Today began with another trip to the Transplant Clinic for labs to see if Ernie could begin the aphresis process. God demonstrated His faithfulness once again in answering the prayers of so many, as Ernie's white blood cell count increased dramatically from 1600 yesterday to 8200 today! We didn't realize he also needed enough stem cells to begin the harvest and once that count came in (82 million), not only was it high enough, but they believe they can capture the necessary 10% (8 million) of those healthy stem cells in just this one day! Ernie didn't feel a thing as this amazing machine filtered, warmed and re-circulated his blood. He napped, worked on his laptop, ate, went to the restroom and played Words with Friends on his iphone.
What a day of celebration this is for us as we look back on all the steps it took to get us here...23 chemotherapy treatments, 22 radiation treatments, 8 months of doctor's visits, 31 days hospitalized at Rex, 26 days unable to get out of bed, 5 months of walking with crutches or a walker, surgery to have a port put in, surgery to have the port taken out and a Hickman catheter put in, echo-cardiogram, EKG, chest x-rays, 3 bone marrow biopsies, a failed intrathecal pain pump, 2 great physical therapists, brilliant oncologists, long bone x-rays, MRIs, CTscans, and Neupogen injections. But most of all, we are here because of the power of your prayers and a mighty God who loves us and has a perfect plan for us, all in His perfect timing! Here is Ernie with his stem cell harvest after 6 hours of aphresis.
What a day of celebration this is for us as we look back on all the steps it took to get us here...23 chemotherapy treatments, 22 radiation treatments, 8 months of doctor's visits, 31 days hospitalized at Rex, 26 days unable to get out of bed, 5 months of walking with crutches or a walker, surgery to have a port put in, surgery to have the port taken out and a Hickman catheter put in, echo-cardiogram, EKG, chest x-rays, 3 bone marrow biopsies, a failed intrathecal pain pump, 2 great physical therapists, brilliant oncologists, long bone x-rays, MRIs, CTscans, and Neupogen injections. But most of all, we are here because of the power of your prayers and a mighty God who loves us and has a perfect plan for us, all in His perfect timing! Here is Ernie with his stem cell harvest after 6 hours of aphresis.
Thank you for walking with Big EZ on this roller coaster journey through multiple myeloma. We will return to the clinic tomorrow (Wednesday) for lab checks to see if Ernie needs anything (platelets, potassium, calcium, etc.). We will then monitor things at home until next week when we move into the apartment in Durham and get ready for the 2nd round of high dose chemotherapy. After that, the healthy stem cells are re-infused to start from scratch in making all new, healthy blood cells of every type. Amazing!
We do serve a mighty God who continues to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20)! He more than tripled Dad's WBC in one day, and gave him 82 million stem cells!!!! Amazing and exceedingly abundantly more than we prayed for!!!! Thank you, Jesus! And thank you, friends, for praying!
ReplyDeletePS. So proud of you, Dad, and how you've handled every step of this journey! With all that you have endured over the last 8 months (that was a really long list, Mom), you have done so with a smile on your face and joy in your heart. That is true contentment in Christ. I think you and Him make a really good team~ Giving God all the glory!
wahoo! We are still praying and we are thankful that our Lord is the great physician!
ReplyDeleteI want to shout from the rooftops! Amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteOur God is an Awesome God!! :) We are continuing to pray for you all! As we give God all the glory in each new victory!!
ReplyDeleteAn AMAZING God thing! You rock Uncle E!
ReplyDeletePraise the Lord!!
ReplyDeleteWhy are we amazed at God when He does what he says He will do? He asks us to be joyful in times of trouble. He asks us to turn our burdens over to Him. He asks us to trust in Him...for everything. So why are we amazed at Him when He does what he says he will do? Proverb 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,and He will make your paths straight.
I trust in Him and I am still amazed. Thank you for your prayers. PTL for His amazing love for His children. PTL for His amazing blessings. PTL!
Woo Hoo! What amazing news indeed! He is worthy of our trust. So happy to hear you knocked it out of the park today with the WBC!
ReplyDeleteLove you!
A
Such great news to be able to harvest them all in one day. Praying for you today with all your labs! Love you!
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray there are so many others who are reading this awesome GOD STORY, and can see why we should be encouraged, and not so shocked as you said Ernie, when God does what he says he will do. We love you, and look forward to hearing about and praising Him for the rest of the story.
ReplyDeletePraise God! Please excuse the long comment, but I wanted to share these beautiful words by Thomas Chisolm!
ReplyDeleteGreat is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
We're Praying for you all!
Love, The Stuckeys
what great news P.T.L. is right , you look real good there Ernie we love you guys and will keep on praying for all of you God bless . Ken and Ruth
ReplyDeleteWonderful news! I'm sure your emotions are going up and down as are Ernie's.
ReplyDeleteIs. 43:18-19 “Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
I certainly can't top some of these comments,so I will just say, Praise the Lord for answering our prayers. Love you Linda and Ernie.
ReplyDelete