Not Too Creative

So, I'm not that great at titles for blogs so forget the title and just read...
Ryan is doing well physically. He was able to play on Friday which was a big concern for him. He had a blast, helped convert a 3rd and long into a first down at a critical time of the game, he helped his team win the game against John Glenn.
We took Tim back to Malone yesterday - what a great trip. 5 hours of singing worship songs together with Cari and Tim was great. We left him after a few short hours there and drove the five hours home. I miss him this time. Last year, we were not the best of friends but this summer he grew so much spiritually that I truly believe he is seeking God's best for his life now. It's still a battle for him just as it is for me and I admire him for sticking with it.
I saw Clint at church today - it is strange to see him and not spend so much time together. He and his lovely wife are making their lives together and I am proud of the man that he has become. Still, i pray for him daily because I know how hard it can be.
Friday, Tim and I called Pulse FM at the same time trying to win tickets to ND Women's Volleyball (4 tickets)...trying to be caller #6 or #7. I got answered as #6 and he got in as #7 - technically we both won but they only gave it to won of us since we are related. Anyway, we took our volleyball player, Jenna, today after church to see them. Not so exciting but it was actually cool to find that we won SEASON TICKETS not just for the one game. I guess we'll be back!
I love my wife - she is the greatest person in my life and my support when I am down.
So that is it - I love my family - God is good.
I know I have shared a lot of the struggles of my family lately - thank you for praying. I know we are not out of the woods with Ryan yet but things have been looking good and your prayers are cherished - keep up the battle!

Surprise Surprise

So I went for another round of blood work this morning with Ryan. We waited for the least amount of time so far - maybe 15 minutes - to get the results. The nurse opens the door and says come on back. Then right in the door way she says - "It's 32,000 - sorry..." On Monday his platelet count was 31,000 so we were hoping it was going to double or come close at least. He has been on steriods for 8 days and we anticipated a huge jump but it did not happen.
She offered to let us stay and talk to the doc but we all know that he set the bar at 100,000 for playing football and for getting off the drugs so what can he tell us that will help?
He comes in and looks at the numbers and smiles and say "Very good, very good" (in his chinese accent :) - i have not yet found out where he is from in China...my goal for next weeek). I was wondering why that was very good...it did not seem like we were getting anywhere.
"So Doc, is there another test that should be done to see if there is something more going on here?" He tells me that there is nothing else to really do except wait - they will go up in the coming weeks. Next question: "Should we change his diet or give him supplements? Maybe a tranfusion to get him more platelets?"
Again - he tells me that the platelets are good andthen he goes into this long explanation that he had to do two times for me to get but it was about how the platelets are winning and the antibodies are dying at a faster rate then the platelets so we are on the right track. And " oh...just come back once next week for tests and you can play tomorrow night. ok?"
What?
Play football? "But I thought you said 100,000 or at least 65,000?"
The answer, "No, He can play...you are stable now. 30,000 is very healthy but we need to monitor you weekly over the next couple of months til they get to 100,000 then we back down the steriods. you can play"
Needless to say - I am puzzled but Ryan is elated - along with Tim, who gets to see his brother play before he heads to Ohio for the first semester of his sophomore year at Malone Univ.
God is crazy...and great... and mighty...He turns hearts (and medical decisions and conditions) as He wishes and we are just asked to obey Him, love Him and praise Him.
So, I do.
I love you God. I will praise you wherever I go. I wil strive to obey your precepts so that I can honor you more each day. Thanks. thanks. You are so good.

Longer Ordeal Than We Want

Ryan's platelets are STILL at 14,000...He is starting a daily steroid treatment today and will maintain this until the levels are up to an acceptable measure. The doctor decided to skip the bone marrow test because everything else in his blood work is perfect and the blood smear looks normal and clear (except for lack of platelets). This is the best news so far. Everything that we have learned about this disorder shows that it takes a while to recover from but if it is an "acute" form of ITP then 90% of the people recover completely within 6 months. The steroids should be able to cause the platelets to increase quicker and stronger so that they will be up to acceptable levels before real long (I still don't know what time frame to put on that.

