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Journal entries from 11/14/05 - 11/30/05

11/30/05

Jackson had a much better day yesterday and was smiling most of the day. This morning he didn't feel well and got sick, but seems to be doing better now. Today he is getting blood, so he will be in the hospital for around 7 hours. He was supposed to start the second round of the new chemo yesterday, but his counts were too low to start so they put it off for next week. We are thinking and praying that the new chemo is working. His pain in his chest and joints has been gone for several days now. We can only pray that it works. As for Vegas, we are ready and excited. If Jackson's health holds out we will be heading out Friday morning on a private jet. Some great people have done a lot for us and we are scheduled to meet many of them. So many people have contacted us or emailed us and given their support and we want to thank all of you from the bottom of our hearts.

11/28/05

Jackson is having a rough time right now. We had a great Thanksgiving with family, but he has been on a roller coaster with his stomach pains. He was getting his appetite back, but now he is pretty sick again. Last night he started throwing up at 1:30 a.m. with the diarrhea also. Since that time he has thrown up 12 times and had to use the toilet many times also. He isn't very happy right now, but we are working hard to find something to help. Being tired and sick of his pain is something that is getting very common for Jackson. He is so very strong, but with the medication, he gets very emotional and he breaks down much more than normal. We are hoping that he feels better soon. We are supposed to leave for Vegas on Friday morning and he couldn't travel like this. He is very excited about the trip and all of the people he is going to meet. We just pray that the trip will go off wihout a hitch and that Jacksons's health will be good for it.

11/23/05

Plans have changed with Jackson. We are starting the experimental drug now. With the latest spur of pain and growth in the tumors, the doctor felt we needed to move ahead. We are praying that this medicine works, as Jackson will be in very bad shape in a month if it doesn't. We are also hoping and anticipating that the trip to Vegas won't be affected for him, but most of all we are praying that this drug puts a stop to the growth of the tumors.

11/21/05

Jackson, Wyatt and Staci went to the Lion King this weekend and said that it was absolutely wonderful. They had another great time courtesy of friends. Jackson is doing well with his broken arm and we are hoping that it heals with his condition. He is having pain the last few days in the tumor on his neck and he is also having pain in his chest when he breathes. We think it is from the tumor sprouting down from his neck. Everything is getting moved back and he will start chemo tomorrow now instead of Friday as planned. He will have one more round of his normal chemo and then start the experimental drug. He will have chemo all this week and we will find a way to celebrate Thanksgiving and chemo at the same time. The Vegas trip is coming at a great time as his mind is focused on that and not all of the baggage that he is carrying right now. He is still doing well mentally and we continue to monitor that. He is still the strongest person I know and gives us strength continually. We don't know God's purpose with Jackson, but we pray that it is here with us.

11/16/05

As if Jackson didn't have enough going on in his life, last night he fell and broke his arm. He was playing catch with a football and tripped, fell, and tried to catch himself. He fell on his right arm and said instantly that he had broken his arm and heard it pop. By the time Staci had him at the hospital he was in a lot of pain. Sure enough he had broken his arm right above his wrist. He was in a lot of pain last night but seems to be doing better today. Our biggest concern is how it will heal in his condition. It seems to be one more shovel full after another

11/14/05

We had a great weekend and again have been completely amazed by the generosity of this community, our church, and many that don't even live here and have never met Jackson. Saturday night at our church auction, they had a NFR (National Finals Rodeo) package to bid on. It was for Jackson all along, but they put it in the program and we had him bid on it. He was very excited and can't believe we are going. We will all four be flown down to Las Vegas in a personal jet, then stay there and attend several of the rodeos and Jackson will even be presenting the Champion bull rider buckle one night. We will also be attending a Leanne Rhimes concert and she wants to talk to Jackson. There will be many other celebrities they said, such as Keifer Sutherland, Amy Grant, Larry Mahan, Luke Perry, and several more celebrities and cowboys. We have been truly blessed with the support that we have been given and will never forget.