Calling all Prayer Warriors!

[Lindina]

Our pastor's son, Jeramy, a high school Senior this year, has been sick on and off for about a year and a half or so. His blood platelets were out of whack, kept going up and down, til finally they removed his spleen thinking that would solve the problem. It hasn't. During Thanksgiving vacation week, they had to make yet another trip to Dallas (where he's been treated the most -- he has had Crohn's for quite some time -- while Dad was in seminary) where they took a liver biopsy. They got the results today -- it's a rare form of lymphoma (cancer). They're leaving about 4 AM, going back to Dallas, where tomorrow he will have PET and CAT scans and who knows what else, and they'll probably install a port near his collarbone through which the chemotherapy will be administered.

Philippians 1
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Of course, we are all praying that it be in God's Will to restore the boy to health, but more than that, that God's Will be done in all things, to the glory of God the Father.

[Carla W.]

I'll be praying.

[LucyRicardo]

Praying here.

[Brooke]

Praying here.

[Marylyn_TX]

I'll be praying, too.

[Lindina]

Thank you for your prayers. Keep praying, please! The boy has more tests today.

[shelby]

we are praying!

[MenifeeMom]

Keeping him and his family in our prayers.

[Emma's#1fan]

I am praying.

[Actressdancer]

I missed this till just now. I am praying hard for this young man.

[sloan127]

Praying for your pastor's son.

[Lindina]

Thanks, everybody, for prayers! They're on their way home from Dallas and bringing SNOW along with them. All the tests are done for now and Jeramy came through like a champ (although his dad was a little queasy!). They'll have to wait for results by phone in a few days. I don't think they placed the port for chemo yet. I'll give an update when I can.

An aside: We get snow - a light dusting - about every ten years, and this is the second year in a row that there's actually a couple of inches (enough to play in, not enough to be really messy) out there! It'll probably be gone first thing in the morning, but it's all cold and white out there right now.... So much for "global warming", eh?

[MenifeeMom]

Happy to hear they are coming home. We will keep them in our prayers as they continue to deal with this illness.

[Lindina]

UPDATE:
The spinal tap showed no cancer cells in the cs fluid, but the bone marrow showed a small amount. This morning (Wednesday), they're headed back to Dallas. They were going to try Houston (MD Anderson Hospital?? a much shorter drive time) but they would not have been seen until January, and they couldn't do that. So after Jeramy takes his Senior pictures in the morning, they're heading out. Not sure what the plans are for this visit.

[Ohio Mom]

Praying here for Jeremy and his family. Praying all goes well.

[sloan127]

Praying for Jeramy and his family.

[Lindina]

UPDATE:
They placed the mediport near his collarbone today. It went well. They put it on his left side so he can still shoot skeet with the gun on his right shoulder...;-D

[MenifeeMom]

Glad things are still going well and that they are thinking of his fun! Will keep them in our prayers.

[Brooke]

Thanks for the updates. It's great to see how things we pray for are going.

[Lindina]

Haven't heard from them yet today, but before they left the pastor told the deacons he was looking forward to being in the pulpit tomorrow -- depending on how things would go with Jeramy, of course. If we don't hear today, we'll definitely hear tomorrow....

[mommix3]

I just saw this post. Glad things have gone as well as possible so far. Prayers going up for this young man!!

[Lindina]

UPDATE:
Just got a text from the mother - "Rough day with chemo yesterday but thankfully no more fever now. We hope to leave hospital this evening."

[Deena]

Just seeing this---will pray for this young man and his family!

[Lindina]

They are home, and were at church yesterday, but we had a stomach virus and didn't get to go, so I haven't seen them yet. :(

[Lindina]

Newest update:

Wednesday night after the church Christmas dinner, Jeramy had a head-shaving party. He figures if he's going to lose all his hair to chemo, he might as well choose when and where. Several of his friends from school who had come (many aren't Christians and don't come from a Christian home) also had their heads shaved after he did, as a show of support for him.

His mother says the plan is that he'll make a couple of trips to a hospital just a couple hours away, to have some small chemo - He had a big one in Dallas before they left there, and he had a fever after it - then he'll go back to Dallas for another big one, and repeat this process a couple of times. A bone marrow transplant is inevitable. Both his parents and both his brothers are being tested to see who's the best match.

