Bennett’s doing good.  We went to lunch today together.  One day this week, he had lunch ready for me at home, making hamburgers.  He got his last shot today.  We are sure hoping/praying that these shots really boosted his bone marrow and that his anc will be good on Sunday.

His baseball team lost tonight against Mt Vernon.  We were up 9 to 2 until the 7th inning and they scored 9 runs in that inning beating us by 2.  Bennett batted once and got a walk.  We play tomorrow night at 6:00 against Nashville, if we win, we play again at 8.  The tournament is double elimination.

We are thankful Bennett is feeling so good.  He is getting antsy, he wants to play ball and he is getting tired of hanging out at home by himself.  I know he doesn’t feel like he has had much of summer.  We have to be appreciative for what we do have and that he’s not in the hospital. We are counting our blessings and praising God for them!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Bennett is doing really good. He has felt great the last several days. We hope this is a good sign of his counts climbing up. We went to church today and than he had baseball practice tonight. He did really well, it was very hot and everyone really had a work out. His team plays tomorrow night in the region tournament in Carbondale at 8:00 p.m. playing Washington Co.

Hamilton’s baseball team’s last game was Saturday in the World Series coach pitch tournament in West Frankfort. We won one and lost two.

We go in the morning to our local hospital to get counts. Depending on where his ANC is will determine the next step. Dr. wants his ANC at 1,000 or above to receive his chemo treatment on Tuesday. If it’s below she wants him to have more of the neupogen shots. We are praying that his bone marrow has taken off and his numbers have even increased more.

There is a slight chance that his ANC could be low tomorrow because he only had 2 neupogen shots last week. They normally give 4 to 5 shots to keep a consistent ANC. This makes me nervous but at least he got 2 and they worked.

“Though sometimes he leads through waters deep. Trials fall across the way, though sometimes the path seems rough and steep, see his footprints all the way.” verse 3 of There’s Within My Heart A Melody

5:00 p.m. Bennett’s ANC today was 1,092! WBC are 4.2 and neutrophils are 26. Wednesday his ANC was 1,156 and he got another neupogen shot later that day. His hemoglobin is 9.8 from 9.0 and platelets are 156 from 121! I’m really excited about these numbers because the neupogen shot does not effect these counts so his bone marrow is making cells!

We will get another CBC test on Monday morning. This will determine if the Dr. thinks he needs another neupogen shot because too low of an ANC or he can start chemo on Tuesday!

The Pony League won the sectional tournament! We beat Mt Vernon which has been a tough opponent by beating us three times through the season. It was a great game. We move on the regional tournament in Carbondale next week!

Bennett is doing pretty good, His ankle is bothering him some. He stayed home off of it all day and iced it until the championship game at Nashville. He started the game and had a couple grounders hit to him out in right field that he fielded well. He batted three times and had a walk and got out twice. Both times though he had two good hits, one line drive that the 2nd baseman caught and than his 2nd hit was to center field that was caught. We were happy with his hard hits even though he got out on those two. His ankle was bothering him but he wanted to play anyway. His team lost 9 to 7 but got 2nd place in the Nashville tourney.

Hamilton’s all star team played in Nashville too and played three games earlier in the morning and afternoon. They won two and lost one placing 2nd in the tourney.

It is so cool to see Bennett playing baseball. He looks like any other player and he is playing like it!  Other than; you know our secret, his counts our lower than any other player……  he’s playing with low hemoglobin, low platelets, very low ANC and a hurt ankle. We are so amazed and pleased with his stamina! Thank you God for continuing healing Bennett Page #35 of his leukemia!

Happy Father’s Day

Sid, Dad J., Dad P. and

every Dad!

Bennett’s ANC today was 1,539.  Yeah!   Hemoglobin dropped to 9.3 from 10.3; not sure what’s up with that.  His platelets stayed close to the same at 142.  Bennett is feeling good.  His ankle is getting better each day.  I don’t think he was even limping on it today.  He had a double header  baseball game tonight and his team won but Bennett didn’t play.  He was disappointed as he is ready to get out there and play ball.  He has really done well up to this point considering.

He has been keeping busy at home, he has started reading a book. Tomorrow he has open gym at the middle school for basketball. He is looking forward to shooting some hoops and getting ready for the middle school basketball camp later this month.

Bennett has been eating great.  That is the highlight of his day.  He said last night, he laid in bed and thought about what he could have for breakfast after his blood test and than what he was going to eat for lunch. I’m glad his heartburn isn’t bothering him too bad.

Bennett’s next appt in St Louis is about 3 weeks away. He only goes monthly now for treatment there. The rest he is taking by pill.  He takes the 6mp chemo pills every night and than tomorrow he will take the 13 methotrexate pills.

