Update

Wow! What a roller coaster ride. Often, I do not write because I don't want everyone else to be jerked around quite so much. I will try to bring you up to date on our past two days.

After our "glimmer of hope" on Thursday (when Mitch passed some potentially eliminating tests) we waited and prayed as the doctor went over the "final checklist" in preparation for the transplant. He told us he would come in at 5 pm on Friday to give the details on the gameplan. At 3:40, he came in, sat down and said, "here's what I want to talk about at 5." (It always makes my stomach flop when they come in - grab a chair - and start talking very stoically.) OK - the details: An imperative part of the haplo-identical transplant is use of a specific antibody to reduce possibility of rejection. Surprisingly, that antibody is not available - ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY!! They cannot find it at any of the transplant clinics; the company that produces it has none and has no idea when more will be produced! The doctor commented that he has never seen this happen. Bottom line - that transplant cannot proceed without it. It is a mandatory med because Sam & Mitch are only 1/2 matched and it is a very high-risk procedure.

The doctor did not leave us without hope, however. After consultation with the specialists, he has proposed another round of chemotherapy - different drugs than before. Their hope (our prayer) is that this chemo will put him fully into remission; contain the leukemia and qualify him, once again, for the cord blood transplant.

We've been given the "you can go home and be comfortable" talk far more than we'd like but Mitch refuses to give up hope. He has been able to witness strongly of his faith in Christ through all of this. We continue to pray for the hospital staff as they work so hard to help. We would love for him to be totally cured without all the medical intervention; but, daily we see God using Mitch to bless and minister to so many.

We see God working. Thanks for your prayers - we need them more than ever.

Marlene
-- Still clinging to: 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 "Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."