Another Day - Another Stay

That's the blog title Elena came up with this morning at 9 am on the way to the clinic.
Today was another day - a new day and the beginning of another stay at the hospital.

Today has been a really long day!  Not quite sure why it took four hours to get Elena's blood chemistry back from the lab and to start her pre-chemo fluids? But that was how our time was spent at the clinic today.  By 2:30 this afternoon, Elena was in her room at the hospital.  After arriving at the hospital, we moved on to more waiting...waiting for Elena's ph levels to rise to the right number so that she could began this round of high dose chemo.  That took over seven hours! Elena finally reached the magic number at 10 pm.

This round will be the same as Memorial Day weekend. Thirty six hours of methotrexate.  Elena will finish this chemo treatment at 10 am on Thursday. During this time, she is not allowed to leave the Aflac wing.  She will not be able to go to the cafeteria  or outside. Once this treatment is complete, there will be more waiting.  This time, Elena's blood levels will be measured and monitored. She will need to "clear" the chemo from her blood system at the right rate and reach the right level before she will be allowed to go home.

Tonight, we ask you for your prayers. Elena has been experiencing all over body pain this evening. Please pray that it is nothing. 

Please also join us in praying:
- for Elena's body to be able to handle this chemo treatment
- for Elena to experience NO nausea, NO mouth sores,
  or any other negative side effects  
- for this round of chemo to kill ALL remaining leukemia cells
- for the coming days to be filled with as much joy,  sleep,
  and rest as possible

In Him,
The Tates

"He shall say: “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. ”

Deuteronomy 20:3-4