Saturday, July 18, 2015

We Are Home!

Hello everyone!

Yes, !


We are home, thankful to your prayers.  Coltrane had no fever this morning but it crept up.  It was read at 5:00pm at 38.8.  Fever is 38.3 Celsius.  I went to the hospital to deliver food for Sonja and Jack.  I was alarmed about the news that I just heard.  I checked myself and it read 40.3 or something.  I checked again on the other side of his head.....38.7.  I was overwhelmed and decided to take matters into my own hands.  Good idea, right?  Nope.  I turned the fan to thwart results and cool him down so that his temp would be read by the nurse as having no fever.  I was then hit in the head.  I was actually trying to control the situation.  I was compelled to pray.  I prayed that I was going to turn off the fan on purpose, deliberately.  I was going to plead to my God and Father Jesus Christ to intercede for me and our family to get home tonight.  And for Coltrane to be well and not have a fever.  I laid down my burdens before him and told Him I trusted Him.  Whatever was best for Coltrane, that's what I wanted and asked for.  The nurse came in and checked his temperature.........37.8.  She checked again........37.6.  Praise the Lord.  I was stunned and in awe of the love and care of our Father.  He cares even for the "seemingly little" things that matter to us humans.  I laid down my fleece and God showed me and my family pure love and compassion.  What more could I ask for........


Thank you for your prayers.  We can't thank you enough.

Please praise God for returning us home tonight, and safely.  And for Coltrane not having a fever.
 

Please pray for Coltrane to regain strength immediately and be able to tolerate his feeds at night.
Pray for his continued healing
Pray for good judgment, discernment, and wisdom for the doctors in regards to this new study we are looking into after his immunotherapy ends.


Love,
Justin
Sonja
The Jack Man
Coltrane the Home body (for at least a few weeks)

Friday, July 17, 2015

Prayers to get to go home.

Hey family,

I wanted to ask you to pray that will be able to come home tonight.  The Docs say that if Coltrane doesn't have a fever from now until 7 p.m. tonight, we will be able to drive home.  Please pray for us to be released tonight

Pray that we will all come home today.
And for the blood transfusion to not have any negative side effects.

Love,
Justin
Sonja
Jack
and Coltrane the breaking out of hospital if necessary

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Coltrane's Progress

Hello friends,

Thank you for praying for us!  Coltrane has actually had a really good, but long week.  Good in a sense that after the first day, we found a comfortable level of pain management.  He has been resting a lot, and been having low fevers off and on, as to be expected.  Have you heard of Roid Rage?  Well, the nurses say that this is Roid Rage times two!  

Today is the last day of his IL2/MAB treatment combo.  This is great news!  He will probably have some side effects and pain even after his treatment is done.  That's just how it works.  The doctors say it stops when the treatment is done, but that simply is not the case.  Last time we did the combo it took Coltrane three weeks to completely recover and act like his normal self.  

Please pray for:
Us to go home tomorrow
His blood cultures won't grow anything
His recovery to be immediate
His appetite to come back and be able to tolerate his nightly feeds
For our family to adjust to our old normal at home
For me (Justin) to be prepared to go back to college (majoring in Family and Human Services (Counseling), and double minoring in Photography and Theology), while balancing work, school, Coltrane's treatment, and School.
Our marriage to continue to grow in a positive way and stay strong in the Lord.
For us to go home tomorrow!

THANK YOU!  We love you.

Love,
Justin
Sonja
Jack (who is Batman by the way)
and Coltrane the almost free (from being hooked up)

Monday, July 13, 2015

Coltrane

Hey everyone,

Coltrane was doing so great this morning.  He was playing so well and laughing hysterically.  After the therapy hit him, it was completely opposite.  He can't rest, or sleep.  He is in constant pain.  Nothing soothes him.  Please pray for God to soothe him and take the pain away, and that he will develop no fevers.  And that this week will fly by.  Also, pray for our marriage as it's hard on us and our family.  Thank you for your prayers.  We love you.

Love,
Justin,
Sonja,
Jackson,
and Coltrane the Suffering

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Update

Hey!

