Desirae's April Update

Gage has been on his chemo medicine for one month. Taking the medicine was rough the first 2 weeks, but we’ve made a 180-degree turnaround. He sucks his medicine down with a straw like a pro. It does take some coaxing, but nothing close to the “child abuse” the first couple of weeks felt like. We are so thankful he has adjusted to it so well. We are also thankful there seem to be NO side effects other than maybe making him a little hyper at night. This past week, his doctor informed us that his bloodwork showed that his body was tolerating the medicine just fine. He’s going to have bloodwork done again in May and then have scans in June. We are praying that those scans show his lesions decreasing throughout his body.

It’s hard to explain the emotions of the last many months. We have so much to thank the Lord for, but I know it might not always be going this well - and I hope we will still find a reason to thank the Lord. Gage might start to have side effects. He might get really sick. The medicine might quit working for some reason. I’m learning to trust God every day for the needs of that one day. I’m learning how faithful God is despite the hard things we walk through.

Tonight CJ (almost 9) needed to do a nebulizer treatment because of his allergies. Gage brought him his iPad to watch (he is very possessive of his iPad, so the fact that he was willing to share was really something), and he sat next to him for his whole treatment. Eventually, he asked Coalt for his own medicine! He wanted to do his medicine at the same time as CJ. We’ve come a long way, that’s for sure. Maybe he gets his compliancy from his mom’s side of the family! One more thing…When our oncology doctor saw him on the tele-appointment this week, she felt his eyes look a bit better. We are cautiously optimistic. We have lots to praise God for. As always, thank you for your prayers and support. I’m still so amazed at how God has used so many people to encourage us. Just recently, someone slipped me money just because! Our family, church, school, and community are amazing!

And...Gage has been praying before supper, and we have to be pretty sneaky to get it. We got one yesterday without him seeing the phone.