6th Round

Drew was admitted on Monday, the 21st to begin the 6th round. This is a 5-day round, always the worst for him. He usually gets very sick around the 3rd day, and that was the case with this round. It's so hard to see him suffer so. He doesn't complain; in fact, he hardly says a word while on chemo.

Most of you know that surgery was supposed to be the end of June. But, Drew has had several counts not bouncing back well, with mucousitis, and the latest setback last week---a kidney stone. He had to be admitted for 3 days, only to come right back Monday to begin chemo. Surgery is now tentative for the 3rd week of July. However, that is the same week our youth are scheduled for camp. Drew so wanted to go. We are praying now whether to delay surgery by a week or to go ahead skipping camp. If he is able to go to camp, Lane and I will go along with the group.

I'm not sure if those reading this know about the "Father of the Year" contest that Drew entered with The Orlando Sentinel. He had to write and essay about why he thought his dad should be Father of the Year, and his essay was tremendous. To gain votes, people had to go to the website and vote for Drew's essay. We were just so overwhelmed by the support. Shortly after the contest began, it was so precious for us to see the devotion of our friends and family and the total support that we've had. God has been so good, and He has so gently taught us so much already through this time in our lives. I am so thankful to remember that even in our hardest times in life, for us as Christians, this is the absolute worst it'll ever be. There is a brighter day coming, and Jesus is our Hope. If you are His, you have a reason to sing! Reminds me of the words to one of my favorite songs,

"God wants to hear you sing when the waves are crashing round you,
When the fiery darts surround you, and despair is all you see.
God wants to hear your voice when the wisent men have spoken
And said your circumstance is as hopeless as can be
That's when God wants to hear you sing."

We love all of you and thank you for taking your time to follow us through the joys and heartaches of battling this disease for our sweet Drew's life.