June 1, 2016

Radiation treatment 7 of 30 is in the books and it was another good day!!!

Kayleigh actually looks forward to going to radiation each day, she loves everyone in the department and they love her. So far she is still not experiencing any bad reactions to the treatment for which we are so thankful. We are noticing she gets tired a little quicker but that is something we can mange.

She also had occupational therapy this morning. Her therapist is so good with her – kind, patient, but keeps her on task. Today’s therapy was yoga. Can you picture trying to keep a giggly, 7 year old, flighty bird, that is amped up on steroids, focused? It was kind of like trying to watch someone heard kittens through a yarn factory!! Amazingly they were still able to accomplish cat/cow poses, table pose, and downward dog. I’d say that was a successful day!

Tim’s parents brought Grace & Cole up to South Haven, MS to camp and be close to us. We were able to spend the afternoon with them which was wonderful. We have plans to play again tomorrow afternoon if all goes well – Kayleigh is enjoying having them close and so are we!

We found out this evening that Kayleigh’s make-up radiation session (from being off Memorial Day) has been rescheduled to this Saturday. While part of me is glad they are getting it in quickly, the other part of me has been struggling with my own messed up plans. About a week ago I noticed some swelling on Cole’s neck. It isn’t hot, it doesn’t itch, and it doesn’t bother him in anyway. It’s literally just some squishy fluid but it’s just one of those things you want to get checked out. I had planned to take him Friday afternoon when we got home. Needless to say an additional radiation treatment on Saturday nixes that.

For some reason those messed up plans really did a number on me tonight. I realized we are covering Kayleigh from head to toe in prayer and God is faithfully answering those prayers. We are claiming the name of Jesus over her regularly and rebuking Satan so he has no power over her. So rather than attack us through her, Satan is a crafty fellow and he chose a less protected route. He chose Cole.

What kind of city builds only one wall for protection? That would be an exercise in futility. Walls are only good if you put them up to protect all sides. Prayer works the same way. We can’t focus all of our energy in only one place at the expense of others. In my determination to bar the front door I left the back door wide open.

Now, no more pity party for me. Just because I left the door open doesn’t mean that God was surprised. He has a plan and this is part of it. I know somehow all of this fits into God’s timeline perfectly and I can tell you I have learned a valuable lesson about guarding my back door. So yeah, Satan, you threw me a curveball, I swung, and I missed. But that was only strike one. God is still on His throne, he is my strength, my provider, my deliver, my hope and my future. It is on Him that I stake my trust and through His power that I will continue to fight. So throw me another one if you dare – God’s got this, not me.

Oh, and I have a few thousand friends who are praying with me… Isn’t God good?

Tonight’s prayer requests:
1.) Complete healing for Kayleigh this side of heaven.
2.) Kayleigh’s right eye is drooping more often and bothering her. Please pray for the eye to strengthen!
3.) Treatment to continue with no bad side effects.
4.) That I will be able to have Cole’s neck checked out here in Memphis and that it will not be anything serious.
5.) Protection over our entire family.

Thank you for standing with us and thank you for your prayers. Tonight I leave you with these precious picture of friends supporting Kayleigh.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