Have you ever experienced planning for a trip, only to have it cancelled in the last few hours right before your scheduled departure? Well that is what happened to me, as Janni has alluded to in a past blog entry. My small toddling son came down with a temp. in the middle of the night a few weeks back! I was scheduled to leave the next day to travel to Memphis with my dad! After making numerous phone calls to my doctor and Janni and Steve, we decided that for Kole's sake and all the kids at St. Jude, I would stay home. To risk carrying germs to all these children who have immunity issues would not be worth it! We want Kole home ASAP and that is part of our focus the biggest part of our focus is on the God who sees and heals. God is of course more than safe to be around--God is not cursed with germs or sin or any type of contamination. Anyway, Janni also has had some change in plans. She has had to move Kole to isolation.They now live in a different apartment do to Kole's exposure to shingles. He does not have the shingles, but he could carry the germ. God sometimes shuts the door and even moves us when we least expect it! That happened to Mary in the Bible if you think about it---here she was going about her day and, when she least expected it, an Angel appeared to her and told her she was to be the mother of our Deliverer, Jesus. Being that she was a virgin and not married this was certainly not expected and in fact God's message rearranged her entire life. I think of the fact that Mary had great faith in God and that was the biggest reason God chose her! I love Mary's response to God's new change in her life. She must have had a history of meeting and seeking God out on her own in order to believe that what she had been told was truly going to happen. In Luke 1:38 it says "I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. " May it be to me as you have said." I picture a hand laid out flat, as a representation of a life given over to God and His plan. A life which God takes in His own marvelous hand and blesses it with an eternal purpose that explodes the imagination. God gives life meaning and joy untold. He gives a future! Now to trust in it! To offer our life over to our "unseen" God, who has bigger and better plans than we could possibly scheme or plan, that is faith!

Love,
Jodi

Crazy things seem to happen sometimes. You know when you think things are sailing so smoothly something seems to always happen. A dear friend of ours from Illinoise is going through the same treatment as Kole. Her lucky day to go home was suppose to be on Wednesday of this week. Well, to celebrate, my family, her family, and another medulla family all went out to eat together on Friday night. We had a great time and went to see the river and ate at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Wouldn't you know it. The doctors called me into the clinic this morning and said a friend of yours has come down with the shingles. You need to keep an eye on him. And that was it. Before the morning was over they called me in again and explained that because Kole has now fallen to 0 they are concerned. So to make a long story short, he had to have two shots to the legs and he will have to be in isolation from other patients her for 21 days. This means we will have to move out of our apartment and we will have to use only the isolation entrance to the hospital. It is going to be inconvenient but it is much better than the alternative. If Kole were to get shingles with his counts at 0 it could be deadly and extremely severe. Please pray for him and the other two children who are dealing with this also.
By the way, this should not change the time frame of us being able to come home. We are hoping to be back in Ohio in mid- July.
God Bless,
Janni

By the way I thought I published the last blog on the 23rd of June. Something must have happened because it was not on there today. I am sorry that this has not been updated for some time.

Hello,
I am so sorry this has taken so long. Poor Jodi is dealing with two very sick kids. Her two babies have the same hoof, foot and mouth disease that Ellie had over Memorial day weekend. That is an awful and painful illness. Kole has now finished his last dose of chemo. It went extremely well. By far it was his best round. On Saturday, he threw up four times but he was not miserable. The next two days went even better. He ate on Saturday and he felt perfectly normal. By Monday he had a headache but he never got nauseous. He had to stay in the hospital one extra day because of his stem cell transplant. This time he had some of his bone marrow put back in instead of all perifial cells which come from his blood. He has had a lot of publicity lately. On Thursday he got out of the hospital early in the morning to go to a Chili's naming ceremony for a new building. He saved the day because the tree he was pushing across the front of the crowd almost fell but he held it in place in the wagon. He was very proud. He was then in a lot of pictures with Marlo Thomas.
Today was our first day out of the hospital and Kole loves it. My dad is staying with me until my friend Rachel can come down from New Jersey while Steve is back home for over a week.
By the way, I think Kole's hearing has been effected more. He is having more trouble hearing me when I whisper. Please pray that God would protect his hearing.
One of our friends here is going through the same protocal. She started losing her hearing after the first round of chemo. Now they have taken her off of that chemo to protect her hearing. We, as the parents, are just happy that our kids are healthy. Hearing is very minor when you look at the whole picture. Of course, we still hate to see them lose it. Please pray for Sarah, Kole, Payton, and Caz as they are all dealing with this hearing issue.
See you all very soon. Maybe in a month or so. Ya!

