We need your prayers please

Hi everyone,
Well, Jon was not able to receive chemo this week due to his numbers being so low and in fact had to have another ultrasound on Monday. We also had to return on Tuesday for a CT scan as they noticed something on the ultrasound and had to get more information. We were only supposed to get the scan Tuesday morning, visit with his radiologist for a followup visit then go by the clinic to get his tube out and go home.
Jon made a deal with his doctor on Monday, the 23rd that is she would take the tube out for one week, he promised her he would eat and gain 4 pounds. She agreed to that with the condition that if he did not then they would be looking at putting a tube in his stomach. They left the tube in til Tuesday as the CT scan was done with contrast and rather than him drinking it they put it in his tube so he would not have to taste it.
We left the hospital from the CT scan, saw his radiologist then when we got to the clinic they had already received the CT results and because of the issues, they admitted him to the hospital and put him on antibiotics. They were able to remove the tube and he did begin eating so that was a plus.
We received very concerning news regarding his pancreas and will be returning next week for an MRI then will meet with the doctors to determine how they are going to fix the problem. Because of this situation he has been placed on a completely fat free diet and has to take enzymes with every bit of food since his pancreas is not working at all right now.
We won't know exactly what will have to be done til next week but in the meantime please pray for him as we do know that surgery will be required in the immediate future. We were able to go home from the hospital Wednesday night so we were home for Thanksgiving but could not be with our whole family due to his numbers being so low. We made a new memory with just the four of us and even used the good china! I think that is the first time he has even seen it outside of our china cabinet. We plan to use it more often though, as it is a shame to just let it sit there.
We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and we are looking forward to being able to visit for Christmas if at all possible. Take care and thank you.

November 17, 2009 - he gained weight!!!

Great news, Jon has actually gained some weight since last week! Miss Cindy, our special nurse at the clinic, wanted to check to ensure Jon did not have rocks in his pocket. So we are closer to our weight goal and hopefully by this coming Monday, he will reach it and then have another week to maintain it and then the tube can be removed.
We did end up at the clinic all day Monday, as Jon's numbers were critical again and he had to receive a unit of blood. Hopefully that will help bring his numbers and his stamina up so he can feel better.
We had made a makeshift ping pong table out of 6 foot tables on our back porch and Jon was really looking forward to playing, however, the balls would not bounce properly. His grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Massenburg, had a ping pong table that had no legs so they gave us the table and we put it on top of the two 6 foot tables and now we can play. He wears out easily but at least he is spending some time outside and having fun at it!
We rearranged his nutritional feed and he seems to have a little more appetite by late afternoon or evening and is eating a bite or two here and there. It's something so we will take it!!!
We do return next Monday for another procedure and more chemo (3 different doses) and hope that his numbers will be up by then.
Thank you for caring about him and for all the prayers you send our way!

November 12, 2009 At Home

We were able to go home on Friday afternoon but with the tube still in his nose and having to be nutritional feeds for 10 hours a day. We returned to the clinic on Monday and because he became sick again on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, he had only gained one pound. We were told he would most likely have to keep the tube for another 3-4 weeks until he reached his weight goal and maintained it. You can imagine how frustrating that was to hear!
We also found out that his pancreas was still swollen from his prior bout with pancreatitis so he was not able to receive one of the chemo medications on his protocol. They plan to wait til the next dose is due in 3 weeks and check his pancreas again to determine if they can administer it at that time.
So now we spend a lot of the day with him hooked up to the pump for the nutrition and he is not interested in eating otherwise. It's like a catch 22 situation, he won't get the tube out til he eats and he doesn't want to eat until the tube comes out. We have received a wealth of information regarding different things to try to get him to eat and hopefully something will appeal to him enough to overcome his apprehension.
He is still able to do schoolwork and has really become adept at playing halo. He received an X-box from his Aunt Patty Ann and since he has never played on one before thought he would not be very good. Well...he is loving it! I have to limit his time now so he can keep up with his schoolwork.
Our three weeks of daily chemo ended and we are on the schedule now for only weekly visits for a little while. It is so nice not to have to spend every day at the clinic!
We so appreciate everyone keeping up with Jon and know that we still need the prayers to help him overcome this . Thanks so much!

Back in the hospital - 11-5-09

Jon was able to go the scout meeting and actually was able to join his buddy's at James Island County Park during their campout. He had to stay in a camper but he was able to spend some time on Saturday and Sunday with the troop. He really enjoyed that, just being able to get away from home and the hospital was such a treat in itself!!!
We started back on the daily chemo and it has taken a toll this time on him. He has been pretty sick and not able to keep anything down so has lost quite a bit of weight.
Because of that we are back in the hospital as of Monday, 11-2-09, as they had to put a feeding tube in him and are loading him up with the calories and protein and other stuff his body needs. He has put on several pounds since Monday and we anticipate being able to go home tomorrow. He will have to keep the feeding tube in over the weekend and when we return to the clinic on Monday, if all is okay and he is eating and drinking again, they will take it out during his procedure.
He is not a happy camper with the tube but understands it is necessary at this time to help him be able to handle the chemo.
He is doing pretty well with his schoolwork and is really enjoying the online medical course he is taking.
Please keep him in your prayers to give him strength as he is pretty beaten down by this complication. Thank you.