Another Week of Waiting

Another Week of Waiting  

(Mirrored from http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/danieljmiller)

After all the planning, preparations, arrangements, packing, and "psyching up" - we arrived at Riley this morning prepared to start chemo phase 3 and our planned admission to the hospital, but at the very last moment, the blood test results came back telling us that Daniel's white cell count was too low.  It has to be a minimum of 750 to begin (1400 is the bottom of the normal range), but he was still only 620 today.  So everything was called off, and the fighters were sent back to their corners for another week of waiting. 

While we do appreciate and will enjoy an extra of "vacation" from the chemo regimen, keep in mind that this was already delayed a week and a half when they found bacteria growing in one of his blood cultures earlier this month resulting in a 3 day admission and a week of high-powered antibiotics.  With this new delay, our first admission will be on the date that we should have been 1/4th of the way through.

So true-to-form, chemotherapy proves to be a one-day-at-a-time (or at least a week-at-a-time) proposition. Any plans are only made in pencil and better to just not be made at all.  The hardest thing for me is trying to keep a reasonable schedule at work.  But so far, things have worked out OK. It's been a struggle to keep up, we're managing and my boss and coworkers have been extremely gracious.

The most bothersome thing about today though, to me anyway, is actually that his counts are still so low.  I'd expected them to be pretty good after the last week off.  Need to talk to the doctors about that, but I expect the answers won't be very satisfying.

Perhaps the best part of our day though was getting to visit for awhile with the Kellers who have been there most of the week having started Joey's new round of chemo.  Joey and Daniel had a blast playing their Nintendo DS games together (Daniel received his as a gift from Riley when he was first diagnosed) while Elizabeth and Andrea, and Nick and I got to catch up.  It was probably the longest Nick and I had every gotten to talk together and I really enjoyed it.  Please continue to keep them in your prayers as well.

Since I'd already gotten my work-week completed, we took the rest of the day to go visit the Indiana Historical Society downtown, not far from Riley.  We'd never been there, and I'd purchased some tickets last year that were going to expire at the end of this month.  Daniel was actually in tears at the thought of mean-old-dad forcing him to spend his day at a "history museum", but when he still didn't want to leave the very first exhibit after spending 45 minutes there, it proved to be a fun day for all.  By closing time (5:00), I REALLY didn't want to try to fight the traffic coming out of downtown Indy to get home, so we opted for a brief trip to Circle Center Mall, and some dinner.  We arrived back home a bit after 9p and Daniel is in great spirits.  However, he tires very easily nowadays and often pays for even as little exertion as walking around the museum like this with a couple days of sore muscles and low energy.  That's just how out-of-shape he is after having spent the past 2 years with very little activity, and the last few months almost completely sedentary or even bedridden.  I struggle with trying to find the balance of pushing him just a little to get some exercise in, and not wanting to compromise an already very weak immune system with rebuilding sore muscles.  As it happens, I haven't had to push him at all lately as he's been feeling more energetic.  If anything, I spend my time reigning him in and slowing his pace to keep him from paying too heavy a price.  In all it's going well ... except for the continuing low blood counts anyway.




But as always - we trust that God is in control, all things happen for a reason, and ultimately, He will work all things into a pattern for good and to His glory (Rom 8:28).  Peace comes when we are content to trust Him with all things.

More news as it comes - same bat-channel.  Thanks again to all who have continued to keep us in your thoughts & prayers.

Prayer Requests:
1) As always - complete healing from the cancer
2) Strong blood count numbers (specifically red & white cells)
3) That he remains free from infections and generally healthy during these times of lowered immunity
4) When the next round of chemo does start, that his body will eliminate the drug quickly and completely (more on this later)
5) Minimal side-effects, no reactions, etc. to the drugs
6) That Andrea and I will continue to be able to keep schedules working, our own health, finances, etc. so that NOTHING gets in the way of proceeding on course
7) That God would be glorified, lives will be strengthened (especially Daniel's, but others through his witness as well), and the knowledge of our Great Physician, His love, and His plan of hope would be made known a little wider and a little clearer through all of this.

And last - but foremost - please PLEASE keep Joey Keller and his parents in your prayers (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/joeykeller)

- Tim -