On Saturday I had a chance to catch up with some news on Kole. My mom had just been down there to visit over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. She had a wonderful visit and said that Kole is as quick-witted as ever. Kole had requested that my mom come with him to his radiation treatment. Grandma Sprunger, my mom, was tickled to be invited and included by Kole. She was impressed by what she observed. Kole sat on the table, as if it was routine for him, and the doctor asked him if he wanted to press the syringe of sleeping medicine into his port. My mother than explained to me, as he administered his own medication, that he had this conversation with his doctors. He said something to the effect " how do you guys get this medicine to work so fa........followed by his head turning to the side (for he was fast asleep, in an instant). My mom was impressed by Kole's willingness to interact and take part with his treatment. He is curious about everything they do to him and enjoys going home to practice on the special doll they gave him. All the doctors and nurses there find Kole so enjoyable to work with. He is on top of things and even knows which nurse does what to him. I f they have a question about where Kole got his bandages and supplies he will say "my line nurse gave it to me". He knows what is going on and takes everything in like a boy who is much older than his years. As we were discussing his progress my mom and I concluded that the Kellers are exactly where they are supposed to be. Kole is surrounded by children much like himself that have similar schedules. If he would be home he would realize how different his life has become. He would not being going to preschool with his friends and doing his normal routine. It is a blessing that God foreknew this and made a way for Kole to have an easier time accepting what is happening to him. Kole is really kind of doing the opposite of what we expected. Instead of loosing abilities, he is gaining depth of character. He is also gaining, friends, knowledge, determination, relationships with doctors and nurses, and the like. It is only God who can take what seems to be bad and turn it around for good. Joseph, in the Bible, said this to his brothers who had meanly sold him into slavery. Later, he was able to help his brothers and all of Egypt, when they experienced a huge drought. What Joseph's brother's had meant for evil, God meant for good.

I just received a phone call from Janni. All is well there. She happened to be going through her mail as we spoke. She began telling me she had gotten some big envelopes from several college basketball teams. Some of these teams were Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, and Syracuse. There were signed pictures and beautiful letters of encouragement for Kole. Janni also shared a story of how Kole had gone to church with his grandparents from the Keller side. They attended a church which had donated quarters for the Keller grandparents to stay (guests of Janni and Steve). During the church service, they had asked if anyone wanted to come to the front of the church to pray. Kole, on his own, went up to the front. He also requested that they pray for some of the other kids at St. Jude who have cancer. Also, Janni reiterated to me the fact that St. Jude is where they are to be. St. Jude is not out to make money but to serve kids with cancer. Janni said at Cleveland, parking and everything would be much more expensive. At St. Jude, they provide free services all over the place (Free shuttle, free logging, etc.) In her words "St. Jude does it right". On Thursday of this week I will get to see Kole, Janni, Steve, Jaelle, and St. Jude for myself. Amanda (cousin) and I are flying out from Columbus around noon. We will return home on Sunday.

P.S. Grandma Keller had just left Memphis today, after about a week. Grandpa Keller is there to help for a while. He has just retired. I will get to see him over the weekend as well.

Jodi