Barach.com

Today marks the completion of Jordan’s first 28 days of treatment.

Jordan just went in for his bone marrow test and chemotherapy.

Please pray for him and for 0 blasts/no traces of cancer in his bone marrow.

Got a little more info from Tim tonight, so read on…

First, Jordan is really doing well.  He’s pooping really consistently and generally continues to seem like himself.  So, praises.  Even better?  His blast percentage was taken again today – and it’s a 1.  ONE.  The number right above zero.  It was a 67.  Then 16.  Now 1.  PRAISES.

But tomorrow, it has to be a zero.  Tomorrow is the big day.  In the morning, they’re going to put him under, extract bone marrow, and do a chemo session.  Then he’ll go back to his room to recover.  Once he’s fully recovered, they’re going to release him to go home.

The test results on the bone marrow will come in later, maybe tomorrow evening, maybe Friday.  And the numbers need to be zero.  Jordan needs to be cancer free.  Period.

And he needs to stay cancer free for another 3 years.  Period.

So, let’s pray.

• Jordan’s blood pressure is now reading just a little bit low.  Nothing too concerning, but pray that he just evens right out and stays put.
• Pray that in the next 12 hours, Jordan’s white blood cell count and blast percentage show ZERO signs of cancer.  He’s close.  Let’s pray him all the way.
• Pray that Jordan recover quickly and easily from the anesthesia tomorrow, and suffer no ill side effects.
• Pray that the Shahbaz household is prepared for Jordan’s arrival on a couple of fronts.  Firstly, that Cedar, Jeremiah, and Jonah would all have a special measure of selflessness, grace and tenderness toward Jordan, and somehow understand his special needs.  Secondly, that Jordan would miraculously be protected (over the next 3 years) from bumps and bruises, germs and infections, etc.  Thirdly, that all the adults caring for Jordan would supernaturally have peace, strength and wisdom – to deal with the schedule and the special needs, to know when to lavish attention and when to discipline, to know when Jordan is okay at home or if he needs special medical attention, to know how to protect Jordan while giving him normalcy and stability and just the right amount of freedom, and to know how to take care of themselves.  These are not small requests.  Fortunately, our God is not small.
• The next week or so would, under normal circumstances, be the time that Jordan really begins to feel the effects of the chemotherapy.  Some of the side effects include hair loss, nausea, nerve and joint pain, weakness, all manner of aches and pains, paralysis, and many more.  It can make an adult body feel excruciatingly miserable, and can virtually destroy a child’s body.  I feel really strongly that we are to pray that the side effects of the chemo are not just minimized, but miraculously MISSING over the course of the next 3 years.  Pray that his body just somehow tolerates the poisons, without pain and suffering.  Pray and believe.
• Pray that Jordan will continue to eat and sleep and stay active to keep his body strong and healthy.  It will get harder if the chemo really kicks in – but he needs to stay strong.  The constant interruptions at the hospital have made sleep hard to come by, but at home this should be better.  Pray that it is.

Will update again tomorrow with any news we can muster.  And certainly again when the test results come in.  Until then, we’re praying…

Tonight, a big dose of gratitude for answered prayer and a good day…

Jordan is eating and pooping, his blood pressure and heart rate are much improved and consistent and he’s been much better at handling the blood pressure readings, he had 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep last night (more than he’s had in a while), his color is returning, and today, he got to see Star Wars for the first time.  Well some of it.  He didn’t make it through the whole thing, but you can’t rush perfection, right, Phil?  Tim reports that Jordan really seems like himself and was playing pretty rambunctiously today.  Additionally, Jordan hasn’t had any allergic reactions so far to any of the medicines, blood transfusions, etc.

Answered prayers!  Blessings!

And now on to the next list of prayer requests.

• I mentioned yesterday that Jordan’s steroid medication (prednizone) has some ill-effects.  It apparently tastes really bad and makes Jordan nauseated, and affects his mood, making him irritable and aggressive.  Please pray that these effects will be minimized.  The steroids are really important to help him tolerate the chemo.  We need them – but we need them to be gentle on little Jordan’s body and mind.
• Please don’t let up on the prayers for eating, pooping, sleeping, blood pressure, etc.  The basic functions of Jordan’s body cannot be overlooked, and must be working properly to allow him to continue with his chemotherapy, go home from the hospital, etc.  They are also really important to his sense of normalcy.  So, let’s keep praying.
• One of Jordan’s chemo medicines (there are several, and apparently they are administered in alternating cycles) can cause ulcers in his mouth and rectum.  Not only are these terribly uncomfortable, but they are prone to infection, and Jordan’s body cannot handle infection right now.  Please pray that ulcers do not develop, and that Jordan is spared this unpleasant side effect.
• Another of Jordan’s chemo meds causes constipation.  As I mentioned above, constipation really isn’t an option right now.  It also causes nerve pain, and Amy has noticed that it is affecting Jordan’s jaw and legs.  Please pray that the nerve pain will be minimized, and that he’ll stay regular, despite the medicine.
• The chemo also causes weakness in Jordan’s body, and it is important that Jordan stay active to keep his muscles strong and healthy.  Phil and Amy have been taking Jordan on walks through the halls of the hospital to help keep him active, but he’s been really resistant to leaving the room.  Amy thinks it might be because he only ever leaves the room for things that are scary – x-rays, lumbar punctures, bone marrow extractions, etc – or because he has to wear a mask outside of his room.  Phil is trying to help Jordan think of the mask as his Darth Vader mask…  Pray that Jordan will enjoy the game, and will overcome his fears of walking outside the room so that he can get the exercise he needs to stay healthy and strong.
• Sounds like the doctors are looking at being able to send Jordan home from the hospital on Wednesday.  Keep praying that Jordan keeps hitting his numbers so he can go home, and that the Shahbaz household will be prepared for his arrival and care.
• Pray for Phil and Amy, that the words “cancer,” “leukemia,” and “chemotherapy” would continue to lose their debilitating power, and be replaced by words like “hope,” and “life,” and “energy,” and “love,” and “health.”  Pray that they will miraculously have strength, wisdom, and patience to know how to care for Jordan, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as their 3 other kids – Jonah, Jeremiah, and Cedar – despite their lack of medical training and severe lack of sleep.
• And of course, pray that this cancer goes permanently into remission.

