I don't know where to begin to write this article on the blog.....Kole is being sheltered in the wings of the almighty God as he goes through this intense Chemo. I spent some time today catching up on how the Kellers are doing at St. Jude. My parents (Kole's grandpa and grandma Sprunger) had just returned from their visit. They spent a week caring mostly for Jaelle. Janni has been Kole's choice for tender loving care. My mom said that Janni is so close to Kole that she can read his grunts. Kole is very weak, which is to be expected. It is shocking for a grandparent to take in at first, since their exposure to Kole has been limited by time and space. They being in Ohio and not seeing Kole for around two months. Kole is truly light as a feather at around 34 pounds. He does not have a desire in the world to eat one bite of food. His is now getting supplemented through a feeding tube type instrument. Kole told his grandma that every since his radiation that his taste for food has changed. Janni is even willing to pay him to take bites of food. I am letting you in on a little of the reality of the situation, but be of good cheer, God is faithful and so good. Kole is incredibly week and his speech is in slow motion. This is all due to the drain on the body, as a result of chemo. However, he stays busy creating with all kinds of craft projects. Much of his craft projects are centered around construction paper and scissors. This is wonderful, for the fact that he gets practice using his fine motor skills. This not only entertains Kole but also provides much needed therapy. St. Jude staff daily monitor every aspect of Kole's health and wellbeing. They are always on the lookout for any diminished abilities and changes in health. The occupational therapist times him at performing simple tasks with his hands. Kole has actually improved his time maneuvering objects with his hands, which flabbergasts the health care professionals. Chemo so weakens patients that they truly only see and expect declines in performance for awhile. Again, though this success may seem small to us, it is truly big---the big wonderful hand of God providing for Kole. Kole is taking a chemo which can cause significant hearing loss. Kole can also experience damage to his bladder, esophagus, and digestive system. We depend and believe that God has the power to protect him and so of course we ask for your prayers in this regard. Janni is amazing in her stamina to be at Koles every beckoning call. She has been trained on every aspect of Kole's care. You can compare her commitment to her call and to Kole's care, which demands all of her time and energy much like a doctor in residence. She eats, sleeps, and is held up in the hospital as though she is in a "space capsule". She has so much responsibility and her son desires his mommy 24/7. Pray that she gets the rest she needs. My mom said Steve took over one morning and Janni slept in until 12 noon. I hope you can at least get a little picture of the intensity of the situation and the intense provision of God. Please keep the Keller parents in your prayers as well. Pray that God will fill them with his supernatural strength and know how. Pray that they will get time to rest and to fill up on God's fuel--His Word. By the way, Jaelle is as delightful as ever, and seems to never run out of fuel. She is so easy going--which is just what is needed during this time. Kole is actually content as he is being surrounded by a blanket of love. Your prayers are part of the blanket. Though you can not touch him and hold him, your prayers are doing the "touching" in your place. You are touching Kole's life with prayers of interceeding. One godly friend of mine lay dying a few weeks back ( She is now alive in His presence). During that time, I prayed for her. I felt God in an unseeing way let me know that He was pleased. He is pleased when we pray for His own.

Jodi

I just got word from Janni that Kole had to spend two extra days in the hospital. It was a dissappointment. Anyway, they get to come home today. Kole was to receive this nutritional supplement interverneous and needed to stay in the hospital for the treatment. Please keep Kole in your prayers during this crucial time. It will not be long and his counts will take a dive. He truly requires the Lord's sustaining power to protect him. Continue to pray God will preserve all his vital functions from the harmful effects of chemo. I am truly honored to see God do great and mighty things. If we will only give God a chance and truly believe Him. God asks us to believe in what we do not see, which is hard for us humans. It is much easier to look to what we can see and touch. That is why we have man made idols in this world. We were studying yesterday in the books of Exodus and Numbers. Joshua and Caleb were among the 12 spies to check out the promise land. God promised that he would GIVE the Isrealites the land. God is bound by his promises. The problem is that it takes faith to believe that God will do it. By looking down at our circumstances it seems impossible. Ten of the spies who checked out the land came back and said the people were giants and that there were too many of them. They led everybody to be afraid, doubt God, and believe that their circumstances and their adversaries were too difficult for God. Know this-- if you want to upset God--- that is just the attitude to have. Only two of the spies believed God and they were Joshua and Caleb. When Caleb stood up on and spoke saying that they could take the land as God had promised, nobody listened. It is not always popular to believe God. It is not intellectual or scientific----believing God means that you have no visual or tangible proof. I look up to the heavens, when I doubt and say to myself there is my visual proof. Anyway, only two of the spies got to enter God's promised land. Ten did not! Does that statistic still hold true? Do we still have very few who are willing to believe God? To be like Joshua and Caleb and believe even when nobody else does--- that is victory. My friend yesterday said that "one with God is a majority". Look and see that the Lord is good and faithful to all of His promises. Ask Him to help you truly see and increase your faith. We were also talking about the snake on the pole in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross where Jesus was high and lifted up. In both places God has his people look up for healing--physical healing and spiritual healing (from sin). Joshua and Caleb looked up and were not afraid. That is our challenge.

