Will write more later but wanted to let you know what’s going on.
Sarah and I spent the day at Duke yesterday and on the way home, Dr. Driscoll called with scan results, which I will share later when we have a bigger picture. But one interesting thing the scan showed up was there seems to be widespread infection n Sarah’s body. He also said he compared her platelets from three days ago and they had gone from 180 to 40. He said it looks like the infection (whatever it is) is gobbling up platelets. When I told him that Sarah had still been running a fever off and on and it had gotten up to 103 he said, “I NEVER tell people what I would do if it were my child. But I am telling you that if Sarah were MY daughter I would take her straight to ER when you get home, run bloodwork and urinalysis, try to get an infectious disease consult, and have her admitted. And also, we need to get that lump biopsied, ASAP.”
So after a long day on the road, we spent fifteen minutes at home and then took Sarah to our ER at about 9 p.m. She was BEYOND exhausted and stretched to her limits but she pulled herself together and said, “Even if I don’t want to spend another night in the ER, if I go, it means I’ll get better sooner. So that’s what I’ll do.”
She and Gage were there all night and I got a text early this morning that they were wanting to send Sarah by ambulance or plane to Duke because her platelets are STILL dropping and no one knows why. Although they have a room reserved for her there, they were having trouble getting transport arranged. Finally a few minutes ago, they told Sarah that they would give her permission to go straight to Duke by private vehicle because it would get her there a lot quicker than waiting on arranging transport between the two medical facilities. (Edited to add: Duke didn’t keep her yesterday because while she was there her temp was normal and also, they did not yet have the results of her scan which indicated the infection.)
So that’s where we are. Sarah and Gage are leaving in just a few minutes and I will follow in a couple of hours once I get some things done for church.
Dr. Driscoll is VERY concerned about this situation especially since they can’t figure out why the platelets are disappearing and what the root of the infection is. At Duke, they can continue to search and also get her on the docket for a biopsy which should hopefully provide more information.
Many more details to follow . . . just wanted to let you all know what was going on.
Thanks to ALL of you for being the best blog community in the world. We feel your strength and prayers every day.
This posting was not the one I wanted to comment on, and not sure which one it was, but the very end of the posting was a picture of Dr. Driscoll walking with Sarah and he turned around with his arms up in the air and telling Sarah he would pray for her. I cried. In many posts tears have come to my eyes, but this one made me cry. We continue to pray for Sarah, Gage, you and Steve and all those involved in making Sarah better. She truly has so many medical folks trying to help her in getting this infection under control. Continuing to pray.
Sharyn,
Yes, those words brought me to tears, as well. So thankful for a praying doctor because sometimes medical wisdom runs out and divine wisdom has to kick in.
Sending prayers to you all!
Prayers for Sarah’s healing!
Praying.
Sending prayers and thoughts. Happy Easter <3
Prayers for Sarah on this Easter Sunday. I’ve been following your blog for years and haven’t written but I wanted you and your family to feel as much love and support as possible! Prayers for healing…prayers for guidance for her Doctors and nurses…and prayers for all of you as you go through this!
Betsey,
Thanks so much for being a first-time commenter and wanting us to know that you are sending your support and love.
Thinking of you all today.
Prayers for Sarah and your family that the infection is under control soon and for some positive news. Sarah’s is in the best hands possible. Praying for wisdom for the medical team to get a handle on this soon. Sending you a big hug, Becky.
Just want to say Happy Easter to you
Praying they find the cause of Sarah’s infection and they can get her on the road to healing.
Happy Easter
Love and Hugs
Oh gosh…I pray they can get the infection under control quickly. Thank you for the update. Storming heaven with prayers!!❤🙏
Just wanted to let you know I am still praying very hard for all of you.
Oh Becky, my heart is breaking for you all. I know that Sarah is going to be in the best possible place and will have the best medical team working for her. As hard as this is for you all I know it’s got to be a comfort to have Dr. Driscoll on your case. Praying for safe travel and some answers soon. Also praying for peace for all of you throughout this fight.
My heart is breaking for you all. Many prayers for comfort and healing. How reassuring to know the Throne is still occupied and God is in control. We will pray without ceasing. God answers prayer!
Much love,
Suzie
Goodness, I usually just check for you on Mondays, but thought I’d take a peek tonight in case there was news about her PET scan. Sarah and all who love her are having a really tough time. I can only add prayers to the host already flying Heavenward. Please drive carefully!
Continued love and prayers. What a week it’s been.
Praying for you all! Hoping that the infection is quickly controlled.
Dear Becky, Lucy and I are so sorry that you and your family are having to endure all these trials, but glad that Sarah is headed back to Duke. I am so thankful for Dr. Driscoll and the Duke staff, and I believe that is exactly where Sarah needs to be. Please try to get some rest tonight so that you will be refreshed for the day tomorrow. We love y’all and are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers throughout each day.
