June 21st, 2008
We are so very thankful to report that Elijah’s MIBG scan was clean!!!!! This was his 2 year post-transplant scan. We give all the glory and honor to the Lord! We will see Dr. Grupp in six months for another check up, and if everything goes well his next scan will be in one year.
We will be going to CHOP again on October 1st to see an endocrinologist. Dr. Grupp checked Elijah’s thyroid, and the results showed that his thyroid is working too hard to produce normal levels. He will be put on medication to resolve this. We are hoping this will help Elijah to feel better. He complains of being tired and not having enough energy quite a bit. While he has become so much stronger and healthier, I must admit it tugs at my heart to see him drop his head and hunch his shoulders with discouragement because he is not able to keep up with his cousins and friends.
It has been a rather long time since I have updated, and I am disappointed that I did not make myself share all of the adorable things our son has done over the past several months. And even though I enjoy updating, sometimes it is still just too painful for me to do so. That probably does not make sense, but it is where I am at none-the-less. I must admit, and I am embarrassed to do so, that I am still struggling with the many memories and thoughts that still pop into my head. I am not trying to hold onto them, yet I refuse to forget how very bravely and with such grace our little guy went through his treatment. I know I will never fully comprehend ALL the Lord has done for him and our family. Elijah is so aware that the Lord has healed him and is making him stronger.
I feel guilty that I still carry around a type of grief because we are a miracle, a success story. And even though Elijah deals with side effects from all of the treatment, they are not life threatening—which is an even greater testimony of what the Lord has done in his life. I just hurt sooooo incredibly deeply for the parents and families who have gone through all that diagnosis and treatment entail and still lose their precious child. It is almost unbearable for me. It is just so difficult to go to CHOP and see the children and their families in the onco clinic knowing, to a great degree, what they are going through. I am just so thankful to have Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I could not have gone through this without him. He is such a gentleman, a most loving heavenly father. He does not push us to get over our grief and pain, but ministers to us in a very personal way until we come through it realizing that we have come to know him on a much higher level with our faith and strength increased in him.
We were so fortunate to see so many of the very special individuals who have become a part of our lives at CHOP. They were so excited to see how well Elijah is doing! For some, it was the first time to see him with hairJ What special people to still remember our little guy after two years!!!
We were also able to have lunch with Alyssa and Dana! Elijah and Alyssa enjoyed seeing each other so much! Even though Alyssa is still so very sick, this is the best we have seen her look in two years! We just found out that she is getting her pager from the kidney transplant list on July 14th. The doctor has to be extra particular in the kidney chosen because of all the physical issues she is dealing with. It will take anywhere from 1-30 days for Alyssa to get a kidney. I am asking everyone to pray for a complete, quick and strong recovery for her. Please pray against infection and sickness of any kind as this is an incredible risk and threat to her. We believe for a fresh, new healthy start for Alyssa.
Since I have last updated, Elijah graduated from preschoolJ He had the best school year. He loved his teachers Mrs. Tustin and Miss Lucy! Even though he has been out of school for a month and a half he is still insisting that he will be marrying his preschool sweetheart, Paige.
Elijah also played on a T-ball team with his buddy Cole. His team’s name was the Bears—the bad news bearsJ He definitely had some good hits without the use of the tee. He ran with such determination to each base. During one game he was so impressed with his hit that as soon as he got to first base he gave me a double thumbs up, and when he passed home he called to Alfred and said, “I did that for you, daddy!” --talk about priceless.
We definitely were so blessed to celebrate Elijah’s 5th birthday! He wanted to have a cowboy party--so a cowboy we had. Of course dinosaurs had to be involved in some way as well. My Aunt Karen hid a dinosaur egg in the yard for him to find, and it was priceless to see the wonder in his surprised face when he found a “real” dinosaur egg in his own yard! (In the past he has unearthed “dinosaur lungs” during his excavations). He had a blast going around the yard “scarring” everyone with the dinosaur costume my mom got him—equipped with sound effectsJ He said it was “the best ‘birfday’ ever!”
Elijah has also enjoyed sleeping over at Aunt Erin and Uncle Craig’s house. He loves playing with his cousins. We always get a few chuckles when he comes home because he picks up new habits while he is away. For example, even without knowing that he had stayed overnight there one would immediately know once they saw our son walking around the house in his undies only or when they saw him go outside to pee in the bushes—both definite Craig Eagleson, or I should say, Eagleson boys’ trademarks. I love my family!
I want to thank everyone who continues to check Elijah’s site and pray for our family. We still need your prayers. We also want to thank Mike and Sean for their continued help in keeping Elijah’s site. They don’t know how much it means to us. Also, please don’t forget to check out the new pictures we have posted.
January 19th, 2008
HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! We enjoyed a most wonderful holiday!!!! We were able to visit with friends and family in a way we have not been able to for the past couple of years. Elijah literally squealed with joy as we decorated our tree! His excitement was truly pricelessJ To him, our Christmas tree was the most beautiful one in the whole world!
Elijah even did some Christmas shopping of his own this year. Our favorite: he gave Abby a blue dolphin car air freshener—he believed he was giving her the greatest gift in the world. I mean come on; it was blue and an animal. You have to know Elijah to understand that to him what gift could be better? Since he was having a difficult time parting with it, Abby said they could share it. It is now hanging off of the ceiling fan in her roomJ
I can’t tell you how many Christmas “craps” (crafts) he made! Even now he is still asking to make more. One of his favorite times was when him and Abby decorated gingerbread men. Sometimes, Alfred and I laugh because we feel like we are stuck in that one Disney Christmas video with Donald Duck’s nephews—the one when it is Christmas Day over and over and over again. Every time it snows Elijah is convinced its Christmas again!
Considering that Elijah was on an antibiotic first for strep (sp?) throat and the second for a sinus infection, I believe this was his best Christmas yet. His strength is so much better now, and he is finally starting to gain weight!!!
We go back in June for his next six month check-up. We are hoping to be able to take him to the zoo this time.
I am happy to share that Alyssa has been out of the hospital for almost two months now, and she is scheduled to get her kidney transplant come this spring. I believe Dana said in May. Please continue to pray for Alyssa and Dana’s health as she will be the donor.
Thank you for continuing to check on Elijah and send us e-mails! We have FINALLY posted new pictures; so please take a look at how well Elijah is doing!
