Thank you to everyone who has been praying. We truly feel your prayers, and they are making a difference. We are seeing God move in so many ways, and I’m overwhelmed by the incredible response to our call for help. 

Allison has been steadily improving. Her fevers have stopped, and she has been much more alert. We’ve been able to decrease some of her pain medications, taking one off completely, although she is still struggling with mucositis and has also has some unfortunate side effects from the pain medications, like nightmares. The encouraging news is that her ANC is now in the high 200s, so we’re hopeful that she will continue improving at a steady pace. Her hemoglobin is still low (just above 7), so she tires quickly when she's up, but she is working with PT now and her body is slowly starting to function better again. Her spirits have started lifting too! 

The oncology team thinks that the infection may be improving and thought maybe she could start trying to take some sips of water. However, the surgical team wants to do imaging later this week to confirm and still recommends the full 7 days with no food or drink. Allison said that it is still painful to swallow so she doesn’t really feel like eating or drinking anyways, but this feels like a step in the right direction. She had a brain MRI yesterday after some concerning neurological symptoms, but thankfully everything came back normal. Her lymph node swelling appears to be going down as well.

If the mucositis continues to improve, they will likely keep us here for the next round of chemo. That’s hard to imagine, but after the next round, we’re hopeful we’ll finally be able to go home for a few days at least before another round. We still expect to be in the hospital the majority of the next 2-3 weeks for chemo unfortunately. 

The impact of a prolonged hospital stay is really being felt by all of Allison's siblings as well, with us being less available and present in their lives because we are spending so much time at the hospital. Her sister continues to work hard in school but is also carrying the weight of understanding that her sister is so sick. Allison's oldest brother is four, the youngest just turned one. They just can't understand why we aren't there sometimes, and tears are in no short supply. Right now it seems like never ending waves hitting us, but I know it is all temporary and one day we are going to look back at this and just be so much more thankful for our health and our freedom. I am really looking forward to that day. 

Nevertheless, we want to pass on that we love you all. Thank you again for your prayers, support, and encouragement. I truly believe that it is making a difference for Alli and for all of us. Thank you for being the strength when we are weak. 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."
Psalm 126:5-6  

*Pleading with the Lord for His joy and peace to come in and through these difficult circumstances for all of us, from the littlest to the biggest, and that that joy would also be felt by all of you as you continue to carry us* 💕