As a new day begins, so does our battle.
We can't believe that today, 19 days after learning that Elena had indeed relapsed, we are on the front lines once again. As much as we wish things were different, they are not and we do not have a choice. We must begin this battle.
This afternoon, Elena will be admitted into the hospital.
Tomorrow, she is scheduled to have surgery to place her new central line at 1pm.
Today, we ask you to join us in praying for Elena's complete healing.
Please pray for each doctor and nurse that will touch Elena.
Pray that God will give each of them the skill, knowledge and expertise to handle every moment and decision regarding Elena's care.
Pray that God will be in charge.
Pray that every minute of our day will go smoothly and be overflowing with peace not anxiousness.
Pray that each of us will get the rest and encouragement we need, when we need it.
Thank you for praying for us, loving us and holding us up!
In Him,
The Tates
"So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Amazing Love
Tonight what started out to be a small group of friends over to pray for Elena and for what lies ahead, quickly turned into a large gathering of God's soldiers ready to march along with us as we start to fight the battle that looms before us.
We were reminded of the story of David and Goliath. How David did not have the protection of all of the armor that traditional soldiers wore when going into battle. All he had was his stone, his sling, and the full armor of God. We know that this proved to be all David needed to defeat the giant. Everyone here was invited to take a rock as a reminder of this victory and to use to pray for Elena's victory over her leukemia. We know that we are surrounded by the full armor of God because of the love we felt from His servants who came out to let us know just that.
We can't possibly begin to say thanks to the over 100 people who gathered in our front yard and out into the street. They came to pray with us, sing to us and worship our Lord and Savior! We may not know what tomorrow will bring, but we do know that we do not have to face it alone. Thank you for sharing God's amazing love with us tonight in a mighty way! We also know that countless others who couldn't physically be with us were praying tonight. Thank you for being a part of this army!
We are going to bed tonight with grateful hearts and with the strength that comes through your prayers from God alone.
In Him,
The Tates
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Monday, March 12, 2012
A Little Time Away
Thanks to our friends the Vickers and the Yosts, we were able to enjoy a little time away.
On Friday, we headed to Unicoi State Park. There awaiting our arrival was the Yost family camper, completely set up and ready for us to move in for the weekend! Also ready for our arrival were the Vickers. They had taken care of everything else - food, snacks, drinks, firewood, glow sticks, s'mores and more!
What a blessing this weekend was to our family! We had the best time, laughing, hiking, resting, eating, laughing, canoeing,eating, swimming, fishing, laughing, eating, dancing and just plain having fun! Today, we left sad that it had to end, but forever grateful for the memories made!
We enjoyed being together with our friends and soaked in every moment. The warmth of the sun, the laughter of the girls, the crackle of the fire, the quiet of the night, the perfect hot dog, the glow of sky lanterns, and sticky marshmallow fingers all combining to fill out hearts.
We are so very thankful for the time away and for the time together!
In Him,
The Tates
"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17
"A cheerful heart is good medicine." Proverbs 17:22
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Friday, March 9, 2012
He Will Carry Us
Several days ago after we posted how it felt like we were in an ocean with wave after wave knocking us down, a friend sent this:
“I am praying that God will calm those "ocean tidal waves" and provide you all with waves for boogie boarding...you know, the ones that are not too big, they can be unpredictable, they give you a good ride, and they always carry you right back to shore.
Through Him, may you be carried!”
We loved that analogy! We will be carried in this storm.
As days have passed since learning about Elena’s relapse and the plan has become clearer, the journey ahead seems extremely difficult. That same dear friend spoke these words to us:
“I talked to Elena last night. She shared all the medical plans with me. Although I had read the blog and spoken to you, I didn't say that I knew. I just let her share. I asked her if she was scared...she paused, and said "Miss Allison, I'm really not." I told her she was the bravest girl I knew and that this time they are going to get rid of that cancer. I believe that with all my heart.”
Knowing our anxiety, she went on to say:
“It feels like the tide is picking up and those boogie board waves I was praying so hard for have become more like gigantic Hawaiian coast waves. You know they still have crazy people that surf those waves, right?!? And as I said before, they are still carried back to shore. Maybe it's not exactly back where they started out (you know when the tide takes you down the beach and you have to walk all the way back to your chairs?), but as always, the waves carry you back. My ongoing prayer, may you continue to be carried by the only One that can truly carry it all.”
