June 1998

Dear Family & Friends,

I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to get this out. Until all of the calls started streaming in, I didn't realize how many of you depended on these letters to keep informed. Another incredible month has passed and more great news to share!

Medical Update

Sebastian's tumor is now just smaller than a golf ball! That is down from being almost as large as two grapefruits. The doctors agree that this is answered prayers. They state that the small size of the tumor decreases the risk of the surgery. It is still not known whether the tumor mass is still "alive" or "dead" scar tissue. It is our prayer that the mass is scar tissue that will pull away from the surrounding organs without damaging them.

The stem cell harvest went very well and he seems to have had a full recovery. The surgery has been changed to July 8th. This procedure carries significant risk including reaction to anesthesia, bleeding and infections. Sebastian will be in the pediatric intensive care unit after surgery for 24 to 48 hours. Your prayers regarding these issues would really be appreciated. For updates on how the surgery went you may call First United Presbyterian Church, my mom, or Steve's parents.

After recovery from surgery, he will receive one more round of chemotherapy that will be July 20 through July 26 and then radiation if needed at the beginning of August. Then in mid to late August, the bone marrow transplant will be performed. This is by far the most intense and difficult procedure.

Prayers

This is my latest story of how God is working in Sebastian's body. If he ever has a fever of 101.0, he automatically gets admitted into the hospital for 4-7 days. Anything lower is considered a low grade fever and warrants observation. On Monday, June 1, Sebastian's blood counts were at an all time low which make him very susceptible to infection and bleeding. We were waiting for a transfusion of red blood cells and platelets when we noticed a small spot on his foot that looked infected. We took him to our local family practitioner and got him started on antibiotics. Just prior to his transfusion, his temperature began to rise. As usual, I put this situation in God's hands. Half way through the transfusion, his temp rose to 100.9-still considered low grade and safe from hospital admission. Admittedly, I was beginning to resign myself to a week in the hospital but I still held on to my faith in God's will for this situation. Within one hour, his temp dropped to 99.9 and by the end of the transfusion, to 98.9! As usual, your prayers have indeed been very powerful.

Family Update

You know, life goes on even though you have a child with cancer. Eventually you master the medical mumbo jumbo, the dust settles and you see that the gutters still need to be cleaned, the twenty-three year old suddenly turns twenty four, the sixteen year old still eats you out of house and home, the eleven year old starts acting sixteen, the four year old says embarrassing things to the pastor, the almost two year old acts like a "terrible" two year old, that chubby four month old is still in diapers, Dad needs time with his buddies and Mom still needs to lose twenty pounds. We still need your prayers please!

Thank you so much.

With God's Abundant Love,

Steve Sr., Tracy

Steve Jr., Stephanie, Samuel, Sebastian and Spencer

Michael, Michele and Gabrielle