I'm blogging at www.melaniedorsey.com . Please join me there.

Oct 22, 2009

Good to Be Home

It is good to be home. I wish life were normal ~ normal as in what life was before the diagnosis of cancer. We continue to seek the best for Andrew in all things. We pray about everything, believing that God is answering our prayers for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.

We need to put weight on Andrew and that is our priority at this time. But, we are being very careful about the kind of nutrition he is getting. Sugar is not a good thing when cancer is present. We are going organic where possible and I got my juicer out of the back of the pantry.

The hospital experience was exhausting to all of us and especially to Andrew. I was growing increasingly concerned for his mental state. Just thinking about that brings tears to myself and him, also. So we are putting it behind us.

Our plan is to get him in optimum health and boost his immune system. Then we will go from there.
Thank you to so many of you who have sent cards, gifts and even checks to help with our expenses. I am slow in getting back to you but I know you understand. My mother, who has been staying in our home since the beginning of September, is going to return to her home in MS this weekend. She needs to get back into her nest. I will miss her dearly because she has been such a prayer partner and a warrior in intercession. But she needs to rest now.

We continue to confess the Word of God over our family on a daily basis and many times a day. We treasure your intercession and your beautiful words of encouragement and faith in God's Word.

Prayer concerns: Andrew is still dealing with nausea, although much less vomiting (Thank the Lord.)
He is adjusting to the shunt and is upright more each day. When he is up for very
long at a time, he gets a headache.
We are praying that his brain makes new pathways so he has use of his left arm/hand/fingers and better use of his left leg/foot/toes. When he has regained some weight, energy and strength, we will pursue aggressive physical therapy. For now, we do "range of motion" here at home.

With God ALL things are POSSIBLE!!!

43 comments:

  1. Praise God you are home! I continue to pray for all of you and especially for strength, healing and comfort for Andrew.

    Heavenly Father, thank you for the healing you have already done in Andrew and the great work which is still to come. I pray every blessing upon the Dorsey family as they continue along this journey. Give them strength, comfort, guidance, wisdom, and good health. In Jesus' name,
    Amen

    God bless you all Melanie!

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  2. I am so glad you are home. I continue to stand in prayer with you, and for you. Asking God to help andrew to gain weight, and strength. I am praying for all the needs you listed sweet sis. I love you.

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  3. I am so thankful you are home. I will continue to life Andrew up in prayer. I pray that God increases Andrews appetite and a desire for whole foods.

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  4. I strongly believe in the ability of going organic to heal. After all, GOD made us to handle foods in their natural states...not will all the preservatives. I am praying for GOD to completely heal and restore Andrew's body.
    andrea

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  5. Praise You Jesus!!!! It's amazing to see what your son is enduring and has really helped me think before I complain. Right now you have a new normal and I pray that God continues to show Himself to you in ways you didn't even think of. I once heard Beth Moore say that when we finally are able to see Him, we're gonna say 'I should've believed more because You are so much bigger'.
    Keep believing God, taking Him at His own Word and reminding Him of His own history Melanie. He is worthy of being in this new normal and you know He is watching over your household, especially His Andrew. There isn't a detail that has escaped him about your boy or you. Your cries are not falling on deaf ears, but instead Holy attentive ones.
    Will continue to pray for you and your family.
    Love you from Nebraska~
    Lelia

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  6. Believing with you. So glad you are home.

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  7. Oh Melanie I am so glad you are home and fast to work on your new normal. Andrew is so brave and has endured so much for his young age. I continue to pray for you all every day, and I won't stop until his healing is complete. For now I will concentrate on his weight gain and immune system. Blessings to you, Debbie

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  8. I've been praying that there would be a good update from you soon, and the fact that Andrew is home in his safe and comforting environment is wonderful. I totally agree with you about the nutrition - I would recommend fruit smoothies with organic produce as another way to get nutrition into Andrew. You can sometimes throw lots of good things in there for nutrition (like spinach) without him knowing. ;)

    We (as a family) continue to pray for all of you.

