My apologies for the late post, but the last several weeks have been extremely busy. I know that everyone has so many questions and concerns, so I will try to answer as many of the most important ones that I can through this post. We have also been battling the flu this entire week, so that hasn't helped me catch up the blog either.
How is Tzadok doing? As far as short term side-effects are concerned, Tzadok is doing miraculous. He has had no skin redness or irritation. He has had no vomiting or uncontrollable fever. Tzadok has also had 4 MRI's since being here and the tumor has shown no growth whatsoever from treatment. He has had nausea issues off and on and he is becoming more fatigued which is inevitable. So we still need prayer for these last treatments that there is no new short term side-effects, and that we can continue to keep him hydrated and fed. He actually likes going to the hospital now and he has a fan club up there including Dr. Ho, the MRI doctor. Tzadok is the youngest patient to actually complete the MRI's fully awake.
How is the rest of the Fam. doing? Rachel and I are exhausted, but we are overcoming. It has been difficult, but it was the right choice to keep the family together. Aside from the flu, the boys have all been coping well. It also helps when they have an endless supply of attention and gifts from doctors, nurses, social workers, well wishers, and foundations. I can tell that they are tired and are ready for things to get back to normal,a new normal. We know our lives will be different but that's okay.
What are our Next Steps? We are starting the process of preparing for the future. Tzadok will start his follow-up appointments in mid-February with St. Jude, which for the first year will be every 3 months. He will have in depth MRI's, CT scans, and endocrine tests. He will also be placed on growth hormone, but we are not sure hen that will begin.It will be at least year. With all that being said, Tzadok finishes on Jan. 7 and we will leave Jacksonville no later than the 16th. We need to find a new place to lay our heads after that. We are trying to figure out where to go next, but we aren't sure if we need to return to middle Tennessee, or find new lodging around the Memphis area because of Tzadok's doctor visits. We want the Father to show us the next step and right now the only thing we know for certain is that we are not going to stay in Jacksonville.
What can we be praying for and what can we do? We need continued prayer for protection over Tzadok as he finishes treatment. No short term side-effects! Along those same lines, we need prayer against long term side-effects, which are many and severe. Please, pray for this for many years to come. This will always be a need for the rest of Tzadok's life. Our Go Fund me account is still active for anyone who wants to help aid us in the next leg of our journey. Any funds we receive will help us secure housing in the area of the Father's guiding. And prayerfully things will start to get a little back to normal in the Legatzke household. We have been blessed abundantly with prayer and aid during this time, and in many ways we feel unworthy but a very special thank you belongs to L.A.M.B Fellowship, First Baptist in Opelika, AL, and Victory Baptist Church in Darlington, SC. We also want to thank all of our friends and family that continue to stand by us through cards and love. We also want to thank to all those on Rachel's grandparents email list (Don and Yvonne Sledge) who have and continue to stand with us. We have gained so many friends all across this country and the world through this experience. We will update the blog again shortly as treatment comes to a close.
The lord is so gracious!
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