The Good News!!
Wed, 04 Jul 2001
Good morning!
Happy 4th of July! It's a hot one here in Pleasanton. I think we broke a record for the temperature here yesterday. It was about 103! We, or should I say I, relented and turned on the air-conditioning for awhile! That helped! :) That and fans!
We also received some very good news about Phil yesterday that I wanted to share with all of you! I took him into the doctor on Monday to get a check up, get some blood work done, and basically to say "Hi, he's doing great!". They all commented on how good he looks. I know they appreciate a child's healthy glow more than many because they are so familiar with children who are very pale and very weak, which Phil is not! He is full of energy and has great color! What a joy that is! It's never fun to go back to the doctor for any reason, too much history there....but it's necessary at times. We had not been for two months. Two months ago his doctor asked me if I had contacted Hospice...I told her that I didn't feel the need yet. I don't know what they thought his condition was, having not seen him, but I'm sure it was not what they witnessed on Monday! He has put on some weight because of the steroids, but he has also grown 3/4 of an inch, taking him to 5'10" now! He started out in April on 6 steroids a day but is now down to one a day. The doctor sort of just shook her head in amazement and commented on what the Prednisone must be doing for him...I said, "Prednisone and Prayer!!" She suggested we just keep "doing what we are doing..."! I think she didn't know what to think about this boy who should be VERY sick, and he is not! The other part of the good news is that we got his blood work back yesterday and all the counts were just about normal! I'm not sure what normal is for Phil because they have always been off, but his Hemoglobin, Platelets and Immunities are great! The doctor commented that he may be low on Platelets (having not seen the test results yet), but Phil told her he didn't have any new bruises.....his platelets have been as low as 12,000, and yesterday the count came back at 252,000!! His immunities (ANC) was around 300 when we went to Hawaii, which is dangerously low. He should have been isolated or wearing a mask. Yesterday they were 5,032! I can't really remember the last time we went to the doctor and came away with good news, which is why it is so hard to return there time after time. It is very difficult to go there and be told your child is dying...not exactly in those words, but basically that's the message and has been for the past five years, and each time we are told that, we go back to God and ask him for strength to survive such news, strength to go on, strength to persevere, strength to keep his joy and hope alive in our hearts and each time He has done that. This time going back was no different, we dreaded it, Phil dreaded it, and I was SCARED!! The panic starts to rise and climb out of control until I go to God in prayer and say "I'M SCARED!!!", and He reminds me of all those times when he has been there for us, seen us through each difficult day, never left us no matter what and I start to think on those things, those days, and my peace returns and I am able to go back once again to face whatever may transpire with the hope that He gives us for the future here and for eternity. I was recently re-reading some poems that I had written awhile back. I record most of our struggles and my walk with God in poetry and I was very grateful to God for the past five years. The lessons, the hard times, the fears that we have had to face, and His goodness through it all. His faithfulness. His peace. And I was grateful that if I were to meet another who was going through trials of whatever kind, that I could tell them of how God will be there for them and that they would know I was not just talking, not just saying things that I really knew nothing about because I had never faced tragedy or fear like they were going through. I have had to put our son in the palms of my hands and lift him up to God and release him, asking that God's will be done. I could share that surrender of what's most precious with another who may have to do the same, and for that I am so grateful, for when all is surrendered to God, and trust like that is established, what is there to fear in life? If our greatest fear is death, and that has been conquered, then the rest of life is to be enjoyed to the fullest, as God has planned!! The enemy would like to keep us bound in fear, but we have been set free, if we have accepted that gift! I hope you have. That is my prayer for you, because when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I pray that you will fear no evil and that you will enjoy each day on earth that God has given you!
Thank you so much for praying for Philip! I wish you all could see the results of your prayers personally. The doctor wanted to know if we had any plans for the summer and we told her we don't, we live one day at a time, starting each day with prayer. God has taken the most planned person (ME!) and shown me that today is all we have, and tomorrow is in His hands. It really is a great way to live!
Philip has been working on his driving permit, and will probably be down at the DMV next week to take his test. Then he will be "Driving Miss Daisy", although I'm not quite that old! HA He is very excited! Our son Jimm has started a new job here in Pleasanton and so now we are close neighbors, which we are all very happy about! Chris is back in San Diego after having spent a couple of months working in Wyoming. Oh! And Jim, Phil and I went up in a Hot Air Balloon the other day! It was SUPER!! We had to get up early for a 6:30 a.m. launch, so I saw the sunrise....which I don't see often, but it was worth the early rising! What a beautiful way to start out the day!!
Here is a recent picture of Phil and his dog Dackel. Click on it to see it larger.
We hope you all have a wonderful 4th of July wherever you are!
Much love, The Shore Family
P.S. I forgot to tell you a bit more good news! Phil has reflexes!! The
doctor tapped on his knees and his legs moved! I don't know if Phil remembers a time when
he had reflexes! You should have seen the smile on our faces when his foot kicked out!
Such a little thing, but such clear evidence of healing!
Praise God!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebrews 7:26-27
Such a high priest meets our need - one who is holy, blameless, pure, set
apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests,
he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins,
and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all
when he offered himself.
Lit From Above
Thank you for the good news, that comes from Jesus Christ
Thank you for the good news, that You bring to our life
The Hope we have for living, each and every day
The Hope we have in dying, eternity secure in every way
Thank you Lord for coming, to show us all the way
The road that leads to Heaven, paved with Your blood the day
They hung You on that cross, to pay for all our sins
The day You died the death, that defeats the enemy, he won't win
Eternal Hope is ours, when we put our trust in You
Hope for each day we live, and for the day we all die too
You've given us the gift, that only You can give
A way to survive this world, a way to truly live
Above the circumstances, that meet us every day
Above the things we fear, you've shown us how to pray
You've shown us all your power, and you're strength when we are weak
You've shown us who's in charge, when our lives seem very bleak
You've led us out of Egypt, into the Promised Land
It's not reserved for Heaven, it's here today, I understand
The precious gift you've given, much clearer than before
It's the Hope, the Joy, the Peace, that can be ours when we choose the door
That leads us to the pathway, protected by Your love
The one that's straight and narrow, brightly lit from up above
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