One of the girls he's in classes with at school has said that she cried all day missing him when he was in Dallas, knowing what he was going through (bone marrow tests and chemo and all that), but Jeramy and his parents consoled her by saying that no matter what happens, God is still in control and we just trust Him for the outcome He wants. After several exchanges like that, she said, "I think I'm almost beginning to understand this God stuff." His dad says that if this is the reason Jer has to go through all this stuff, to be an example to the world and bring some people to know Christ, then so be it.

[Ava Rose]

Lindina, your pastor and his family are amazing! Be assured they are already a blessing. I do pray that God decides to gain the glory through a miracle of healing. God will use this family in a mighty way. They do sound up to the challenge. I will pray for continued strength and healing. :)

[TeacherMom]

I will pray as well I too just saw this and will pray for God to use this family as well as for complete healing!~

[Lindina]

When you're in the center of God's Will, there is no "bad" outcome. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

[TeacherMom]

amen!

[Lindina]

UPDATE:
They got the results for the tests determining who can be a bone marrow donor for Jeramy. His older brother is no match at all. The other older brother is about 50%. But his dad -- the doctors told them that to find a match this close the chances are about 1 in 200,000! The doctors are baffled! But WE know Who's really in charge!

Don't quit praying yet, y'all!

[Ohio Mom]

Praise the Lord!!! Thank the Lord, He is in charge!!!

[Deena]

Wow, that's GREAT! Praise the Lord, since we know it's NOT coincidence!

[TeacherMom]

amen! and yes we will keep praying! That is awesome that they founda match! Will pray all goes well from here!

[sloan127]

Just now catching up with the news on your pastor's son. I am praising God with you that a match has been found so soon and I will continue to pray for this young man and his family.

[Lindina]

Jeramy and parents went to Dallas day before yesterday for a "big chemo" and got back last night about 11pm or so, showing up at the New Year's Eve party at my SundaySchool teacher's house. The bone marrow transplant is scheduled for March.

Pastor Pat was telling us about how the doctor was still amazed at how close a match he and Jeramy are, and this'n'that, and he told the doc "People are praying for you". The doc says, "oh, yeah, well, don't stop praying." "No, doc, you don't understand - they're praying for YOU." He said that judging by the doc's expression, he probably could've issued an invitation right there.... and again, if THIS is the reason Jeramy has to go through all this, so be it.

BTW, both older sons' wives are expecting, and due in September!

[sloan127]

Thanks for the update and we are still praying here. Beth

[Lindina]

Latest news: Jeramy will have 5 chemos this coming week: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and will come back home on Tuesday. Then they'll go back to Dallas again March 7, and he'll have two radiations a day, then two chemos a day, for the week preceding the bone marrow transplant. The transplant will be on March 15 or 16. He had another biopsy two weeks ago, and he's still making cancer cells - it's better, but not as much better as they had hoped. The medical team has checked out his Dad pretty thoroughly to make sure there's nothing in his blood system that could cause a failure, because Dad was deployed in the Navy (in a "former lifetime" so to speak). They found nothing that would preclude his donating to Jeramy. Now if both of them are as "germ free" as they can possibly be (no cold, no flu, no anything) and all goes accoirding to schedule, then the BMT should be on March 15/16.

Hey, the Saints won the Superbowl last night -- must be a year for miracles!!!

[TeacherMom]

wow , big pile of chemos! II will pray!

[Lindina]

I just found out last night that Jeramy has a page on CaringBridge. Here's his link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeramythomas You have to sign up to post a message but not to read the guestbook.

I'd consider it a personal favor if you'd go and post a message for Jeramy and his folks. Just a little one, so he can see how far around the world people are praying for him. Thanks!

[Emma's#1fan]

I am still praying and thanks for the updates!

[Lornaabc]

I pray things go well for them. Seems they are a true Godly family who serves with all they have......even life itself. Keep us posted.

[Minthia]

praying for him.

[Brooke]

Just postedon Caring Bridge. We have been following a classmate of my dd10 who I posted for prayer as well. I'm so thankful for the creators of Caring Bridge. What a wonderful thing for the family to have available to them to use. Praying here for Jeramy!

