Prayer Request: Joseph tested at the bottom end of the therapeutic range on his neutrophils today. He is again extra susceptible  to infection – so please pray that he will once again be preserved and not have to go to the hospital.

Joseph does not get to go a lot of places right now so when he does go out he likes to look his best. This morning he was looking forward to seeing his friends the doctors and nurses at the hematology clinic.

Many people commented about how good he looked and it was fun for Joseph to have so much positive attention.

But when we had our check up with the doctor, Joseph’s neutrophils were at the very bottom of the treatment range for his chemo.  So this very active and fun loving little boy was walking around with very little immune system.

Of course Joseph was not bothered by that news. He was ready to go home and play.

Over the past few weeks we have noticed that Joseph really struggles to get to sleep at night and he often wakes up several times during the night. There does not appear to be any specific reason for this – it could be a side-effect of his daily chemo, or it could simply be a result of being a 2 year old – but we are praying that he will soon be able to enjoy more restful nights.

We continue to be amazed at just how well Joseph did during his last Lumbar Puncture on 18 August. That day he was to fast half the day and normally I take him for a walk in a baby stroller and he falls asleep for most of the time. But this time he was very alert and wanted to play. So we went to the waiting room for the out-patient surgical theater and Joseph quietly played for over two hours and never mentioned wanting anything to eat or drink.

Once I was called to the recovery room I saw Joseph sitting on a nurse’s knee chatting away. Soon he was ready to walk to the car and go home. This type of recovery is not the experience of everyone. I have seen other children very disoriented, sore and staggering.

It would be easy to say that Joseph was very strong and resilient, but really he is a little boy who has received much grace from Jesus. What we have seen in Joseph’s life reminds me of this verse of Scripture.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:7

God’s power has been sustaining Joseph through the prayers of so many of His people. It is not about our faith or about Joseph being a courageous little boy, but it is all about displaying God’s greatness, kindness and power.