Great News!

Hey people friends,

We went to see the Oncologist and his PA today and they reported that the MIBG scan showed NO tumors in his leg.  What a great answer to prayer.  They did mention that Coltrane was quite wiggly and that there was an area of interest in his left adrenal gland (the only one he has left).  They said it naturally lights up as well as the stomach.  They're not very concerned but are being very good at their jobs, thank God.  They said that it would be not unheard of but very rare that the cancer on his leg went away, but then new cancer would spring up in a different spot.  The odds are good that it's not Neuroblastoma.  So, not perfect news, but I would say 95% good news.  We'll take it.  They also said he can go to Boston and we can scare the passengers with our masks if we wish.  The board (Radiation Oncologists, Oncologists, Hemotologists, etc.), meets on Wednesdays about their cases.  They will discuss whether or not Coltrane needs another scan, with possible sedation. 

Thank you all for praying for us.  It's been a hard and fun weekend.  There is praise to give to our Father who loves us so.

Please pray for:

Coltrane to not have any cancer in his body and never will again

Our trip to go extremely well and have fun

Peace in our family

Us to trust God again and again and again, and always.

Please praise God with us for:

Healing Coltrane's leg

Coltrane's muscles and endurance he's slowly getting back

Yet another chance to trust Him and His plan and not our own.

Love,

Justin,

Sonja,

Jack,

and Coltrane the Healed!

News and flight

Hey everyone,

We will be leaving for OKC today and hopefully have some good news about whether Coltrane has any cancer in him or not (from the MIBG scan).  After this we will be traveling to Boston for a few days for Sonja's brother Nick's wedding.  We will also be able to see some dear friends of ours.  It's exciting but nerve racking.  We might just wear those scary masks to ward off people that are ickle.  :)  When we get back, we must check right into the hospital for a weeks treatment of MAB (antibodies).  Please pray for:

Safety in traveling

Kids to be comfortable on flights

Mine and Sonja's sanity :)

Our anxiety and stress levels 

Coltrane to be cancer free!

Us to have complete faith in our Father who watches us always

Our trip to go smoothly with no delays or lost luggage

Airport security to not hassle us about all of our needles (Hahahaha, but not funny.  We called them twice about it, and they said it will be "no problem".

God and His angels to protect us from attacks

For us to be gracious, humble, bold, and courageous warriors in our sufferings.

Thank you and we will update you ASAP.  

Love to you all.  It was such a blessing to be able to play drums yesterday and hear a wonderful message from Pastor Gregg.  Sorry about the early clicks if you noticed.  :)  The Holy Spirit really stepped in for me yesterday while I was drumming.  

Love,

Justin,

Sonja,

Jackson,

and Coltrane in Flight

Radioactive

HELLO,

We are heading to OKC for a night.  Coltrane will be injected with radioactive material today.  it will then flow through his bloodstream and tomorrow will present any cancerous matter via MIBG scan.  The scan itself is simple and easy.  He won't need sedation or anything!  Yay, something simple! (?), but not really.  Whah whah.  :)  God is good and faithful as He says He is.  Please pray for 

NO cancer in Coltrane's body

Coltrane to feel normal and like his old self

Our safety as we travel

For upcoming treatment 

For the balancing act we will be facing soon (school starting, work, treatment, health, etc.)

Thank you for your prayers.  We believe in Jesus' name that Coltrane is healed and without ANY disease!

Love to all of you!

Thank you again and again and again.

Love,

The Smiths

Time to rest and heal

Hey friends,

The doctor said he doesn't have a fever or anything and that he's been through a lot.  He needs time to recuperate.  This is good news!  We are so happy that it's not something else (like he needs blood or some other type of transfusion).  It's very hard on us to watch our son only smile twice in two weeks or so.  He's just not himself.  Please pray for:

Coltrane's confidence

Strength for his mind, spirit, and body

Coltrane to get back to himself again soon, like now would be good.  :)

Coltrane and Jack to be able to play together 

Motivation for him

Patience for our family

Wisdom in knowing how hard to push Coltrane with his endurance

Stress in general

Love to you all,

Justin

Sonja

Jack

and Coltrane the Weak

Uodate: Thank you for your prayers!

Hey everyone,

We got home Saturday, and ever since then Coltrane has not been acting himself.  After his infusions are complete, the symptoms should go away, but he seems very non-playful, not energetic, doesn't want to walk or anything.  Naturally, we are worried.  We think it might be hemoglobin counts are low.  Not sure though.  We have an appointment tomorrow to see his local physician in town.  We are hoping to not have to go to Tulsa or OKC for anything because that would um,.....suck, to be blatant.  We just got home!  We love home.  Home is home is home.  

Please pray for:

Coltrane to become his normal, energetic self

Coltrane's levels to be perfect

His body's strength to recover along with his confidence

Coltrane to not be in any pain whatsoever

Thank you all.

We love you,

Justin

Sonja

Jackson

and Coltrane the Rough Cut Diamond!

Home at Last!

Yay to everyone!

Thank you so much for praying.  We are finally home after a long two weeks.  The doctors looked at the x-rays and decided there was NO obstruction.  Thank the Lord.  He is so good, helping us in every way.  They said it's most likely his stomach very slowly working back to normal due to the amount of pain meds he had to take to be comfortable.  He is doing really well at home.  There's nothing like home.  It's simply true.  Thanks for all the prayers!

Please pray for:

Coltrane's stomach to resume to normal

Coltrane to bounce back like a bouncy ball

Our home to be a healing place and a peaceful one

For our understanding of God's will in our lives as well as our children's lives

We love you so much!

Love,

Justin

Sonja

Jackson

and Coltrane the Homebody (at least for a couple of weeks)

Going home.........NOT!

Hey all,

We were so excited to hear that we were being discharged this morning.  After two weeks in the hospital, it is very sweet to hear those words.  I was packed the entire van full of two plus weeks of the stuff we had to bring (both from the apartment at the Kid's Korral and the hospital).....only to find out that Coltrane has excess fluids coming out of his G-Tube area.  It normally leaks a little bit, but that's normal.  The stomach produces lots of fluids and such so it usually isn't a lot or anything.  But this time it was A LOT of fluid.  And the color was off.  The doctors want to keep him overnight.  They will take an x-ray to see if there are any obstructions.  If there are, that would require surgery right away.  There is a 5% chance that there is a blockage.  We will know results soon.  Our poor little son has been through SO much these past two weeks.  We hate to see him in such agony.  We haven't seen him smile in days.........but he will again!!!

Please pray for:

Coltrane to not be in any more pain

There to be ZERO blockages of any kind

The abdominal leak will cease

We will be going home tomorrow.

Our morale to increase......weariness creeps at our door

Thank you so much for praying for us.  We need it, desperately.  I am beyond annoyed to say the least.  But I must think about it in a way that is not from my perspective.  I'll try my best to see it from God's eyes.  We are so glad we caught it before we got home.  That would've been really terrible.  He is in good hands and there is a reason we are still here.  

In God we trust,

Justin

Sonja

Jack

and Coltrane the Man