"When can I ride my bike?"

Dear Family and Friends:

Thank you so much for your prayers! Cody is doing awesomely well. He wants to know when he can ride his bike! So we have to pull the reigns to hold him back! Yeah God!

This was a busy week for Cody. On Monday, he had a spinal tap and bone marrow drawn to check for cancer cells. Both are negative. Thank you God! On Wednesday he had a porta cath inserted. It is the size of a large watch battery implanted under the skin so he won't have to have IV's, blood can be drawn with ease and will receive chemo.( he was put out in a "twilight" for both) This week was the last IV he will receive (he was elated as he had some difficulties having the catheter for the IV installed) He is taking this all in stride. He continues to amaze me.

When he asked us when he could ride his bike, we told him he would have to ask the Dr.. He had a check up Thursday by both the Oncologist and the Neurologist. Of course one of the first things Cody asked the Oncologist was when he could ride his bike. The DR. s eyebrows shot up in surprise and pondered for a moment then said, "I think you need to ask the Neurologist since he did the surgery." Our next stop was the Neurologist. Of course, the question was asked of him as well. His eyebrows also shot up in surprise. (this is only 2 weeks after major brain surgery, mind you) He recommended to wait at least 4 weeks after surgery. Cody was OK with that. (I was relieved)

He finished his first week of tutoring and is doing extremely well and will be caught up and beyond by his birthday (12/9, he will be 10). He is very excited about theh prospects of being caught up and getting a one on one education. He is dyslexic and ADHD so reading has been a challenge for him anyway. Tutoring has been another blessing.

Friday night was his first social outing since surgery. Grades K - 5 have a night at the church where they read "Narnia, The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe," watch cartoons, draw and have fellowship. They were all so kind to sanitize their hands and wear surgical masks. Cody was not real excited about the mask part, but warmed up to it after a while. I suppose I am being a little overly protective...but this is flu season and didn't want to take the risk. Just a fever for him warrants a visit to the hospital.

Cody's speedy recovery is a huge answer to prayer and is a HUGE miracle. We are so very grateful. Not only have our prayers for Cody been answered, but for Dave and I as well. We have asked for peace and comfort for all of us through this and received it in very LARGE way. It is very evident God is at work not only with Cody, Dave and I, but with many people in his life and the many people he doesn't know that are praying for him. We have all been touched by this in a very profound way.

He starts chemo and radiation 11/28, (on and off for the next 55 weeks). We ask for prayers that he will pull through this part with a full recovery with the same vigor as his surgery. We also ask that God give him mercy, grace and continued miracles throughout this time. We ask for continued peace and comfort for all three of us. We ask that the Radiologist, Oncologist, Neurologist and all their assistants be given wisdom beyond their perceived capacity in a miraculous way to treat Cody through his full recovery so that they too can be blessed and know God is at work.

Blessings and Gratitude for all of the Love, Support and Miracles,

Dallas

PS - Dave was scheduled to leave for an annual mission trip to serve the pastors and leaders of the farming communities in Oaxaca, Mexico on Monday. He had originally canceled the trip. Since the biggest hurdle with Cody has passed and there was nothing major happening in the next week, both Cody and I encouraged him to go. He is always so blessed by this trip and the farmers would be blessed by him being there too. So, he left on Thursday and will return next Wednesday. Please pray for safe travels for him and the entire group.