Entry 60 ~ May14, 2003 - 2 Years

We’re packing up EVERYTHING at our house!

Today marks the two year anniversary of the Mother’s Day in 2001 in which our then 22 month old daughter was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  After two full years of treatment she has endured 5 bone marrow biopsies, 18 spinal taps, 1 surgery for port placement, 11 hospitalizations, and over 50 blood draws.  Despite all of this, today she is nearly 4 years old and is full of life. She has more energy than anyone else in our home.  Her deductive reasoning leaves us daily in awe.  She has more Scripture memorized than I do (seriously). She knows the Lord’s Prayer and is well on her way to being able to recite the Nicene Creed (no small task for those of you who don’t know what this is).  She has a tender heart and knows just where to push Daddy’s “soft” spots at just the right time. We have much to be thankful for these long two years later. 

Ariana will finish her therapy 2 days before Christmas of this year.  If all goes well, we should be able to complete her treatment at the same clinic and hospital here in Tulsa that we have been at since the beginning. Since we will be moving to Texas soon, we will have an intermediate time in which she will get blood draws in Texas and return to Tulsa only for procedures.  I (Craig) will have to learn to access her Port-A-Cath for blood access. L

After the final procedure (bone marrow biopsy, spinal tap, and surgery to remove her port), she will have 3 or 4 more spinal taps over the next year to check for relapse.  After this, she is truly “all done”.

We can’t thank all of you enough for your prayers over the last 2 years (24 months/104 weeks/730 days).  It has seemed like forever to us.  Our Abba has sustained us during this time in part through your hands and in part through your prayers.  We thank Him for each of you.

Craig, Tonya, Ariana, Charis, Adoniyah and B.I.U.

Entry 61 July 11, 2003 - Our New House

Hey everyone.

We are here and settling in well. Pittsburg is a cute little town that we are already enjoying.  Did I mention that it is LITTLE?!  It is quite a change to live somewhere where very few restaurants or stores are open past 6 PM.  Super Walmart in the neighboring town isn’t even open 24 hours.  I didn’t think that was allowed.

Seriously, we are enjoying getting to know a little bit of the culture and history of the Piney Woods, as they call northeast Texas.  I worked for a couple of days at his new job and really enjoyed the clinic and staff.  They went easy on me, with few patients scheduled, mostly interviewing for my nurse and receptionist.

I thought I would give out our new information again now that we are here.  Feel free to call…….or even stop by if you like.

216 Texas St
Pittsburg, TX 75686
903 856 0324

For our next email, we’ll all have on our boots and hats….okay, not yet.
Craig for us all

Entry 62 July 13, 2003 - Tonya's Contractions

Hey all,

Tonya’s contractions really picked up significantly today both in frequency and strength.  She isn’t due for about 6 weeks.  Our plan was to return to Tulsa in about 10 days to await labor (she usually delivers between 2 and 3 weeks early).  If she went into full blown labor right now, we would be in a bad spot since we are 4 hours away from Tulsa.  We would probably have to go to Tyler (1 hour away), but our insurance won’t be accepted there.  And I would anticipate at lease a short stay in the neonatal ICU for our premie baby should she deliver now.

Please pray for the Lord’s hand to guide us.  We may just leave for Tulsa now, which may be premature and could get expensive.  His grace to intervene and stop the contractions would be even better, and well within His power.

Thanks,

Craig

Entry 63 July 13.2003 - Off to Tulsa

Hey all.

Contractions haven’t really slowed down.  We are going to go to Tulsa right now to check things out.  We (I) am just a little too uncomfortable with being so far away. If all goes well, we will be back in a few days.  Please keep us in your prayers.

Craig

Entry 64 July 18, 2003 Tonya & BIU Update

hey all.

still in tulsa. tonya's contractions have picked up a bit, although they still aren't the labor kind (i.e., she can still sleep through most of them).  the reason we are staying is because her cervix has begun to change a bit (slightly dilated and more effaced for those of you who care:)).  also, her fluid level is a bit low for this point in the pregnancy.finally, and unfortunately, the baby is no longer head down.  it turned
two days ago.

i wanted to keep this brief, so here are some ways to pray:
1. baby will turn again to head down, either on its own or by artificial means
2. that the baby will get good blood flow for the duration of the pregnancy (the low fluid can indicate poor blood flow)
3. if the baby does come early (right now she is 5 weeks early), that it would not have any preterm complication (respiratory difficulties, etc)
4. a good labor for tonya when that comes
5. rest and His peace for tonya (and me)

thank you all for praying.  my mom is here now so the kids are pretty well taken care fof.  thanks to all of you who have offered to help in various ways.  honestly, we appreciate your prayers the most.