At times it does feel like a storm is looming. This weekend we are going to enjoy the calm before the storm. We are going camping!! Our friends made all the arrangements for us to spend the weekend in the North Georgia mountains. We will be staying in one of their fabulous campers. The girls are SO excited since when we do go camping it is usually in a tent.
Thank you friends for making this weekend happen for us and for taking care of all of the details!
Prayers for safe travel, for Elena to stay healthy and strong, and protection for all.
In Him,
The Tates
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5
“I am praying that God will calm those "ocean tidal waves" and provide you all with waves for boogie boarding...you know, the ones that are not too big, they can be unpredictable, they give you a good ride, and they always carry you right back to shore.
Through Him, may you be carried!”
We loved that analogy! We will be carried in this storm.
As days have passed since learning about Elena’s relapse and the plan has become clearer, the journey ahead seems extremely difficult. That same dear friend spoke these words to us:
“I talked to Elena last night. She shared all the medical plans with me. Although I had read the blog and spoken to you, I didn't say that I knew. I just let her share. I asked her if she was scared...she paused, and said "Miss Allison, I'm really not." I told her she was the bravest girl I knew and that this time they are going to get rid of that cancer. I believe that with all my heart.”
Knowing our anxiety, she went on to say:
“It feels like the tide is picking up and those boogie board waves I was praying so hard for have become more like gigantic Hawaiian coast waves. You know they still have crazy people that surf those waves, right?!? And as I said before, they are still carried back to shore. Maybe it's not exactly back where they started out (you know when the tide takes you down the beach and you have to walk all the way back to your chairs?), but as always, the waves carry you back. My ongoing prayer, may you continue to be carried by the only One that can truly carry it all.”
At times it does feel like a storm is looming. This weekend we are going to enjoy the calm before the storm. We are going camping!! Our friends made all the arrangements for us to spend the weekend in the North Georgia mountains. We will be staying in one of their fabulous campers. The girls are SO excited since when we do go camping it is usually in a tent.
Thank you friends for making this weekend happen for us and for taking care of all of the details!
Prayers for safe travel, for Elena to stay healthy and strong, and protection for all.
In Him,
The Tates
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope comes from Him." Psalm 62:5
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Ways to Help
Many of you have sent messages asking us how you can help. Thank you!
While we are waiting for Elena to begin treatment, we thought we would share some ideas with you.
Right now, we need your prayers and friendship. Your love, support, and encouragement are a gift every day we walk this road. Once treatment begins, we will need more practical help such as meals, help with Liv, yard work and more. A friend has set up an online calendar that will allow you to sign up to help with those needs.
If you haven't received that link via email and would like it, let us know. cjmtate@gmail.com
For now, here are some things that you can do.
For Elena:
- PRAY! It really is the most important thing!
- Encourage her!! Just like before – cards in the mail, comments on the blog, and so on will help her fight this battle. Use your imagination for other ways to surprise her with some encouragement!!
- To Elena’s friends – she needs to know that she is still the same Elena. She’s just going through something hard. She doesn’t want to be treated differently or feel isolated because of her cancer. She wants to be normal…..to be silly, hang out, listen to music, watch movies, play games, etc… as much as possible with her friends and family. If you have questions and want to know more about things that are going on, ask her! She is very open to talking about it, and if she doesn’t want to for some reason, she will tell you and won’t be mad that you asked. If you aren’t comfortable asking her about it, that is fine too! Just be her friend!
- Travel this journey with her and the rest of us – check the blog
For Liv: No doubt about it - it is so hard to be the sister of a kid with cancer. It can often seem to the siblings that all questions and concerns are about the cancer child and not the siblings. Gifts and extra attention are sometimes poured out on the cancer child and not usually the siblings.
Here are some ways you can help Liv:
- Let her know that she is special, loved, and supported through notes, encouraging words, spending time with her – whatever you can think of!!
- When you see her, ask her how she is doing instead of asking for updates on Elena. (We’ll keep you updated on Elena through the blog.)
- Some of you will help Liv by letting her stay with you : ) Thank you in advance for making her feel at home!
- PRAY specifically for her. She can be scared, worried, tired, and sad too.