Hello all! I thought I would give a little update. Kole has lost a small amount of hearing nothing within speaking range. Janni said it is a huge praise, the fact that he has only experienced a slight amount of hearing loss. Janni has also expressed a great deal of concern and love for a boy named, Nolan. He is twelve and his AML (leukemia) is out of control and is taking over his body. GOD HOWEVER IS IN CONTROL. He is a boy who is an inspiration to all he meets. He has great faith and is concerned for his three younger brothers. He is always pointing his mother to the Lord to find strength. She wrote that she feels like shouting from the rooftops the faithfulness of God and His word. The Bible has been her strength and shield. She expresses that this life is not permanent but God is-----death is not the end!! In fact, her entry on her website was beautiful, full of hope and love. As she watches her dear son's body fail him, she praises her Lord and King. There is no bitterness, nor defeat! I asked God to grant this dear boy more time realizing that this world is a tuff place to remain in! I know it is far better to dwell in His courts, in His presence. In that place there is no struggle, suffering, or shame. Only incredible love, life, light, glory untold, perfect peace and rest and on an on! We can only imagine. Why we fear it--I do not know! I guess it is faith in the unknown and comfort in the known.This earth is like living with a splinter. It is agony, but it seems more comfortable than the pain of separation--splinter from flesh. But when the agony is over---freedom and release from pain. We than ask ourselves why we were so afraid to be free? Please pray for Nolan and his family. They are a testimony of the grace of God. The Good News of Christ is being spread far and wide due to their testimony! By the way I will be leaving sometime afer June 17 to go see Kole and the rest. I will probably be there up through Friday the 23rd. Thankyou for praying!!!! Also, at the end of this week Kole will begin his last chemo treatment!!! Pray for God's hand of protection over his body and for his peace and comfort. I will love on him for ya!!!

P.S Kole's grandpa Sprunger will be there during this last round of Chemo and later Janni's good friend Rachel is comming in support and love. Pray that we can all be a blessing to them!

Love,
Jodi

Hello again! I just got word from Janni. If everyone can pray for Jaelle. She has gotten a virus called stomatitus or stomatia or something like that. Also, she has had bowel disruptions and the like. She should be just fine, especially after your prayers. It is difficult for my sister to take care of Jaelle and Kole --and keep them separated. Quite a juggling act if you ask me!! Anyway, Kole has not got anything-Praise our Lord. His counts have been low, but have finally started to come back up. I just want to thank those out there praying for Chase (thanks Harrah family). Miracle of all miracles his luekemia--- which is the most resistent of this type that the Doctors at St. Jude have ever seen-- is now in remission. Chase (teen from St. Jude) is now ready for a bone marrow transplant. He was mentioned in the blog a few weeks back. There is another boy needing prayer from Allen East, the town next to Janni's home town of Bluffton. He might be needing a second bone marrow transplant within this year, which is hazardous. This precious boy's name is Brandon Mason. He could sure use your prayers. Like I said, we are seeing the mighty hand of God provide. It is exciting for me to go to your comments, see what you are specifically praying for, and then be able to report back that God is answering your labors of love. Keep going before the throne. It is a blessed place to be! You are blessing those you do not even know--which is not expected of you from this world's perspective. God loves it when we go beyond the call of duty for His own.

Love,
Jodi

Love

Hello to all! I have been blessed by my Pastor and his insight into the word of God. He lives what he preaches which gives weight to his words. Sunday, he preached on Philippians chapter 3. I could not help but think of Janni and Steve. What touched me the most was verse 1o which reads "I want to know Christ and the power of His ressurrection and the fellowship of his SUFFERINGS, becomming like him in his death, and somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead". My Pastor said that it is not that we ask for suffering or even want it---but it is through suffering that we find intimacy with Christ and a understanding of Him like at no other time. Suffering calls us to Him where He can sooth us with his word and His dear presence. We become shallow people without the refining fire of suffering. I believe it and I witness the depth of relationship that my brother-in-law, Steve is now experiencing through watching his son suffer and calling on the God he serves to help. His relationship with God has been "microwaved". He understands the "fellowship" of suffering---for he along with the Heavenly Father has had to watch their sons suffer. What fellowship they must have! It is a blessing and an honor to be in fellowship with the living Lord. Once one allows Him in, there is such warmth of fellowship, one will NEVER want to live without. The presence of God is beautiful. He is available to all, even at the same time. I don't know how He does it! What an incredible God we serve. Knowing Him you will be changed--it will be not something you can "muster up". God will do the changing and it is like watching a beautiful masterpiece being unfolded. Some of His most amazing masterpieces are made from messed up lives!! There is hope in God!

Love,
Jodi

Today my dad, Kole's grandpa Sprunger stopped in. As we stood outside on this beautiful June Saturday, we talked of Kole. My dad happened to mention at least three praises. For one, Kole is doing much better than anticipated. Number two, he is using his right hand much better. In fact his hand writing has improved. Number three, so far he has not experienced any hearing loss. This was expected, especially after the third round of chemo. Lastly, Kole is gaining weight, strength, and ability. This was not expected by the doctors or the medical staff. So, what do we say----we serve a great and mighty God. We can see Him work----we can know He answers prayers---we can fully place our trust in Him! God has not failed us, nor will He ever. Even when He calls us home, He still never fails. This week I felt God whisper "my love is steadfast". We as human beings cannot relate to the steadfast love and workings of our Lord. But, He never tires and never forgets. He is consistent and true. There is none like HIM. Praise His name. I have full confidence in the One True God, Maker of Heaven and Earth. He has become so much more real to me through this crisis and I know the same holds true for the Kellers and the rest of the family. We would not know the success that we have experienced based on medical help alone. We can go on God alone, though He uses medicine, but never without God. I never want to be without God in my life. I do not know about you, but this life is too hard to go it alone. God is a loving God. He is just and true. May I say to you, thankyou for your prayers. They have meant everything to Kole. Someday, when Kole is older he will realize how much you have loved him through your prayers. I have prayed for those of you out there that have read this blog. May you know Him, for He is far far better than anything this world has to offer. If I had no home, no food, no family, and no health-- but had God. I would have everything. He is enough. You have God, you have everything. The power God has explodes the imagination. It is real. In fact, we are more than conquerers when we belong on His team. We cannot loose.

Love,
Jodi