Molly Margaret's Miracle

Hey friends! We wanted to share an update about how things are going and the big week we have ahead. Last Friday Molly Margaret received her last Rituximab infusion – hooray! We continue to pray that this medicine has no lasting effects on her body. We will start checking to see the effects of it in 4-6 months. Praying it did its job and nothing more and that we never have to have another Rituximab infusion again! Overall, Molly Margaret is doing really well! Walking all around and chatting up a storm. Our weekend was a little bit more difficult – she was just noticeably not as comfortable but she seems to be feeling better every day!

This week we have big scans on Wednesday. We’ll have a MIBG scan and a CT scan. The MIBG scan is basically a PET scan specific to neuroblastoma. It will show if there are any active neuroblastoma cells remaining. The CT scan will show the size and location of the tumor so we can see if it has shrunk. Doctors have told us that this type of tumor doesn’t necessarily melt away as some others do but we’re believing it can. Either way, the prayer is that there are no active cancer cells. If the tumor remains, the prayer is that it is in an easily resectable position and could be completely eliminated via surgery. For the MIBG scan Molly Margaret has to have a dye sit in her for a day prior to the scan which we will go get tomorrow. She will also be going under anesthesia for the scans.

Our next OMS treatment also falls this week so Wednesday after MM wakes up from anesthesia she’ll receive a steroid dose. Thursday she will receive another steroid dose and IVIG and Friday will be the final steroid dose. Steroids are a doozy so we’re praying for minimal side effects and discomfort. We will continue these treatments every four weeks.

Specific Prayer Requests:

• Pray BOLDLY that there would be nothing to see on Molly Margaret’s scans. We firmly believe in being specific and bold when we pray so we are asking God for the tumor to be gone, the scans to be black and empty.
• Pray for the hours leading up to the scans. In preparation for anesthesia, Molly Margaret will not be able to eat for several hours. Starting at 5am she won’t be able to nurse, which is a huge comfort for her at the hospital. Pray comfort and peace over her during this time. That everything would run on schedule and there would be no delays. Pray for us as parents – that we would be able to find ways to comfort her and that the Lord would be near to our hearts as it’s hard to see her upset and not be able to give her what would be most comforting.
• Pray that all would go well with anesthesia. It’s always nerve wracking to have your child undergo this so pray that there would be no issues or reactions.
• Pray against side effects from the steroids. They typically make Molly Margaret not herself so we can only imagine what she’s feeling and unable to articulate. Pray that sleep would come easily on those nights.
• Pray that these OMS treatments would continue to keep her symptoms away and eliminate this disorder altogether. It continues to be a miracle we will not take for granted that we have not seen a return in her symptoms at this point!
• Continue to pray that the Rituximab did its job and nothing more. That there will be no lasting effects in her body.

We have a prayer room set up – we would love for you to sign up to pray at a specific time and join us in praying boldly and specifically over the above requests. You can sign up at this link: https://pray.24-7prayer.com/signup/26640a

Over the weekend, we felt the devil creeping around trying to take us out. So like him to be up to something as we head into a big week, not a surprise in the slightest. But we also know that he likes to creep around when we’re on the verge of victory. He wants to take us out and make us doubt that God is near and play games with our minds. But he won’t win! The battle belongs to God and we know He gets the victory. So we’re choosing to walk into this week unafraid. Walking in the confidence that the Lord goes before us, behind us and beside us. We cannot be shaken. Thank you for fighting alongside us. Your prayers give us strength. We are constantly in awe at what a gift it is to get to have a front row seat watching the body of Christ in action. We love you!

• Neal, Mackenzie and Molly Margaret ❤