Saturday, November 19, 2011

Calm After the Storm

Today so far has been peaceful and calm. We are playing praise music from the blog and keeping the environment in here calm and quiet. We are not talking on the phone much because we are whispering. To have a long conversation we need to step out of the PICU. To "talk" with us today electronically through facebook, email, text, or blog comments would be the best. We are really trying to keep this room quiet and calm so that David will remain asleep and healing without discomfort. I love to hear his sweet raspy voice, but his vitals are better when he is asleep. We really hope to get out of the PICU soon.

After the craziness of the last few days we are relishing the quiet and calm of being with David. We both feel relief that the bad news has already been shared with us and that the big surgery is behind us. Yesterday was a long hard day with lots of procedures in the morning and then the long and gut-wrenching wait during the surgery.

We hope to get pathology results back Tuesday. We are waiting to hear if it is definitely Wilm's and what type of Wilm's it is. The pathology results will dictate course of chemo treatments and such.

Here are some things to make you smile:

Before they wheeled him to surgery there was quite the crowd in our room. I will never forget that precious face smiling and waving madly to his fan club! He yelled "goodbye everybody!"

Mike and I of course walked with him down to surgery, but he insisted that his Pops go as well. When we got to the pre-op room David was asking for "jail" in his sweet southern accent. We realized that he wanted another ultrasound and was asking for gel on his belly!

The other night during a super serious consult with the pediatric surgeon, he passed gas. We all kind of giggled and then he started shaking his head and said "not me" and tried to pin it on the attending surgeon that was going to operate on him! He is a character as you all well know.

There have been many many moments that he has kept us laughing when we all felt like crying. I am sure that the nurses think we are lunatics for being so loud and laughing so loud in his room. We cannot help laughing at our rock star. He has LOVED all the attention and he has just laid in his bed (in only his underwear I might add) and entertained us all. God knew we would need a sense of humor!

Thanks friends and family-we will keep you updated as we hear more.

7 comments:

  1. Prayers and thoughts from the Phillips family. We are praying for David and your family daily and often. David made my heart smile last year playing basketball, he played with my step son Ben Calhoun. I so loved watching him run up and down the court and I was so hoping that one of the teams would let him make a basket. I will continue to pray for David and the family. God is a mighty God and I pray he reaches down to touch David just as David has touched and blessed so many lives. Praying for your recovery little guy, we love you!

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  2. Laura, I need to talk to you about things we learned during cancer treatment and I will find time to get to c'ville to see you. But this one is very critical. With cancer patients the lab is forever in the room taking blood. Well the lab techs do not always look to see if the patient has a port and will just start sticking arms etc to draw blood. So be right on top of that one. Often I would have to demand that they tech stop until I could get the nurse. This only happened inpatient, never outpatient. But your sweet boy does not need any extra "sticks". Ralph and both are praying for you daily. Carole Sue

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  3. Laura and Mike,
    I am a RN in Labor and Delivery at Martha Jefferson hospital. I believe I met you when David was born. I have a cousin, Laura, who has Downs Syndrome. She just turned 50 this October! She has overcome many challenges in her life and I know how heartbreaking it is to see such precious souls meet these challenges with such a positive, happy attitude.
    I also have a 5 year old nephew who has just completed a year of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
    Please know that I am thinking of you and your family. Stay strong! You will make it through this!

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  4. You don't know me, but I'm a friend of Tracey Grapes Stakem. Lifting your family up in prayer over here. Miracles happen every day. Believe.

    Mike Nehring

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  5. Kimberly Ball RobinsonNovember 19, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Hi Laura. Kim Robinson here, Sarah's mom. Your blog is beautiful and very inspiring. We all love hearing about David's progress. Sarah is worried about Kyle. We are all lifting you up in prayer.

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  6. Dear Laura and Mike,
    Ben I were talking today he was asking about David. I told him was going to be aright. As I read the things you write my heart is at peace.David is so happy he makes people happy. He has been a blessing from God. Him and Carolyn they have so much love. If we could only feel what they do. This world would be a great place. Angie and I were talking about him at the ballgames. You running after him while pregant with Hope. You all hang in there and God will take care of the rest. He is our almight physcian. We are all praying and asking every-1 else to and they will be. we are asking for him to put on all churches pray list. God Bless you all

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  7. I am praying for little David! I hope he get;s beter soon! Prayers are with him!


    ~kendyandjake~

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