Prayer List

So we're still out of the hospital!  Emmett finished chemotherapy almost a week and a half ago and he's still doing very well.  On previous chemo rounds we've been back in the hospital for 4-5 days by this point in the cycle.  Our doctors told us Friday that this round wasn't any less severe than what he's had before and they expected we'd probably have to bring him in sometime over the weekend.  But here we are Sunday night and he's still doing well.

Though our doctors can't identify why Emmett's surpassing expectations, we're confident it's the concerted prayers of many people that are strengthening him at this time.  And we can't thank you enough for them!  And we especially thank those who were praying and fasting for Emmett last Sunday.  Please continue to keep Emmett in your prayers as we approach his next MRI evaluation in about a month.

Some friends recently asked us for a list of specific things to mention in their prayers for Emmett.  We put together the following list and shared it with their family.  For those others who are looking for specific things to pray for, mentioning just one or two of the items below in your prayers would be helpful.

• That the therapies he's receiving will successfully treat the tumor.
• That Emmett's spinal cord will be protected from the radiation and the intrathecal chemotherapy -- no paralysis or other permanent nerve damage resulting from the cancer or the treatment.
• That immediate side effects will be minimized -- mouth sores, nausea, nerve pain, fevers.
• That Emmett will be protected from infections while his immune system is suppressed.
• That Emmett's walking will continue to improve so that he can walk without help.
• That the damaged nerves in his shoulder, arm and spine will heal and that he will regain full use of his left arm and hand.  
• That Emmett's cerebral spinal fluid (CSF -- the fluid in his brain and spine) will continue to be free of cancerous cells and that future CSF samples will accurately reflect that there is no cancer in his brain and spine.
• The Emmett's next MRI evaluation will show no evidence of disease.
  
• The we will be directed to the alternative therapies and other treatments that will be most beneficial for Emmett.
• That Emmett's hearing will be protected during treatment and that he not experience other long-term adverse side effects such as cognitive deficits, learning disabilities, leukemia, and other physical or mental impairments or diseases.
  

We haven't mentioned on the blog yet that Emmett's latest CSF sample (taken two weeks ago while inpatient for chemotherapy) came back clear!  Chalk it up for another miracle...and then just tonight Emmett was gripping with his left hand!!!  He's tried to do various things with it over the past few weeks with limited success, but tonight he was actually squeezing with it.  Yet another miracle!  And we expect them to continue.

Again, we can't thank you all enough for your continued prayers and faith.