Final stay!

Sat, 24 Jun 2000

Hi all,

I just got back from the hospital. Left Jim there with Phil for the evening. This is Phil's last admission for intensive chemotherapy. He will be in for five days, and then he will at last have a chance to rebuild his strength and feel better. He will start maintenance chemotherapy this summer, for one year. This will include treatments every two weeks, but it will be no where near as strong as what he has been receiving. His hair will soon come back and his immunities will remain at a level that will be safe enough for him to attend school this fall. I know he is looking forward to getting back with all his friends. A wonderful counselor at school had his year book signed by all his classmates before we picked it up for him, and he was thrilled!

This admission was preceded by some very fun days. Phil had a day at Great America (theme park) with his friend, and then on Friday he spent the day in San Francisco with his grandparents. His counts were good enough to go in on Friday, but there wasn't a bed available for him, so it had to wait a day! That worked out great for him! Also, today while we were waiting for a bed to open up, we were able to attend a graduation party along with Phil! Yes, it was a bit hard to drag him out of there and off to the hospital, but it's always fun to get some good times in before being admitted. There is a small window there between his counts being good enough to be out doing things, and the doctors wanting him back in the hospital for more treatments! We have to move quick, but we're used to that routine!

Now that we are coming to the end of seven months of intensive chemo, I would just like to thank you for all of your prayers and kind words during this time. It truly helps to know that so many of you remember Phil and all of us. I wish I could say that your prayers are no longer needed, but now more than ever, please continue to pray for Phil's healing and recovery. Chemotherapy can only accomplish so much, the rest is up to God. We know that Phil is in his hands and we have really learned to cherish every day.

I have written pages and pages of poetry during these last seven months and I thought I'd include this one as I end this e-mail.

"Trust"

What lies ahead, we do not know, but we know we have today
To say I love you, you are special, and for the rest, we simply pray
For all the strength that God will give, and his comfort on hard days
When our mind would travel on ahead, finding fear along the way
There is no need to fear tomorrow, when we can rest in God alone
He has a plan and a good reason, even if to us it is unknown
He never promised an easy life, without hardships and some pain
But he promised we'd never walk alone, when our faith in him remains
Our number one priority, as we focus on his love
Is to trust he has a purpose, for everything he does.

Thanks! Keep in touch! Keep praying!