Today...Rowan fights for Rowan...

Every day we have been meeting with the doctors, trying to decide when is the best time to move forward with transplant #2.  It is such a balancing act.  He needs to be strong enough to handle the chemo and conditioning again, plus radiation this time.  However, the longer we go without him having any counts, the more at risk he is for infections and complications that would further postpone things.  And as you have seen, this journey has already been complicated enough for him.  Last night Brian told Rowan that he wanted him to put a picture of himself on his "Today I fight in honor of..." board.  Rowan didn't want to at first.  But we told him, "You always think of others first, you always fight for them...it's time to fight for yourself too."  Rowan finally agreed. 

And you know what?  We are having a good day.

He felt it himself right away. 

He asked his nurse for a hug first thing this morning.

I wrote out a Bible verse for the day, and he read it with me...

And this afternoon, we got the news we have been waiting for... we were told he could start chemo tonight!  We are moving forward again.  We are breaking the chain links once more.

So that is what he and I did.  We pulled off another link...

It is officially Day -6 of Transplant #2!

It is not going to be easy.  He is not in a perfect, pre-transplant spot.  But, the risk of waiting now outweighs the risk of moving forward. And we are all poised and ready, prepared to do everything we can to get through this.

Rowan will undergo just 5 days of chemo this time, and then one day of total body irradiation.  However, his body is weaker this time, so it will be harder on him.  these next two days specifically, he will be receiving a chemo drug that can cause bleeding in the bladder, so they have to treat him with a rescue drug throughout the day to protect him.  We will be working his kidneys extra hard, and because the hematoma is compressing his left kidney, this is a big concern.  Please pray this goes smoothly and without incident or complication.  Pray for protection of his organs.  And for stamina, peace, and comfort for Rowan.

Transplant Day, Day 0, will be on Tuesday, October 18th.

Your prayers and support leading up to that date are so appreciated and valued.

As the Bible verse says, "We are hard pressed on every side, but NOT crushed". 

And Today....

Rowan hesitated the other day when we asked him if he was ready to start again.  Tonight he told me, "I can do this, with God and Jesus and everybody by my side."

Yes you can Rowan...

and yes HE WILL!