For us:
- We love encouragement too! Your blog comments, emails, texts, cards, hugs, and more help us know that we are not fighting alone and are not forgotten! We love hearing from you, and we appreciate your understanding when we can’t answer the phone or return calls, texts, messages, etc…
- Forgive us in advance if we are slow to send thanks or even forget to thank you for anything! Between managing Elena’s care, work, school, home, and Liv, we are bound to forget some things. Please know that EVERY act of kindness is GREATLY appreciated!
- PRAY for us too! It is hard to watch Elena go through so much and not be able to fix it or take it for her.
Thank you to all who are ready and willing to help in an way possible!
Thank you for your prayers and joining us in asking for complete healing for Elena!
In Him,
The Tates
"But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" My future is in your hands."
Psalm 31:14-15
While we are waiting for Elena to begin treatment, we thought we would share some ideas with you.
Right now, we need your prayers and friendship. Your love, support, and encouragement are a gift every day we walk this road. Once treatment begins, we will need more practical help such as meals, help with Liv, yard work and more. A friend has set up an online calendar that will allow you to sign up to help with those needs.
If you haven't received that link via email and would like it, let us know. cjmtate@gmail.com
For now, here are some things that you can do.
For Elena:
- PRAY! It really is the most important thing!
- Encourage her!! Just like before – cards in the mail, comments on the blog, and so on will help her fight this battle. Use your imagination for other ways to surprise her with some encouragement!!
- To Elena’s friends – she needs to know that she is still the same Elena. She’s just going through something hard. She doesn’t want to be treated differently or feel isolated because of her cancer. She wants to be normal…..to be silly, hang out, listen to music, watch movies, play games, etc… as much as possible with her friends and family. If you have questions and want to know more about things that are going on, ask her! She is very open to talking about it, and if she doesn’t want to for some reason, she will tell you and won’t be mad that you asked. If you aren’t comfortable asking her about it, that is fine too! Just be her friend!
- Travel this journey with her and the rest of us – check the blog
For Liv: No doubt about it - it is so hard to be the sister of a kid with cancer. It can often seem to the siblings that all questions and concerns are about the cancer child and not the siblings. Gifts and extra attention are sometimes poured out on the cancer child and not usually the siblings.
Here are some ways you can help Liv:
- Let her know that she is special, loved, and supported through notes, encouraging words, spending time with her – whatever you can think of!!
- When you see her, ask her how she is doing instead of asking for updates on Elena. (We’ll keep you updated on Elena through the blog.)
- Some of you will help Liv by letting her stay with you : ) Thank you in advance for making her feel at home!
- PRAY specifically for her. She can be scared, worried, tired, and sad too.
For us:
- We love encouragement too! Your blog comments, emails, texts, cards, hugs, and more help us know that we are not fighting alone and are not forgotten! We love hearing from you, and we appreciate your understanding when we can’t answer the phone or return calls, texts, messages, etc…
- Forgive us in advance if we are slow to send thanks or even forget to thank you for anything! Between managing Elena’s care, work, school, home, and Liv, we are bound to forget some things. Please know that EVERY act of kindness is GREATLY appreciated!
- PRAY for us too! It is hard to watch Elena go through so much and not be able to fix it or take it for her.
Thank you to all who are ready and willing to help in an way possible!
Thank you for your prayers and joining us in asking for complete healing for Elena!
In Him,
The Tates
"But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" My future is in your hands."
Psalm 31:14-15
Monday, March 5, 2012
Next Steps
Remember when we said that cancer was bad and that a relapse was worse?
Today, we found out just how much worse.
Elena's doctor made it clear that a relapse is very serious and hard to treat.
He said that Elena's bone marrow is obviously producing leukemia cells and that what we did the first time wasn't successful. This time has to be different. Today he said, "We are not backing off. We do not want to undertreat it, we want to knock it out."
Even though we have been with Elena's doctor for almost three years, we just found out today that he specializes in ALL relapse. He not only specializes in ALL relapse, but he heads the national Children's Oncology Group task force on the subject! Needless to say, we have the best in our corner! What a blessing in this seemingly dark time!
Today, he presented what he believes to be the most promising plan for Elena.
The first month will involve high dose chemo in order to get her into remission. Once in remission, Elena would continue to receive chemo for the next two months in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. This is the ultimate goal of her treatment plan.
Looking ahead:
On Wednesday, March 14th, Elena will go to the clinic. From there, she will be admitted into the hospital. Her first three months of treatment will be at Scottish Rite. At which point, she would then be transferred to the Bone Marrow Transplant Team at Egleston.