Jodi

I hope to be able to update you on Kole as accurately as possible. It gets kind of difficult seeing that my dear sister is throwing all kinds of numbers at me. I just want to add that math was not my interest area in school. In fact, I have always said I learned by accident, for I rarely set out to add to my head, knowledge. That is especially true with math. Anyway, God has done an incredible job in caring for Kole's health and well being that it is hard to put it all down in words.I am sure He has protected and provided for Kole in many unseen ways as well. Janni's voice was as cheerful as I have ever heard it before. She was chuckling and laughing almost the entire time we spoke to one another. Kole was performing in the background. You know the type of performance---it is when a little kid, being Kole, gets a hold of a toy piano and begins singing every song they can think of with gusto. I take it Kole was in the performance mode, he brought out an old song from the good old Barney days ...."if all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops oh what a rain that would be" followed by ahah ahah ahah ahah ah. I could hear him singing and laughing at himself. It was so reassuring to hear so much joy and life coming through a telephone wire, which is probably only a taste of what joyous times they have experienced while confined at St.Jude so far. Talk about making the most of a "sticky situation". Anyway, Janni said she is so thankful especially about Kole's blood counts. Kole's counts were down to 1200 there for awhile. In fact it was right before this bout in the hospital. Janni had prayed that they would come up and they did to over 6000. The hospital staff said that never happens. I think they are getting use to Kole and so they probably are getting less surprised all the time. Of course what they are witnessing is the hand of God and answered prayer. Also, yesterday (Friday April 21) Kole was about to receive his first chemo treatment and he told the nurse that he could not wait for the injection. He loved feeling dizzy---any of you reading past blog enteries might notice a pattern here. Don't worry all this medication is too expensive to become habit forming. The nurse said in all her years she has never had a patient be excited about getting chemo. Kole did not get sick at all during or after his first chemo treatment yesterday (Fri.). However, he did get sick for about three hours after his second chemo treatment on Fri. He took a nap and has been fine ever since. Today, Kole has had all of his chemo scheduled for the day (Sat. April 22) and like I said.... he is singing and laughing and doing great. Janni is thrilled. Kole has been able to stay on schedule with his treatments which keeps him on schedule for comming home at the end of July. By the way, after this regiment of chemo which is completed tommarrow, Kole will be half way through. He will only be getting two more rounds. Kole's weight has come down some so that is an issue. However, Janni is not too concerned because then Kole qualifies for a nutritional supplement. Janni says that is a good thing. He was in the fourty pound range and now he is in the thirty pound range. It probably is not a surprise to the medical staff seeing the heavy dose of chemo Kole has undergone. It is truly amazing how well Kole is doing....and the credit all goes to our amazing God, who is faithful to us and answers our prayers. I believe in the promises God gives us in His word. Sometimes I slip my name in these promises and I say to myself-- Jodi, God will do this in your life (make no harm befall you) if you will for example make God your dwelling. I claim these promises and tell God that I believe them and I believe Him. Psalms 91 has been both my great comfort and my challenge.

It says in Psalms 91: 9-16 this:

If you (your name) make the Most High your dwelling--even the Lord, who is my refuge--

THEN no harm will befall you (your name), no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon a lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Because he (your name or mine) loves me,"says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he (your name) acknowledges my name. (I love that part)

He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Notice how many "I will's" are in this passage. Those are all individual promises to each one of us! I have been studying the docterines of God and I know that God always without exception stays true to his promises. In fact God is only bound in one area, and that is to His promises. He is not like us, especially us parents. I can't even keep my promise to paint my daughter's finger nails.

Anyway, there is so much power in the words of scripture. If any of you out there is feeling a bit down. Find comfort in God's word, especially, in the Psalms.