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  9. Hi Melanie, I've been following you for the last several weeks, and your entire family is in my prayers, especially Andrew. I started an on-line Bible Study, really just a way to connect with other Christian women. Drop by if you have a spare moment. I know your life is extremely busy and challenging right now. Take care.
    Hugs and Blessings,
    Debra

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  10. Oh, I am so glad you are home. Maybe all of you can get some rest now. (Nobody can rest in a hospital). I'm still praying for all of you. (I hope it was ok for me to use my P.O. Box to receive and then send cards to Andrew). laurie

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  11. lifting you in prayer today. love you all.

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  12. Praise God that y'all are home! We continue to stand with you in prayer. Try to rest for a while!

    Love you!
    Susan

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  13. Melanie, I am so glad you are home. Sorry your mom has to leave you...I know she has been a blessing. I'm also glad to hear that you got the juicer out. I believe in juicing for healing...there is so much evidence that it builds the immune system, and creates an alkaline system, which is almost impossible for disease to exist in. I would also suggest that you load Andrew up on "super greens", like barley grass juice, and chlorella...they will go directly to his cells, creating new cells, and fighting the disease. I agree about sugar...its a no no, which can be difficult for a boy, but I'm sure Andrew understands his needs are great right now, and he will have sugar again some day. Your family is so covered in prayer, Melanie, and we are all believing in the God of mercy and miracles...you are His kids...He loves you even more than you can imagine. I always look forward to your updates, knowing that each one will be a praise about God's great love and work in your lives. I pray for rest for all of you, as well, you need to keep your immune system in good working order, too.

    God bless you all!
    Love,
    Mary

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  14. Melanie,
    So thankful you are home. I'm praying for you all and have you up on my board in front of me in my prayer room, and I see his name there many times a day. It is a great reminder to pray for him and you all.

    Have a restful day in Him,
    Dawn

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  15. So glad you're home. My prayers haven't stopped for Andrew.

    Hugs!

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  16. I am so glad you are all home and together. Good home cooked meals...and your own beds. Blessings we don't appreciate much until we don't have them! Enjoy!!

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  17. Still keeping Andrew and your family in my prayers. I can imagine what a relief it is to be home.

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  18. Melanie!
    I'm so happy that you are all home :)
    I will continue to pray for Andrews nausea, headaches and for him to get better use of his left side...
    I'm praying for you too!!
    With Love, Jerelene

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  19. Girl you and your sweet family are in my prayers.
    I also nominated you for an award on my blog.

    God Bless you girl

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  20. Hi Melanie. I'm so thankful that you guys are home now so that Andrew can start the healing process. Tell him that he has many blogger aunts that are praying for him. Sending hugs all the way from Texas. God Bless.
    Sandra

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  21. Praying your good cooking and juicing will help put some weight on him. I am so thankful your Mom has been able to be there for your family. Love, b

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  22. So glad to hear you all are at home. Nothing is better than home!
    I will be praying for his mental state and that he will be able to put some weight back on.
    Hugs.

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  23. It was really good to get an update. I've been checking daily. I can't help but continue to tell you what an inspiration you are personally to me. You reflect what a child of God is called to be. I don't know if I could be as strong. I look at my son who is 3 and I think about how fiercely I want to protect him and how I would do anything for him and I know that is where you are. A mother's strength...wow, it rivals no other. God bless you mom. God bless you. I wish hundreds of times over that God will sustain you and your family through this. I think of you often and continue to pray.

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  24. I am so thankful that you are home! Praise You, Father. We are continuing to lift you up in prayer.

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  25. Praying for all of you as you rest and adjust to the way life is for the time being. I know that the Lord will give you wisdom for every upcoming decision!

    Love to you all...
    Jennifer

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  26. Eph. 6:18 says "keep on praying in the spirit" and we will! Throughout every day we lift Andrew up in prayer. Love to your family.
    Beverly

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  27. Glad you are home!! What a blessing!!

