Update on Adler 12/17/10

[Al Dente]

Faith, Prayer, Strength, Tenacity.  May His words help and heal.

[Doc Nock]

Lord, giver of life, only YOU can help Adler at this point...we pray in Jesus name that you will lift this lad up, help him gain weight and be your warrior for many years to come having beaten this Cancer through YOUR Mercy and loving Grace. Amen.

[BenBow]

Nothing I can add to this from Adler's dad.
   

Alder has had off and on bouts of fatigue, so he sleeps when he needs too. I was blessed to day to have Anna and the boys show up at school for the thanksgiving dinner. It was a treat to see them and have dinner with them. Thinking about this week, I think as we near the thanksgiving celebration, we can start to think about just that. What are we thankful for? Tonight, I am thankful for a nice week for Adler. Anna and I sit and wait for the bottom to drop on the blood counts, but we will just thank God for each day that he feels well, and blood counts are good. Speaking of thankfulness, last night we began our blessings journal. Each person in our family writes down 5 things they are thankful for or that is a blessing in their life. One of Adlers was "the assurance that God is with me" Talk about bringing tears to my eyes, it was hard not to lose it when he read his. I praise God for the faith that he continues to build in this boy. To God be the glory!!!!

[Doc Nock]

Indeed---to God be the Glory! Amen

[BenBow]

Prayers are working thank you and keep it up please.
   

Will you please just give Jesus praise and glory right now. He blessed Adler so much last week it was a true miracle. Adler finished the week off with an abundance of energy. He played basketball with Ethan, he played the Wii (some very intense games by the way) with Ethan. He was able to help Anna clean (...dust) the house    It really was amazing. Top it all off with a big appetite and you have one amazing week. I haven't seen the kid eat like this in a long time. They said this would be the worst yet....Docs don't know our God and His power.

For this week....Adler has chemo on Tuesday and I believe a spinal tap. I'll have to check on that one. My parents are coming in for the holiday, so we are just really praying for a continuation of strength and energy for Adler this week so he can enjoy thanksgiving with everyone. Please pray for safe travel for all who will be traveling this week.

[Doc Nock]

Prayers up for Adler and travelers everywhere...

[stringstretcher]

Prayers for Adler, may the lord give him strength and health.

[Rookie@51]

What a blessing for Adler and family and at the same time a blessing for you to share this with us. I thank you for keeping us in the loop. Yes Lord please keep those who will be traveling safe and continue to show forth you power in this family's life. Thank you for hearing our prayers and thank you for those who have lifted this request up daily. Bless all who would take the time to stand in the gap on behalf of this family. Lord in your time and in your power all things are finished. In your Name ....... Amen.......Dusty

[BenBow]

Another update and another thank you for your prayers. As you will see in this update that Adler has a long way to go but the future looks better. Still a fight but better. God is so gracious.
   

Can I just tell you how powerful you are and what an awesome God we have. It is unbelievable what God has done in Adler. He continues to gain weight, he continues to have an appetite, he continues to have energy. He is doing better beyond what I could have ever imagined. It may be my negative side coming out, but I expected or planned for only the worst. God has had other plans. Not to say Adler will not have a moment over the next few weeks when things get tough, but for now, God is blessing him with everything we have asked, and then some. You want proof that we have a God of love. Look at Adler.

It is amazing that the creator of the universe would take the time to lay his hand on this one little boy. I am in awe of his power, his love, his grace, his mercy. To God be the glory, to God be all praise.

This week Adler had a break. Yesterday his ANC was 4000. We know those numbers can drop fast within a few days, but the fact that they are that high completely amazes me. Next week we begin the final push. His last chemo dose of this phase will be on Dec. 28th. That will be a huge milestone for him. After that, its just once a month until Sept. of 2012. Needless to say, we may have a small celebration on the 28th.    

[4dogs]

AMEN, Hallalooooya and praise god!!! Thats great news, I have seen these blessings before and have been blessed to see them in my family and they are inspirational every time...We got to keep praying its working!      

[Doc Nock]

Lord sure finds ways to remind us (me) of our smallness and need for total humility in His presence.

This is wonderful news for Adler and the family!

Thank you, Jesus!!

[BenBow]

Adler's ANC is finally up enough to continue here's last nights carepage update and a picture of Adler and his dad with matching dues
   

Just a quick note to let you know we have a God who hears and answers prayers. In His perfect timing, He has given Adler the counts needed to begin his chemo again. Adler's ANC was 1584. Please join me in praise of our great God for his faithfulness and grace. Adler will go in tomorrow at 8 for a spinal tap, infusion (2 drugs) and pills. One of our at home nurses (Tom) is here to get Adler started on his hydration. He gets to carry "little buddy" his hydration pack and pump around with him for the next 24 hours. Sad to see it started, but glad that the end is nearing.
Please pray for super human strength, and endurance to get Adler through these next few weeks.
Take some time tonight and give your loved ones a hug, and let them know how much they are loved. We will be loving on the boys extra tonight.
Good night God bless!!! Much love to all of you.