Thanks for praying everyone.  We got cleared to go to our apartment and have rest and relaxation around 6pm.  We are so thankful.  We are blessed to be able to relax in a comfortable bed, a great kitchen to work in, and such a friendly staff to help us.  We are also excited to attend Life Church on Sunday while we are in town.  Hope you all are well and we thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Justin
Sonja
Jackson
and Coltrane the Resting

Friday, July 10, 2015

Fever! Darn you Murphy

Hey everyone,

Yep, he's got a fever.  He spiked a 39. something last night.  I was very frustrating to be honest.  However, we will praise God for this opportunity to still give God the praise and glory He so deserves.  We will strive to find understanding, but may not.  We don't need to understand.  We need to have faith in the one who's in control and is listening to us and observing us always.  Even puny little us (but not to Him).  We may feel so small at times in our lives, but God sees so much potential and promise in us.  The potential of faith here on Earth is incomprehensible.  To have more and more faith will never do.  We must try everyday, one at a time to seek His plan, not ours.  So, in the words of Carmen (Yes, the multi-colored suit wearing early to mid '90's one man band), "Satan, bite the dust!"  This week was going to well.  So it was disappointing.  But hey!  God is still good.  The day is young, and I thank God for another for us to put our trust in Him only.  And......by the way.  He's not running a fever now so.........maybe we still will get to go home.  Home as in across the street at the Korral. our "apartment".  Thank you for your prayers.  We truly love you.

Please pray for:
Us to trust and obey and have much faith in our Father
Coltrane to be discharged today so we can have some fun family time this weekend before the next cycle next week
Sonja, Jack, Sandra, and I to feel 100%.  (scratchy throat and such) and for Coltrane to not get it
This upcoming week as it is most hard on him.

Love,
Justin
Sonja
Jack
and Coltrane the Fever/Feverless

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Week 1 Down, and 1 more to go

Hey friends and family,

We are so happy you have been praying for us.  Coltrane has really had a great week so far.  38.3 is the fever in metric system, and his very top reading once, was 38.2.  No fever!  Yay!  This means he's doing most excellent, especially compared to the last time he had the IL2 therapy.  He has one more day (Thursday) of it, then we can relax and be together as a family for the weekend in OKC.  Praise the Lord.  He is in minimal pain, a little tired, and has only gotten sick a couple of times.

Please pray for:
Coltrane to not spike a fever
Him to get his quality rest
Us to have fun this weekend and Coltrane would feel great
Have a better appetite
God to prepare Coltrane, our family, and the nurses and doctors for next week's double dose (IL2 and MAB).  

Thank you all so very much.  We love you.

Love,
Justin,
Sonja,
Jackson,
and Coltrane the Persevering

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Coltrane and Jackson update

Hey friends,

Coltrane is doing very well.  He's playing and laughing and talking like crazy.  However, we will be admitted Sunday night for his next Immunotherapy treatment.  This is a two week long one again.  It will be very hard on his body, most likely.  Just when he gets up, he goes down.  Jack has some sort of virus and is quarantined from us.  We are praying for a quick recovery for him.  We've learned of some treatment that we can opt to receive for Coltrane's benefit after he's done with Immunotherapy.  It has minimal side effects, lasts two years (only taking a pill/day), and is very promising.  Of course, they don't know much long term affects from it.  We are praying for the doctors to come together and make an agreed decision.  We are asking God to help us with making the decision based on the majority of the doctors have to say about doing it.




Please pray for:

This next cycle won't be so harsh on him and he'll be able to bounce back quickly
Won't lose weight
Have no pain
Keep appetite
Less stressful time at the hospital
Doctors and nurses to be very attentive and have wisdom in their decisions
Sonja and I to be wise.
Jackson to feel better and not pass anything on to anyone
Jack to be comforted by the Lord as he's quarantined from his family
Pray for the doctors to research the optional treatment very well and come up with the best ideas for us to be guided by.

Thank you so much for praying for us.

We love you!

Love,
Justin
Sonja
Jackson
and Coltrane the Old Soul