[Lindina]

Check out Jeramy's mom's journal on http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jeramythomas
Bone marrow transplant is set for Thursday. Please keep praying. Last Monday he had a rough day with radiation, and his dad said Jeramy felt like he hadn't been "all prayed up" going into it on Monday. But they got some great volunteers who came over to Ronald McDonald House and made cookies and encouraged everybody, praised God all together, etc., so Jeramy had a much better time of it on Tuesday. He's still doing great!, and his doctors are still mystified... But we're not, are we?

[TeacherMom]

thanks for the update! Will pray specific on Thursday!
Tell him he will be all prayed up for Thursday!

[Lindina]

Jeramy had his bone marrow transplant yesterday, finished up between 630 and 7 pm. Could take between and week and two weeks for them to know if it has accomplished the desired purpose. So keep praying, y'all!

[TeacherMom]

will do!

[Emma's#1fan]

I am praying.

[Lindina]

Jeramy's dad texted the deacons early today, saying that his temperature was only 99+. The CaringBridge journal written by his grandmother this morning says it's his second day of 100+ and today is day 10 since the transplant - the day it's supposed to start showing "good". His mouth still hurts a lot, and he can only tolerate vanilla pudding and sometimes that doesn't stay down either -- although when I asked him how it was coming along he said "getting better". Jer's Facebook updates show he's still playing games, though!

[Lindina]

Jeramy is 12 days post-transplant, and his four day fever finally broke last night about 9 pm. Pray his body isn't rejecting it but that it's emplanting and he can start healing!!!

[sloan127]

Jeramy and his family are still in my prayers. Thank you for keeping us updated on his progress. Beth

[TeacherMom]

yeah! Praise the Lord we will keep praying that it not only does nto reject but continues to improve!

[Emma's#1fan]

My prayers are still going up!

[Lindina]

Jeramy is now out of the hospital and staying at Ronald McDonald House for at least another week while they do some more tests and stuff. The mouth sores have completely cleared. There's a lot to do to make the house ready for him to come home to, wash everything!!!, walls, curtains, the carpet, remove all houseplants, stuff I never knew needed to be done for him to be okay when he gets to come home.

He is determined to walk across that stage for his high school graduation on May 18!

Pray that his appetite will return! He's lost a lot of weight, and he was thin to begin with... Pray that not only is the cancer cured, but the Chron's and the ITP (blood disorder) are resolved too!!!

See the picture at Caringbridge -- this is a new little friend of his, also a child in the transplant wing, holding up a t-shirt that says "I have cancer -- Dad's just bald!" Don't know what happened to my link, but it's here in a previous message somewhere.....

[TeacherMom]

praying and rejoicing

[Lindina]

Jeramy had to go back to the ICU today, running fever and apparently some blood pressure problems, will be there several days. They have to place a special IV that hurts a lot to place, to monitor his bp more accurately, so pray for that, please.

[sloan127]

I am praying Jeramy is doing okay and that the IV went okay. Maybe they can put in a central line so he won't keep having to have IVs. That is what they did with Matthew when his Crohn's got real bad. Please let us know when you hear something more. Jeramy and his family are in my prayers. Beth

[Emma's#1fan]

I'm sorry he had to return to the hospital. I am still praying.

[TeacherMom]

me too!

[Minthia]

I will add my prayers.

[Lindina]

Jeramy still has his port - they're supposed to take it out this week -- but this iv so they can monitor his blood pressure had to be put into a wrist artery. I'm not medical, so I don't understand all that. But his mom said it hurt a lot.

[dansamy]

Jeramy still has his port - they're supposed to take it out this week -- but this iv so they can monitor his blood pressure had to be put into a wrist artery. I'm not medical, so I don't understand all that. But his mom said it hurt a lot.

It's an arterial line. They are usually used in an ICU/critical care area to monitor a person's arterial blood pressure internally. It is used when we want to have greater control over very small fluctuations in a person's blood pressure. Arterial lines are very painful to place. Specially trained personnel do it. They require a lot of special monitoring.

[sloan127]

I hope Jeramy is doing better today. Keep us posted. He is in my prayers.

