More Family Support

I was finishing up this post when Jayson shared his "Go Back My Child" story with us. So, all of what I wrote below happened before Jayson's story, but I had to share the great news of Jayson's testimony right away.

I talked to Jayson's medical team about 2 hours ago when they made their rounds. Jayson had asked them to meet in his room so he can listen.  Of course, they agreed and they came in.  Jayson continues to do better. He is eating regularly, still just soft foods, smoothie and nutritional shakes. Yesterday he had a few pieces of the cinnamon rolls (Cinnabon) he requested from his sister.  His appetite is good and one of his doctor recommended adding some fiber to his diet along with more solid foods. At this point, Jayson told them he didn't like raw sushi. In which Dr. Kon (ICU doctor) asked is there cooked sushi? He told Jayson he loves sushi and that he was missing out, but it's safe to say that raw sushi will not be in the menu.

All of the numbers that his medical team is tracking looks good for the most part, except the critical white blood count.  It's still at 0.1 and today his red blood count was a little lower so he's getting a red blood transfusion now.  I spoke to one of Jayson's oncologist, Dr. Pene, this morning and had asked him if a bone marrow transfusion was even an option since Jayson's bone marrow is not yet producing its own.  He told me that it wasn't because Jayson also has the rhabdomyosarcoma, not just AML (leukemia).

More relatives came to visit.

Jayson is still requiring the use of the nasal cannula.  His setting is at 1 LPM still and is doing well at that setting.  His doctors will continue to wean him off of some of his medication, especially the one at night to help him sleep. This is an important step in order for Jayson to be able to go home, even for just a visit. We pray that he will be able to go home soon.

Today, we hope to get him out of bed and take him outside for some fresh air and sun. I'd like to be able to bring him to the "Healing Garden" here on the hospital premisis. It's about a 5 minute walk from his room.

With Grandpa Inggo, Uncle Lito and Auntie Jenn

With cousins Natassia & Katrina

Last night, Jayson had more visitors, mostly family & friends who live just north of San Diego.  As in the case with the visitors on Friday, many of them are amazed at how well Jayson seems to be doing.  They are all aware that things can change drastically if his cancer cells return, so they continue to pray for Jayson's complete healing.

With childhood friend, Jenielle

Jayson looks at a gift from his cousins.

Jayson has been and continues to be the recipient of blood products that are donated by complete strangers. After seeing how many blood and platelet transfusions he has had over the last couple of years, especially this last month, I realize how important and critical it is to donate blood and platelets.  Some of our family members already do so and I used to myself until I started taking blood pressure medication. My prayer today besides the obvious is that others consider donating blood themselves. We never know when we or someone we love will need it and we hope that it will be available if it is needed. There were several times during this hospital stay that the local blood bank did not have the blood Jayson needed, so some had to be delivered from Los Angeles overnight in order for Jayson to get it in the morning. Thank God for those donors.  I don't think most of them know who's receiving their donation, but we are grateful for them for their gift.

This morning after mass I was at Jayson's bedside talking to him, asking him how he was doing.  This is our conversation:

Jayson: Is Tita Anna still here? (His Tita Anna, my sister, had passed away 6 yrs ago due to breast cancer)
Mom: Tita Anna is in heaven, remember?
Jayson: Oh, yeah.
Mom: But she's with you spiritually and watching over you. Did she come and visit you?
Jayson: Yeah.
Mom: What did she say?
Jayson: I can save the world? (a bit unclear)
Mom: Did you say, Tita Anna said you can save the world?
Jayson: Yeah.
Mom: That's a beautiful message. You're already doing that one person at a time.
Jayson: I'm talking about in the video game.
Mom: She said you can save the world in the video game?
Jayson: Yeah
Mom: How did Tita Anna look? Did she have long hair still?
Jayson: No, she had short hair. (He said slowly dozing off)
Mom: What was she wearing?
Jayson didn't respond, he had fallen asleep.

I don't know what to make of it, but I do believe my sister is watching over him as she used to when she was still alive.  I also know that she's not the only one.  We see the evidence of God's presence in his life now and in his progress.  I am so thankful that we have a god we can rely and trust, a god who is loving and a god we believe in.

More support from Grandma Lucy and her siblings.