Sheer Halloween Scare

I believe I blogged about Jordon going to the doctor about a month ago.  Although they did not find great concern with his enlarged lymph nodes then, they did prescribe him Amoxicillin at that time.  The morning that he woke up to finish his last dose of Amoxicillin he told me his throat hurt.  I went to feel his lymph nodes in his neck and they were enlarged again (remember his throat was scratchy when we discovered the lymphoma?).  Although no fever, several things went through my mind, I thought how could he be sick when he has been on antibiotics for two weeks?  So back to the pediatrician he went and in went another phone call to his oncologist.  His oncologist suggest that his pediatrician do a throat swab because it could be strep.  I was confused on how it could be strep, but actually relieved when he was positive for strep.  So his pediatrician prescribed a stronger antibiotic.  After that round of antibiotics lymph nodes were still enlarged.  It had crossed my mind but always quickly exited, but at this point the thought of a relapse became overwhelming.  Everything I read about lymphoma relapse stated that some of the first signs were enlarged lymph nodes.  So back to the pediatrician we went.  Before I called his oncologist again, I wanted to confirm that what I was feeling was enlarged lymph nodes and not my concern turning into something for nothing.  The pediatrician confirmed enlarged lymph nodes AND Jordon had a positive rapid strep test again!  This time she prescribed a different antibiotic that was stronger than an adult dosage in attempt to eradicate this infection once and for all.  But I immediately called the oncologist.  His oncologist wanted him to have an office visit for blood work as soon as possible.  What concerned me is that they made the appointment for Thursday although his doctor is only there on Tuesdays.  A concern for me because they NEVER make appointments for him unless it is on a Tuesday, in fact they have never wanted to see him outside of what was scheduled unless it was emergent.  His oncology team is there to deal with all things oncology not common childhood illnesses such as strep throat. Why would they need to immediately see him?  No "Fear Fest" or haunted houses for me, but sheer terror on Halloween.

Thursday morning after two torturous nights of concern and constant prayer we headed for St. Louis.  When we arrived they weighed Jordon.  He had lost a couple of pounds since the pediatricians visit (another cause for concern) but was up in weight from his last appointment with them in July.  We got back to the room and I asked the doctor several questions.  One question was if we didn't get rid of this right away, could strep cause a relapse?  I told her that I had read about infections and inflammation causing cancer and I knew that he had had inflamed lymph nodes for a few weeks now.  She told me they would not be concerned that  strep could cause relapse.  But then she said it!  She told us that the reason they had us come up there was because when a child relapses, sometimes they may have an infection that becomes hard to treat and that raises alarms for them.  I about hit the ground.  Satan knows our weaknesses, this was it.  I thought to myself, "what did we do wrong?" I thought about all of the ways that our life might change again.  I thought about what this would do to Jordon and all the risk involved as well as the probability of survival.  Satan wanted us to be angry, instead I found my self in prayer.  Kenny and I prayed together.  Over the next two hours every few moments I was in prayer.  The doctor sent us down to have Jordon's blood drawn and x-rays taken.  They took x-rays to see if the tiny necrotic tumor had changed or grown.  So for two hours while we were waiting for results we grabbed some food.  Everytime Satan would challenge me with a bad thought I would pray.  The time came for us to return to the doctors office.  My legs were jello.  I didn't want to go back to that office for fear of the news we would receive.  It was as if I was walking into a haunted house with the unknown around the corner.

The doctor sat down and got on her computer.  She told us the rapid strep test they did came back negative, first good test result! She pulled up Jordon's lab results.  Everything looked GREAT!  His A.N.C. was that of a healthy child.  His LDH was within normal limits (when Jordon was diagnosed it was almost 4 times the normal limit).  Everything on the CBC and CMP showed no cause for concern.  RELIEF! PRAISE! COMFORT!  His x-ray showed no change either!  Results were wonderful news!  CELEBRATION!  We are still waiting for a few blood results but the doctors felt confident that everything looks good, but baffled as to why the strep infection would not go away but suddenly is.  

Satan wants us to believe that we are not worthy.  That we had so much to fear.  That we should think the worst.  That God had let us down.  We needed to be prepared for anything.  We didn't want to do this all over again without Christ holding us up.  We didn't want to let Satan have control over our weaknesses.  We know that our human flesh will not ever deserve the rewards of salvation.  But because of Christ we are worthy and we are saved!  Cancer is mysterious, and scary, and unpredictable.  But MY GOD IS BIGGER!  So I go into this Thanksgiving season with a lot to be thankful for.  I am thankful that Jordon is healed!  That the cancer is not back.  I am thankful that Christ is stronger than Satan and that Christ is the answer!

Praises that Jordon is doing great!  Results look great and that he feels great!  Praises that God is so good!  Prayers for continued healing.  Prayers for all the children dealing with health issues.  Thank you for all of your continued prayers and thoughts!