[Lindina]

He's had trouble with eating, so they've placed an NG tube so that he can still eat when he feels like it, but he can take on extra calories in the night through the tube while he sleeps. They did another bone marrow biopsy but the results aren't back yet. They went into his lungs to get some fluid because they saw some spots in his lungs on the last CT -- no fungus or infection right now. They're adding PT to help him rebuild some strength. He doesn't even feel up to doing his homework, his mom says, and that's always been a must because he's so intent on walking that stage on graduation night. He's back on the transplant unit, out of ICU. His parents are taking turns staying with him, so the other can get some sleep.

[TeacherMom]

thanks for the update!

[sloan127]

I was hoping the news would be better today. I am praying for some good results from everything they are doing for him.

[Lindina]

Here's some good news: got word yesterday that the last bone marrow biopsy showed ZERO cancer cells!!! Lungs showed no fungus or infection, so they just have to wait for him to get done with these frazzlin' fevers (engraftment syndrome??).

[TeacherMom]

yeah! so he can get better once he regains strength basically right? GO GOD! WHOO HOO!

[Lindina]

Unfortunately, Jeramy is still having fever, and they can't seem to find out why. They've scanned everything, xrayed everything, tested everything, but his white cell counts keep going up. His mom texted me just awhile ago, and said it's been basically 102.6 all day. So keep praying, folks!

[TeacherMom]

hmm, will keep praying does he have a scab or anything that coudl be infected?

[TeacherMom]

oh! Or if he is nto getting enough sleep! I run a fever from not enough sleep!

[Lindina]

Actually, they put him on lunesta, and for awhile he was getting really good sleep. Now he sleeps but isn't resting as well in his sleep. I dunno. But God is still in charge, and somehow this is all working out for His Glory!

[TeacherMom]

amen!

[Lindina]

Jeramy has had to return to ICU because of labored breathing in his sleep - they had to keep turning up the oxygen. He has CMV virus, maybe graft vs host...

[TeacherMom]

will keep praying for him to overcome it quickly!

[Lindina]

Yesterday they put him to sleep yet again, so they could take a lung biopsy. They told his parents that it was the only way to determine exactly what it is, so they can use just the right meds for him. I haven't heard any results yet.

Anybody know what CMV virus is?

[TeacherMom]

prayed

[TeacherMom]

http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/cytomegalovirus/fact_sheet.htm

[Lindina]

Thanks! So what I'm reading is that pretty much everybody has it, and it probably wouldn't have done anything to Jeramy if his immune system hadn't been undergoing chemo, radiation, and BMT....

I haven't heard any results from the lung biopsy, but he went back to ICU after surgery without a ventilator, and hadn't had fever all day. The surgeon said that his lungs looked better than he'd anticipated. No new news today.

[TeacherMom]

thats what it sounded like to me,

[Autumnleavz]

Will be praying

[Lindina]

Here's what Jeramy's mom posted on Caringbridge today:

Monday morning was ROUGH but by the afternoon Jeramy was so much better. The doctors were concerned that he had a bleed in his brain and that was the cause for the continued nausea and vomiting. Jeramy went downstairs for a CT scan and within 20 minutes the results showed that it was not a brain bleed. Needless to say we were all very concerned. Things calmed down and about 2:00 pm the pathology report from the lung biopsy was completed and it showed Graft vs. Host disease (GVH) which is very common for transplant patients and it is controlled by steroids. The steroids also have a side effect of increasing appetite, which is a very good thing.

Kend​a had mentioned on the guest book about a nausea medicine that the doctors started yesterday. Between the new medicine and the steroids Jeramy is now eating and the NG tube is on hold. It was going to be placed this evening to give him nutrition while he sleeps starting tonight.

Jeramy was also told about a program here at the hospital that is called “Direct the Chef”. It is a one time opportunity to meet the chef and pick out a favorite food or menu and the chef will prepare it. Jeramy has already decided he wants a steak and chicken fettuccine alfredo. Both of those items are not on the menu but he can have them prepar​ed special. Yum, Yum.

