e@cyclosporin: Days 42-48 -- Glimpse of Hope

As much as I wanted to blog more frequently with the latest updates, I am struggling to find a chunk of time to do that during the week days.  Continuing on from last posting, Ensay's blood counts have held its levels and just last Thursday the doctor excitedly notified us that his platelet counts have doubled to 21,000.  (Please keep in mind that normal range is 150,000 through 400,000 so we still have some ways to catch up.)  Needless to say, we were very pleased to hear that good news and wanted to convey the same excitement to you all because your prayers are being answered by our Healer.  I continue to PRAY that Ensay's bone marrow factory will produce more and more healthy blood cells.  His red blood cells are still in the low range but the doctor would like to hold off the transfusion to allow his body to produce extra red blood cells by attempting to normalize his system.  I will update you after Tuesday's blood count.

All in all, Ensay has been doing well and I can see that this news has boosted his spirit up even higher.  It's truly a time of praise for the Kimfamily.org and this day of June 21st, 2012 has been a memorable day for us.

It so happens, on that afternoon we had a consultation appointment with the bone marrow transplant group as a preparation for potentially going down that path in the future.  Even after hearing the good news from the doctor in the morning we still attended this appointment but when I heard Ensay explaining to the nurse that so far the ATG treatment he is on seems to be working, it brought sweet sense of peace and joy (for Young Joo as well).

Another significant event for the day was that our second mother duck who visited our front courtyard hatched her ducklings.  I did not see them like I did last time but I did hear the little creatures chirping when I left for work in the morning.  We were privileged to have provided the fertile nest twice this year and there is a mysterious joy of witnessing new lives come into this world according to God's design.

From this week's reading on 2 Kings 8:6 (NIV) -- The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, "Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now." -- I was very encouraged by the message of when we follow God's instructions, He will be responsible for restoring all the "losses" we may face.  In this passage the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha had restored to life were instructed to exile to the land of Philistines to weather the famine in her land.  And when she returned, a string of events God orchestrated allowed the king to grant her the full restoration of all she had owned before.  This woman according to 2 Kings 4:8 possessed a lot of wealth and yet she followed the instruction of Elisha surrendering her possessions valuing her and her family's lives more.

Ensay was very involved in sports (water polo), and had wealth of strength and energy.  This passage almost conveys the fact that he is in exile away from the famine; and when he returns, God will restore everything he had before.  I PRAY that our family will be keen to hear God's instructions and follow them closely so that just like this woman, we also will experience God's wondrous restoration in Ensay's body and his life.

e@cyclosporin: Days 35-41 -- Still a Roller Coaster Ride

Ensay's blood counts (for platelet, red, and white blood cells) are still at lower levels, however, for last two weeks his platelet counts have sustained itself for him to not get transfusions.  This was truly a time of giving PRAISES!  Please keep in mind that although this is a great news, the doctors must observe for few more months to come to any conclusions so I continue to PRAY for his body to stabilize and pump out those blood cells.  Ensay's been doing well in general and after school went into the summer break last week, he's been more relaxed as well.

Just before school ended, our school district have identified a home tutor for Ensay and so we're very grateful and excited to have this teacher's assistance in completing the school requirements very soon.  Talk about PRAISE (#2):  This tutor was Ensay's history teacher from last year so they already know each other well.  And when this teacher visited our home for the first time to provide initial instructions, he noticed this quilt on our living room wall and asked whether we attend a church because he himself is a Christ follower attending one of the evangelical church near by.  This was very special to us not just because he shares the same faith but because it also sets a strong common bond to collaborate in this effort.  By the way, this quilt was a precious present brought to us by a close family of ours who is currently serving as a missionary overseas a couple of months before Ensay's health issue surfaced.  These three words, "God is Faithful," hung in our living room spoke to us loudly with authority during the initial weeks into our family crisis, setting our spiritual bearing on His faithfulness away from our anxiety.

In fact, in this week's reading of 1 Kings 19:2-4 (NIV) -- So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,  while he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." -- affirmed us that no matter how much of a mighty power of God I may experience, when I shift my focus off His faithfulness to the voices of the circumstances I am facing, then I will fall prey to the fear and discouragements just like Elijah mentioned in this passage (who was a mighty prophet of God).

We certainly are grateful for Ensay's current condition but we still feel like we're in the roller coaster ride, going up and down, up and down.  Lately it's been the fatigue resulting from running hard last few months which has been draining us and at times felt like Elijah under the broom bush, simply overwhelmed with everything going on, and perhaps focusing too much of the voices of the circumstance we are in.  So  we continue to PRAY that we lock our focus on His faithfulness.

WOW Report -- Just today, one of the respected parent of our friends shared with me that she checks my blog every morning before praying for Ensay's healing.  What a humbly experience that was (not to mention that I should update my blog more frequently!) with gratitude.  Friends are still dropping off food according to the sign-up schedule and deeply touches all five of us.  Two instances, mothers in their last trimester brought food for us even when they themselves have difficulty moving about.  Thank you everyone.

e@cyclosporin: Days 27-34 -- Fabric of Community

Some updates first.  The school district finally identified and assigned a tutor to assist Ensay with completing the class works over the summer.  Thankfully, Ensay had attended school as much as he could in between all the hospital visits so in some classes he actually completed within this semester in good standings.  In some other classes this tutor will work with him to complete.  Normally, aplastic anemia patients are not permitted to go to school (due to low immune system) but because Ensay's strength both physically and mentally, the doctor allowed him to finish off the class works as much as he could handle.  God has indeed blessed me and my wife, Young Joo, with a son who won't give up easily when faced with challenges of life.

Even though the doctor cannot jump to any conclusions yet, he's been encouraged to see some of the recent blood counts and most of all Ensay's condition has not deteriorated by any means.  I am continuing to PRAY that his bone marrow will be jammed with healthy cells which in turn will produce healthy blood cells.

School year ended today, so the summer schedule would alleviate some of the time constraints and will definitely provide some room for him to relax and let his mind and body to think and work on nothing other than generating some blood!

While we had no urgent issues (such as bleeding), at times my wife and I feel drained because we feel like we're just riding a stationary bike (going no where but working super hard).  But your support and encouragements have kept our minds clear and the warmth of your care melted away the stiffness of facing the unknowns and at times frustration of just being in the state we're in.

When someone from 1+ hour drops off (still hot) food at our house with little ones in the car, deep corner of our hearts are touched and truly thank God for putting such wonderful people around us.  Last Sunday, we attended our small group after a few weeks of missing it and as we were returning home we felt recharged emotionally not because anything special happened but just the fact that we were strengthening each other through fellowship and prayer.  Very appropriately, today's reading on Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 --
9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. -- touches on this very principle for the Fabric of Community and I want you all to know that this passage refers to you all.  May God bless you and your family!