Last day of chemo for this round

Today Ethan will get his final bag of chemo for this round/session. Then he will be observed a few days for possible side effects. One side effect has already surfaced... "fissures" (tears) around his rectum. I noticed blood in his diaper when I was changing him yesterday and we weren't sure if it was an intestinal problem or not... but then the doctor looked a little deeper and saw about 3 tears in the inner area that were causing the bleeding. We have to take several extra steps when changing his diaper to cleanse and treat the painful area. Be in prayer for his little bottom to be healed and that he won't get an infection from any bacteria getting stuck in there. His eyes haven't shown signs of swelling (yay!), so continue to pray that they don't. And he isn't showing any mouth sores (which is great!), so continue to pray for that as well. The hospital staff has continued to be so great to us and to Ethan. I'm so appreciative of all of the nurses and the doctors. They really care about our cutie and I'm so thankful for them. But, I'm really looking forward to going back home for a few days, so hopefully there are no hiccups with that. We still haven't heard from Boston about our consultation appointment, so one of the docs here is going to reach out to them to try and "light a fire". I'll close today's post with a poem that was sent to us via email. And as always, thank you so much for your prayers for us and for Ethan. We love you all.

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;

Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.

I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate...

and the Master so gently said,"Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.

"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"

Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?

By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate

hangs in the balance and you tell me to Wait?"

I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign.

Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,

We need but to ask, and we shall receive.

Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:

I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate

As my Master replied again, "Wait."

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,

and grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine...

And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.

I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.

You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.

You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;

You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me

When darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love

When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.

You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,

But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,

The faith that I give when you walk without sight.

The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask

From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,

What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.

Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,

But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see

That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.

And though oft My answers seem terribly late,

My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

- by Russell Kelfer (thank you, Jen)