We are so excited that after 2 weeks of tests, scans and biopsy’s we know what caused the two ICU admissions and we have a game plan to make him better. The physical therapist came by today and started working with Jeramy so that he can have enough strength and stamina to walk across the stage for graduation in two weeks. Michelle from school services also came by and will continue to visit and help Jeramy to complete all the school work needed to wrap up his senior year. We will be very busy for the next two weeks and if he continues to improve and not get a fever we can move to Ronald McDonald House next Monday, May 10th Whoo Hoo, Praise the Lord!!!!

We all have big smiles on our faces, can you tell?

[Brooke]

Thanks so much for the update, Lindina. :) Praying now.

[TeacherMom]

yeah! Praying more! Thanks!

[Lindina]

Yeah, his dad told me that basically the doctors told Jeramy that the pneumonia was due to his not using his spirometer faithfully as he should throughout the day. He also said that when he gets done with that little toy he'll be able to suck a golf ball through a garden hose! LOL

Graduation is May 18th....

[TeacherMom]

lol how fun! ha, well at least its a good report!

[sloan127]

So glad to read the update. I am praying for Jeramy and his family. Beth

[Lindina]

His mom texted me this morning that he's had no fever for 3 days, and the PT is starting to help him get his strength back. Not sure if he's gotten his chance to eat his steak and chicken fettucini alfredo yet!

[Emma's#1fan]

I am glad to read that his strength is returning.

[TeacherMom]

halelujah! thats great!

[Lindina]

Jeremy is scheduled to go back to Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday, if he stays without fever. If he continues without fever there, he can come HOME for graduation the following Tuesday, to arrive just a couple hours before the graduation ceremony. He will be allowed to walk across the stage, and will be able to shake hands, but NO hugging, kissing, sharing germs!!! He will be allowed to sleep at home in his own bed at home that night, BUT will have to go back to RMH the next day.

The preacher told a good testimony today - His father-in-law (Jeramy's maternal grandfather) is only a two year old Christian. They live a 10 hour drive away from here, and were not really looking forward to driving it unless they were pretty certain Jeramy would be able to be here for the graduation ceremony. Well, grandpa - who had been asking for some kind of sign from God about this - was out on the golf course a couple of days ago, and teed off, then the sprinklers came on, so he had to go pick up his ball and quit. Couldn't find his ball, but picked up the one he thought was his, and found that it had been embossed with "Ronald McDonald House". Never did find his, but went home and told his wife that he'd gotten his sign.

The pastor got a phone call couple of days ago from an evangelist he doesn't know - they've talked, but never met. The evangelist asked about Jeramy, and asked how were they planning to get him home. Well, not sure, because dad would have to be here for Sunday, drive up Monday, drive back with Jeramy on Tuesday, drive back to Dallas on Wednesday ... sounds pretty tough to manage. Evangelist said that he had been set to start preaching a revival in Shreveport next Sunday, but the pastor of that church that had arranged for that had left, and the new pastor is supposed to have his first Sunday in his new pulpit next Sunday. Don't want to start a revival on a guy's first Sunday, you know? So evangelist feels like God is telling him he should be here instead, allowing our pastor to go to Dallas sooner, and not have to do as much of that wearisome driving (it's maybe 7 hours each way from here). He said he's not in the habit of inviting himself to preach anywhere, and pastor said he's not in the habit of accepting anybody's self-invitation, either. But God keeps saying, "Trust Me!", so he's grateful for the help.

[TeacherMom]

WHoo hoo! That is so cool~ I love it!

[Lindina]

Jeramy has graduated from high school!!! His doctors cleared him for the trip home, so he (and dad and his brother Nathan) left yesterday morning headed home. He was able to walk with his class (small auditorium!), walk across the stage, walk down to present his mom with a rose and hug his grandparents, then walk back up for the presenting of the diplomas and tassel-switching. He was able to sit through the whole hour and a half ceremony! Then there was a big party at the church after, lots of decorations and food, etc., and well-wishers. Jeramy, his mom and brother headed back to Dallas this morning, where he will have about another month to stay and be monitored for progress and so on, I think it's kind of a "just in case" kind of thing, then HOME for good! (until college this fall!)

They didn't know if he would be able to sit that long, or walk that far, or anything, but he did!

[TeacherMom]

COngrats to Jeremy whoo hoo!
thanks for sharing!

[KrisRV]

that is wonderful news.
Congrats to Jeremy and his wonderful family.

