Prayer!!

Meagan here. Just got a phone call from Bethie. We need lots of prayer for strength and healing. Ethan has been fighting a cold for awhile,Friday his got worse and so they took him to the ER because his eyes felt like they were getting worse. After some tests, They were told to watch him and for bloody noses. The weekend has not been better and today they are on there way back to the ER. His nose has been bleeding for 2 hours and they have not been able to stop it. They will check blood counts and hopefully get some help figuring out what is going on. Pray again for strength and don't hesitate text, email, or Facebook encouragement. It has been a long weekend for them! I'll update more as I hear it!

Chemo update

From Beth:
We are in our third day at the hospital and Ethan slept all day yesterday  because of nausea. He is fighting a head cold and this is makes it tough too! Today, Drew said he had a good night sleep and was awake a bit this morning. He will receive his last chemo this afternoon and will be home late tonight. Thank you for praying for Ethan!!



From Meagan:
Got a text from Bethie this morning about a need that the Adam's have... Today, Drew's truck has started acting up.  They're thinking that they will have to take it in for repairs. Not sure on all the details, but if there is anyone who could help that would be such an amazing gift! Please reach out if you can help! Email me or talk to Beth and Drew.  I'll update on this when I know more as well!
THANK YOU!

A day in the life of Ethan Arden Adams.

January 31, 2014

Ethan wakes to a warm breakfast and is greeted by his Dad, Mom and Brother Chas. Ethan has been fighting a head cold for 48 hours, so he is dragging a bit physically. In spite of his cold and the next three days looming of chemo he is all smiles laughing and joking around.  He gets ready to hit the road for the hospital, but before he does this he packs up his bags with some comforts from home. He mentions how he is getting tired of collecting his urine. (We start a 24hr. collection every time we come in for chemo) We say goodbye to Bob, Sofia and Lucy. We hit the road, drop Chas off at school and Ethan and I are off on the causeway.

We enter the city and I make a quick stop for a' donut to start this day out right! :) He enjoys his donut knowing once the chemo starts he will not be eating because of the nausea he experiences during the chemo.

We make it to clinic at 9:30 and Ethan’s port gets excessed then they draw labs, so they can get back the results before admitting. We then visit Dr. Leon for another eye exam this was a good visit. Ethan was excited to have Dad show up and keep him motivated during testing. As we wait, in the waiting room for another eye test Drew is trying to read, Ethan will not have this, they begin their love language in action by wrestling and punching each other and cracking jokes. I usually get dragged in by Ethan and at one point I have Drew on my left and Ethan on my right both picking on me. What joy this boy has we cannot help but laugh and smile with him and join in all the playing, wet willies and all.:)

As we finish with the eye exam 2 ½ hours later the doctor says swelling is down and sees improvement! We will see him again in two months. We wait for continued healing for full recovery of his eyes. During Ethan’s visits with each doctor he is asked many questions and in particular with the eye doctor it is a struggle to try and explain his sight over and over again.

After our fun filled visit with Dr. Leon we then head to MRI. Ethan is hungry and Drew runs out to get him a bite to eat. We wait for two more hours for MRI, but at least this gives Ethan some time to eat and enjoy time with his Dad. Drew then says his goodbyes and heads home to work and be with Chas.

 MRI’s are not Ethan’s favorite by any means being still and the noise is rough, but he sucks it up and endures yet another test.  The nurse comes to get him and he heads in to get his MRI and in one hour he rounds the corner and smiles. I ask how the MRI was Ethan says “Best MRI yet the nurse that took me back was fun and the MRI was not as bad because they gave me wax earplugs. I only sneezed one time and it was during a time that it was ok to move, and then those last 8 minutes or so the back of my head was hurting I even had an indention on my head when I was done. But, otherwise the best one yet.”

We grab our bags and head back to the clinic to see Dr. Velez and we wait. It is 3 in the afternoon by now and Ethan falls asleep on the table in clinic for an hour. Doctor comes in to ask more questions go over medications and then we are sent off for yet another test, a hearing test. It is 4:30 Ethan has a successful hearing test. He comes out and tells me the hearing room is so quit he fell asleep and the girl that was giving him the test came over the speakers in his ears and said we are all done, Ethan says, “it startled me cause I fell asleep,” of course we laugh yet again.

We then walk back to Hemat/oncology clinic it is around 5pm now, Ethan is examined by the doctor and asked many questions yet again. After the doctor leaves he turns to me and says I am tired of talking about my eyes. My heart breaks yet again, as it has many times for this boy in all he has to suffer and endure. I told him that it is ok to be tired of this and yes I am sure I wouldn’t want to talk all day about my eyes. It is hard, but YOU are doing great, keep it up we will be in our room soon!! We will have supper soon.

We start hydrating in the clinic this is to get his body ready for the chemo. Ethan lovingly calls his IV pole “Chas”, so when the nurse comes in with the IV pole he greets him Hi Chas!!(Pure JOY!!!)

Ethan has Chas hooked up to him and Dr. Velez gives him his last check up and sends us up to his room.

We gather our bags and as Ethan pushes Chas we head up to Four West Room 444. We are thankful to have a room by this time and Ethan is glad to see a bed. He is admitted at 6 in the evening what a long day for him. We are laughing together because after a long day of tests and little rooms we are thankful to be in the hospital room the very room we were dreading to come to this am. 