Here is what God is asking you to do in this Psalm. For one thing God wants you to make Him your dwelling. Abide with God .... Move in with God and live in His presence daily.

God is asking you to love him and acknowlege his name. Don't be embarrassed to talk about God or claim him aloud as your own. Live in a way that shows you love God. In heaven you will fit in and be popular. You may have to give that up here. That's o.k. , it is way worth it!

Last, call upon God. Talk to God, depend on God, find strength in His living Word. The rewards are huge . Look at the all the "I wills". There are at least thirteen in this short passage of scripture alone. There is power behind those words/promises. Power to deliver! Only the power of God could deliver on those miraculous promises.

This is my hope, and I pray that sharing it will encourage you.

P.S. Please pray for Chase (teenage boy and friend of the Kellers). The doctors say that he has the most resistent leukemia that they have ever seen. It seems an impossible situation on human terms. The mother and this boy are very special to Janni. They could sure use your prayers.

Jodi

I just wanted everyone to know that Kole is doing great. He had to have blood this morning because his hemoglobin was low. Then he started the chemo at about noon. He is doing great and asking to eat. The nurse that gave him the chemo said she has never had a kid want chemo before. Praise the Lord. I can actually say he gets excited about it. Please keep praying for him.
God Bless,
Janni

Today is a beautiful spring day. I cannot say enough about how much more "spring" I have in my step. I love just breathing in the warm sunshine. Janni has given me some information today on Kole. I thought I would pass it on to you. Kole has actually been in the hospital since Friday at 11:00 p.m. until today (Monday). I just talked to her and it is about 6:16 p.m. She is waiting to be released. Kole could have gone home earlier, but needed to wait for a platelet transplant. This is his second one since he started chemo. The best news is that Kole's counts are back up. I heard Janni tell Kole that today he could have grapes because of that fact. Janni said she is very busy when Kole's counts (white blood counts) are down to zero. She has to take alcohol wipes to door knobs and practically every surface around Kole. She has to wash her hands after touching anything and everything. Kole cannot eat many foods. He can only have fruit which can be peeled like bannas and oranges. If you have chips and stick your hand in the bag you contaminate the whole container of chips. Kole cannot have one chip out of a contaminated bag of chips. You have to pour out small amounts in bowls. Kole has to wash his hands continually. Janni especially has to wash her hands while preparing food. Janni is in training to become a "Merry Maid"(Ha!Ha!). She said that she invisioned this time at St. Jude to be more relaxing but the opposite has held true. So, if you have not heard from her, just know she is probably cleaning house, washing her hands, caring for Kole and family, etc. Her heart is with everyone of you and she cares deeply for all her friends and family. I can give you a little time table concerning Kole's white blood cell counts. Kole received his Chemo on March 24, 25, and 26. He than stayed in the hospital until Tuesday, March 28. Kole stayed at home in the Target House starting that Tuesday until his birthday evening which was April 7th. Koles counts were down to zero from the following Sunday, after being in the hospital for chemo, which would April 2nd to around Sunday, April 9th. So for around eight or nine days, Janni had to be a "Merry Maid" and a "Sterilizing Cook". However, three of those days Kole spent in the hospital (Friday night at 11:00 p.m. until today, Monday). They tested Kole's blood for illnesses such as diptheria and nothing showed up. That is a praise. Also, the reason why a temperature is so disheartening is also do to the fact St. Jude's doctors have a policy regarding hospitalization. If a patient with a zero count gets a fevor, they are hospitalized until their counts go back up. It does not matter if the temperature leaves them or if blood tests prove nothing . As a precaution, the patient has to stay. Janni knows of a patient who had a slight temperature and had to stay 14 days in the hospital until her counts went up. She was fine the entire time. It is when kids and parents feel couped up in the hospital for long periods which seems to be the difficulty. Anyway, the Target House is beautiful and spacious. Every apartment has a child of course. So, there are loads of kids for Kole to play with. Janni said it is almost like a continual party or sleepover at this Target house. There are places for the teens to hang out such as game rooms and places for the younger kids as well. There is more space in the apartments for families to have some privacy. There is also the convenience of making meals in their own home. This was not true for the Ronald McDonald House. Though the McDonald House did have game rooms, loads of fellowship, and friends to hang out with. I talked to Kole. He said "hello Aunt Jodi" in his sunshiny voice. He drew me in and made me feel so loved just by the tone of his voice, like always. He keeps getting more loving all the time. He was watching Cyber Chase. He spoke like a little boy who was very content and well taken care of.