[BenBow]

Hard time for Adler and dad with this last batch of chemo.
 

Adler's stuff went well yesterday....and quickly. The spinal tap doc was waiting for any patient to walk in so Adler was the first. He grabbed him and did the tap right away. I believe Adler was in recovery by 9AM and they were out by 10. Infusion was to be at 1 so they went up and got in. Finished up by noon when we expected it to be 3. So I would say it went well.

You would think by now that I would begin to get immune to seeing your child hurt. After a very long day, I come home to my precious boy hurting. His head hurt, his tummy hurt, and he did not want to take his chemo pills last night. I took every bit of strength I had not to weep for/with him has he laid in bed. You know it is coming, and yet you hope that it will not be as bad as you expect.

I know that those who have had children have seen them hurt before. I was stopped last night with the thought of the cross. I know Adler's condition and pain do not come close in comparison to what Jesus went through for you and I. However, in some ways I feel that I continue to get a better understanding and feel of the true and deep love God has for me knowing the pain He went through watching His Son suffer. My heart aches for Adler, I can't imagine how much God's heart ached for Jesus.

Even now through 8 months of this, and seeing God's might hand and His works, I still find moments where I question His wisdom and plan. Why must he hurt so much Lord? Why my 9 year old son? I guess you all get to see my "little faith" . I only wonder if these questions will ever be answered. I'm thankful we have a God who can handle a little questioning.

I am asking that you pray for my Adler. Ask our mighty God to give him a double portion of strength and courage. Ask Him to continue to strengthen Adler's faith through this. Though I question His works, I know that God's works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I thank you for your love and prayers for Adler and our family. We continue to praise God for you and the faith He continues to build in each of you. Please know how much we love you and appreciate you. I think Adler would take a hug from each of you today. We know that will not happen, so in his place, hug someone who needs a hug today in place of Adler. Much love!!!
 

[Doc Nock]

Wow... hard to be at work w/ tears in my eyes, but to see such a witness of faith...such growth in Grace as Adler and his family...especially these incredible testments from his parents, brings me to my knees.

Indeed, we cry at the least pain and what Christ endured is beyond human comprehension.

Thank you Jesus.

Prayers for strength and God's special protection for Adler.

[F Thomas]

Prayers for Alder and his healing.  Prayers for his family for strength and peace.

[BenBow]

Praise God and thank you for your prayers!
   

I couldn't remember if I had told you that we have an awesome God. Now I will admit to you this chemo stuff has me stumped. I don't know what to expect anymore. Adler was hurting on Tuesday night. Today he has been doing well. He has received the ARAC each day this week Tues-Fri. He has been at basketball practice with me helping me set up stuff for drills. He looks good, he seems to be feeling good. I can only direct you to the power of God, and the power of prayer. It really is remarkable how well he is doing. We were told that he would need blood products by now. Again...My God is bigger than Cancer, bigger than low blood counts, bigger than low weight. Not only does he provide for Adler, but he saved Adler, and all of us from our sins. Have I mentioned we have an awesome God?

When I sit here and look back on this journey, I can't help but see the hand of God in all of this. I'm not sure if I told you that I prayed and prayed before Adler went in for his biopsy that the tumor would be gone, just to show the world that we have a God that still does miracles. I was disappointed when it didn't happen that way. Is his tumor gone...Yes. In God's time. I look back and think I would not have been blessed over these past months by the people of God's holy church had it worked out the way I had planned. We would not have met so many amazing people. God truly is amazing. Yes, I am blessed by a God who does what is best for me, best for Adler and best for his church. To God be the glory.

Adler continues to do well. Please continue to pray for strength. We thank you for your continued love and support. God bless you with a restful weekend...Enjoy the snow in the morning before it melts.    Much love!!!
 

[Stone Knife]

Praise Jesus and continuing to pray for a miracle. Lord hear our prayers for Adler that this child is completely healed and free from pain, Amen.

[Doc Nock]

Amazing God, indeed.  Amazing faith in Adler's family, too...

Total surrender reaps His total rewards. A lesson I've yet to learn but appears these good people have!

Thank you, Jesus. Prayers continue for Adler's progress!

[zarch]

Prayers sent Hang in there Dad God bless