We are 10 months into treatment and our family has been taking it in stride.  Emmy just finished up delayed intensification, a phase of treatment that is as it sounds—intense.  Her body handled it well overall, but towards the end she spiked a fever that landed her in the hospital on 2/8.  She has been admitted since as we wait for her ANC to recover.  The hard part about chemo is that it doesn’t just attack cancer cells, it attacks the good cells that her body needs to heal and thrive. Over the last 10 days she needed several transfusions of platelets (thank you blood donors!!) to help her body when it can’t help itself.  Now we wait.  We need 2 days of “rising counts” before she can be discharged home.  We would appreciate prayers for her body to recover and her bone marrow to begin producing neutrophils again, but also for our boys at home.  Kyle is amazing at keeping all the balls in the air while we’re gone, but it’s a big job for any one person especially while he’s still working full time.  We’ve been so fortunate with the many people who have stepped up and stepped in for us in this season—to watch the boys, to feed our family, to support us in this journey.  Being away from each other for extended periods of time at the drop of a hat has been one of the hardest parts on all of our hearts, but we are trucking forward.  Leaning into God and into each other in this hard season.  At times we’ve felt burnt out on being burnt out.  We are desperate for a season of rest, but when the days feel heavy we lean into the one who brings peace and comfort and continues to provide again and again in the darkest places.

Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid for I am with you
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 Thanks for being here, praying for us, supporting us, and cheering on team Emmy🧡🎗️