Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family. Luke and the rest of the family continue to be blessed with good health as we near the most important Birthday party of the year! I just realized I have not posted the results of our last set of scans...I did on Facebook but not on the blog, So for any of you who have not heard, Luke's scans were all good! No signs of cancer and his lungs were even more improved :) He's just a regular little boy now! We have two computers set up right next to one another on Mike's disaster of a desk. Luke is beside me working on his math with his headphones on. He is, of course, reluctant to do his school work...like all my kids...but we have been chugging right along. We are all looking forward to our Christmas break.

All of us gathered around and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" this weekend. Luke was confused near the end when everyone was coming in, bringing money to help George. He asked "Why are they giving him all their money?" I explained that George needed help and people loved him...so they wanted to help him. I said "Did you know the same thing happened when you were sick in the hospital? Our family, friends and even strangers came and brought us money! Money also came in the mail and some people put right into our bank account!" He smiled a sort- of embarrassed smile. He feels so loved.

Our prayer is that each one of you feel that sort of love, undeserved love, that comes only by God's grace. All you have to do is open your heart and receive the gift that He has given us in His Son Jesus Christ. We love you all,

~The Finches

Praying For Wonderful, Upcoming Scans!

Hello everyone! Just wanted to send out a prayer request for Lukey's up coming scans. Friday morning @ 9am, Luke will have a C.T of his chest,abdomen and pelvis and he will also have his blood work and HVA-VMA test. We are daily in prayer for his healing and feel confident God has a plan for our boy. The kids and I just started studying Jeremiah this morning. A great reminder of how God is in control of our lives. Thank you for praying with us. ~Erica

Jeremiah 29:11 ~For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

1 YEAR post Transplant !!!

It's hard to believe it has been exactly one year since the bags of Luke's stem cells were defrosted and then infused into his body. He is one amazing boy with one amazing God of mercy. Lukas enjoyed cupcakes with his friends after soccer practice to celebrate...I think only a couple of them knew it wasn't really his birthday...after all, who would guess by looking at him he was so ill such a short time ago. Well...Mike and I talked last night about the mixed feelings that come to the surface as we remember back and we both agreed it's much more fun to live in the moment, enjoy watching our kids, swim, play soccer, learn and grow. Not to ponder on the past or try to think to far into the future but just love today for what it is...I pray all of you are doing well and I thank you again for your continued prayer for our Lukie boy!

P.S. The last test we were waiting on was all normal :)

August C.T. Scan

We received the results of Luke's Friday scans of his chest, abdomen and pelvis. The area in his lungs where he previously had that nasty fungal infection is all good... a little scar tissue but nothing else. Abdomen is just fine. Pelvis is all clear. His blood is looking great and we are still waiting on his UA(really important...can show the first signs of cancer). So the Lord continues to bless us with a healthy son and we are taking full advantage of that. We headed straight to the mall after his appointment and took Luke to the Lego store! I don't think he remembers the last time he had been to the mall. He was having so much fun, and saying "Thank you Mom...thank you Grandma Kay...for taking me to the mall...thank you". We headed straight to Soccer practice after that. Uncle Ken is his coach and cousin Veda is on his team, he loves it. Thank you all so much for your prayers...and thank you Jesus.( I sound just like Luke...I guess we both have a lot to be thankful for ;)

Crazy but Good

We had a crazy day yesterday. We were heading to the hospital for Lukie's scans and the car wouldn't start :( so we walked over to Grandmas and borrowed her car and made it to the hospital only a little late... where they told us the C.T. Scanner was broken. Sutter Memorial sent us to Sutter General. That hospital is really busy and under construction and I had no idea where I was going...but we made it. We had to go through the whole hospital registration process since we are new to that hospital and wait a long time in radiology... all the while poor Luke is fasting and worrying about having an IV put in. So, our 10 am scan finally happened at about 12:15 pm. He also needed his labs drawn so I asked if they could just take the blood from his IV so he wouldn't have to get poked again. This turned out to be another half an hour of walking around the hospital with a really kind radiology tech. who was trying to figure out how to get his labs drawn. The lab insisted they couldn't do it and wanted to send us to another lab. The whole thing was really weird. I had no idea it would be so difficult ! So a nurse walking down the hall heard the whole discussion with the lab and said..."oh, my goodness, just give me the tubes and I will do it". She met us in the waiting room and drew his blood from the IV and took it out...she didn't have cotton and tape or a band aid though and blood spilled all down Luke's shorts as he cried...Oh my... Well at least we were done.