Lifting you and the medical team up in my prayers. May you feel some peace and strength during this time. Hugs from Iowa!
Praying for Sarah, Gage, and the Smith family!
Oh Becky! 🥲🙏
Ferrell and I am so concerned and we are praying for Sarah and everyone!
Millie,
Always good to hear from you and Ferrell. We love you guys.
Becky,
Praying for all of you…Sarah, Gage, you, Steve, Nathan. Meaghan, and all of your families. Hopefully the doctors at Duke will quickly find the cause, treatment will be simple and Sarah will make a quick and complete recovery.
Prayers, blessings and hugs,
Linda in Pittsburgh
Thank you for taking the time to update. Please don’t let this be a burden to you, though. We can pray without knowing details; God knows them.
I continue to pray for Sarah, for all of you who love her, and for those caring for her.
Praying, praying, PRAYING. Jesus, You are the Great Physician, and You know exactly what is going on in Sarah’s body. We ask that You get her and Gage (and later Becky) safely to Duke, give her doctors supernatural wisdom and insight, and bring Your perfect healing to every cell in Sarah’s body. The name of Jesus is above every name, and we are looking to You for mercy, grace, peace and healing.
Amen and amen.
Becky I have read your blog for years and never posted. I’ve watched your family from afar and look forward to Mondays and your posts. I have been checking daily now and am sending so many prayers your way for Sarah and for all of you.
Brenda,
Thanks so much for leaving your first comment. Always nice to hear from a long-time follower for the first time. Thank you for praying.1
May God’s gentle peace and healing hand touch Sarah today and in the days to come. Praying for wisdom for the medical team at Duke, and praying for strength for her family and Gage.
My goodness how things are so “bumpy” right now as you forge ahead figuring out what is going on. God has truly placed you in the capable and caring hand of Dr Driscoll and Duke. Continuing our prayers for your sweet Sarah and Gage as they walk the path with you and Steve guiding and praying. Thank you for you openness in sharing with us – we have followed you since Sarah was a wee one – same age as our daughter… ♥️🙏🏻♥️🙏🏻
Sending much love and prayers. ❤
Dear Becky,
like many others, I am a longtimer reading your wonderful blog for forever but commenting only rarely; I am rooting for you and your family and hope for the best possible outcome for Sarah; thank you for the updates.
Barbara
So very sorry sweet Sarah is having to go through all this. Prayers for her, Gabe, her doctors and your worried parent hearts! All of Paw Creek Presbyterian is praying too! We love you. 🙏❤️
Prayers for safe travels! I hope they can find the source of the infection soon! <3
Thinking of you all and sending prayers for comfort and quick answers!
I am so very sorry with all these things that have happened. Hoping the get to the root of the current issue quickly. Many prayers going out.
Prayers continue. My daughter had a autoimmune disorder called ITP which is where your body eats up platelets. It would be unusual for her to develop this at this point but thought I would mention it. Hope they figure out what is going on soon. Feel for you all.
Praying so hard for Sarah and for the doctors to find answers!!
Continuing to lift Sarah up in prayer, and for all your family.
Having followed you and your family since Caringbridge days but rarely ever commenting I just wanted to say that I am praying for you all!
I have followed Sarah’s journey since the early days on caringbridge and never commented though I did send Nathan money once for that cool idea you had.
I have been checking in so often and thinking of Sarah, Gage and your family. Wishing and hoping for only the best.
Prayers for Sarah as all of you
Theresa,
Good to hear from another new commenter.
And thank you for being a part of that “cool idea” all those years ago. 🙂
Sending healing prayers to Sarah and prayers of comfort to all of you. I have been checking in often the last few days and will hope for positive news soon!
Just got home from Houston and found this update. Praying right now for ALL to be made clear to the doctors so that they can treat appropriately. Sending hugs and love… Sarah is just a brave woman.
What a wild journey this week has been. I am hopeful that Sarah will be admitted quickly and that both she and Gage can get some rest. I am sure you are all beyond exhausted, but especially Sarah as she fights the infection.
I am thanking God for Dr. Driscoll’s watchful eyes and amazing heart.
Be careful on the road!
Becky, thank you for taking the time to update us. I am still praying here. I trust and believe her wonderful doctors at Duke will figure out what’s going on with her and how to treat her. Hugs from Georgia.
Praying continuously for all of you,for wisdom for the doctors,and for effective diagnosis and treatment.
Praying for all of you and the medical staff.
I had a feeling something was up. So sorry to hear she isn’t feeling well. So glad Gage is with her. But maybe this is a way to get treatments and the biopsy quicker. Trying to look at it optimistically! Still praying!
