Another Week Down, Tough One Ahead

We just finished up another long week in Seattle. We got to use the clinics free pass to go up the Space Needle just before sunset on Wednesday night. It was beautiful. It was a wonderful date night and we got some really great pictures:

We also got a chance to go out to dinner with a high school youth group friend of mine - Aron Otremba and his wife (who live here in the Seattle area). It was a great night of yummy food, good company, interesting conversation and fun games + dessert.

Our week was also full of lots of appointments and learning about what we have coming up. Mark is doing really well. Super healthy except for Leukemia : )  All his test came back good - he is officially cleared for transplant. On Wednesday he got a new "line" put in his chest - he did it all with no anesthesia and did great. We picked up all kinds of medication today and got trained on in-home IVs so I will know how to administer that here at home. I think we are all ready for this new phase to start.

It is pretty intimidating - it won't be easy.  Radiation starts tomorrow and ends on Monday afternoon. He will have two 30 minute sessions a day (Sat, Sun. & Mon.). Mark will be admitted to University of Washington Medical Center on Tuesday morning the 18th to begin two days of Chemo. He will "rest" on Thursday. Then the transplant will happen on Friday the 21st. It is a really simple process - exactly like getting a blood transfusion or anti-biotic through an IV. Sorta anti-climatic after all the months of preparation to get here. But it will be fairly quick and painless for Mark, which is good.


I promise to give an update by next Friday if not before but until then Please be PRAYING!!

For our minds and hearts to be strong, brave and calm.

Pray for our boys. Pray for us as we are missing our boys terribly. May they have peace through all of this.

For the Doctors involved to know exactly what they need too. May they have Gods eyes and His wisdom when figuring out just what Mark's body needs at all times.

Pray for each nights sleep - as it will get harder and harder me to clear my mind and rest each night. Mark should be pretty tired from all his body will be going through but pray for rest for him as well.

Pray for the linings of his mouth and throat - for his whole digestive system. This is the place he is most vulnerable in the next 10 days for pain and infection.

Pray for quick healing from the damage of the radiation and chemo.

Pray for the Donor so far away that his donation goes smoothly and that he will remain healthy and strong. Pray for God to bless him in and extraordanary way for his generosity. May he feel the love and peace of the Holy Spirit.

MOST OF ALL pray hard that Mark's body receives the donors stem cells well. That the donor cells go right to work, find their place and start to repair the damage in Mark's body quickly. Pray that they fully clean out any hiding Leukemia cells. PRAY FOR GRAFTING!!

Thank you all for your love and support. We could not do this alone!