I am getting ready to teach about the Ten Commandments. In our Bible Study's last lesson we learned that if you broke one commandment, it is breaking them all to God. Today, when Janni was talking to me about the chips, the message hit home. Just one dirty hand in a bag of chips contaminated the whole bag. The bag of chips now was infultraited by germs. To God one sin contaminates us in the same way. There is only one way to fight off the disease of sin and that is with the blood of Jesus. Lately, Koles treatment has been centered around his blood. In the same way our treatment for sin is centered around blood. It is the cleansing blood of Jesus. The Bible says that the payment for sin is death. The shedding of blood represents death. If it were not for Jesus, we really would have to shedd our blood and die for our own sins. However, blood also represents life when it is used as a cleanser. The white blood cells in our body cleanses our bodies of viruses, bacteria, and the like. The blood of Jesus cleanses our sins so that we do not have to die. I marvel at the story in John chapter 8. There is this woman caught in adultery. There is a Jewish law that says if a woman is caught in adultery she has to be put to death by stoning. The payment for sin is death as the Bible says. However, the pharisees who were getting ready to stone the woman were not perfect themselves and deserved death. Jesus told them in John 8:7 "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her". Of course all the pharisees left. They knew they were not without sin. Jesus however did not leave. Why? He was without sin. He had every right to stone this woman to death for her sin. Instead of taking her life, He gave His. He, though he was completely innocent and without sin, gave His life, for this sinful woman, on the cross. Wow, the love of God. Wow, the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world"(John 1:29). Jesus is our Lamb. The shedd blood of the Lamb is for us (the contaminated). Amazing! Jesus died for us so that we did not have to, though some choose to. Have a happy Easter and remember Jesus beat sin and death when He rose from the dead.

Jodi

I have a little news via my parents (the Sprunger grandparents). I will try to give you the basics as I know them. Kole ran a little temperature last night of 101. He needed to be hospitalized as a precaution. It is a fairly low grade temperature, which is a blessing. However, it needs to be addressed immediately. Kole was given antibiotics and responded wonderfully to them. The doctors were very pleased by his response to treatment. I think he has been released from the hospital, but I am not sure. Keep praying that Kole stays free from infection, especially now that he does not have the infection fighting white blood cells. I wonder how antibiotics work without help from the white blood cells, but they do! Of course you know me---how does anything work without God. "With God all things are possible". I am thankful that God allowed for us to have doctors and medicines, research and the like. I never want to take medical care forgranted, for that is part of the "healing" hand of God. God uses medicine for treating our illnesses and diseases. That is part of God's provision for us. However, His provision goes on and on into infinity, encompassing all aspects of our lives. If we only really knew.

Jodi

Greetings everyone. Today is Kole official Birthday. He was born on April 7 th five years ago today. I will never forget that day. It was a sunny and warm spring day, as my mom and I travelled up to Sandusky to be there for Kole's birth. I had to bring Leah who was at the time just over one. We kind of had hoped that Kole would be a girl so that Leah and "Kolette" would be close cousins and enjoy playing together. God had a better plan. I cannot imagine Kole any other way than who he is. Anyway, Leah loves Kole like no tommarrow. She talks about him on a daily basis with such love and devotion. When she was just little, she would never pray a prayer without mentioning Kole's name. Her Sunday school teachers, at my church, feel like they know Kole even though they had never met him. One teacher came up to me and said who is this "Kole" Leah talks about all-the-time. We need to know who we are praying for every Sunday. I told them Kole is her favorite cousin and maybe favorite "person" walking the face of this earth. Now that Kole is sick, my church family has participated in prayer for Kole. In fact, I think Leah paved the way for them to feel a connection to a small boy they have never met. Do you think God used Leah---without us knowing it? Praise the Lord for his hand at work when we are too blind to see it. Just think of all the prayers Leah had "stored up" ahead of time ha! ha! Anyway, concerning my church. I have been pestered by one boy in my Sunday School class to bring in a picture of Kole---the pressure was too much. I finally got it together enough to remember and they enjoyed looking at Kole. I am so glad that these children are willing to intercede and care for a person (a child), they have never even met. Getting back to Kole's birth. Janni was induced and infact she barely felt one contraction. It made her big sister a little envious. I suffered through contractions all through the night and into the morning before I was allowed an epideral. She practically had to feel a slight tinge of a contraction and was all hooked up. Kole's birth was a joyous occasion. Steve's parents were to be first time grandparents. I feel that they had and have so much love in them that they could hardly wait to pour it out on this little grand baby. They have done just that. A present example, is how Kole's grandpa Keller retired early because he felt that his family needed him. I admire his willingness to drop everything and be the support day in and day out. Of course Nancy has been there quite a lot too and so have my parents. The fact that Steve Sr. has retired has made it possible for God to use him in his vital role of caring for Jaelle when Kole needs to be at the hospital for long periods of time. I feel that God has just covered all the bases for Janni and Steve. I have chills from head to toe reflecting on God's provision. Sometimes, we need to look with a magnifying glass at God's handiwork in our lives. It is just plain beautiful--- His design for us. Back to Kole's birth again....Kole came into the world with quite a big cheering section--my father being added to the group of six (not including Janni and Steve). He was so healthy and robust. He had dark complexion from the start just like his dad. He was a good 8lbs I think 2 oz. We enjoyed being at the room passing him around staring at all these marvelous tiny features God had crafted. Later, more family arrived. Steve Jr. was blessed to have his own Grandma Keller come to the hospital. I can remember her holding little Kole in a chair. Janni and Steve were radiant in their joy and Steve said Janni did a good job. He was proud of his wife like he always is. Steve also had his uncle and aunts and even cousins help celebrate that joyous day. I remember it like it was yesterday. I smile thinking about it. The last thing I remember is the fact that Steve had worried that Kole would be active and a little tempermental during the night. The next day, his prediction held to be true. Kole would give his parents a "run for the money" from the get go! He has never been typical in nature, but he has always been special and so dearly loved.