Tim took some more pictures today.  Cuteness.  We’ll continue to post updates as they come in.

Chilling with a toy truck

Throwing cars off the back of the sofa.

This is the face Jordan makes when you tell him to smile for the camera.

Jordan eating noodles and watching Star Wars

Another good day.  So, I’ll start by thanking of all of you for your prayers and good thoughts and wishes.  Keep it coming.

Haven’t heard about any blood numbers today, but a couple things to celebrate, and then more prayer requests.

Last night, after I posted about the good news and numbers, things took a turn, and Jordan had a really tough night.  He got really nauseated and threw up his meds and that hot dog he had eaten.  His blood pressure spiked, and once again, he got no rest.  But this morning, he was doing better, his blood pressure was back to normal (and he’s apparently getting a little better about having it taken), and he was in very good spirits.  In fact, Phil reported that throughout the day, Jordan played rather energetically, and even laughed out loud a few times.  He also ate 3 meals, and hasn’t thrown up his meds.  Finally, at around 7:15 tonight, Jordan feel asleep, and was sleeping really hard as of around 9 pm when Tim and Phil talked.

Around midnight tonight, they are hoping that Jordan will still be asleep, and that they can take his blood pressure (around his lower leg) without waking him up.  If Jordan stays asleep, and his blood pressure is normal, they can leave the room and continue to let him sleep.  I don’t think I need to tell you how important this is – Jordan needs rest, his body needs rest, and Amy needs rest.  Tonight is crucial, and could be a turning point.  If he wakes up and can’t go back to sleep, or if his blood pressure is high or low when they take it, he’ll HAVE to be awakened to take more meds, and undergo additional blood pressure tests.  So, if you’re awake and reading this on Saturday night, please pray RIGHT NOW that Jordan will sleep soundly through the night, and that his blood pressure will be normal.

Additional prayer requests:

• Jordan is on heavy steroids right now to help his body tolerate the chemotherapy.  The steroids can have yukky side effects, including making his mood and personality really different.  They can make him angry and aggressive and very moody.  Please pray that he will not experience these side effects, that his personality will remain intact, and that the steroids will do only good work in his body.
• Please pray that Jordan will continue to eat and poop – two very important things to keep his body strong enough to tolerate the chemo, and to insure he can go home from the hospital.
• Please pray that Amy and Phil will be strengthened, despite their fears, anxiety, and lack of sleep.
• Please pray that all of the friends and family surrounding Phil and Amy and Jordan will know exactly what to do and how to help them.  Pray that they will all be filled with hope and wisdom.
• Please continue to pray that the side effects of the chemo would be miraculously minimized in Jordan’s body.
• Please continue to pray that the chemo treatments work to free Jordan of cancerous cells and that ongoing blood and marrow tests show him to be in remission, now and forever.
• And finally, pray that the Shahbaz household would be prepared for Jordan’s homecoming.  Having Jordan home will be a wonderful thing (whether it happens on Monday or later in the week) for many reasons.  But it will also be complicated as they will need to protect him and his compromised immune system from germs and illness, bumps and bruises, etc., while helping him feel some sense of normalcy at home.  They will need to work his outpatient chemotherapy sessions into their already hectic schedules, and be prepared for any at-home emergencies, like blood-pressure spikes, fevers, or vomiting.  It’s one thing to deal with those at the hospital surrounded by trained personnel, and quite another to have him at home…

Thank you again for reading, and for surrounding the Shahbaz family with love, prayer, and support.

On another note, I did get confirmation that our friends great-granddaughter, who passed away the other day, died of SIDS.  We don’t know exactly how old she was.  Her name was Aurora.  Please keep Mark and Roseanne (great-grandparents), Holly and David (grandparents) and Ashley and her husband (parents) in your prayers, too.  They are really hurting.