Catching Up

I had not realized how long it has been since I updated the blog. First, let me catch those of you up that are not on facebook. Colleen had her revascularization and bone graft at the end of August. She was on crutches for almost six months. About 6 weeks ago she began having severe pain in her arms near her shoulders. The right one was more severe than the left one. I called Duke and Colleen has been off of the crutches for about 3 weeks now. We are grateful that Colleen can walk without the aid of crutches at this time. Her pain has improved slightly in the arms but she is still requiring the use of morphine everyday. She has osteonecrosis of the shoulders which apparently has been there since last year but the use of the crutches has somehow made the pain worse. We have the option of doing a core decompression which is a surgical procedure where holes are drilled in the bone to alleviate the pressure and improve the pain but Colleen is not wanting to have the procedure.
      She has been really ill for the last week. Beginning last Saturday she was nauseated and just not feeling well. On Wednesday, we took her to see the oncologist. They believe that she has a virus that has caused her white count to fall as low as when she was diagnosed with cancer. Her white count is 0.7 which is dangerously low so she cannot attend school or go out into crowded areas without a mask on. She also required a blood transfusion that day.  She has missed an entire week of school and been too sick to move off the couch much. On Friday, she saw the oncologist again because they almost kept her in the hospital on Wednesday. Her baby white blood cells have improved so they are pretty confident that the cancer has not returned. Colleen threw up blood on Friday while she was at the doctors office. Friday night she vomited again and there was about 3 tablespoons of blood at the end. We called the hospital and they told us to continue monitoring her at home. Today she had nausea and vomiting again but no blood was seen this time. 
     Colleen is understandably frustrated a bit and tired of being sick. She also learned that a child that we shared a room with at the hospital died a few days ago. She was only 9 years old and was as sweet as she could be. Colleen is understandably sad. This world is so full of sadness and disappointments. Too much sadness for a 16 year old girl and a family with a precious nine year old that will sadly be missed. We barely knew this child but she had a large impact on our family. She was always bright and cheerful and never complained about her illness while she was at the hospital with us. She had a wonderful family who loved her dearly!! It makes you wonder why such a loving family has to lose such a beautiful child. I can only cry knowing that there is nothing that I can do or say to console her family. I keep thinking that this could have been us mourning the loss of our child. Life is so unfair. Children with cancer lose their friends because of the cancer and then begin to lose the new friends that they make at the clinic. We try everyday to count our blessings. We are thankful that God has allowed Colleen to live and that He is in control of our lives. He uses trials to test our faith, to wean us from the world, to call us to heavenly hope, to teach us obedience, to increase our spiritual strength, to demonstrate his mercy, and to enable us to help others through their trials, and to display his power. 
     We have learned so much this past few years. We have learned to lean on God, to allow Him to direct our lives, to value heavenly treasures more than earthly ones, and to remember to encourage others who are struggling. 

     Please pray that Colleen will feel better soon, that God will comfort this family who lost their child, that Colleen's pain will improve and that the doctors will have wisdom in treating her. Thank you so much for your prayers- we appreciate you taking the time to read this long post.