Ethan Update... Blood Disorder

Back in June Ethan saw a round of doctors at Vanderbilt that were all apart of his team of docs to get him through whatever it is that is going on in Ethan's body. All the docs praised our current primary doctor, Dr. Graham, and stated that they did not have any better ideas to come to a diagnosis or additional treatments that Dr. Graham has not already tried. They all ran the usually tests with the assumption that nothing new would show. A few days after those visits the Hematology doctor gave me a call that Ethan's platelets did not come back normal and that he thinks Ethan may have a possible blood disorder. He explained that platelets are what allow your blood to clot and that this could be the reason why Ethan still struggles with pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding into his lungs). He also explain that platelet disorders are treatable and that sent our world into pure optimistic bliss; especially since the month prior we were informed that Ethan would not need anymore chemo! So more blood work that to be done to determine if Ethan does indeed have this blood disorder and it is a test that is only done a few times a month and we scheduled it for late July, over a month away.


July 24th came, the kids and I loaded up super early for what I was hoping to be the most important blood test of Ethan's medical history at this point in his adventure to health. My anxiety was at an all time high as I prayed this would be the answer and last piece to the Ethan health mystery puzzle. The blood draw was super quick and 11 tubes of blood later we were out of there. I was told by the nurse that it will be 4 to 14 days before we have any results.... so the waiting began. Just knowing it was in the works brought an amazing amount of piece to our lives.


Exactly 4 days later, July 27th, the Doctor called.... unfortunately not with the news we were hoping for. He said "Hello Ethan's Mom. We got Ethan's test results back and I am sorry to inform you that Ethan does not have a blood disorder." Now his apologetic delivery of these results may seem odd to most but it the doctor and I had a mutual understanding of what a positive result would have meant for Ethan. Immediately after hanging up the phone my heart was overwhelmed with sadness and frustration. Another solution was so close and in a 2 minute phone call was gone.


So there is no answer right now to Ethan's pulmonary hemorrhage and today I am unsure of the next steps until we see Dr. G again in a  few weeks. We do know and continue to trust in God and that he has a plan for Ethan. It is also so important for all of us to remember that Ethan is still doing really really good and we are still celebrating no more chemo! 


Heavenly Father, watch with us over your child, and grant that he may be restored to that perfect health which it is yours alone to givem through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.