An end. The end. - Dec. 18

Sometimes you just don’t know what to say.  I think we’ve spent so much time wondering when there will really be an end, that the end just seems so very…quiet, quiet in the middle of busy. 

Today we went for our last visit of 2014 to the TCH oncology department.  It was a long wait as clinic normally is, and as we sat and visited with others deep in the battle, still looking for answers, it seemed sort of surreal.  For us it was a minor affair, just bloodwork and a simple visit with Asa’s oncologists.  And good results.  All the loose ends, the things that seem to still be flying loose at the edge of our vision, were tied up tightly, snipped clean and called done. 

First, Asa’s MRI results from about ten days ago were very positive.  All areas of previous concern on the surgical bed were no longer a real concern, just obvious areas of scar type tissue that is slowly dissipating.  Asa’s liver is basically fully regenerated at this time and looking great.  It’ll never quite look like yours or mine, but none of that matters.  It functions perfectly. 

The big item of excitement today was the AFP, alpha feta protein, numbers.  If you remember, this is the blood marker that is elevated in hepatoblastoma.  When Asa was first diagnosed, this number was over 51,000, basically off the measurement charts.  This number has been in a safe zone for a while, going down steadily since his liver resection in June.  It has held steadily low for a few months now, but has fluctuated in the low zone for a bit, only once dropping into normal range, which is below 12 for a child of that age.  Today, we are happy to report that Asa’s AFP was 4.8!  Though he was none too happy to offer a vein to get that blood, we are thrilled to report that the momentary torture was so worth hearing the count.

Asa was doing a happy dance tonight while watching Curious George, his favorite.  We also got to visit Daddy’s work today, to celebrate and talk with all the people who prayed and encouraged us so much by helping take care of Asa’s deductible.  God has been so good in the hard of it all.  Sometimes it’s easy to forget the journey we’ve been on in the chaos of chasing the wild boy all over the house as he does the normal stuff of emptying cabinets and guzzling yogurt and shoveling goldfish, but you just can’t.  We are so grateful today to you for walking through this journey with us.  This is not the final report – there’s more to come, I’m sure.  We just wanted you to know that for once, we are comfortable typing the words “the end” and that it’s okay to do the happy dance and call everything hereafter, Lord willing, an epilogue.  Next time I can catch it, I’ll grab a picture of Asa throwing his hands up and signing “finished” or “all done.” Praising God.