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