Please Pray for My Dad

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

Please pray for my Dad, in May of this year he was diagnosed with AML Leukemia, which he courageously with such strength fought and beat...as of the beginning of this month we were told he was in remission. However, his blood counts today are showing an alarmingly high jump in his white blood cells, which often means that the cancer is back, he'll have his bone marrow test on Monday to find out for sure what's going on.

So, bottom line...I'm not ready to be without my Daddy already and I truly do believe in miracles and the power of prayers, so...please pray for my Dad.

thanks,

Maggie's Rose
(Sara)

[xsandlapper]

Still praying for him and your family Sara.

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

Thanks, Sand...xox xox

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

THE WORD FOR TODAY...A MAC TRUCK
Posted 13 minutes ago

We could use many words...shocked...reeling...stunned...numb...but somehow the words "being hit broadside by a MAC TRUCK"...better describes....how we feel inside...

We knew it could come back, but...that seemed a long way off....We thought we had our miracle...and we were so thankful.....REMISSION was ours......

How could it be?! Odee was feeling so good...we were being reassured that everything looked good...but inside a tiny amount of leukemia cells were still there and they were multiply fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then that Mac Truck loaded down with Leukemia cells hit us, leaving us stunned, numb and yes, angry...had God just teased us with word REMISSION?! We tried to search our souls for an answer, a reason, but numb minds don't do that real well...so we did what we had to do, we somehow picked up our battered selves...and said okay, we are ready to press on.......

The reality of doing this again somehow colors the word Hope.....it's not that we do not have Hope...it is just taking longer to get there...and we realize more acutely that our only Hope is in the Lord...and acknowledge that we don't always know what it looks like?

The first of two treatments [which only took two hours to run ]...was done on Thursday...the side effects of this drug are difficult...by night time the shaking and shivers, nausea, high temperatures started and did not finally break until well into the night.

In Odee's words "he felt like he had been hit broadsided by a MAC TRUCK!"
But the treatment is working! WBC's went down from 54.0 to 27.0 in just one day and the other counts are coming down too...so the transfusions are starting...yesterday afternoon...the shakes and shivering...fevers started again...another night of the reality of being plowed down with a MAC TRUCK...

So once again we pull ourselves up, but with the hope of our Lord we press on...
We cherish each one of you...as we walk this journey [that so many have walked]...together....LETS PRESS ON!!!!!
BUT, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BIG TRUCK...WE CAN'T LET IT KNOCK OUR HOPE DOWN......!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The current treament being used to fight Odee's AML is Mylotarg...

A Trojan horse of sorts of AML treatment, treating with Mylotarg is like pruning a tree: by removing only the diseased areas, the healthy parts are left to grow out normally.

Originally discovered in DIRT back in 1981, it was not until many years later that Mylotarg was actually used as a treatment. The original dilemma in using this extremely powerful drug was trying to find a way to administer it without ultimately killing the patient. It's that strong! However, these amazing scientists have now figured out how to attach this powerful AML poison to an antibody, thus counteracting each other in some perfect balance and enabling our much loved Dad this treatment option.

It is a ultimately a good thing! But, this is one powerful drug! His WBC's have already been knocked down (as of this morning) to 2.7! And he is definitely feeling the effects, thus the very appropriate, "run over by a Mac Truck" reference.
Best guess, he will remain in the hospital for approximately 6 weeks, his first 2 hour treatment of Mylotarg is through, he will be given his second treatment two weeks later...his immune system will be zilch...but, in the end...we HOPE, PRAY and choose to be CONFIDENT in the upcoming MIRACLE, God will show us via the REMISSION of our beyond loved, loved one.
(fyi, this last part written by number 8 child, Sara)

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/OdeeLenderink/updates/1812550

[Tony Romeyn]

Hello Maggie, I will certainly pray for your Dad. That both you and your Dad would feel God's presence and strength in this difficult time.

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

Thank You both for your kind words...I appreciate them immensely...xox xo

[mammabear]

~Prayers~

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

Thanks. Bea
xoxox xo

[Denise mom to 'Charles Horvath']

Thoughts and Prayers are with you Maggie, your father and your family.
With Love Denisex

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

thank you

[Delilah]

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/OdeeLenderink

If anyone would like to send prayers to Maggie's Dad, Odee, this is a link to his CarePage.

Odee has something so special about him, I don't know him, only through Maggie and words and pictures on this page, but there is something about Odee.

God is using him. Everytime I visit his page, look at his pictures, I come away with unspeakable blessings. This man is somehow giving more than he gets, and is somehow a testament to all of the grace and glory he has received from believing in a God who is still passing out miracles.

[marianne asher-chapman]

I don't know about your father, but I ran accross these posts from last november. Please tell me that he's pulled through and is much stronger. I hope I am not being inappropriate in asking. I truely do care....... Marianne

[Sara/Peace4 Co-Founder]

Aw, Marianne...you're so sweet, for some reason I am reading back posts here tonight...it's quite impactful to further see the journey that so many here have gone alongside me on here. My Dad is in heaven now...he died 1/11/09...I made this blog for him...
http://papamore.blogspot.com

Thanks for your huge, caring heart...I really do admire and care for you...xoxoxo