I have to add something special concerning my own dear first born son. He is now eleven and is so insightful for his years. We are reading "The Heavenly Man" written by a chinese man named Brother Yun along with Paul Hattaway. It is a tremendous book. Talk about the amazing hand of God. If the integrity behind this book was not there, I would have a hard time believing the incredible miracles recorded. But, because of this man's deep love for Christ and God's word, you can see that what this book testifies to, is true. Not only that but this man was able to love his persecutors. He went through persecutions in which he should not have survived. The torture was so violent. Again, the hand of God is seen throughout this beautiful story. It will make you love God all the more. Brother Yun, came from a home where his father was sick and dying of cancer. His mother has forgotten her faith and was overwhelmed caring for five children. They had spent all their money on doctors and were destitute---until. This is how the story goes straight out of the book "The Heavenly Man".

This mother, who had forgotten her faith, was laying in bed......"suddenly she heard a very clear and tender, compassionate voice say, "Jesus loves you." She knelt down on the floor and tearfully repented of her sins and re-dedicated herself to the Lord Jesus Christ. Like the Prodigal Son, my mother (brother Yun) came home to God."

"She immediately called our family to come and pray to Jesus. She told us, "Jesus is the only hope for Father." All of us committed our lives to God when we heard what has happened. We then laid out hands on my father and for the rest of the night we cried out a simple prayer, "Jesus, heal Father! Jesus, heal Father!". ......"Within a week he had recovered completely and had no trace of cancer! It was a great miracle from God".

After reading this...my own first born son stood up and said in a loud voice "Jesus, heal Kole".
I was touched then, but even more touched now. He was taking hold of his faith and shouting out to the God who he believes in "Jesus, heal Kole". It can be kind of embarrassing as far as human standards when it comes to acting "put-together". But, I think that is what God is looking for. To be willing to look almost crazy in our faith....

Jodi

Yesturday we celebrated Kole's birthday. We realize that it is not until Friday, but Grandma Nancy leaves tomorrow for Oak Harbor. Kole had a great time. He wanted a Sponge Bob cake. If you know anything about Kole he likes anything that his parents don't like. He is not allowed to watch Sponge Bob, but he has to have it on his cake. So he got the cake, a few games for his leapster, and the Herbie DVD. I think he did pretty good. He liked it all.
Kole is doing great. I have been struggling with a cold and have had to wear a mask for a whole week. Thank the good lord, but he hasn't had a fever. We continue to pray that he will have no fevers, no infections, his counts will come back up quickly, and he will gain weight. The Lord is good because God has been answering. Kole has no immunities. In fact, we were told his bone marrow is not working right now(this is to be expected with his chemo therapy) and so the doctors do the work for it by giving him platelets, and hemoglobin. Though, this does not help his white blood cells. Kole is also gaining weight. Praise the lord.
Love, thanks, and blessings to you all,
The Keller's