Update and Day of Fasting and Prayer

John and I spent the day at the Cancer Center yesterday. Our hearts grow heavy as we continue down this difficult road. Our appointment yesterday was a regular check-up on blood levels which we do weekly until the Hemoglobin and Calcium are better. Yesterday John's Hemoglobin was 7, the lowest it has ever been. Being anemic has a number of side-effects, including fatigue and feeling cold. The "simple" process of receiving a blood transfusion winds up taking eight hours by the time you have your blood drawn and analyzed, see the doctor, wait for the blood and receive the blood over a four-hour period. John is crest-fallen when he hears "you need blood" because he knows he will not make it into the office. Going to work provides him a welcome diversion and focus outside of his health. He was quite a site yesterday afternoon wrapped in a blanket, an IV in each arm and working away at the computer station ordering books for the library!

Next Tuesday, November 27th, Church of the Resurrection is having a day of prayer and fasting for our family. If you would like to fast and pray with us on that day, we would be blessed. If you are in the area and would like to come to one of the services, they will be 7am at the Ministry Center at 7:30pm at All Souls' Anglican.

And thank you for your prayers about the pain in John's right side. Dr. Hantel is assuming it was a rib. John was feeling less pain until he pulled it again last night. When I tried to help John sit up, Charlotte said, "Daddy, it seems to me that you are getting old." He agreed. We have prayed all along that the children would let us in on their thoughts and feelings as they come up. This phrase, "getting old" has been helpful in talking about our disappointment over things Daddy cannot do.