we'll keep you posted,

craig

Entry 65  July 18, 2003 Brief Update

tonya had a rough night with contractions, but the good news is that the B.I.U. decided to turn back around. the head is again in the "ready position" and putting quite a bit of pressure on tonya's lower parts, i might add.

tonya is ready for the baby to come, although i am not so anxious. many of you probably don't think having a baby at 35 weeks is too big a deal, and usually it isn't. unfortunately, however, our last 2 kids (at 37 and 38 weeks) both ended up in the NICU with respiratory problems. not only do we make kind of wimpy kids, but they are pretty puny as well. Adoniyah couldn't push the scale past 6 pounds. so, i just feel like the longer this one "cooks", the better. tonya is laughing beside me stating that i am not the one carrying (and contracting with) him or her. we both know that however "puny" and "wimpy" they begin life, they are each fearfully and wonderfully made by our Father, not us. He knows every day ordained for each of them, in utero and out. again, thanks for your prayers.

craig and tonya

Entry 66- July 24 - tonya and kiddo update

wow.  God has been answering your prayers for us amazingly since our last email.  Jesus was able to calm a storm with a simple phrase from His mouth.  to us, Tonya's contractions STOPPING COMPLETELY is on the continuum with that.  we already told you that the baby is head down (one answer to prayer).  now, she has simply stopped contracting.  this is the girl who has been contracting regularly (every 5 minutes or so) for the last 10 WEEKS!  she contracts usually the last entire trimester with every pregnancy.  it is pretty amazing that they stopped (without medicine, by the way) just as they were getting strong enough to change her cervix.  in the words of her doctor, it is just prayer that did that.

now, she is over 36 weeks.  the kiddo is a svelt 5-6 pounds and in position.  if things kicked into gear now, it would be fine ("great", actually, tonya says).  for fear of sounding even a little bit like we are complaining, we humbly request that you all STOP praying for her not to go into labor.  instead, kindly shift your prayers to all the "normal" labor prayer stuff (good delivery, healthy kid, tonya's physical stamina).  also please pray for wisdom for dr. myers in managing things.

one last thing, we forgot to mention last time, is for you all to please pray for the collection of the baby's umbilical cord blood that will be banked for Ariana.  pray for an adequate collection volume and that this
child is a good match for ariana (unlike adoniyah).

that is all for now.  we so appreciate all of you.  we are truly amazed at the way our Father has responded so clearly and definitively to your prayers.

craig and tonya

Entry 67  July 29, 2003 - Welcome Amalyah Maria DeLisi

Amalyah Maria DeLisi was born at 9:03am today!  She's 5 lbs. 11 oz.  She is breathing well, and the cord blood collection went well! Her heart tones had them very scared for some time during the labor, but
thanks to your prayers, she's healthy (and they didn't have to have a c-section).  Tonya and Craig are very pleased that all your prayers were answered!  So, thank you for praying. I'm sure Craig will be in touch with the length, etc....

ruth creme

Entry 68 August 4, 2003 Prayer Please

Hey all,

We are back in Texas as of 2 days ago.  Amalyah and Tonya are doing well.  Unfortunately, Ariana has a high fever (104) and had to go to the hospital here today.  We are a bit out of sorts and not well connected with the local medical system as far as her treatment goes.  I had to access her port in the ER, which is not at all fun, needless to say.  Please pray that the fever goes away and that she feels better soon. Also, please pray that Amalyah is protected from whatever Ariana has.

Craig DeLisi, M.D.

Entry 69 August 5, Ariana Update - Going to Dallas

Hey guys.

Ariana’s fever has stayed high. The blood culture we did yesterday at my hospital has grown out some sort of Staph species.  After talking to Ariana’s oncologist, we are going to admit her for IV antibiotics (7-10 days worth).  We are going to Dallas Children’s Hospital, which is something we were hoping to never have to do.  It is a new place with new faces, all of which are scary from a 4 year old’s eyes.

Please pray for exceptional grace for us.  Not only is this extremely trying emotionally, but we are also bringing all the kids, including our 7 day old daughter.  Speaking of Amalyah, she has decided that she would forget how to breastfeed well after many days of doing fine.  This has made for many screaming hours.

Well, we have grandma and Jesus with us.  Who could ask for more?

We won’t have access to email until we return.  Our cell phones will be with us, though.

918 527 0603
918 527 0620
Craig