He Is Able Video from Samuel's classmates

Below is a video clip of Sam's classmates from St Hilda's Primary School performing and dedicating the song "He Is Able" to him.

Sam wants to say thank you to all his classmates and form teacher Ms Goh for their love and prayer support.

(sorry, video dont seemed to work!!)

Prayers as we prepare for CT scan and MRI scan...

God has been so good to us today! We are supposed to go to KKH
on 2 separate mornings for CT Scan and MRI scan initially.
A simple prayer answered on the spot - I go by faith to ask the
2 separate department nurses about combining CT scan and MRI scan
today - God answered ! Though we have to go back home first but
we can proceed to do everything today late afternoon. This saves
Sam the agony of doubling fasting and injecting the plug on his hand
twice.

This is a firm reminder to me that HE is in control and I need to
trust HIM even more.

My prayers for this day,

Dear Father-in-heaven,
Being just a 'human' mother, I agonise over the results of the
scans, nonetheless Lord help me to cast all these struggles to
you, grant me even the faith to believe and trust you for the
outcome. Remind me that no matter what happens, your love for
us never change - in romans 8. Yes, help me to choose to love,
worship you and trust you.

May our family be able to do as the palmist said in psa 62:5-6

Find rest, O our soul in God alone,
Our hope come from Him,
He alone is our rock and our salvation.
You are our fortress. We will not be shaken.

Amen.

Derrick is flying off late Tuesday next week. Doctors told us that
we cannot rush the imaging department for results. Please pray that
with the change this morning, he and I may get to know the results
firsthand on Tuesday.

AFTERNOTE : Imaging Department informed us that they need at least
1 week to process the results. thus we have to wait...

A sincere request, prayer partners may we request that you do not
'flood' us with phone calls too. We will post the results asap as it
is available.

Blood Count back to normal

The blood count check yesterday revealed very positive results, with all indicators back to the normal level. Praise the Lord.

This morning, we will be back to the hospital for the CT scan on his lungs. The previous scan showed 2 minor spots on his lungs. We are praying that this scan will reveal that the spots are gone, after 2 aggressive rounds of chemo treatment.

Tomorrow Sam will have his MRI on the tumor spot on his right leg. Pray that the result will show that the tumor has shrunk so that the surgeon can remove the tumor easily without permanent damage to the leg. If the tumor is still large, it will be difficult to save the leg and we pray against that.

Travel Plans for Derrick

Derrick will be travelling on Tuesday evening (16th Aug) for Melbourne.

I have already settled helpers for me for the 1st week.

Pray for journey mercy for Derrick. Claire and helpers to work
through smoothly the 3rd chemo phase.

prayer request for class A for 3rd chemo

Thank God for sister Wee Yee and sister Letitia (Samuel's godmother)
to take turns on/off to accompany me during 3rd chemo next week.
Letitia will also send us home upon discharge.

16 Aug - 19 Aug Third chemo
16 Aug - 23 Aug Derrick will be in Australia (tentatively 8 days);
he flies off late evening on 16 Aug.

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Prayer request
----------------

Due to upgrading renovation, cancer ward 75 (children's block) has shifted to
ward 61 (women block). Time frame tentatively 4-6 months.
Resulted in only 2 A class rooms in ward 61.

Although we may have booked A class for 3rd chemo,
other more life-threatening cases will be given priority.

If unavailable, will be given 2 choices :

(a) Class A in other NON-cancer wards

- Nurses are not enco-trained nurses,
so may not be as experienced as ward 61 nurses.

Encologist encourage us to downgrade to B class
if necessary and shift back to A class upon availability.

OR

(b) Stay put in B class(4 beds in 1 room) of ward 61

- only 1 parent can stay overnite;
- sam's needs may not be met
(he banned food in ward previously as it makes him very nasal,
need the quietness to sleep through 'vomit' periods when specific
chemo drug is administered usually 8-10 pm);
- shared facilities => more germs? lack of privacy ?

We really need God's blessing to secure A class in ward 61,
and guidance to choose what is best for Samuel.

Covet your prayer support in this matter specifically peace of mind
for me(Claire) to rest in the faithfulness of GOD to see us through

3rd chemo with the above changes.

Specific prayers for Samuel now ...

Pray for protection for Samuel as he is experiencing loosening of his
molars - that GOD will strengthen his gums n save his molars.
Bless his bone marrow so that lots of platelets will be produced to
prevent bleeding.


Pray for good report for CT scan and MRI. Bless encologist with wisdom
to prescribe the best treatment for Samuel. Help his body adjust to all the
chemo drugs so that there will be no adverse reaction.


Each nite, as Samuel lay down to rest, grant him deep restful sleep so
that he awake each morning thoroughly refreshed and in good cheer.
He had been talking in his sleep for past few nites.


Bless him with intimate time with the LORD such that the Lord
will speak to him and he can hear... he will find time for not just
computers, TV, and PsP but GOD and more wholesome activities.


Bless Claire to plan and prepare meals that are essential for Samuel
No overcooking and will awake his appetite.

We are back home recuperating

Sam was discharged on last Friday evening, went back to the hospital on Sat afternoon for the GCSF (Granulocyte colony stimulating factor - needed to stimulate the bone marrow to make more white blood cells) injection. We are now back home recuperating and nursing the body to prepare for the 3rd round of chemo treatment, scheduled for 16th Aug 2011.

Every Thursday, Sam will be needed to visit the oncologist and also have his blood check to determine the condition of his blood count, particularly on the WBC which determines his level of immunity.

2 key dates to look out for prior to the 3rd treatment. (1) 12th Aug, go back to hospital for CT scan. There were 2 small nodules found on his lungs during the initial diagnosis, so this scan is to check if the nodules are still there after 2 rounds of treatment. (2) 13th Aug, go back for MRI on the leg to check on the condition of the tumor. Physically, the tumor seemed to have shrunk, as the swell and hardness are gone. The MRI will confirm the condition and also help the surgeon to determine the next course of action. results of the CT scan and MRI will be made known to us on the 16th Aug.

Prayers needed:

1) Sam's appetite for food and drink to return, that his health will be nursed back to strength.
2) his WBC level will improve, especially after the GCSF injection, thus improving his immunity against external virus and bacteria.
3) positive results from both the CT scan and the MRI
4) Sam's spiritual walk with the Lord to be strengthened.
5) unity at home, and amongst the caregivers