Next up: More blood work (a full panel) on Monday and Thursday of next week.

Side Note: He cannot play football until his platelets are up to 75,000 to 100,000.

Ryan is learning what it means to try to maintain a positive attitude and trust God to accomplish His plans even when they are not in line with his plans! It is hard but he is trying. Pray that he grows through all of this.

God is Overall

Last week began a challenge to our depth of trust and faith in the God whom we serve….My wife posted this note on her Facebook account last week (August 11)

"I took Ryan to the doctor today to check out a huge bruise on his arm from a football injury. The doctor ordered an x-ray and some routine blood work. The arm is not broken, so we were sent on our way.

I left the Elkhart Clinic, drove to Twin Branch to meet friends for ice cream and my phone rang. The nurse insisted that we return to the clinic right away for a repeat of the blood work - Ryan's platelet count is way to low. So we grabbed our ice cream, I left Jenna with the other family, and we headed straight back to the lab. When we arrived at the lab, the receptionist told me that the nurse left specific instructions to NOT leave the clinic, but to head directly to the doctor's office to wait for results. (She said, "We are running this again, STAT.") That didn't sound good.

We waited about 20 min., and the doctor called us back to an exam room to inform us that Ryan's platelets ARE too low, the doctor had already called the hematologist/oncologist next door to see Ryan NOW. (Normal range is 130,000 to 300,000 and Ryan's count was 10,000.)

SO- by this time I'm getting freaked out. Ryan texted Greg to let him know what's going on, Greg immediately came to the clinic. We met with the specialist, he questioned us about cancer in the family, bruises, fevers, rashes, tiredness, etc.....nothing is really going on with Ryan that gave the doctor any huge red flags. He really has no other symptoms.

Right now Ryan is being treated for ITP- it's a big long medical word that means "low platelet count." He is on steroids to try to bring the count up. He will have blood work on Thursday and Monday, and see the doctor next Wednesday to see if there is any sign of improvement. If there is not, Ryan must undergo a bone marrow test. That's not good. Typically, people with ITP get the steroids and they are fine the rest of their lives.

Ryan is temporarily benched from football. VERY upset kid. He feels fine. This is his third season of missing the opening games due to illnesses. But if he plays and gets hurt, he could bleed to death or if he has a head injury it could be life-threatening.

So, please pray. We are already so thankful that Ryan hasn't been hurt seriously on the field! We could've found out about this in the middle of a game, and the end result would be devastating. We are putting our trust in the God we serve."

Then on Thursday, August 13:

Cari wrote: "Lab work results: Ryan's platelets are up to 28,000. That's progress! Thanks for all the encouraging words and especially your prayers."

Then back to the doctor on Monday, August 17 (two times):

Part ONE:

Cari wrote: "More blood work this morning: Ryan's platelets have dropped from 28,000 to 14,000 and the doctor wants to see him this afternoon. Please pray."

Part TWO:

Cari wrote: "Waiting is so frustrating. We have spent much of today waiting. Waiting for blood to be drawn, waiting for the results for an hour to no avail, came home and waited for the nurse to call with those results, waited for an hour to see the doctor this afternoon. I guess that room just past the receptionist is named accurately: "Waiting Room" The sign on the door should read: "Welcome to our freezing cold waiting room." :)

Nothing new to report. We have to just WAIT and see if his platelets increase. Ryan has more bloodwork on Thursday morning. If there is no improvement, Ryan will have a bone marrow procedure in the office. We are praising God that all his other levels are normal. The doctor has not seen any pre-cancer cells in the blood smear under a microscope. That's all great news! We are going to wait on the Lord now.

Many thanks to all of you who are praying. We know we are surrounded by people who love us and who trust our God. Your thoughts, prayers, encouraging words and verses are greatly appreciated."

Thanks for praying – ask God to help us to be able to live out HIS purpose to HIS glory through all of this!