August 3 ~ Feeling Better

I know it’s been a few days since I promised an update, but I guess I just took a break.  We’re doing well and Garrett is feeling so much better since one week ago.  The turnaround came Friday night.

On Monday, we got paroled back home where we could all sleep in our own beds.  I can’t tell you how much that does for the morale in the Ross Tribe.  After spending nearly three years of his life living away from home because he was sick, any time we can come home from a stint in the hospital is amazingly sweet medicine.

Garrett had a few tough nights last week, with Wednesday being the topper.  I went back to work that day while Kathy and the kids headed back to Denver for a checkup on Thursday.  By bedtime though, Garrett was again in so much pain that I could hear him crying in the background as Kathy called me, scared for our son, and said he needed me there.  Well I whipped and spurred to get there as quick as I could, thinking they might be in the hospital by the time I arrived.  Fortunately we didn’t end up in the emergency room, but it was a roll of the dice.  He finally fell asleep around 330 am, and by 730 we were in the Cardiac Clinic.

The serum sickness that Garrett’s being fighting as a result of the chemo needed to fight the rejection was being addressed through some other medications.  Unfortunately, those medicines also have some side effects and the combination made him sicker.  On top of the serum sickness, he got severe migraines.  The kid hurt everywhere.  While not extremely dangerous to his heart, it made for some very long days and nights.  We’ve addressed those with another round of meds and finally are seeing lasting relief.  The past few nights have been really good and he didn’t wake up in pain last night at all.  Praise Jesus!

He’s got more clinic visits in store and if all goes well until then, they will let him start school on time.  The lymphocytes are wiped out from the treatments but he still has some other white blood cells on board to help fight common infections.  He’ll just have to be very careful.  One of his teachers came by to visit today and the school is ready to help in any way they can.  Our support system continues to astound me, from friends and family to schools and strangers who’ve heard and are praying.  We are so blessed.

The kids have spent the past few days just hanging around the house and healing up.  Jessi adopted a couple of barn kittens who lost their mom, so the kids have been nursing them along.  Their eyes are just now open so it keeps them pretty busy making sure the babies are fed frequently and loved on.  This is the type of rehab that hospitals just can’t provide.

Garrett’s attitude continues to stay very positive.   Reality strikes again Tuesday as we head back to Denver for a checkup and meeting with the transplant team to see what steps we now need to take. Garrett has been on such a high lately, I’m really praying that his morale continues to stay good. When we know more, I’ll be sure to write.

We continue to be blessed beyond belief and the kids especially received a much needed reprieve from the constant uncertainty and fear, just by being home.  It was a trip that only days before we could only dream about. See, dreams do come true!

I’m most grateful to God for keeping us strong through this journey, and for the powerful team of prayer warriors who continually call on him.  The prayers work, and while the answer isn’t always what “we” think is best, we’ll defer to His perfect plan and ask for the grace to accept His will.  God bless you all.

JD