A Weekend in the Hospital

This one is just a quick update on what has happened to us this weekend.

Scott reported to the clinic on Friday to have some blood work done and to hopefully find out if he was having a Crohn's flare up.  He had been having some intense abdominal pain, which is usually an indicator of a flare up.  

The clinic felt like it was chemo related, so he was sent to over to his oncologist's office.  After seeing him, they admitted him to the hospital.  His blood work indicated that his white cell count was extremely low at 1.  They also tested him to determine if he was actually producing any white cells.  Apparently the number they like to see is 1.5... but Scott's was 0.1.  So, needless to say, they kept him and sent him to the bone marrow transplant floor (where it's pretty sterile and bacteria free).  If you've ever seen my kids, you can pretty much guess that they we NOT about to let those, dirty ragamuffins on the floor to see their Dad!

This all took place on Friday.  They also did a scan to examine his abdomen to determine why he was having pain there.  The scan showed NO inflammation in his bowels, but it did show that he had TWO blood clots in his lungs.  

We got these results on Saturday morning.  They had moved him from the bone marrow transplant side of the floor to the oncology side.  He still had to be very careful, but this allowed the kids to see him.  They then started him on Heparin to dissolve the clots (all this can be caused by the chemo).  Anyway, after the first dose of Heparin it was discovered that his clotting time was too high (his blood couldn't clot soon enough), which is dangerous.  So, they decreased his dose of Heparin, and attempted to get that under control.

Scott has also been getting an injection of a specific drug that will stimulate his bone marrow to produce white cells.  This has caused some severe bone pain, for which he has been receiving Morphine.  He's also lost a bit of weight... he's now down to 126 lbs.  I tease him that he'll be able to fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes before I can. 

So, we've had a pretty rough weekend.  Scott is still on schedule to receive his next dose of chemo this Wednesday.  I am concerned that he will lose more weight this next round, and that his white cells will again tank.  

If you are praying for us, please pray for these items:

1) Scott will be healed!

2) This next round will not be as devastating as the first.

3) That Scott will not lose weight but he will gain instead.

4) The white cell count will remain normal and there will be no infection

5) His Chron's will remain under control

6) There will be no more blood clots

7) That we will trust and see the Lord provide for all our needs.

In respect to the last request... Scott will be spending a few days at home this week, so once again, we will be seeing medical bills escalate while Scott is unable to go to work.  We are trusting that our Lord will provide all that we need.  At times, that comes easily, and other times it is quite difficult.

So, that's been the weekend for us.  Hopefully Scott can come home tomorrow (Monday).  We continue to pray for healing, but we know that when the Lord calls us to suffering, it is for our good and his glory.

"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son... No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:5-6, 11)

We know the Lord loves us, we know that he is good, and we know that he is preparing us for his work during this time of trial.

Please continue to pray for us.  I can't tell you all how much we appreciate the prayers, meals, childcare, and gifts you have given to us.  We continue to be overwhelmed each and every time we receive these blessings.  Thank you so much!