Today was the big day, last week Mark successfully marked 100 days post Bone Marrow transplant and we went to our usual weekly clinic visit but this time they took him to a small procedure room where they took a sample of his bone marrow from deep with-in his pelvic bone. This was it, the big day we prayed for, we feared, and we cried for what the result might be, knowing statistics was his enemy. As wrong as knew it was, I could not bring myself to talk about the procedure, potential results-good or bad. I just cant face more pain now that I have had my son back home with me. Initial results the day of the test came back negative (no leukemia) ,a glimpse of hope ! Today a week has gone by, his marrow has gone to St. Judes hospital for results , they have the capacity to look deeper into the cells, and genetic material and to compare to hundreds of other samples. Today the news came, his blood is 100% donor blood, yes, for now he is cured - God has heard your voices, your prayers and heard our cries and he has given our son back to us !! Just when I thought I had no more tears, they began to flow again. Last week he attended a Scout meeting, all I could do was stare- after 9 months in the hospital to see him sitting with friends, smiling was almost more than I could handle -it was as if the previous months were a terrible nightmare and I woke to find my boy safe, happy and asking for an IN-N-OUT Burger ! I was told that God only gives us what we can handle, but there were so many times that I felt I couldnt see him suffer another minute, I could not take another bad test result, I could not see him die a little more each day. I was dying inside with him and there was nothing I could do accept tell him how much I loved him and be there, by his side. I thought I had all I could handle ! It was Mark who gave me the strength to endure. What he went through was unimaginable, seemingly unending but he never gave up, he was kind to every nurse, therapist, x-ray tech, He apologized to housekeeping when he got sick for the 5th time in a day because he made extra work for them. His sister Christine saw him daily, Dad studied, researched, called everyone he knew - he knew more about Marks disease than his physicians, God gave his dad the brilliance he did so that he could save his son and he is no doubt significantly responsible for our sons survival. While it was tough on Dani and Adam, they never once complained, they grew up fast and took care of each other and themselves, while we tried to be there for them when we could, they knew our place was at the hospital, sometimes I would go days seeing them only for a few moments -but we tried to make the most of those moments. Mark got released from his very restrictive diet and lifestyle just in time to attend the PHS homecoming game and was home to give his little sister his approval of her homecoming outfit ! God had a plan, the kids are closer and appreciate each other more than any siblings I know. Christine was so used to seeing him daily, her and Greg are here almost every weekend to see him ! I cannot begin to share our appreciation for the thoughts and prayers God was flooded by.The support we received from family, friends, friends of friends, whole congregations was unprecedented and we could not have gotten through without you all. From PHS aquatics and water polo, Boy Scouts troop 680 and 681, Coast Surgery Center and so many others who had never even met Mark. We Thank You you and appreciate you all more than you could ever know, God Bless all of You !
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:31:04 +0000
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