Whiplash...

I know that several of you were praying specifically for Cooper's hemoglobin over the last couple weeks, THANK YOU!

I write these stories so I never forgot the answered prayers. This was one of them! He went from a 7.2 to a 8.3 in ONE WEEK! He hasn't been in the 8's since May (over two months!) so that was a very welcome surprise to receive. I have definitely noticed the jump in his energy. Even though he is still considered anemic (until he gets over 11), he at least is out of the danger zone for a transfusion. Prayers are powerful!!

He was able to stay on track with his last chemo treatment and receive the increased dosage. David was out of town with Bria so me and Addy were on it to support and get Cooper through that appointment.

Mentally this was his worst one yet. I had to get on the bed and physically hold his legs down from him kicking them up and twisting his body. Crying. Screaming. Just a complete look of terror across his face. Addy was reminding him of what is happening and how strong he is, that he has done this before. He worked himself up to the point of throwing up. We were pulling out all of the tricks we've learned to help get him through the process of getting his port accessed.

None of it was working.

So, I face-timed David in. He needed his dad's voice in the room and I had to dig deep to be the strength for him in that room. With tears in my eyes I held his hands tight in mine, looked at him firmly and said, "Buddy, we NEED to do this. Take a breath, it will be over in just a second."

He found it somewhere deep inside him and was able to take a couple deep breaths, steady his body and let them access his port.

Once it was in, it was like I was in the room with a different kid. He went from screaming bloody murder to laughing with Addy in about 10 seconds.

On the drive home my body started processing what just happened. I couldn't control my tears any longer, they fell steady pretty much the entire way home. What in the world just happened?!

I hate this. In no world should a parent have to hold their kid down like that or answer a FaceTime call like that. No sister should have to see their little brother in that state. No kid should have to relive that nightmare over and over. Yet this is the world we live in and this is the hand we have been dealt.

Nonchalantly on the drive home Cooper says, "Mom, you know that famous you-tuber I told you about? Well, he died from cancer."

Typically, he feels the hardest affects of his chemo within 48 hours of his treatment. We stayed on top of his nausea meds this time and he did great.

Okay, we are good again!

One of our friends reached out to me while we were in the hospital back in December, after just finding out about Cooper's cancer, letting me know he wanted to host a football camp in honor and support of Cooper. He even reached out to Alex Singleton from the Denver Broncos and Alex sent Cooper a video encouraging him!

This past week that football camp happened! All day the forcast was cloudy and the weather said that there would be thunderstorms from 5-7 (which happened to also be the time of the camp). I was so bummed and just prayed that it would all work out. I know it wasn't easy for Gabe to coordinate schedules with the Bronco players and the window of good days that Cooper has.

We showed up at 5 with blue skies and the sun out! I couldn't believe it! Thank you JESUS!! Alex Singleton and Frank Crum from the Denver Broncos were there. Gabe and his team from Different Breed Performance were all set to lead an amazing camp. And they nailed it!

Keep in mind, Cooper's physical activity has been very minimal for the last 6 months. We try to keep him as active as we can but his body has taken a beating. Watching him participate in this camp was amazing!! He was running, tackling, throwing, doing high knees. All of it. So many people commented on how good he looked. And he did!

The shadow side of this journey is what people don't see. The whiplash that is waiting for us right around the corner. When we got home Cooper threw up. That made sense. He for sure went hard and maybe he pushed himself just a little too hard.

The confusing part was the following night when he started throwing up again.

It's bad again...

It was 10pm and he was on throw up maybe 8 at this point? I lost track. I decided it was time to call the doctor. He told me what meds to give him and said if he doesn't stop throwing up by 11 I needed to bring him into the hospital right away so they could get him started on fluids.

David is gone again at this point on another tournament with Bria so it's just me. Coop was upset at the thought of having to go to the hospital in the middle of the night.

I looked at him and said, "You know none of this is your fault right?" His eyes got all teary and that must've been what he was wrestling with because he said, "It feels like I'm being punished for something and that it is my fault." I just held him tight. No words can fix that, we just sat there. Together.

I prayed nonstop for that next hour. Thankfully, the meds settled his stomach enough that he was able to fall asleep and the ER wasn't necessary that night! I woke up multiple times to check on him and he slept solid until 9.

When he woke up, he had big smile on his face and said, "I haven't slept that good in a long time!"

And now we've swung back to "he's good again".

The "good" can turn to "bad" and back to "good" so quickly that sometimes it's hard to keep up.

So when people ask me how he's doing, I can honestly say he's doing really well for where he is at and I mean it. At the same time there are so many layers that go beyond that.

Our God is big and powerful and I know he hears the cries of our hearts.

If you think of Cooper over the next week we treasure your prayers more than anything!

Please pray specifically over:

-His next chemo is with a spinal tap so prayers he handles the anesthesia well

-For David as he is fighting off being sick while out of town. Coop (and me) could really use him at the hospital for his treatment, so we need him healthy!

-For Cooper's hemoglobin to continue to increase

-For school and all the details coming up around the corner

-Health for all 6 of us, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually... this cancer is a battle on many levels

-That God uses every detail for his glory!

Thank you! Your love for us over the past couple weeks has been such a blessing!

🧡 Cooper's mama