how your love sustains me

Day 11 -feeling very good, no nausea etc...I am eating well, everyone is surprised at my "good" health...in fact I would be in "perfect health" if it wasn't for the cancer (minor detail..ha..ha) The main thing to pray for remains the same ...we want to see -0-zero-cancer cells in the bone marrow test on tuesday (pray your little hearts out for me!)

We know that God is love and we are sustained by the power of His love...but God does an unusual thing, He choses to express His sustaining love through the love of family, friends, and the Body of Christ. I expressed to my 83 year old mother just today, who by the way, is a cancer survivor herself, that her love for me expressed through prayer, encouragement, hope and just raw motherly concern for her child, was like driving a giant pillar up under a sagging foundation and lifting the whole house. All of you, praying for me, sending cards and letters and testimonies, your financial support, your care and concern for me and my family have litterally been like those giant pilliars rooted deeply into God's love lifting me spiritually and physically to a place of hope and new beginnings. This how your love sustains me:)

From the most greatful heart on earth! Love you all back----kit

"The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!" Lam. 3:22-24

I awoke this morning early on day 10 and looked out my window as dark clouds parted and a beatiful silver white light burst forward to fill my hospital bedroom. The Lord reminded me of all of you guys and all of your prayers and love and concern for me. I was overwhelmed with the thought of so many people praying for me, and sending me cards, letters and posting comments on the blogs telling me how much the teachings, messages, etc meant to your life. it's amazing to know that God has used a person's life to sow into other people's lives at a depth that you're totally unaware of. Again, it just reminds me of how great our God is.
This morning the Lord showed me a picture of His heart for you...it was huge! and written on His heart was, "My heart beats for you". His desire for each of us is that our hearts would beat for Him as well, and so as long as our heart beats...let it beat for the Lord!

The Lord has held any infections from me...I have no nausea, aches or pains. My blood count is still dropping so I have to sustain transfusions pretty regularly but everything is going in the right direction.
The number one prayer is that when they take the bone marrow test (probably tues April 8) the bone marrow will be clear of any blast cells...that there will not be one! and I can go for the bone marrow transplant.
I love you all very much,
Kit

A Message from "Bubble Boy" :)

My dad feels like "bubble boy" right now because he is isolated in his room...his white blood cell (fighter cells) count is at 0.6 which is low but normal after chemotherapy...and the count is continuing to fall (which they actually like to see). so, we have to be really careful that he doesn't catch any bad infections.
This is day 9 and on day 14 or 15 the bone marrow test will be done. that test will be the "moment of truth" which will tell us if the cancer is in remission…if it is and let it be so LORD, to your glory, then Kit will begin to make arrangements to go to City of Hope.
This is what my Dad has told me, "I feel unworthy to benefit from the children who have suffered and their parents with them..friends and families, who have worked and given of their time and resources to develop the technology and knowledge to fight leukemia that we have today…I feel so broken and humbled and so unworthy."
We love all of you!
Maisha and Kit

My dad wanted to sign "I love you" but in case you didn't know sign language he also wanted to write it down :-)

new wednesday update

It's me again :-) I'm here with my dad right now taking over for Buddy and Billy.
My dad is actually having a fairly good day today. He has no fever at this point but sometimes the fevers spike at night. Please continue to pray that the fevers decrease and that he doesn't get any new infections. Thank you so much! I hope that you all are not getting tired of hearing from me.
My dad wanted to include a scripture:
Isaiah 41:18-20
I, the God of Israel, will never forsake them. 18I will open up rivers for them on high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. In the deserts they will find pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across the dry, parched ground...20Everyone will see this miracle and understand that it is the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, who did it.
love,
My dad also wants to reiterate that the next 7 days are the most critical because, as I stated before, on day 14 or 15 of the bone marrow will be tested and the cancer needs to be in remission for him to go on to the next step (bone marrow transplant)
Maisha (and Kit :)

Important Stuff...

I want to let you all know a little about the process for a bone marrow transplant. What we know is, first of all, my dad will have his bone marrow tested in one week to see if there are any cancer cells (I mentioned this before). After that, he will possibly have to have another 7 day round of chemo (prayerfully not) and then he will have his bone marrow tested again a couple weeks after that. If there are still no cancer cells, Kaiser Hospital will then run a series of tests (heart test, etc) to see if he is eligible (healthy enough) to go through the bone marrow transplant procedure. If he is (and the doctor thinks he will be) he will receive a packet with info from the hospital on the mainland that he will go to (most likely City of Hope in CA which has a wonderful reputation-I personlly know someone who was there). Then, the screening process begins-and my dad's siblings will be tested first because that have the greatest chance of being a match (even greater than I or my brother do) We found out today that Kaiser only pays a portion of the fees...so we will have to come up with $50,000.
We could really use your prayers and support in the entire process!!! thank you :)
Both of my uncles, Buddy and Billy, are over there with Kit right now and I am soo thankful for that! Uncle Billy has been keeping my dad laughing and his spirits up through this tough time, and Buddy has been playing him worship music :-) I know he loves having them there.
luv, Maisha

I just spoke with my dad this morning and he and doing better.  He had a pretty rough night, but he is doing alright this morning.  He wanted me to ask for prayer that he would find a bone marrow match as that is most likely the next step.  I know my Uncle Buddy really wants to be the match :-)

My Dad wanted me to include a Bible verse, so here is what I chose:

             "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect  the Lord!"    -Psalm 31:24

I will keep on keeping you all updated.

much love,

Maisha