Praise!! Scott (oncologist) came in this morning and said that the pathology report shows that the tumor was 100% dead!!! News could not be better, not only is radiation not necessary, but for all due purposes, we have NO MORE CANCER!!!! We will continue with the chemo, we have 11 treatments left after this one, in the event that any microscopic cells are floating around. Because she has responded so well to treatment, he said that there is no doubt that IF there are any cells, this will get them. He also said that it is time to be looking ahead to the future and that he feels very sure that her future will be CANCER-FREE!!!!! God is so good!!!!!
We didn't get chemo started until 9:00 last night and Kennedy didn't get to sleep until around 2:30, so she wasn't very happy when Jennifer (PT) came in and made her walk at 10:00 this morning. But after she got over being mad, she worked very hard. We should get to leave the hospital around 9:00-10:00 Saturday night. We have another full week of appointments next week, PT will be scheduled for an hour, so they will be pushing her very hard to get that leg working again. She is expected to regain full use of her leg, it will just take time to build that muscle again. Our plan is still to come home next Friday after our appointments, although we will probably have low blood counts. We are also faced with having to start the "shot" again Sunday night. Kennedy had just conquered that and then we had an 8 week break, so please pray that she will deal with it as well as before. As much as she has been through over the last 2 weeks, it should be a breeze, but the fear is still there.
I was reading in John 5 this morning where Jesus healed the lame man by the pool. My commentary says that after 38 years, this man's problem had become a way of life. No one had ever helped him. He had no hope of ever being healed. The man's situation looked hopeless. But no matter how trapped we feel in our infirmities, God can minister to our deeepest needs. We must not let a problem or hardship cause us to lose hope. God may have special work for us to do in spite of our condition, or even because of it. Many have ministered effectively to hurting people because they have triumphed over their own hurts. May God use us however He sees fit to bring glory to Him and to help others!!! I have no doubt that He has big plans for Kennedy. Right now, she can't see any good at St. Jude because she is a kid and she only sees that her life has been put on hold for a while, but my prayer is that when all is said and done, she will not only give her life to serve our Lord, but also to help this wonderful place that God has used so mightily to help her.
Prayer Requests:
* That there will be no side-effects from the chemo- that her wound will stay closed and continue to heal with no infection
* That she will be able to begin weight bearing on her leg much earlier than expected- off the crutches
* That she will be strengthened to finish the race- THE FINISH LINE IS NOW IN SIGHT!!!!!!
* That we will ALL be changed after personally witnessing the miraculous power of prayer and of God!!!!!!
Thank you for your continued support. Don't stop praying, God has many more miracles in store!!!! PLEASE....
KEEP PRAYING!!!!
On my face,
Joan
