Our pastor's son, Jeramy, a high school Senior this year, has been sick on and off for about a year and a half or so. His blood platelets were out of whack, kept going up and down, til finally they removed his spleen thinking that would solve the problem. It hasn't. During Thanksgiving vacation week, they had to make yet another trip to Dallas (where he's been treated the most -- he has had Crohn's for quite some time -- while Dad was in seminary) where they took a liver biopsy. They got the results today -- it's a rare form of lymphoma (cancer). They're leaving about 4 AM, going back to Dallas, where tomorrow he will have PET and CAT scans and who knows what else, and they'll probably install a port near his collarbone through which the chemotherapy will be administered. Philippians 1 20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Of course, we are all praying that it be in God's Will to restore the boy to health, but more than that, that God's Will be done in all things, to the glory of God the Father.
Thanks, everybody, for prayers! They're on their way home from Dallas and bringing SNOW along with them. All the tests are done for now and Jeramy came through like a champ (although his dad was a little queasy!). They'll have to wait for results by phone in a few days. I don't think they placed the port for chemo yet. I'll give an update when I can. An aside: We get snow - a light dusting - about every ten years, and this is the second year in a row that there's actually a couple of inches (enough to play in, not enough to be really messy) out there! It'll probably be gone first thing in the morning, but it's all cold and white out there right now.... So much for "global warming", eh?
Happy to hear they are coming home. We will keep them in our prayers as they continue to deal with this illness.
UPDATE: The spinal tap showed no cancer cells in the cs fluid, but the bone marrow showed a small amount. This morning (Wednesday), they're headed back to Dallas. They were going to try Houston (MD Anderson Hospital?? a much shorter drive time) but they would not have been seen until January, and they couldn't do that. So after Jeramy takes his Senior pictures in the morning, they're heading out. Not sure what the plans are for this visit.
UPDATE: They placed the mediport near his collarbone today. It went well. They put it on his left side so he can still shoot skeet with the gun on his right shoulder...;-D
Glad things are still going well and that they are thinking of his fun! Will keep them in our prayers.
Haven't heard from them yet today, but before they left the pastor told the deacons he was looking forward to being in the pulpit tomorrow -- depending on how things would go with Jeramy, of course. If we don't hear today, we'll definitely hear tomorrow....
