It is finished!

1-7-2016

(sign was made with some of Ella Joy’s prescription med. papers as well as her hospital ID bands!)

We started it on October 8, 2013 when Ella Joy was 4 years old and we finished it today with a 6 year old Ella Joy on January 7, 2016!  Ella joy is done with her last chemotherapy clinic! She got her last push of vincristine today! She will still however, have to continue her oral chemo meds until the end of January, and some other meds for three more months. A huge thanks to Kelsey and Marian for once again coming out to help with Asaph and support Ella Joy on her big day!!! To top it off, Ella Joy’s ANC counts looked great this week! Please pray for her upcoming surgery on Feb. 3rd as she will be getting her port taken out. Please pray the surgery would go smoothly and that the surgeon would have wisdom and deft hands. Afterwards, it will be tender in the healing process. Please pray everyone around her at school, and especially Asaph at home would be careful and gentle around her. When Ella Joy was first diagnosed we debated whether or not to give her a port. There were so many cases of infections and problems children with cancer encountered with it. Praise the Lord the port has helped her get the chemotherapy she needed for these past 2+ years! After her surgery on Feb. 3rd, we have her first check-up after being off chemotherapy on March 21st. Please pray that He would protect her body and that we can have a great report after she gets her blood work and physical examination done.

We would like to take this time to thank so many of our friends and family who have been such an amazing source of prayers, support, encouragement, and love to Ella Joy and our family.  Over Christmas break, Mike’s twin brother Frank and wife Rosy wanted to throw Ella Joy a little end of chemo party. What was so special about it was not only that they took the time to bring decorations, delicious food, and crafts… But also that sandwiched in between their daughter’s birthday and Rosy’s own birthday, they selflessly made it a priority to make Ella Joy feel special. We were so touched by their thoughtfulness and love. They said they knew we had been through a rough journey and they wanted to bless Ella Joy and our family. I share this story to thank God for so many of you who have been there by our side praying for Ella Joy to have zero and negative cancer. Thank you to so many of you who have watched Ella joy and Asaph and simply helped us out when we needed it the most. Your prayers mean the world to us and we want to let you know how thankful we are for the sacrifices made to lift up Ella Joy in prayer!  Please do not stop praying for Ella Joy!  Our oncologist reminded us today that the type of cancer Ella Joy has is t-cell which means it is a very aggressive cancer. Your continual prayers will be like gold to us after her chemotherapy is over as much as it was during her treatment.

In the time after she is finished with her oral chemo meds and there is no more chemotherapy in her system, please continue to pray for her body to truly have ZERO cancer and NEGATIVE MRD.  Please pray that she would be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for all endurance and patience with joy. – Colossians 1:11.  We have only been back to school for 3 days since break, and the nurse has called me and Ella Joy got injured at school each day.  Our oncologist told me that the Vincristine and other chemo meds she has been taking causes her to have weakened muscles and bones and most children on these chemo meds see not only short term effects, but also long terms effects.  Please pray for Ella Joy that just as it says in Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.”…That He would give her power and increase her strength.  Please pray for Mike and I … that we would continue Psalm 61:2 prayers, “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”  as we pray for Ella Joy to be finished with cancer once and for all.  And finally, please pray that we would “be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Ephesians 6:10.  We could not have gone through this journey without an awesome, almighty, powerful and loving God, and wonderful, amazing, and caring friends and family.  We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!