We are so thankful for the little things.  We feel so fortunate that Bennett is feeling better each day and stronger.  He now is hoping to get back into full swing of sports and doing normal teenage boys stuff.  Praying his dreams are full filled!

“And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ” 2 Corinthians 12:9

I am wearing a pair of shoes.

They are ugly shoes. uncomfortable.

I hate my shoes.

Each day I wear them, and each
day I wish I had another pair.

Some days my shoes hurt so bad
that I do not think I can take
another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.

I get funny looks wearing these shoes.

I can tell in others eyes that they
are glad they are my shoes and not
theirs.

They never talk about my shoes.

To learn how awful my shoes are
might make them uncomfortable.

To truly understand these shoes

You must walk in them.

But once you put them on,

you never can take them off.

I now realize that I am not the
only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.

Some people ache daily as they try
and walk in them.

Some have learned how to walk in
them so they don’t hurt quite as much.

Some have worn the shoes so long that
days will go by before they think about
how much they hurt.

No one deserves to wear these shoes.

Yet, because of these shoes, I am a stronger person.

These shoes have given me the strength
to face anything.

They have made me who I am.

I will forever walk in the shoes of a
person who has beat cancer.

Author unknown

We have gotten to know this loving family that is fighting the same disease as Bennett and they only live about 10 minutes away. We have visited with them the most at SLCH. Tyler is a Great kid! Please support the Tyler Jones Benefit! And pray for Tyler’s healing! Thank you!

THOMPSONVILLE - Tyler Jones’ wide smile hides what lurks behind, and Thompsonville school students and residents are pulling together to help his family.

A first-grader at Thompsonville Grade School, Jones was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia on Jan. 22.

A benefit is being held from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the Knights of Columbus Hall, 110 S. Monroe St., West Frankfort. Dinners are available for purchase from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and an auction begins at 6:30.

You may follow his treatment or sign his guestbook by visiting his website: www.caringbridge/visit/tyler.jones.com

We have had a few people ask us lately if Bennett is in remission now. I find that I have to tell the whole story to explain it correctly. I am at a place in his treatment that I feel at “peace” explaining his results plus I understand the numbers much better. God has blessed us in so many ways, Thanks to our heavenly father for carrying us through and keeping Bennett in remission forever!

When Bennett was diagnosed with leukemia and they did the first bone marrow test on February 21, 2007; Bennett had 95% leukemia cells (blasts) in his bone marrow crowding out all of the good cells. He was diagnosed as high risk B-precursor ALL because he was over age 10 and a male. The leukemia cells had gone into his blood and he had 5 leukemia (blasts). When diagnosed his white blood count was 4.1 in normal range. His ANC was 779. Hemoglobin was critical at 4.1. Platelets were very low at 41. In three days, the blasts in his blood grew to 23 and this was day 1 of treatment. By day 3 on February 25th, no blasts appeared in his blood to this day forward. The leukemia had not spread to his central nervous system, spinal cord or testicles!

On day 8 on March 2nd, Bennett had another bone marrow test and he had 2% blasts in his marrow. Anything less than 5 is considered in remission. During the first phase of treatment which is 30 days, Dr.’s goal is to bring the patient to remission in 30 days, Bennett did it in 8 days! His next bone marrow test was on day 29 on March 23rd and he had 0 blasts in the pre-liminary test. After studying the results further by viewing 10,000 cells, they saw .10-.99% (less than 1%) which tested him positive for minimal residual disease. This test was done because we chose Bennett to be on a clinical trial study. He received 4 extra months of intense treatment and cranial radiation because of the MRD.

On July 2nd, Bennett had another bone marrow test and it still showed 0% blasts in the marrow. We waited for the MRD results but found out later that the study would not share these results since it was a “study” and wouldn’t change Bennett’s protocol.

He will not have another bone marrow test until he completes the maintenance phase in July 2010. Dr’s expect he is still in remission because of how he is responding to treatment, his bone marrow is making new good cells and there are no blasts showing up in his blood work or spinal tests.

Through many years of treating leukemia, the Dr.’s have found that they have to continue with this long treatment period to make sure the leukemia will not come back. These abnormal cells are so small and sometimes cannot be detected by any test so it’s important that he received all of the intense phases and continue with the maintenance phase.

Please praise God for all the prayers that have been answered. This long journey has been horrible at times but when you look back God has blessed Bennett in many ways! He has been given a second chance at life and we thank God for his miracle!

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:22

HAPPY

EASTER!

His Love

God sent His Son to take the punishment
For all the thoughtless, sinful things we do;
Jesus gave his life because He loves us;
His love is boundless, sweet, forever true.

On Easter morn He showed He is our Savior;
His resurrection proves He is our Lord.
That is why we tell you, “Happy Easter!”
He secured our heavenly reward!

By Joanna Fuchs

”And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 1:4