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<\/a>It’s almost July 4th and it looks like we will actually be home for this holiday!!!!!\u00a0 The kids are so excited.\u00a0 They want FIREWORKS. That’s all they’ve talked about.\u00a0\u00a0When they took labs yesterday, I was hoping Jake’s counts were on the rise so we could do something fun and non-isolated for the 4th but no luck, crowds\u00a0or Kemah\u00a0won’t be part of our party plans this 4th.\u00a0 I think of where we\u00a0were a year ago and where we are now and there are lots of different emotions. I remember vividly how much fun we had at Kemah last summer but then I also remember that as the night wore on Jake wanted to be held – his legs hurt. In hindsight those ![\"2012-07-13](\"http:\/\/jacobhickford.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/2012-07-13-19.49.40.jpg\")
<\/a>were little signs starting.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Then I think of how lucky we are to be right here, this year, WITH HIM, and it’s all\u00a0OK – we’ll\u00a0have sparklers\u00a0and be thrilled.\u00a0 I’ll be sure to get some pics!\u00a0 It’s been a little while since I posted, just busy and sometimes my heart has to be in the right place.\u00a0 It hasn’t been.\u00a0 There has been a lot of loss and little friends just not doing well. To sit and write, means I have to try and process – for my mind to start circling like\u00a0that there must be sense to be made, and there just isn’t any.\u00a0 Another special little friend of Jake’s\u00a0gained her angel wings this past week and it just hits so close to home.\u00a0 Mackenzie, Zie, spent many, many days in the 9th floor playroom with Jake.\u00a0 She was sweetly shy with this girly smile,\u00a0always at the art table and just precious.\u00a0 There are some other little friends that are struggling right now and we are praying hard\u00a0for them, ![\"2012-07-13](\"http:\/\/jacobhickford.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/2012-07-13-20.05.46.jpg\")
<\/a>watching, waiting for them get stronger, to feel better, to play again.\u00a0 It can weigh heavy on the soul.\u00a0\u00a0For some good news,<\/p>\nJake’s friend Patrick is back from Dallas and he sailed<\/p>\n
thru MIBG with flying colors.\u00a0 Seeing him and speaking to his parents has eased my mind considerably.\u00a0 They shared pictures and it’s like something out of a sci-fi movie.\u00a0I have to say that seeing Patrick with my own eyes was a huge help.\u00a0 He looks GOOD,\u00a0really, really good!\u00a0 We are praying that his scans look even better!\u00a0\u00a0Some fun news is that Baby Bull visited the infusion room yesterday and Jake was SO EXCITED!\u00a0 He laced up the gloves and held the belt – he was all smiles!\u00a0 Now for a day in the life for you… last week while in clinic, Jake left his blankie, aka blankedy.\u00a0We were It’s almost July 4th and it looks like we will actually be home for this holiday!!!!!\u00a0 The kids are so excited.\u00a0 They want FIREWORKS. That’s all they’ve talked about.\u00a0\u00a0When they took labs yesterday, I was hoping Jake’s counts were on the rise so we could do something fun and non-isolated for the 4th but … <\/p>\n<\/a>almost home, in the HOV actually,\u00a0when he discovered this fact and fell apart.\u00a0\u00a0AGH! There is NO WHERE to go in the HOV, except straight… further and further from blankedy.\u00a0 I knew I had to go back.\u00a0\u00a0What if the cleaning crew found it and put it somewhere?\u00a0Or worse, what if they put it in the laundry?\u00a0 In clinic, we use\u00a0fresh sheets and blankets to cover the sofas and infusion recliners – it’s a “germ thing”, as to give extra protection for the kids.\u00a0 What if they accidently threw it in with the\u00a0sheets – we would\u00a0NEVER see it again!\u00a0\u00a0So, we drove back, in traffic (NO HOV going back into town).\u00a0 We didn’t leave the\u00a0infusion room\u00a0till\u00a05:30, so\u00a0getting back into the med-center was not\u00a0quick. The whole time I was praying!!\u00a0 Mostly that we would find it but also that we could\u00a0even get up to the 14 floor.\u00a0 The Clinic side of TCH shuts the elevators down at 7pm. Even if it was where he left it, we might not be able to get to it.\u00a0 We got there and started our “hunt” for an officer to get us back upstairs and who should come walking around the corner but one of our <\/a>front desk angels that sign us in every day.\u00a0 Man, were we happy to see her!\u00a0 God wink!\u00a0 She “badged” us up and low and behold it was right where he stashed it… in the microwave of the little play kitchen.\u00a0 WHEW!\u00a0 RELIEF!\u00a0\u00a0Momma was almost in tears and\u00a0Jake was ecstatic!\u00a0\u00a0Last week was VBS for the kids.\u00a0 Kate and Emma were able to be first year Crew Leaders and loved it!\u00a0 It was hard for Jake to watch them leave each morning – he knew what he was missing.\u00a0But\u00a0we snuck up the back stairs at closing ceremonies one afternoon so he could see from the balcony – it made his week!!!\u00a0 Our church puts on an amazing VBS program and this year they honored Jake and Grant (another one of our little friends and church\u00a0families who is fighting Leukemia).\u00a0We are so blessed by our church family!\u00a0As for Jake and treatment, we are waiting for\u00a0him to recover from\u00a0the past\u00a0round of chemo so we can start this eighth round.\u00a0\u00a0This next chemotherapy\u00a0will be a week long and the same drugs as last time, Topotecan and Cytoxen. These are considered “mop up” drugs and\u00a0weren’t part of his original road map but are being used because he’s being categorized <\/a>as “refractory”\u00a0since his disease has shown some resistance to the usual NB treatment. We are in the planning stages but it does seem that Jake will not head into Stem Cell next.\u00a0The doctors feel that MIBG will be best for him first. With everything we are learning\u00a0and the severity of\u00a0Stem Cell on the body and immune system, we are listening.\u00a0\u00a0We are comfortable with this decision and now we have to decide where.\u00a0\u00a0So we are praying, thinking, assessing, stressing, studying, PRAYING!\u00a0 I know this is long and wi<\/a>ll close it\u00a0up soon… I haven’t placed the shirt order yet but plan to\u00a0finalize it soon.\u00a0 If you are interested please e-mail at mardon@mardonhickford.com<\/a> or FB with sizes and quantity (you can check out the post below for a picture of them).\u00a0 AND I just want to\u00a0THANK YOU for all of the meals, the thoughts and cards, and the ongoing\u00a0help. I am SO BEHIND in thank you’s and I may never catch up. There are so many to thank and you all keep us lifted and moving forward. I just can’t imagine where we’d be without you.\u00a0 Please know that we are so grateful for every word of encouragement, every meal that fills our tummies, the meals are SUCH a help!\u00a0 We are grateful for all of your love and prayers!\u00a0\u00a0I was telling a friend earlier this week that I can’t imagine what it would be like without all of the pr<\/a>ayers that continue to go up for us on a daily basis.\u00a0 We have joy… and HOPE!\u00a0 It’s because God\u00a0is listening\u00a0and he gives us his little winks of love each day through YOU!\u00a0 We love and pray for you too!\u00a0 And we wish you a happy, safe\u00a0and blessed 4th of July!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"