From Grandma Lisa

I want to thank all of you who have been involved with us in this journey. I have never prayed so much in my life! As I share our story, you have told me some of your needs as well. I want you to know that Dale and I pray for you too. We are in this together, this journey of life…full of surprises, some exciting, some scary, but always together.

Can I share a thought? It has to do with coming to Jesus as a little child. As an adult, we worry about tomorrow, we fill our minds with concerns for yesterday and today. We think of all we have to loose, and what we are missing out on… As I watch Titus, I realize he does not have many worries. He knows his mommy and daddy love him and are taking care of him. He goes to the doctor because we tell him to. He chooses a prize, finds out how big he is, then gets a “drink” in his tubie. He talks about being brave. Sometimes he is a bit afraid, but he does what he has to do, trusting all of us to take care of him. Can we come to Jesus like that? Can we trust Him, fully? Jesus knows what we need, and he will take care of us. That is the bottom line. I pray we can all be more like Titus, a little child who is loved.

God bless you and those you love today! Lisa

Titus and Aurora update

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long since an update!

Yesterday Titus completed his Interim Maintenance #1 phase of treatment. He gets to have a two week break before he begins his next weekly treatment regimen in his Delayed Intensification on June 29th. This next phase introduces one new medication that he hasn’t received before. His doctor expects his counts to bottom out during this treatment phase, and for him to be the most vulnerable. I will update again once we begin delayed intensification with a better schedule for those who want to keep up with his treatments, as well as keep you informed as to how he is doing.

Delayed Intensification – 2 months Begins June 29th, 2012

• Medications
  • Vincristine – given via port
  • PEG-Asparaginase – given via port
  • Dexamethasone – given orally – on 7 days, off 7 days etc.
  • Doxorubicin – IV
  • Thioguanine
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Cytarabine
  • Methotrexate – given via Lumbar Puncture

As for now, Titus is doing wonderfully and tolerating and responding to his treatments as well as can be expected. His doctor and nurses are so impressed with our little guy every time they see him. He usually has a great attitude, and even when he doesn’t, he is very cooperative and will give them a smile. Thank you to our Hem/Onc team!

As for our little lady Aurora, she will join us tomorrow! I am being induced at some point tomorrow afternoon (Sunday, June 17th, 2012). We are so ready to meet her and welcome her to our little family.

Please pray for Titus as he nears his next phase of treatment that God would continue to use his doctor and these medications to heal our little guy. Also please lift our family up in prayer as we add another member! Pray that Aurora arrives safely, and that the transition from 4 to 5 is smooth for Aubriana and Titus (AND mommy and daddy).

3 Month "Diagnosis-versary"

Three months ago we were receiving some of the most devastating news of our lives. It is amazing how knowledge and time can make that news easier to bear. Three months ago we didn’t know what to expect, or if we would ever feel like a “normal” family again. There is something about the diagnosis of cancer that forever changes what is normal: We are still the same people, we love the same, however, we might think slightly differently from you. We can’t just go out as a family without thinking about all of the germs we may encounter – we make our outing decisions based on other people’s germs. We go to the doctor weekly with Titus for treatment, part of our new normal. We try to treat him the same as we did before, and what we consider being disobedient before diagnosis is still the same after diagnosis. We try to have fun and play, but I always have my eyes on him making sure he isn’t playing too rough.

We cry more than we used to. The feelings of “why our son” cross my mind, however I know that nothing we did made this happen, we can’t go back and change anything. We have to continue to trust that God is in control and keep moving forward. We have been showered with blessings and know that even through these trials and heartbreaks, we are never alone.

For those reading this, please continue to pray for our son who has a long treatment plan ahead of him. Please pray that we would be wise in our decision making and that God would use Titus’ doctors and medicines to heal him from this scary disease.