HOME AGAIN....YEAH !!!!!!!!

Jared got to come home today !!!! His levels are rapidly moving up and he came through this round of chemo faster and better than any of us had anticipated......thank you Lord !! He will go back to the clinic tomorrow and meet with his doctor and we should know more then what to expect. We are very thankful to the Baylor Team, they took good care of all of us !! Joanna had her blood test ran again last week at Baylor, they want to double check everything. We should know this week sometime how that all looks. It has been a whirlwind 2 weeks over in the BIG-D and I think we are all ready for a little rest. Some really good news is that the HR person from Christina's school district is going to go before the school board on June 7 and request that they wave the pre-existing on Jared which would open the door to start the paper work on the bone marrow transplant and possibly get Joanna in before July to harvest her cells. This would be HUGE !! The doctor is still trying to find the best solution to this challenge. They are not wanting to compromise Joanna or Aubrey and not knowing how long Jared will gain from this round of chemo, the debate is when to bring Joanna in, before or after delivery and when the Insurance will kick in. If this all sounds confusing-welcome to our world !!!
So that would be our prayer request for this week 1) favor with the school board- 2) wisdom for the doctors - 3) that Jared will remain healthy and enjoy being home for a while !
Thanks again for all the support ! You all have hung with us for over a year and we could not of done it without you !
Love ya all !! The Waters !!

Still at Baylor

Jared is 8 days out of chemo and all his blood work is in the toilet as usual though once again he fared really well through this last treatment. He has been getting blood and platelet transfusions intermittently and they are constantly watching for infection of which he has a couple of strep strains. The doctor did not appear real concerned but they did begin a regimen of antibiotics. Dr. P. as we have come to call him is great. He is really looking long and hard at what is the best and safest way to do the bone marrow transplant for Jared, Joanna, and Aubrey Grace(the baby). At this point we are proceeding towards harvesting the bone marrow as soon as possible to keep from getting too close to the delivery date. Christina will be out of school in 2 days which will be a big relief to her even though she has enjoyed her class this year it will take some pressure off. She is a peach! Here is your laundry list of prayer.
1. Protection from infection
2. Renewed strength(this is considered as they screen him for a transplant)
3. Wisdom even beyond the doctors ability as they consider all these matters
4. Favor with doctors, nurses, insurance, etc. etc. etc....(they have experienced so much in past year)
Gratefully, theWaters

Little fish big pond

Jared has been in Baylor Dallas one week. He finished the mother of all chemos and really came through it pretty unscathed. For this we thank the Lord. Being at this hospital in Dallas is like being in another state but once again the people here are good and caring people which we are grateful for. Jared had seen somewhere that there are 14,000 employees at this facility. Quite a bit different from HEB which probably did not have 1400 people including patients. Things are still being hashed out with the insurance and we have a great lady at Baylor who is helping us through the process. Right now it looks like the first of July before the transplant will happen. So we are trying to get all our ducks in a row. Please pray for the following;
1. A quick rebound for Jared from this chemo so he can go home for a while
2. Things to line up for the bone marrow transplant
3. Continued favor for Jared with the various people and agencies that he encounters. We have really been blessed so far.
4. Continued strength and grace for Jared and Christina to not just be survivors but glorious overcomers by His grace.
Love you all much!! The Waters

A tale of two cities

Life has taken the fast track this week for Jared. He went to the doctor on Wed. and his blood levels were starting to shift which indicated the need for another round of chemo. Dr. Davis consulted with the doctor at Baylor Dallas where the bone marrow transplant would take place. They concluded that it would be in Jareds best interest to fast track the transplant. So we went there yesterday and they admitted him for a round of chemo.(5 days) While there they will also begin screening process for him and also reconfirm that Joanna is a match. There are some issue with insurance that need to be resolved so we would ask for your intercession for this. If the insurance would not ok procedure we would have to come up with a measly 250,000$. But we anticipate our Lord's provision once again as He has been so amazingly faithful through this journey. Jared and I talked about that sometimes in looking and anticipating what is down the road you look back at where you have been. One thing is for sure, "the Lord is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Ps. 92:15. So here is a laundry list of things to intercede for.
1. Continuing strength for Jared
2. Resolving insurance issues
3. Wisdom for doctors(they are always scratching their heads?)
4. Keeping leukemia in check while moving towards transplant
Continued thanks for all your concerns, prayers, thoughts, encouragement,etc... We could not do it without you. The Waters

Best Birthday Ever!

I decided that I would finally write on here!!! Thank you all so much for all the birthday messages/cards/deliveries!!!! I have never felt so loved! I have been truely overwhelmed with EVERYONE'S generousity and support during this time.
Having Jared home is better than I remembered. Its amazing what four months mostly apart does for you. I love him more now than ever! Also, I better take the chance to let everyone know what an awesome family I have. My mom has been here supporting me for months now and I could not have made it without her. Terry and Dianne are always there for me and unbelivable in-laws!!!

Love you all!
Christina

I'm Home!

Hi everyone after 101 consecutive nights and 117 total days this year we have finally made it home, thanks be to God! I jad my first shower in nearly 4 months this afternoon and it was wonderful. Thank you for all yoor thoughts, donations, prayers and support we could not have made it without them, and we ask for your continued support as our battle changes its focus to a bone marrow transplant. Also we ask that you pray for my continued increase in strength and ability to get around the house. Tommorrow is Christina's 26tn birthday so be thinking about the best wife in the world, I love you all so much and i'm sorry if i scared you all just a little bit.

Love,
Jared