Day 4

Prayer Request for Today:

Sam's ANC count fell to near zero today. This is expected (from what the nurses and doctors say) but nevertheless alarming. It basically means he has no immune system now at all. Pray that he will not pick up an infection from anywhere here. Thanks.

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Sam is recovering well from his surgery, feeling better, eating a little more food, and has good color! We are very thankful that his fevers have abated and the antibiotics are working. When he is feeling better our spirits soar!



This morning, while my sister Donna was with Sam, Ger and I went for a walk to Queen Elizabeth Park. The park is just a couple blocks away from the hospital and is absolutely beautiful . It has been the first time we've been able to leave the hospital grounds together for some "couple time". We've been able to catch snippets of time here and there on the patio just outside Sam's room if he is napping or watching tv.



I don't know how I could get through this without my best friend, my husband! He has been amazing with everything and nurses Sam during the night. He has a couple foam mattresses stacked together right beside Sam's bed to help him with anything he needs at night. I leave with my sister in the evening when they are ready for bed. I usually awaken early, around 5 am, have my devotions, go for a long walk, eat breakfast, catch up on a phone call or 2, pick up some food from Safeway that I hope Sam will eat and enjoy, and drive back to the hospital.



The day goes by quickly at the hospital, filled with housekeeping jobs in Sam's room, taking care of him, spending time with family, communicating with the girls, family and friends, learning about his disease (we have a binder of material to go through), and times spent with our nurse or doctors as they teach us and go over the material we need to know.



Our emotions can be labelled from some of the rides we went on during our family vacation in Disneyworld just a few weeks ago: Rockin Roller Coaster, Twilight Zone of Terror, It's a Small World After All, Test Track, Teamboat Springs, Sounds Dangerous, Backlot Tour, Beauty and the Beast, Expedition Everest and "HUMUNGA KOWABUNGA!"



That last ride kind of sums up what I'm feeling! As we stood in lines for many of these rides we felt scared, anxious, some of us had sweaty hands, and we didn't know what kind of experience this ride had in store for us. We are now on a different ride with Sam and we are thankful to you, our Teamboat Mates, for riding the rapids with us. We know God is the Captain, and he will set the charts and plan the trip. We never would have believed 5 days ago that the wind would have blown us here but we have to adjust the sails and follow our leader.



Thanks for all your emails, phone calls, and especially your prayers. This month is a biggy and we will be asking/begging God to allow Sam to positively respond to the chemo treatments. This first month determines so much of what the next 7 months - 3 years look like. Would you join with us in our petition?



Sam and Ger are snoozing peacefully as I write this on a rainy afternoon.



Sam's highlight of the day was a visit from Megan, a friend from school and church . She brought him an extra super special treat and he is now the proud owner of a Nintendo DS lite. They had fun setting it up together and later when she left we had a hard time getting him to put it down and eat lunch! Fortunately I had some Miss Vicky chips to bribe him with which he requested last night.

Well we just got a long lecture from my sister who saw the blog and was surprised we let anybody in the room when Sam's ANC count was so low. So, we learn something new. Even if people wash their hands, have a bath in Lysol Disinfectant, aren't sick, don't know anyone who is sick... they still shouldn't come into Sam's room until he has an ANC count above 0.8 (they test his blood daily - today was only .13). Nobody here actually told us this but now that we think about it, nobody but us actually has any visitors...

Time to go for a teaching session while Sam sleeps...



- Debbie