Perseverance motto

9-19-16

(This morning at Luries, we were surprised that superheroes washed the windows!)

Today’s appointment was special for Ella Joy because Mike was able to be by her side during her clinic visit. Praise the Lord, once again her blood counts are looking good this week. She also had a flu shot, and besides the finger prick, her physical went smoothly. She had complained for about 3 days of her hand hurting, especially the skin on her fingers, but our oncologist APN seemed to think it was nothing serious. Thank you so much for all your prayers! Please continue praying for her next appointment in 2 months on Nov. 21. This one will involve more complicated procedures. Besides the usual finger prink for blood counts and the physical, she will also be getting an echocardiogram.   An echo is a type of ultrasound test that uses high-pitched sound waves that are sent through a device called a transducer. The device picks up echoes of the sound waves as they bounce off the different parts of her heart. In addition to the echocardiogram, she will also be getting a chemistry panel that evaluates Ella Joy’s body’s electrolyte balance as well as the status of her major body organs like her liver and kidney. This blood sample will be drawn from a vein in her arm. Please pray the echocardiogram and the chemistry panel will reveal that her heart, liver, kidney, and other organs are all healthy and strong. We truly appreciate all your faithful prayers! From one appointment to the next, we never know what the blood tests will reveal, and although we have had a few phenomenal clinic visits post chemotherapy, we are so encouraged by our friends and family who never give up praying for Ella Joy and lift up storehouses of prayer for her.

We were able to leave the hospital and get home just an hour before Ella Joy’s school let out. Ella Joy asked me if she could go to school. I told her that she was already excused, and that she didn’t have to go. She told me she really wanted to go, even if it was just for that last hour. So, I dropped her off and she was so happy to attend school for even a short period of time, “being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.” – Colossians 1:11. Ella Joy’s determination reminded me of something William Wilberforce once said “Our motto must continue to be perseverance. And ultimately I trust the Almighty will crown our efforts with success.”