February 4, 2018

It has been an eventful week for Miss Sarah!

Last Monday she started chemo.  Her dressing was removed to prevent skin burns from Thiotepa.  3x daily baths begin.  

Tuesday, more chemo and more baths.  During one of her baths I notice her line looks like it’s come out slightly.  They do a chest x-ray…it has come out a little, but it is still in just far enough.  

Wednesday we give Sarah her first bath of the day and the line has come out at least two inches.  We hurry and put her gauze wrap on to hold what is left of the line in place.  Another chest x-ray confirms the line is out of place.  The gauze comes off for her next bath and the line just falls out.  She needs a new line placed before her counts drop but after the crazy skin burning chemo has been out of her system for 48 hours.  That evening I realized she would be going in for surgery the next day and hadn’t had a priesthood blessing.  I text the Branch President for PCH and ask him if there is anyone who can give Sarah a blessing tonight.  Thirty seconds after I send the text Brother & Sister Anderson who serve in the ward here walk in and say, “We hear Sarah needs a blessing!”  It was a very tender moment….I knew Heavenly Father was very aware of Sarah, of me, and all of His children.  

“I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.”  Elder David A. Bednar

Thursday afternoon Sarah goes in for surgery to have her new central line placed.  The doctor was very kind and explained that with all Sarah had going on her risk for infection was higher, circumstances were not ideal for surgery but it had to be done.  He promised he would take good care of her, and the surgery went perfectly!

Friday morning Sarah had her second stem cell transplant.  It was so humbling to see so many of the staff come in her room (and go out the door, the room was too small to fit everyone)!  They sang “Happy BMT Birthday”, Sarah was shy but I saw her smile as she covered her eyes.

Today we were all up at the hospital together.  Sarah was so excited to see Hannah and Camden walk through her door.  She didn’t have energy to play with them long, but just having them here made her feel more at home.  It really hurt when they walked away tonight.  I had been worried all day about Camden or Hannah being sad to leave, I wasn’t expecting it to be me that couldn’t stop crying when they left. I am so sick of being apart, sick of waiting, and so very tired of watching sweet Sarah go through so much.  But then I see her smile amidst all of this, giving it her all without a complaint.  I remember the miracles, the tender mercies we see every day…and I keep going….one day at a time.  

We can do this.