August 15 2006

Hello Everyone,

Each letter is seemingly further apart than the last. Quite a bit has happened since my last letter and everything I won't be able share in one update. I would like to thank all of you for your prayers for Gabriel, for your gifts, for your concern, your encouragement and your support. Thank you Jenny and Matt for honoring my son in your baby shower and making a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, I hope you receive my letter soon. Thank you everyone who has given to us, Mom, Wendy, Erlann, Sue and Mike, Jackie, Dayna, Aunt Tammie, Alecia, Sylvia, Kim, Cheryl, Aunt Carolyn, Elena, Children's Chance, Knox Deaconess, and anyone I may be forgetting please forgive my mind and know my heart is grateful. In addition, thank you to the person or family who sent us a gift with no name or address, but a wonderful scripture.

I saw Christian Tuesday; he is still a light for CHRIST. He had a little difficulty after being off treatment, but now he is doing well. He got his hair back! He told me," Her hair is almost as pretty as mine," speaking about Adrielle. Kayla’s Grandmother loves Adrielle! Kayla was in the playroom this week which tells me she is doing better. They usually have her in a room isolated because of her condition. Zachary is a fighter too. Thank you for praying for him. He is still weak, but better. Please keep his family in your prayers. Jacob is still having seizures among other conditions doctors are investigating and he needs our prayers too. These children are teaching me and have a unique testimony, but all honoring GOD.

13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
Mark 10:13-15

I have recently learned my letters are reaching more people than I would have thought. My desire is to give GOD the glory. I am soo happy you all enjoy my letters; it's an encouragement to me to keep writing them even though at times it is harder for me. The reality of Gabriel’s condition hits me at odd times, but still has not overcome me. Close by, GOD reminds me to tell myself Gabriel is healed, tell Gabriel he is healed, speak he is healed, hold my head up and I thank GOD for healing him. HE gives me the cleansing breath I need to push on.

Our family is seeking GOD for another path for our family. Ultimately, despite the changes we want, we desire GOD’s will to be done in our lives. Adrielle is growing with beauty and a joyous, peaceful spirit. Justin is speaking better. He is a very good big brother. Justin is always helping, concerned, and watchful. Gabriel’s speech has taken off. Some have spoken to Gabriel, thinking he was Justin because of his speech.
(And we thought we would have problems :). Gabriel spends his days dancing to anything, even the sound of the printer and trying to run the house. He tells everyone what he wants and doesn’t want them to do. He is like a sponge, learning from his brother.

Within the last month and a half, we experienced another neutropenia phase followed by a vacation. YAY!! It was such a blessing to see some of our family and friends. Gabriel’s appetite began to decrease, after chemo he got a little sick, and lost more weight. As of late Gabriel's weight has gone back down to the same weight he was at 14months old, 19 -20lbs (Adrielle at 3 months is 11 lbs 12oz). This makes him smaller than 97-99% of the children his age. (Gabriel 22months old.) Some of the constant chemo causes loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting among other things. Those have also caused his protein and other nutritional levels to go down. Gabriel has not grown. With some hesitation from Steve and me, we (along with a few doctors and dietician) have decided to insert a feeding tube (NG tube) through his nostril to his stomach this weekend. This may be hard on us at first. We are hoping with doing this we will address issues with his weight, take pressure off of us if he feels sick and won't eat, give him the nutrition he needs for a healthy life, help him sleep better at night, put him in better spirits, put him back on the growth chart, make him look healthier and give him a boost for next difficult regimen.

The next regimen is another very intensive treatment phase. He will receive the 'red devil,' Steroid 'cranky medicine,' AraC ' low counts,' all in all about 9 different chemos. After this mountain will reach a valley called "Maintenance." It will be less intensive; his hair should start growing back as well. YAY!!! We will need your prayers that his response to the tube and formula are great, GOD continue to build him up to keep taking this MTX at a higher dosage every week and prepare his body for the next regimen.

GOD's purpose for my son was given to him before I had given birth to Gabriel. Only GOD could have aided Steven and I in naming him, GOD is my strength and gift of GOD (Gabriel Nathan). I can imagine when GOD spoke to Jeremiah saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you, before you were born I set you apart; appointed you as a prophet to the nations." -Jer.1:5 and one day I hope GOD will speak to Gabriel in the same way. Gabriel, I hope, will understand why he had to go through this and continue witnessing to people about his healing. Gabriel is a warrior!

Everyone put this date on your calendar, March 15, 2008. Gabriel should be done with his therapy this week and I want everyone to party in thanksgiving. It seems sooooo far away, but each day he gets closer.

Thank you for your prayers for us and everyone else. Joel and Megan, we are praying with you for your mom, Lois Moore.

19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matt. 18:19-20

With Love, Angela