Yes, GOING UP!
I am overwhelmed with emotion to be a front row witness of Hannah's road to recovery. What a blessing, especially less than one week before Thanksgiving to see her numbers rising. We had been scheduled to start her bone marrow transplant prep on Thanksgiving day. Thank you, Lord, that we are home & life feels n-o-r-m-a-l!!!!
Her white blood cell count is just about into the low normal range .. did I really just type that? Yes, almost into the normal range. Her platelets went up 10K on their own & her hemoglobin is holding (despite having to get her blood re-checked this afternoon b/c the first test showed her hemoglobin as being critically low).
I am so excited because we are leaving this Sunday to spend a few nights in Cambria. It will be so nice!!!
I am so grateful for God's goodness & His ever present help to me in my never ending moments of need!!!
Please take a click over to Pearl River Outreach to see how you can help some very special orphans in China during this season. The little girl we sponsor, Callie, was just placed with her forever family. When I told Hannah that Callie had been adopted she reacted as if Callie was coming here -- she was so incredibly excited for Callie to have been adopted. It was adorable to see her joy for Callie & now we are ready to sponsor another one of these precious babies!
And, finally, please pray for two kids we know from this world of Aplastic Anemia:
Ethan & Noah.
Noah lives a few towns over & he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in September. He is plowing through many bleeding issues that this disease typically causes. I know how hard it is for any child to deal with this disease, not to mention how exhausting it is to be the mom dealing with all the complications.
Ethan has been in isolation in his room at City of Hope with his mom for 2 weeks. He is waiting for his new bone marrow to engraft. Nothing would be a better Thanksgiving gift than to see his blood counts to start rising on their own!!
If you'd like to send a card to Ethan, he is four years old & the address is:
Ethan Barrios
City of Hope Hospital Pediatric Unit, Room #3123
1500 E. Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
My heart just breaks for the journey of this disease ..
I got chills reading this post -- there just aren't any words to describe how wonderful this news is! I'll continue to pray that Hannah's numbers just keep going up and that her healing will be a testiment to the power and compassion of God!
ReplyDeleteHip,hip Hooray! So happy to hear Hannah's counts are up!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Kim
Debbie~ That is WONDERFUL news! How amazing. It's hard to believe that it was just almost one year ago that this whole journey began for you all. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers that her numbers keep going up!!! ~Tanya
ReplyDeleteDebbie, what GREAT news! I will be praying for you all throughout the holiday season. Thanks for keeping us posted. Josh and I have never met your sweet girls, but please give them a squeeze for us and tell Jim HI!- Kate (and Josh) Couch
ReplyDeleteHooray! So happy for you all! Enjoy your time away!
ReplyDeleteLove,
J
Praise God Debbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, a GREAT big Hug for you and Hannah!!!
WooHoo!
Love,
Diana
Soooo happy for all of you!! Hannah's counts are so much better! We'll keep praying that they continue to climb. Love, Stephanie
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jennifer and I'm mom to 3 wonderful boys. 14 year old twins Kevin and Ryan and my son Drew who turned 11 on November 14th. Since November 12th, Drew has been on the transplant unit at Children's in Boston. He received his unrelated bone marrow on November 18th after failing ATG. I am also in contact with Noah's mom and Ethan's mom recently left me a message on Drew's webpage. www.caringbridge.org/visit/drewdotay.
Congratulations on your good news. Please know that there is now another family fighting your same battle and praying for you as well. There aren't many moms who know what we go through. I will pray for success for Hannah. Have a wonderful holiday and hope to see you post good news soon.
Jennifer D'Auteuil
Drew's mom