Ethan is settled in, so I step out to get him a bit to eat,” what do you want for your last meal buddy?” Ham and cheese sandwich and mac-n-cheese. I return with his supper and watching him enjoy his food and the rejuvenation that came with it. We enjoyed each other company and realized we were laughing yet again over silly things “we must be tired Mom” Ethan says.

 I was praying with Ethan and saying goodnight, when Ethan grabs my hand and looks at me,” Mom it was a good day I got to hang out with you and Dad today, I am very thankful for you and Dad!”

A day in the Life of Ethan Arden Adams.

Psalms 16:8-9

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is filled with Joy, and my mouth shouts his praises!

My body rests in safety.

‘

A Ticket Out

That video of Ethan's tumor is a pretty incredible sight to see. It takes a person's breath away.  Several people have told me that they have found themselves holding their breath, gripping the edge of their seats as they watched the miracle of the tumor being pulled out... "its' a miracle" everybody keeps saying.  A miracle right before our eyes.

Now don't get me wrong, the sight of Gandolf leaving the building is amazing.  But I have gotten to see a greater miracle, one that is even more breathtaking.  I have gotten the privilege to see a young boy show courage, love and peace of a man three times his age.  I have gotten to see a kid who had every right to be unhappy and angry, but instead choose to embrace the peace of his Father and to have an attitude of joy and compassion for the people around him. Now THAT is a miracle that has taken my breath away.

I read a blog today that talked about wanting to have a ticket out. The idea was that there are moments in a person's life where our heart shatters because of pain and fear.  The author contiutes to talk about how are hearts are like jars of clay and in those moments of shattering whatever we have put into those jars will come out.

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but NOT crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken: struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our morals bodies," 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

At the beginning of this journey, I prayed that God would take this challenge from us, that he would give us a ticket out.  People all over the world were joining us in praying for healing and I struggled because I didn't see that healing happen. E still had Cancer and I feared it would break my family.

Now, I am so thankful he didn't give a ticket out.

I never would have experienced this kind of healing that God has shown my family, and I would have missed out on seeing the greatest miracle that has come through Ethan and the attitude he has chosen to have.

A look at the Tumor Removal

From Meagan:

Following Ethan's surgery, Ethan and his family shared an incredible gift.  We were given a two minute and 18 second video of the miracle that was the removal of the tumor.

 The first time I watched this video, it felt like time stood still.  I realized I was holding my breath as I watched the meticulous hands of the surgeon try and extract "Gandolf."  I cheered out loud when I saw that tumor leave his brain.  How GREAT is our God!

And now, nearly two months after surgery, Here is the video shared with you!

(Just a warning- it is brain surgery, so it is graphic.  But VERY Miraculous!)

 

 

The Start of 2014

From Beth:

Happy New Year!!!
As we ended the 2013 year, we are grateful for the struggles and the triumphs that were in our life as a family. As I think about the year, I see growth and strength in each of us, a redefining of normal which brings freedom.  Through this adventure, we all have embraced the joy and the tears that come with the journey of a loved one with cancer. As we move forward through 2014, we are hoping for a healthy, happy year!

We had a very blessed Christmas and new year!! Many people gave us gifts and meals over the break we are so thankful!! The break was restful and we had some great family time. It is always a delight to have Tabitha home from college being all together is a gift in itself.

We went to the Melting Pot for Christmas Eve

Ethan finished his cycle b chemo on the 14th. This was the hardest chemo yet. He struggled with nausea and took more meds to help him be able to sleep. He is still healing from brain surgery and gets discouraged easily with his vision. We continue to push and try to do as much school as he can handle. I am his personal secretary ( I am learning a lot and loving world geography :))

 Eye Doctor Visit

 We Love our "E"!

 Still Smiling!

Our sweet Chas fractured his elbow two weeks ago, (fell off the loft in his room) so he has a cast on the arm. He is doing good- even playing euphonium  with his cast!:) We will be celebrating Chas's birthday on the 23rd and he will be 12 yrs. old!

We celebrated Tabi's birthday!

We are still on chemo schedule and the 29th we start off with MRI to see how Ethan's brain is doing. This chemo round will be Ethan's last cycle A.


We are very grateful for all the gifts, encouragement and prayers! Thank you !!!

An opportunity to donate!

Recently Lakeshore church has come along side the Adams family with an opportunity to help. 

They are able to set up a benevolence fund via their paypal that will help take care of certain expenses, med bills, power bills, misc expenses that the Adams family are having and will have.

You don't have to be a member of this church to donate!  They have made it simple and easy to do no matter where you are! Plus all gifts are tax deductible!

To donate, simply go to the church's website:

http://www.lakeshorechurch.info

and look for the "donate" button 

Then, through paypal your donation is taken.  Simply write in "benevolence on behalf of the Adams family" in the section that says- "add special instructions to the seller".

here are pictures that show you how to do it...

 Church website- (arrow points at the donate button.)

This is the next page you'll see. Simply write in the amount you would like to donate, if you would like it to reoccur every month, and then log in to your paypal account.

 

 Then you will see this page.  Here you will click on "add special instructions to the seller" (arrow pointing to it) and type in  "benevolence on behalf of the Adams family"

If you have any questions please reach out! I would love to help you with the process!

I will be putting this info as a button on the blog- 

Thank you so much for taking the opportunity to give!