Sam Conquered A.L.L.: April 13, 2009

April 13, 2009

The Goertzen's had a great Easter weekend! We had time to hang out, visit and feast with family and friends, get some things done around the house, and do some special activities.

The kids were busy attending a few Christian concerts, visiting and having sleepovers with friends, getting homework done, and having some down time. Sam has been wishing the snow away so he can get his dirt bike out. This weekend he found a patch on the other side of our fence, along the road to ride on. Although we've had warmer weather this past week, we still have quite a bit of snow left.

Sunday we had an amazing Easter celebration service at church. It really is unfathonable all that Christ sacrificed and endured for us.

It's hard to believe that Sam was healthy, feeling great, and showed no signs of leukemia growing in his body at this time last year. We sure have experienced God's personal involvement and presence in our lives. He has been our strength, refuge, and hope in times of trouble. This Easter had special significance for us.

He has risen! He is risen indeed!
Debbie

13 comments:

joelkesler said...: I just want to thank you all again for inviting me to the easter meal. It was great! And I am glad that Sam is doing even better.

Actually, as I was leaving after the lunch to go to camp, I spotted Sam on his dirt bike riding out in the ditch. He looked like he was having fun :)

Thanks heaps!

Joel; April 14, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Keaton said...: Pants!!

Cheers

Keaton; April 16, 2009 at 8:12 PM
joelkesler said...: Wait.. Pants? What?; April 16, 2009 at 9:09 PM
Keaton said...: You know, pants.
Pants!!!
Man!May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits!!

Keaton; April 16, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Debbie,

It's great to hear that Sam is out and doing things that he enjoys to do!

The last few days were sure very challenging for me. It was such a relief to hear from Dr. Lucy today that Jayden's bone marrow biopsy shows no sign of relapse. Praise God!

Thank you for keeping Jayden and us in your prayers!

Blessings,
Evelyn; April 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Heather said...: Hello! Glad we serve the same risen King.
Hurray for Sam - great to see the pictures of Sam enjoying his dirt bike, and to hear that his counts are so good.
Also glad to hear that Ger and Karly are on the mend. That's a long road. W

Our church is candidating a new lead pastor this weekend - a unique fellow from Florida, no less. He spent significant time in Texas, so he does Y'all quite a bit.
He seems to be a genuinely warm leader, passionate about helping us reach the thousands of people in the neighbourhoods just outside our doors.
While global impact is still a high priority, he reminded us to take risks, and that God has continually used flawed people (like me!) who were willing to stand up and cross the street to change history. Not sure my name is going to appear in any history book, but I sure want to make a difference.
While I am grateful for the many missions trips that our youth can participate in, I'd love to see our youth (and we, their parents), reach out more to the neighbourhood and schools. I am more convinced than ever that right now, my particular sphere is right outside my door. Will you pray with me that I will be strong and courageous in my 'hood?
We are midway through our stakeholder relations piece of our fee increase proposal strategy, so Chyenne and other neighbourhood kids will be delivering the information package we've developed in the next week. Then we'll be hosting a couple of information sessions, followed by the vote the first week of June. We want to make sure our message outpaces the grapevine. Funny how speedy that mode of communication can be. Talk about viral.
Well, enough about that. Were you able to find a recipe for paska? Hope you did. We're hearing that snow is on its way Thursday and Friday this week, so can't wait to get on the plane to Hawaii!; April 19, 2009 at 8:38 AM
Keaton said...: Seriously all you people need to use the word pants more often!!; April 20, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Debbie,

I love the new banner for Sam's blog!!! Love, faith, courage, hope, strength, friendship, family, determination, prayer...these are what we need to walk through this journey and thanks for reminding me of these!

It surely is great to be able to witness, share and be encouraged by ALL survivors. With a >85% of 5 year survival rate, there must be many of them out there. I hope that I will meet one of them one day (even through their blogs or online journals). Or even better... we will be on that other side and share our stories with other moms.

Thank you so much for your prayers, support, and words of encouragement! We surely appreciate and are very thankful! Thank Him for bringing us to each other!

Sending a big hug back to you,
Evelyn; April 21, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Keaton said...: Uh Deb, me being of superior computer savy would recommend not crowding the picture at the beginning with so many words.

Cheers

Keaton; April 21, 2009 at 6:25 PM
Anonymous said...: Debbie and Sam
It is wonderful to find your blog again and to hear that you are all continuing to make progress.
I am one of the people from Gracepoint who came to pray with you last summer,
I am sorry that I have not been in touch but have thought and prayed for you as we have been moving across the country over the past 8 months. God called my husband Garry and me to Montreal and now that we are getting settled it is great to reconnect.
May God continue to heal and bless you all.
Warm regards
Kristen Corrigan
kcgc@telus.net; April 23, 2009 at 5:57 AM
catie said...: Keaton pants? what next ?

cheers, catie; April 23, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Keaton said...: well catie, what would you like me to say!? I know!

BARNS!!

There you go catie, something different.

Keaton; April 23, 2009 at 6:10 PM
Unknown said...: Hi Debbie,

Tomorrow (April 30) Jayden will only require an outside blood work. If his numbers continue to be good, we won't be heading back to Children's until his next scheduled appointment which will be next Thursday (May 7) 1pm for vincristine only.

We will be going to Toronto for a week in August to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday. So we don't think we will be joining Camp Goodtimes family camp this year as my husband cannot take too much time off during the summer. And we are not quite ready to send Jayden off to camp on his own yet...hehe. I heard that this camp is a lot of fun and we sure hope that we will be able to go next year.

Have a great day!

Blessings,
Evelyn; April 29, 2009 at 9:56 AM

Raining

The flower with all the petals and leaves on it is the healthy flower. It has a sad face because it is raining. The wilted, bald flower is the cancerous flower. It may be a little wilted and have no petals or leaves but it is happy to be alive even if it is raining. The healthy flower doesn't know how lucky it is to be alive and have all its petals. All it's worried about is the rain. This is true in real life as well. When I was getting my chemo in the hospital I would listen to what people were complaining about and I would think "If that's all you have to worry about then you are doing pretty well." People would act like it were the end of the world if the fan was blowing too hard on them or if they would get home in time for dinner but I was worrying about whether I would get better or would I die?
Melinda, age 13

Consolidation "Summer"

Day 1: (June 25) - LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - AraC, Mercaptopurine, Septra
Day 2-4: IV Ara-C, Mercaptopurine
Day 5-7: PO - Mercaptopurine
Day 8: LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - AraC, Mercaptopurine, Septra
Day 9-11: IV Ara-C, Mercaptopurine
Day 12 - 14: Mercaptopurine
Day 15: LP- IT Methotrexate, IM - PEG-Asparaginase, IV - Vincristine, Septra
Day 22: LP- IT Methotrexate, IV - Vincristine, Septra
Day 29 - 60: Repeat Day 1-29 except without the IT Methotrexate
Day 61: Recover and Wait for Counts to Improve to start Interim Maintenance Stage - Probably 1 week, maybe 2

Prayer

We have all enjoyed having a yard. We have played many games of croquet with friends and family.
We are really enjoying our second "home " here in Vancouver. It is close to the hospital, lots of trails to walk, run, and bike in, and just a few minutes from the beach.
We are thankful for the exceptional people we are surrounded with who are supporting us in prayer and in so many practical ways...you have blessed us tremendously.
Pray that Sam will not get an allergic reaction to the Asparaginase injections on August 13.