takes instead. Two cups full of pills, twice per day, necessitated that move on my part.
After 4 years of twice-daily treasure chest picks, things have not only gotten expensive, but difficult, as the variety of items that I can find which are so quickly used up is a challenge! Places like Oriental Trading Company and U.S. Toy know my name quite well!
Well, after my last shopping expedition at U.S. Toy, in which I could find nothing under $3.95 that Jeremiah does not already own, I decided that $3.95 twice per day is a bit much, and that it was time to move Jeremiah into earning his treasure chest picks by reading books, like his siblings.
I mentioned this to him, and he was none too thrilled. Suddenly, he got nothing for taking his pills any more, and had to WORK for his treats! I reminded him that the Bible says "If a man does not work, neither should he eat" (one of my favorite "momming" verses!), and began to settle in. By afternoon, he was BEGGING me to sit and listen to him read some more of the book (a bit lengthy for his ability, I thought it might take him a week to read), and by dinner time, he had finished the entire book, got an ovation from his siblings for adding his first ever title to the book list, and picked his water squirter from the treasure chest! Next, he filled up a large pot with water, sat it in the middle of the kitchen floor (on some towels - how thoughtful!), and proceeded to fill up the water squirter and empty it into the sink for the next few hours. He had a nice surprise planned for Dad when he came home from cycling - Jeremiah heard the vehicle coming up the driveway, hid behind the picnic table on the porch (it was dark and the porch light bulb had burned out), and BLASTED Daddy with cold water as he came up to the front door! He (Jeremiah, that is!) got quite a kick out of that! :o)
Thank you for stopping in. I'll try to be more "regular" about updating, now that I have a sticky note to remind me how. :o)
Prayer requests:
Please continue to pray for Jeremiah. 4 more years until he is officially declared "cured" from the beast. By the medical staff, at least. We believe God has already made this declaration.
Pray for a little boy named Will, who is battling cancer that is all over his brain and spine. Will is 4 years old.
Pray for Raquel, an A.L.L. patient, who is at camp for the week, while in treatment.
Pray for fellow author Jessica, who was blindsided by a firetruck, and is still recovering, as you can imagine.
Thank you again for your love, your concern, and your prayers. They mean more than you can know.
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