Sorry, things have been so busy and I neglected to mention we were going away for just over a week.  I will update on our time away a little later.  Tonight, I wanted to share about this little guy.

Joel has finished treatment and has moved into the next phase of his journey.  He has constant skinned knees, as he tries to run.  He pushes hard to move forward.  He has a lot of hurdles but he is doing his best each day.

We had our end of treatment meeting.  Our Oncologist went over Joel’s journey and out lined what type of follow up they provide.  There are many possible side effects that they will continue to watch for.  I have no worries about the care they will provide for him on this next leg of his journey.

 Some of you might remember when in April 2010, I got this ring as a reminder of who was carrying us through this storm.

I am an extremely visual person, and so I am now wearing this little ring.

It has Philippians 4:6 on it, Philippians 4:6 has become a verse I seem to claim daily;

Wow, eh???  Do not be ANXIOUS about ANYTHING.  Not even when your Oncologist says, the good news is the number of standard risk Medulloblastoma recurrences are reasonably low, however, if Joel were to have a recurrence there is very little we can do.  AHHHHHH!  By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I praise God that Joel is here and moving forward.  I pray for him to remain cancer free for the rest of his days.

Today we saw Joel’s eye doctor and he has decided that it is time to move forward with surgery.  The waiting list is very long 6 months to a year.  I am fine with that.  I figure it gives Joel time to build up his strength and he will heal faster, also, it gives his eye (or God :D) more time to possibly correct itself.  

Tomorrow, I meet with Joel’s  rehab team to help them outline a program to meet his immediate needs and look at where we want to be and how we will work at getting there.  Joel will have surgery on August 22nd to remove his Port-a-Cath.

I know I say this so often but, thank you, thank you, thank you, for all your prayers.  I am asking you to continue to pray for our little man as he transitions from treatment to healing and recovering.

Please pray that he would live a cancer free life.

Please pray for total healing, that he could speak effortlessly, learn without struggling beyond what is normal for us all.  That he could run and climb.  That his brain would heal and make new pathways where needed.  That he would regain control of his limbs and grow in strength.  That his eye would straighten on its own and that his balance would improve.  Finally, that surgery would go smoothly!

Again thank you all!