Ben's last appointment was last week on wednesday. He had a spinal tap and chemo injected into his spinal fluid. The tests came back negative and we can only praise the Lord once again that he is keeping Ben so healthy. They have started the process of making changes to increase Ben's Chemo Therapy. The Doctor has told us that Ben's ANCs are too high and this will keep the Chemo drugs from doing there job to eliminate the cancer cells. They have assured us that adjustments like this are normal and very neccessary. Some children have to have their meds decreased and some increased to keep them in the right place. Ben will have to have his CBCs done weekly now so we will be making a few more trips to the Doctor in the month then we have been used to for a while now. They will continue to monitor his blood counts and increase his Chemo until they have him in the right place. This could take months because they only increase them a little at a time. They are telling us they may have to increase his meds to as much as 150% of what they have been. This does come with added problems that we would be so grateful to have everyone be praying for. Added therapy dosages means that Ben's little body will be going through more side effects over the next year and a half. He is more likely to have damage done to his liver and kidneys. They will do routine tests to monitor this and they even have some IV treatments they can use if needed to help repair damage done. His growth has a higher chance of being stunted. And of course his daily issues with Nauseau and throwing up will increase.
Please also be praying for us that God will direct us through finding a new Doctor for Ben. Matt and I have been having trouble with his Doctor's not treating him right and we are very concerned and frightened a lot of the time. We are trying to switch him to Cinncinnati Children's Hospital but are even considering moving to other states including back to AZ to ensure he is getting proper care. I have complained to the Director of Kosair Children's Hospital and he is a wonderful man, but unfortunatley has no control over Ben's Doctor because it is a private practice. He has directed me to get into contact with the Kentucky Director of Pediatricians and has even offered to come to the meeting for support. The Kosair Director feels Ben is not properly being taken care of and has assured us we are not the only people experiencing our problems. Please pray for us because we are constantly worried and it is stressful not just for Matt and I but for Ben too. It breaks my heart how he has to deal with this to and when the Kosair Director asked Ben about his Doctor's he told him "I don't like the Mean Doctor's". Kosair itself is a great hospital and the Doctor's that work in the hospital have always been wonderful so we are hoping for the possibility to be able to get away from the clinic and find a better Doctor for Ben's treatment care.

Oh and if you can believe it my beautiful boy turned FIVE this month. I can't believe how big he is!!!

Jamie