    So glad to hear that you are focusing on Andrew's diet. So many cancer patients overlook this. I think it is so important to restrict sugar and build up the immune system! Andrew is blessed to have you as a mama!!

    Blessings and prayers!

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  28. Thinking of you today, and wanted you to know little Andrew and your sweet family are still in my prayers.

    Blessings....

    Beverly

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  29. Just found your blog and stopped by to say that I prayed for Andrew today. May God be your rock! Thankful you are home...get some rest!

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  30. Hi, best wishes and prayers to your family. I was thinking of things that might help boost Andrew's immune system and some supplements we have found really great are a vitamin D3 supplement and a good probiotic (like a brand called Dr Ohhira's). There have been a lot of recent studies showing how important vitamin D3 is in the suppression of a lot of different types of tumors. And a probiotic might be good after his heavy course of antibiotics? Lots of love from Scotland x x x

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  31. Thanks for the updates and information! It makes it much easier to pray...which I am!

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  32. I am so glad you are home. Still praying and believing. I also pray you are able to rest and that your home is filled with his perfect Shalom.

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  33. Glad you are home. Tonight I heard a testimony of a woman who beat Stage iv Breast Cancer at Moffitt Cancer Center. Doctors had given her 3-6 weeks as it had already mestasized, but she stood firm on healing scriptures...against all odds...she believed for her healing and she is a walking testimony. Andrew will have a testimony too as you continue to stand and believe.

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  34. Melanie, I came to your blog a while back through another blog and I have joined your family in prayer for Andrew. I too live in FL and have 2 small children and ah I have found strength and encouragement in my own circumstances by reading your blog. Thank you! As I read this post about boosting Andrew's immune system, I wanted to suggest you look into Shaklee products, their protein shakes, Nutriferon, their children's vitamins and such. We use these supplements and have seen great improvement in our energy/immune system; specially our daughter's immune system got so much stronger. Not trying to sell you anything...look into it. I will continue to pray for Andrew's strength and overall health! Blessings to you!

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  35. I am so happy to hear y'all are home now! I will keep praying for the whole family! I hope you're able to get some rest!

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  36. Praying, and definitely believe ALL things are possible!

    My verse in my devotion book today is:
    "I wait in hope for You, Lord. You are my help and my shield. In You my heart rejoices, for I trust in Your holy name." Psalm 33:20,21

    Love,
    Valerie

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  37. Like everyone else here, I am glad you are home. I keep checking in to see Andrew's progress. I know the routine (although the cause was different - spina bifida with two of my children): shunt, range of motion, brain infection, oh, yes! But one CAN live with it and even be happy. Praying that Andrew will gain weight and strength, go into total lifelong remission and continue on with the rest of his life as a happy individual.

    And then, it's about time the world tackles this cancer thing and, with God's help, find a cure and a prevention.

    May God bless your family today and every day.

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  38. Just want you to know that I think about y'all and pray for y'all every day. laurie

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  39. Stopping by to love on you and Andrew and to say I'm STILL praying and trusting GOD. Much love.

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  40. Did I ever tell you about the red clover tea my mom gave my brother when he had cancer? It helped his blood cell counts stay strong. The docs were surprised at how well he did with his numbers. I really believe the added natural therapy she did helped him. He wasn't supposed to live. That was over 20 years ago. He's now 27. Praise the Lord.

    Praying for you guys. Thankful you are home. I can only imagine how tired you must be.

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  41. Praying for you, and loving you.

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  42. Just wanted to stop by & tell you that I am praying for all of you. The Lord brings you to mind at various times every day, giving me the opportunity to pray. Andrew is being lifted up for healing & health by so many!

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  43. WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
    So true...and HE loves you and your family so very much!

    Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

    Sincerely,
    K. Frangeskos
    at Jesus Knows You Best

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