Prayer and Fast for Erin

This evening, after dinner, John and I are starting a fast for Erin.  We would like to invite anyone else to pray with us and/or fast with us for Erin.  We are specifically asking Heavenly Father to help heal her wound.  If you cannot fast for her at this time we would like to invite you to add her to your fast on Sunday.

I haven't written much about Erin's wound in her diaper area because it's sort of an awkward subject, but it has really become a problem.  Over 2 weeks ago it started as just a red spot that we thought was diaper rash.  It's starting to really look bad.  It's dark purple, swollen, hard, and very painful for Erin.  She is taking Oxycodone around the clock to keep the pain down, but even then, it is still really bothering her.  She is taking Miropenem (really strong antibiotic) and Nafcillian (tissue antibiotic to kill bacteria).  We had a Wound Doctor and her regular Oncologist here and later her Infectious Disease Doctors (Doctor, Resident & Medical Students) will be coming in.  They are all concerned about her sore.

Dr. Fluchel just came in and told me that he had received the results from a blood test done today.  They are checking in her blood (somehow I missed all the details) for signs of swelling.  The results were 7 yesterday and they are 16 today.  It is not good that they have almost doubled.

It is Cellulitis, but they are concerned that maybe some of the tissues inside might be breaking down.  We are trying to get her on the schedule for an MRI tomorrow morning so that they can take a deeper look inside of it.  The biggest problem is that she just has no immune system to fight against it.  And, from the looks of her lab work today her ANC (Immune fighting white blood cells) and other counts are all just sitting at zero.  Her WBC (White Blood Count) went from 1.0 to 0.7 (it previously was moving up).  She is on day 21 of an estimated 35 day stay.  This 4th round really knocks the patients down for a long time, and everyone says it's the hardest round

Her platelets are really low and they are giving her a platelet transfusion right now.  Over the past 3 weeks her temperatures have been ranging from normal to 38.2 C (100.8 F).  I am so thankful that she hasn't had a real fever!  Ever so thankful!

We are so appreciative of the old and the young (and everyone in between) who are praying for Erin.  We know that with our faith put into action and all things according to God's will, then Erin's body can be healed.  These are some of the things we are fasting and praying for: We want to have Erin as comfortable as possible and not be in pain from the sore.  We want the sore to start getting smaller rather than bigger.  We desire that all her doctors and nurses who are caring for her will be blessed to give her the best possible care, and be inspired to know how to help her body heal as fast as possible.  Thank you for your love and prayers for our family.  We feel our Heavenly Father's love and we know that He is mindful of us and of our Little Air Bear. 

Today as Erin and I were singing the Barney "I love you" Theme Song she looked at me and said, "Mommy loves Jesus."  She had remembered our conversation from the last time I was here taking care of her and how we talked about how Jesus loves us and about how I love Jesus.  She is such a sweet little girl and I love her so much!