On Thursday, March 15th, Elena will have surgery to place her line.
We are told that this time Elena will have to have an external CVL (central line) rather than an internal port. An external CVL means no swimming, no showers, and saline flushes at home! When Elena found out this information, she got tears in her eyes. She said that means that she won't be having a pool party for her 13th birthday. This will also be her fourth birthday in a row on chemo!!
While sedated for the surgery, Elena will also have a spinal tap to determine if leukemia cells are present in her brain and spine.
This is an aggressive plan. We know it will not be easy on Elena. It will not be easy on any of us. Once Elena is admitted into the hospital next week, she will be there for at least three weeks.
While today's information still seems overwhelming, we are happy that we have a plan.
We have hope.
We are so thankful that our friend, Stacee, was able to be with us today, to be another set of ears and much more. We are grateful that we came home to a wonderful homecooked meal waiting in our frig, including strawberry shortcake for dessert! There were even goodies for breakfast in the morning! Packages had also been delivered that held many fun surprises for all of us!
We are counting these among our blessings on this hard day.
Please continue to pray for us.
In the days to come, we will share specific prayer requests.
In Him,
The Tates
"So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Today, we found out just how much worse.
Elena's doctor made it clear that a relapse is very serious and hard to treat.
He said that Elena's bone marrow is obviously producing leukemia cells and that what we did the first time wasn't successful. This time has to be different. Today he said, "We are not backing off. We do not want to undertreat it, we want to knock it out."
Even though we have been with Elena's doctor for almost three years, we just found out today that he specializes in ALL relapse. He not only specializes in ALL relapse, but he heads the national Children's Oncology Group task force on the subject! Needless to say, we have the best in our corner! What a blessing in this seemingly dark time!
Today, he presented what he believes to be the most promising plan for Elena.
The first month will involve high dose chemo in order to get her into remission. Once in remission, Elena would continue to receive chemo for the next two months in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. This is the ultimate goal of her treatment plan.
Looking ahead:
On Wednesday, March 14th, Elena will go to the clinic. From there, she will be admitted into the hospital. Her first three months of treatment will be at Scottish Rite. At which point, she would then be transferred to the Bone Marrow Transplant Team at Egleston.
On Thursday, March 15th, Elena will have surgery to place her line.
We are told that this time Elena will have to have an external CVL (central line) rather than an internal port. An external CVL means no swimming, no showers, and saline flushes at home! When Elena found out this information, she got tears in her eyes. She said that means that she won't be having a pool party for her 13th birthday. This will also be her fourth birthday in a row on chemo!!
While sedated for the surgery, Elena will also have a spinal tap to determine if leukemia cells are present in her brain and spine.
This is an aggressive plan. We know it will not be easy on Elena. It will not be easy on any of us. Once Elena is admitted into the hospital next week, she will be there for at least three weeks.
While today's information still seems overwhelming, we are happy that we have a plan.
We have hope.
We are so thankful that our friend, Stacee, was able to be with us today, to be another set of ears and much more. We are grateful that we came home to a wonderful homecooked meal waiting in our frig, including strawberry shortcake for dessert! There were even goodies for breakfast in the morning! Packages had also been delivered that held many fun surprises for all of us!
We are counting these among our blessings on this hard day.
Please continue to pray for us.
In the days to come, we will share specific prayer requests.
In Him,
The Tates
"So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Prayers for Tomorrow
We are not where we want to be.
We are on a path we do not want to be on.
Today, we feel numb.
Today, we can't think.
Since we can't think, our amazing friend, Stacee, graciously agreed to write a prayer request for us to post:
Please pray for Elena’s appointment tomorrow. She will have an EKG/echocardiogram at 9:30. She will also have her counts checked again. Pray that the EKG and echocardiogram will show a perfectly healthy heart and that her counts will be stable. We will then meet with Dr. Lew to go over the options for treatment. We need wisdom and clarity to decide the best option. Please pray that the best treatment will be clearly revealed.
“In Him and through faith in Him, we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you , being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19
Thank you, Stacee, for thinking when we can not, for having the words to pray when we no longer know what to say, and for closing with perfect verses.
Thank you to everyone who has told us that they are here with us and for us, no matter what.
In Him,
The Tates
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