Friday, September 19, 2008

a time to rebuild

Well, the day has finally arrived.... we are going home. There's been so much to do that I've not really processed that as of this evening, I will be back in my own home... with my hubby and our son. I am excited, but I think I'm more relieved than anything to finally have this portion of Ethan's journey behind us. There was so much we didn't know 5 months ago when he was first diagnosed with leukemia. There was so much we didn't know 7 weeks ago when we came to Boston for his cord blood (aka: bone marrow) transplant. And truth be told, there is so much we don't know about our immediate future. But one thing I do know... and I know it with all of my heart... God knows. He knew 5 months ago when I took Ethan to the doctor thinking he had a cold. He knew later that night when they told us it was leukemia. He knew who would be the best match for Ethan's transplant, even if it wasn't the best factual match (he received a 4 out of 6 match, which isn't great, but was the closest they could find for him). He knew how long Ethan and I would have to stay in Boston. He knew that His protection would be with our son every step of the way. And.... what brings tears to my eyes the most.... He knows. He knows the desires of my heart. He knows the plans He has for me. He knows the plans He has for Adam. He knows the plans He has for Ethan. And they are fully of goodness and mercy. I don't know that I've ever seen the Hand of God work so distinctly as I have with my son. And I reckon that the magnitude of everything He has done has yet to fully sink into my comprehension. I know that the next several weeks, months leading up to this next year of our lives may not be easy... but I also know that day by day it will get easier... and before we know it... life will be more than we could have ever imagined. How do I know? Because I know my Lord. And I know He loves me.

Jesus loves me, this I know.... for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
Yes, Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so.

I leave you with a few prayer requests if you don't mind? Adam and I will be bringing Ethan back to Boston on Monday for his first outpatient visit.

  • Please be in prayer that his dependency on blood and platelet transfusions will decrease and that if they are necessary, that we will be able to handle that portion of his care at our home hospital.
  • Please also pray that Ethan remains fever-free. He has two teeth on the bottom that are going to poke through ANY MINUTE, and I understand that babies get teething fevers sometimes. However, ANY fever means an automatic hospital re-admission for at least 48 hours. They've taken good care of Ethan here in Boston, but I do not want to have to come back and be re-admitted!
  • Please also pray that all goes well with his medications I have to give him at home. He will have to take about 5 or 6 medicines by mouth, several times a day AND I will have to give him a shot in his leg daily until his counts get a little higher. I'm not nervous about any of it, I just want him to respond well to everything and not throw up, etc.
  • And of course, we want him to remain free of infection/sickness as his immune system takes its time to rebuild itself. By the way, his counts are 1,820 today.
Thank you for your prayers.... I'm sure we will need them as we get re-adjusted to home life all over again. Oh yeah, one last thing... I read this in my devotion this morning, from Streams in the Desert, and thought it fitting to share with you as well.
)
"My Father is the husbandman" (John 15:1)
-
"It is comforting to think of trouble, in whatever form it may come to, us, as a heavenly messenger, bringing us something from God. In its earthly aspect it may seem hurtful, even destructive; but in its spiritual out-working it yields blessing. Many of the richest blessings which have come down to us from the past are the fruit of sorrow or pain. We should never forget that redemption, the world's greatest blessing, is the fruit of the world's greatest sorrow. In every time of sharp pruning, when the knife is deep and the pain is sore, it is an unspeakable comfort to read, "My Father is the husbandman."
-
Doctor Vincent tells of being in a great hothouse where luscious clusters of grapes were hanging on every side. The owner said, "When my new gardener came, he said he would have nothing to do with these vines unless he could cut them clean down to the stalk; and he did, and we had no grapes for two years, but this is the result." There is rich suggestiveness in this interpretation of the pruning process, as we apply it to the Christian life. Pruning seems to be destroying the vine, the gardener appears to be cutting it all away; but he looks on into the future and knows that the final outcome will be the enrichment of its life and greater abundance of fruit. There are blessings we can never have unless we are ready to pay the price of pain. There is no way to reach them save through suffering. - Dr. Miller.
-
"I walked a mile with Pleasure,
She chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow,
And ne'er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her
When sorrow walked with me."

21 comments:

The Drama Mama said...

Praying for it all! Be safe going home and enjoy your own bed, girl! HUGS!

Carrie Comstock said...

Rejoicing with you and, as always, continuing to pray. We look forward with great anticipation to this next phase in Ethan's life.

Lorri said...

Oh Kasey, I don't even really "know" you, but I love you and how you see Jesus!

Happy Home Coming Day Baby E!

Celebrating with you and praying all your needs, Lorri

Anonymous said...

