video update

written on the 13th- it's almost funny

(Anne wrote this before I wrote the post below, but she posted it to our old family blog somehow where I found it)

Jay did get home safe and sound. With the usual Asia jetlag, he jumped right back into work and family, trying so hard to stay awake during the day. He made a valiant effort and after a little over a week of that, he was almost back to normal.

Jay also came back with a sinus infection, or maybe I gave it to him when he returned as I had been fighting one for about a week. So we both were on antibiotics over the weekend.

We were in semi-isolation mode for the week or so after Jay came home since Sarah's blood counts dropped so low. Her ANC was 290, and anything under 500 is neutropenic which means you have to be extra cautious about germs since she doesn't have many white blood cells to speak of.

The doctor also stopped her chemo for the week to get her blood counts to go up, which was a bit scary for me as the chemo is what is fighting against the Leukemia. For these next two years, Sarah takes chemo every night, a 9 pill dose of a different chemo on Wednesdays, antibiotics for 3 days out of the week, steroids for 5 days out of the month, nausea medicine as needed, IV chemo once a month and spinal tap chemo every three months. She gets her blood counts checked regularly. Her ANC is now up to 1390, and she will have IV chemo in the morning.

When Sarah's counts were so low, Rebekah started having a runny nose for a few days, but Sarah made it through that without an ER visit. Hannah has been complaining of a headache and stomach ache for a few days now. And tonight, Jay is in bed with a fever and nausea. Every one else's temperature is fine...I know that since I take everyone's in the house on a regular basis. But Sarah is complaining of a headache and stomach ache. So I just gave her a nausea medicine along with her nightly chemo, which can't be given until 2 hours after eating.

I am feeling terrible myself and do not look forward to my night on the sofa - with Hannah in here too for the moment since the girls couldn't settle down, and it's 9pm, so I had to separate them.

I need to go get my Bible and just read and pray through this one as I am in over my head.

about the event on the 24th

In case you are attending the
Children Helping Children Junior Singles Tennis Tournament Kickoff Party
Friday, September 24, 2010

it will be at the
Plano Convention Centre
2000 E. Spring Creek Parkway
Plano, TX 75074

Sarah and I will speak about 7:45.

below is the link from Children's.
www.childrens.com/tennis/

They want us to share about our story of coming from Hong Kong to Children's medical which is a great story but there is a center piece to that story. It is Jesus so please pray for us that in the few minutes we have that the 500 plus kids at the tournament will hear of how Awesome a Savior we have by providing the doctors at Children's to help us. :)

Hair is growing fast

First, we want to apologize for not giving more updates over the last two weeks.

Second, to catch everyone up on Sarah, I will give a brief outline.

1. A few days after I returned home we had the usual blood test, but an unusual result. Her ANC (immunity) dropped to 290 which is like the old days. So we had to go back into lock down, which was not bad with my jet lag, and they took her off the daily chemo pills. The following week her ANC was back up to 1300 so they started the daily pills again. (they want to keep it at 1500, fyi-2000-2500 is normal.)

2. Her hair is growing back so fast. As you can see in the picture, we are all shocked how fast it is returning and it is so thick.

3. Yesterday was her monthly visit for chemo at the clinic. It went good but her liver profile is high again. It is around 10 times the normal level. They will keep monitoring this over the next few weeks. They will not stop the chemo pills unless she is 20 times the normal level so we have a ways to go. The only thing this is making Sarah feel a little sick to her stomach and not feeling as good as usual.

4. The physical therapy is going great! She is running, jumping and playing with much more strength and flexibility. You still notice that it is not normal, but the fact that she is back to doing these things is bringing a big smile to her face.

5. The contagious smile that God has given Sarah is affecting many people. One of them is Children's hospital and they have asked us again to represent them at a function. Later this month, we will not only be present at an event but they've asked us to speak for five minutes. Anne did a great job in handing the speaking part over to me. :)haha

Hopefully, we can do a family video for everyone to see Sarah's hair and to hear her talk about her new project. A hint is it is called "Fun Snacks for Kids at the clinic". She will share more later but she is working hard to serve the other kids at the clinic.

Take care and please keep praying. We need all your prayers.