It’s been quite some time since we’ve posted an update on Amariah. We have been in the final phase of treatment for a little over 6 months. This has been a blessing as it has meant less visits to the hospital, lighter chemo, and more time to live a relatively normal life as a family.

We know these last couple of months have been strange and different for everyone. Amidst so much going on in our world, it’s been a refreshing time for us to connect as a family and trust in the Lord together. We pray that you all are finding hope in times of trouble and joy amidst the world’s anxiety.

Even as we have been staying at home, Amariah has contracted a few colds/viruses and we have needed medical assistance at CHLA. Mid-March Amariah came down with RSV, a respiratory infection that she was able to recover from at home while taking antibiotics. It took a while to fully recover from that virus, but eventually she did by God’s grace. We were in the clear for a couple of weeks until April 18th, when she developed a fever and cough. That night she was diagnosed to have picked up another type of virus (not COVID—a.k.a “the Rona”, as she calls it). That virus led to a hospital stay through April 22nd. We were grateful for how God guided us through that phase and to go home and reunite as a family again.

Unfortunately, our return home didn’t last too long before ending up back in the hospital on April 30th. That morning she woke up with a fever which meant an immediate visit and an eventual admittance to stay overnight. There haven’t been any other symptoms and she has tested negative for COVID (a third time). She has also tested negative for various other kinds of viruses and infections.

The fever subsided the night of admittance and has not returned; however, they have kept her at the hospital due to the fact that her white blood cell count is extremely low. White blood cells are crucial to a strong immune system, so low production of these cells means that her system is immunosuppressed. That she has lower counts is not altogether shocking as it is a likely result of both (1) chemo and (2) already fighting infections (as she has been for almost two months now). Nonetheless, the expectation and hope is that over time those cells begin to reproduce, providing her with a stable immune system. We haven’t seen that happen yet and will remain hospitalized until we do.

Overall, we are doing well. Our faith is our anchor. We remain encouraged through Jesus who sustains us, our church family that supports us, and our family who continuously love and care for us. More than anything, we would like to ask for your prayers. We are grateful for every doctor, nurse, and medication that has helped us along the way, but we know nothing to rival the power of prayer. Please pray that Amariah’s body would produce the necessary cells to recover and be healthy. Please pray that our beloved doctors and nurses would be granted wisdom and discernment in how to care for her. Please pray that we would stay close to Christ and cherish His daily care and provision for us.

Our prayers are with you all as well. Again, we know this time of global pandemic is different and for many difficult due to the wide-range of effects it has produced. God is good and faithful, and there is nothing that has ever changed that—nor will there ever be.