Mom's Update

I thought I would write today...since Rachel is not feeling so well. Each day here is kind of like a roller coaster ride with some ups and downs! We started the day by finding out that Rachel's spinal fluid came back negative for blasts or cancer cells. Hooray!!!

After waiting a little over a week, we also got her bone marrow biopsy results.

This tells us the chromosomal makeup of her cancer cells. These results place you in a low, intermediate, or high risk category--which is linked to the future need for a bone marrow biopsy. Rachel is in the intermediate risk category, which means that if Adam or Emily end up being sibling matches for Rachel's bone marrow, she would eventually get a bone marrow transplant. If they do not match, she will not get a marrow transplant. High risk candidates have to get a marrow transplant no matter if it is a sibling or unrelated match. We feel glad that at least she's not in the high risk category!

Later this afternoon, she got a fever which they are currently treating with two different antibiotics. We've learned that each day here brings joys and challenges! Even though she isn't feeling so great, I am impressed with how she continues to fight this! She is always polite to the nurses and says thank you, even if they are telling her it's time for another potty break!

Thanks to all of you who have fasted and prayed in our behalf, and those who are rendering acts of service to our family. We truly have felt the Lord's tender mercies during this difficult time!

--Marie