Luke and I walked out of the hospital to the first restaurant we saw, Round Table, a very nice gentlemen working at round table that made a special pizza for Luke caused me to reflect on the kindness we had received that day. No where in that chaos of day did we come across a rude or mean person, actually it was quite the contrary, everyone was incredibly nice. Even both the ladies at the parking-toll booths were super sweet...one didn't charge me and the other told me how adorable my son was.....Strange.....now that I think about it...our day really wasn't that bad...the Lord blessed us the whole day...funny how he works sometimes ;) Thank you for your continued prayers. ~Erica

Upcoming Scan and Tests

Just wanted to put in a prayer request for Luke's upcoming scans and tests. He is scheduled for Friday morning at 9:30 for his C.T. scan and blood work/UA. Please say a prayer for our little guy. Right now he's being lathered up with sunscreen as heads back into the pool...what fun. He's becoming quite the good swimmer!! We send our love to all :)

Big Wishes Do Come True !!

Hi everybody ! Luke is doing great and we are all having a fun filled summer, I hope you are too!

*Update* Our last Bone Marrow Transplant check-up went good. Luke was, once again, a professional a getting his blood draw.. (a big sigh for Mommy)....His labs looked great. They said his iron levels might be really high due to the amount of blood transfusions he has had and they may need to "bleed him out" some to take care of that, but that wasn't the case...(another sigh for Mom!)...God is good! His vitamin D levels were another concern, but they were good too! He is now ready to have his immunizations done over again just like a newborn baby. I have been kind of procrastinating making that appointment...after all he's been through the last thing I want to do is give him more shots :(

It's really been amazing to watch him get stronger everyday. The human body is incredible...The Creator designed us with such an intricate design. It's hard to believe how close to death my Lukie was and how God has healed him so completely. I continue to pray...all the time...that his body will never make another neuroblastoma cell again! And I pray the lasting effects of chemotherapy will be non-existent.... I know God can do anything :)

Our little buddy Kenji is on his way to take part in a clinical trial in Tennessee at St.Jude's Hospital. Neuroblastoma cells are in his bone marrow once again. I'm praying this clinical trial might be a medical breakthrough. Kenji is a precious little boy with a head full of curly brown hair. His parents, Dave and Marlene, are amazing, caring people, I hope the very best for them.

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot...how could I forget... the title of today's post "Big Wishes Do Come True"...Luke received his wish from the "Make-A-Wish Foundation"!! A giant ..16' x 32' ...above ground SWIMMING POOL !!! We went swimming in it for the first time today and Luke kept saying "Can you believe it..I can't believe it...we are in my very own pool...at my house..can you believe it...I can't believe it...my dream came true!!" his expressions were really cute. His brothers and sister are pretty happy as well, and I have to say I am enjoying it as much as the kids are... It has been pretty hot around here.

Well...Luke will have his next set of scans the beginning of August. We postponed them a couple weeks because we have some new medical insurance kicking in soon. YAY. Mike enlisted in the NAVY reserves ! A big decision for us to make...it still gives me a little tummy ache thinking about it...but I think it was what the Lord wanted for us. I have to say when Mike got down his uniforms and started trying them on it did make my heart go pitter-pat to see my sailor once again. He is really cute. Well, that's the Finch Family update, please keep us in your prayers, it means a lot to us. Sincerely, Erica