Kasey and Adam,

I'm so glad you ALL get to come home today. I will definitely continue praying for Ethan's health.
You always provide comfort in your writings. I'd forgotten the song Jesus loves me. This was a song my mother sang and played on the piano when I was little. Thank you for reminding me of another gratitude!

Have a wonderful weekend with your family!
Ginny

Anonymous said...

Kasey, Adam, and little Ethan,
Rejoicing with you! Your post today brought to mind the words of a song from Alison Krauss...

I don’t know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don’t borrow from the sunshine
For it’s skies may turn to gray

I don’t worry o’er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead

Chorus:
Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I KNOW who holds tomorrow
And I KNOW who holds my hand


In HIS joy,
Katie Haentsch

Kelly Benjamin said...

WELCOME HOME MOMMY AND ETHAN!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT AT HOME AND ENJOY EVERY MINUTE.....HUGS AND KISSES FROM TEXAS....

Anonymous said...

I am Jesus' little lamb,
Ever glad at heart I am,
For my Shepherd gently guides me,
Knows my need and well provides me,
Loves me every day, the same,
Even calls me by my name.

Day by day, at home, away,
Jesus is my Staff and Stay.
When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,
Into pleasant pastures leads me,
When I thirst, He bids me go
Where the gentle waters flow.

We have prayed that you will all safely journey home and on through the days ahead. What a mighty God we serve! Love, the Hunts

Megan said...

Praying for a safe trip home. We will pray for all your requests and for you and Adam. May you all have a wonderful night sleep in your own beds. God Bless your family.
Love,
Megan

Megan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elyse said...

Praying for all of you. Will be glad when you are home with Ethan and hubby.
Hang in there!!!
~Elyse~

Heather said...

I am so excited for you. May your first night back home be wonderful, relaxing, and peaceful. My prayers are with your family.

Moz + Pam said...

Jeremiah 29:11-
"For I know the plans I have for you...They are plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Unknown said...

Dear Kasey and family,
I am so happy for you all that you finally get to be home together again as a family. I pray that Ethan's road to healing and strength continue to move ahead, and that the doctors and everyone around him are amazed at the way God has worked in his life. I pray you have a great night home and that routines begin to settle in and go smoothly. Hugs! Hoping for a good night's rest for you all- can you believe no wakeups for vitals or blood work? ;-)

Anonymous said...

Halleluia!

Love, Mrs. Rogers

Anonymous said...

I'am so excited for you! We will pray for all your requests for you and Adam. May you all have a wonderful night sleep at home... Sending you all a Big Huge Hugs and Kisses to your way!!!! Love,
Elizabeth & Family:)

Judy said...

God Bless you and Adam and Ethan. I have been praying for you these months now with just your pictures to show who each of you are. I am so excited that you are getting to go home. May God Bless your family as you readjust to being at home (which will be great won't it!!!)You have taught me a lot thru your journey that I can apply to my life with its ups and downs. Have a great Monday and I'll be praying everything is fine at your appt.
Love and Prayers, Judy Bell
Canton, N.C.

Anonymous said...

YAAY!!! This is too exciting! In our prayers in VA. I cant wait to see him!
Leah (Benard) Moore

Janelle and Ella said...

Kasey, I am so happy for you and your family!!! I can't wait to hear how things were over the weekend. Praying for you guys!

Kristi said...

Hope you all made it home safely and this weekend was wonderful and peaceful!! Praying for your family continually in this new phase of your lives!!

We have Overcome by: Israel and New Breed

Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in His name.
Thanks be to God, who always causes us to win.(Yeah!!)
Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in His name.

Thanks be to God!!
Thanks be to God!!

We have overcome.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

We have overcome.
By the power of Your name.

Jesus, You're the One.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The One who made a way for us.
To triumph in His name.

Oh whoa!
Oh whoa!

Oh whoa!
Oh whoa!

We've got the victory!
Everything would be alright, alright!

We've got the victory!
Everything would be alright.
Cause we're on the winning side.
We're on the winning side!

We have overcome.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

We have overcome.
By the power of Your name.

Jesus You're the One.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

The One who made a way for us.
Who made a way for us.

The One who made a way for us.
To triumph in Your name.

Oh whoa!
Oh whoa!

Oh whoa!
Oh whoa!

We have overcome!!

If you get a chance to listen to the song you should do it .. it always seems to get me going!! Hope this week is wonderful!!

Kristi

Carissa said...

I just wanted to 'check in'. I hope all is going well. Praying for you all.

Anonymous said...

Rejoicing with you and, as always, continuing to pray.
Happy Home Coming Day Sweet Baby Ethan! Love, Elizabeth & Family