Thank you for taking time to update us on the latest turn of events with Sarah. Continued prayers for all…💕
Praying for you and Sarah. What an ordeal the last few days have been for Sarah but also you and Steve and Gage.
My heart especially goes out to you Becky as a fellow mother. When our kids hurt we hurt and the stress and load I imagine you feel must be very high. Please know so many people care about you and your family. Please take care of yourself in the midst of all of this.
Sending prayers that answers will be forthcoming quickly at Duke, that her platelets will rise, that a biopsy will happen imminently and that a good treatment plan will soon be in place. And also that she and you will get some good rest in the middle of all this and our good God will grant you peace in the midst of this intense storm.
Becky, Praying non-stop and if there is ANYTHING I CAN DO, please let me know, as I have said, I am just down the road apiece in Wake Forest, my e-mail is dhtousley@yahoo.com, home number 919-761-5240 and cell phone for texting…913-579-7235. Please everyone drive safely……sending prayers, love and hugs to all…..and also a big hug for Nathan and Meagan who must be devastated being so far away…
Prayers for all and that they identify what is the root of the problem and get some work done on correcting it. So sorry that this has to happen now on a holiday weekend. Prayers for strength for you all. Waiting is so difficult.
Prayers are nonstop Becky…everyone…literally everyone is praying, concerned & feeling hope, for the very best medical care for Sarah & God’s will for her recovery. We are here for each of you. Thank you for updates in this precious blog. Please give her & Gage our love. ❤️❤️
So glad she’s heading back to Duke. They will be on top of it. I wonder of they will even let you visit with the Covid restrictions. Hopefully you all can rotate in and out. Did she get the vaccine recently? I cannot imagine where this infection is coming from. What if the imaging is not tumor but infection? Otherwise, it would be such a coincidence. So much to tease apart…thank you for updating, big hug!
Lesley,
No, she hadn’t gotten the vaccine.
Praying that you all get answers soon.
Shawn
While I wish that Sarah didn’t need an oncologist, I am so grateful that she has Dr. Driscoll on her side! He sounds like a wonderful, compassionate soul. I cannot imagine how difficult pediatric oncology must be.
I hope Sarah isn’t feeling too bad physically. I’m glad she has you and Gage with her. What an amazing young man he is! ❤️
Easter weekend always feels like a time of waiting in the dark. I’m not a Christian, but I am thinking of you all while you wait quietly in your own dark place, and holding you in the light until the sun comes again.
Meredith,
Sarah is in some pain from the mass, but not bad. She is pretty lethargic and quiet and you can take one look at her face and know she is very ill.
I love the imagery of waiting in the dark, knowing the sun will come again.
Did Sarah have a covid vaccine. I read that some people are getting ITP possibly related but they weren’t sure. It destroys the platelets. Praying they find the cause and it’s an easy fix. 🙏🙏🙏
Petrina,
No, she hasn’t gotten the vaccine.
Praying for all of you many times each hour. May God carry each one of you and grant you peace.
As a mother I know your heart is heavy with the fear and uncertainty, I can’t begin to imagine your frustration not knowing the source of the infection. My prayer warriors are doing our part for all of you especially your precious Sarah💕
I’m so sorry she is suffering with all of this but I am very thankful she is returning to Duke. This is the best place for her to be at this time. Still continuing to lift all of you up before God’s throne love and prayers. K
Praying and asking pray warriors from Central Assembly to join me …. ❤️
Oh my. I have chills reading this. So wish they had kept her there. I’m sure you do too. Still praying. For safety as all of you travel. Bless all of you.
And Steve is preaching an Raster sermon tomorrow. Bless him as well. Hugs. Buff
All of You are continually in our prayers. My husband pastored the church Wayne and Dottie Kiebler attended in Portersville. I have followed your blog practically when you started it. We have come to love each of you and praying for strength for each of you during this battle.
Candy and Mike,
How nice to hear from some Pennsylvania folks with ties to our family. Thanks for following along so many years!
Prayers for you all. Prayers for knowledge and the understanding of it for the medical personnel. Hugs.
Thinking of you all
I hope Sarah will feel better soon
Psalm 121:1-2
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
I am praying!
Becky, thanks for letting us know. Prayers that they will quickly get the answers you all need 🙏🙏🙏
Oh wow. Such upsetting news but still so thankful for Dr. Driscoll and Duke and people who are ON TOP of getting Sarah the care she needs. Sending much love to all of you.
Oh Becky. I have literally checked for an update every few minutes. I was praying that everything had gone smoothly and that y’all had gotten good news. I will keep praying for answers and a clear solution to poor Sarah’s condition. Thank you for thinking of your blog followers. Praying without ceasing.
Prayers for safe travels for all of you and that they find the infection source and what is causing her platelets to drop so.