Prayers for Audra and Parker

Blake, Brooke, Bryce, Madeline holding Caleb, and Audra in Jan 2009

I am writing to ask for prayers for two special little children who have been fighting cancer for way too long!!!!!!!!!!!

Audra is one of Bailey's buddies from the beginning of her therapy. She left to go to St. Jude's in Memphis today and will face a battery of test to see how well she is doing since finishing her brain radiation for her brain tumor over a year ago. Some of the test she faces tomorrow would be hard for us adults to face so please pray for comfort and strength for both Audra and her mom Catherine.

I included part of Audra's caringbridge posting and her website address so that you can read for yourself.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/audragracekoelewyn

Good Evening Friends and Family! Sunday at 6:30 a.m. , Audra, my mom and I will fly out from FAT and arrive in Memphis at 1:51p.m. (Memphis time, so 11:51 our time) Monday Audra has labs drawn, her MRI, the reading of her MRI, some therapy assessments, etc. Tuesday she will have a rigorous endocrine/insulin test in which she fasts and is injected with natural stimulants that help her body produce growth hormone and cortisol to get an accurate measure of possible deficiencies. The sooner we catch the beginning of any deficiencies, the quicker we can get her on the road to normalcy in these areas. The procedure of the testing is scary to me as the "possible" side effects during the test are not fun. So, please pray that none of the side effects hit her and she is able to sail through. Also, pray that they can find veins. It is such a struggle to find Audra's veins and they have to find one in each arm Tues to draw from and infuse into. Yikes! I will be updating Sunday to let you know we arrived fine. Then, I will update Monday evening with the results of the MRI. We aren't anticipating anything but good news. However, we have noted a slight decline in her left side strength; we are praying it's because she is very tired from the beginning of school, etc. We have also taken a short break from all therapies to help her get used to the schedule of school this year. We will start therapies up again upon our return from St. Jude. This, too, may be a possible reason for the decline in left side strength. Anyhooo, pray for peace and calm in our hearts as we move towards the MRI. We cannot explain the feeling we have as we move toward the scan. It's very nerve-wracking to say the least. Kevin wishes he could be there with us. We are going to try our hardest to get Dr. Merchant to schedule the next appts. in June and Dec. so he can come. Okay! Thanks for all of your prayers...traveling mercies, et. They are much appreciated and needed. God bless all of you. Have a great week. Memphis....HERE WE COME! Love, Catherine and Krew


Our second little friend who has been fighting cancer for over 7 years is a precious young boy named Parker Fritsch. After fighting leukemia, having a bone marrow transplant and going through many side-effect of that, he has now been diagnosed with skin cancer! He is only 10 years old. It makes me sick to think about all that he and his family have already endured and now this! Please keep him in your prayers.

http://www.caringbridge.org/ca/parkerfritsch/

God bless all of you. I will be updating with other info in a couple of days.

Remember to hug your kids!

Love,

Kathy