Transplant + 16

This is Karen posting.

For our family, every morning starts in the same way.  Even though we all live in six different homes (seven including Dad's hospital room), the mornings start the same.  Wake up, breathe, and remind yourself that God is in control.  He has all things in His hands (Psalm 104) and He loves us as His children (Ephesians 1:1-14); He works all things for His glory and our good (Romans 8:31-38).  Then get up with a renewed sense of hope, and begin the responsibilites and tasks of the day. 

For Dad, that task is to remain hopeful, trusting, and faithful in the midst of disappointing blood numbers.  Today was another morning where his platelets, white blood cells, and hemoglobin were very low.  He received two units of blood and one unit of platelets today.  And he also struggled again with nausea and weariness this morning.  His bilirubin (liver enzymes) are high, which is causing jaundice.  If his bilirubin remains high tomorrow, they are going to run tests on his liver and see if there is damage from the chemo.  He is very weary and has been following his "new rule" of sleeping whenever he's tired. 

While it is a struggle to remain hopeful and positive in these days of waiting, Dad has also been very thankful for the daily encouragement from the Word.  He was able to listen to last Sunday afternoon's sermon this morning, and also finds the many daily emails he receives from family and friends to be encouraging.  The resident oncologist/hematologist visited this morning as well and reminded Dad that engraftment can take anywhere from 14-30 days.  The medical team does not begin to worry until it's been three/four weeks post-transplant.  And so we are all reminded daily to wait in faith.  God continues to bring a renewal of hope and trust each day to his hospital room and our homes as well.

Prayer Requests:
1) Pray that Dad's bilirubin and jaundice will go down, and that there is no damage to his liver.
2) Pray that the engraftment process will begin to speed up and show some results.
3) Give thanks for the encouragement received and that God will continue to be near to Dad, bringing comfort, peace, and hope.
4) For safety, strength, and hope for Mom, and our family.

Dad asked me to put Psalm 27:1, 4-5, 14 at the end of this post, a comfort for him today.

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.
For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle,
and set me high upon a rock.

Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and take heart, and wait for the Lord.