[sloan127]

Way to go Jeramy! That is such good news. Thanks for sharing.

[Lindina]

Posted today on CaringBridge:

Good Afternoon,

Pat, Jeramy and I just returned from the CCBD clinic and Jeramy has gained a total of 15 pounds since last Thursday, we are all so excited!

Today Jeramy is 77 days past transplant and he is doing MARVELOUS! The doctor told us that next week on Monday or Tuesday he will have surgery to remove the central line and we will be allowed to leave the Ronald McDonald house on Thursday, June 10th to go home to Elton, LA!!!! We will have spent total of 103 days in Dallas since we arrived for the transplant. Praise the Lord, it is time for the happy dance!!!! In addition to that Jeramy has been released to go to the Thomas family reunion in North Carolina. It has been such a long time since we have seen our extended family so it will be so nice to catch up with them in the mountains sitting by the waters edge. I can just picture it in my mind now.
We are so thankful for the prayers and the Lords touch in Jeramy's life and we will not forget to praise the One who has made all things right.
We are celebrating​, Pat, Amy and Jeramy

[Brooke]

Thanks so much for posting this update! How encouraging!!!

[TeacherMom]

Whoo hoo! HOW Exciting! SO great to hear the gggrrrreaaaaaaaaat news!
Thanks so much for sharing this adventure with us!

[sloan127]

I am so thrilled for Jeramy and his family. God is so good.

[ncbeachmom]

This is such an amazing story. It really shows the power of prayer!

[Lindina]

Another Praise! Jeremy's doctor that he's had for years says he no longer has the Crohn's disease that he used to have. Some of his newer doctors disagree, saying that the chemo and radiation and BMT and all that have "suppressed" it for now, but his long-time doctor says you can't "suppress" something that's not there!!!

I'll find out later about the ITP blood thing that was his most recent diagnosis before the lymphoma that he no longer has....

[Lindina]

Jeramy's not released from his doctors yet. He's having trouble gaining enough weight. He has to go to clinics still, kind of frequently. Last week they taught him how to put his own NG tube down, so that he can receive some industrial-strength nutrition stuff from 6pm in the evenings to 9am the next morning. He eats, but just can't ingest enough calories yet.

[TeacherMom]

Will keep praying now focusing on the weight gain and strength to his body!
I pray for my family for strength to thier body and morrow for thier bones I will pray for this for Jeremy now!

Thanks for the update!

[Lindina]

Here's the latest update, from Jeramy's mom. He still has to go to clinic periodically for regular checkups and lab work, and was there this morning.

the labs from Wednesday were back and the results were excellent. Jeramy is doing so well in fact they are decreasing the liquid steroids that he has been on for the graft vs. host disease and the bone marrow results from 2 weeks ago said that he is now 100% en-grafted (his blood cells are 100% his daddy’s…..o​h my) and as we shared in the last post he is CANCER FREE. Almost all of the viral studies are back and they are all negative also. They were looking for mono, CMV and other things that have affected him in the past. They are also decreasing his immunosuppr​essants and the magnesium. So this means his pill box is shrinking and we are thankful. All the medicines have certainly worked but of course there are side effects that we would rather not have to deal with if necessary. Where the central line was has now healed completely, it was not stitched up, it healed on its own, but the spot where it was has a scar that looks exactly like a heart. Jeramy wears a shirt that says “Scars are like tattoos but they tell better stories”.

[Brooke]

Thank you for the update! So glad to hear things are going so miraculously well!!!

[TeacherMom]

That is so cool! thanks for sharing the update! whoo HOo! will keep in prayer just as often as the Lord brings Jeremy to rememberace!

[Lindina]

About 600 people are wearing green plastic wristbands with his name and a scripture verse on, to remind ourselves and others to pray. His dad and mom have taken theirs off now, but I'm going to keep wearing mine until his doctors tell him he's released for good! The doctors told him today he doesn't have to come back to clinic for 3 weeks! WooHoo! We have VBS this week, but the next week he, his mom, and a friend are going to Florida where the grandparents live, for about a week.

[sloan127]

What wonderful news! Thanks for sharing the update. Still praying for him and his family. Beth

[DanielsMom]

That is awesome!