Kaeli Allison

We’ve added a lot of photos of Kaeli to the photos page. You can take a look here…

Thank you so much for your continuing prayers for Kaeli. Your prayers mean more than we can express. Kaeli continues to have good and bad days, but it is encouraging that there have not been any major downturns in the last two weeks.  The doctors are in the process of completing the metabolic study on Kaeli and they are going to burn off more of the skin lesions on her body the next time she is under for chemo.  Please pray that she will settle into a routine of maintenance chemo and that she will progress toward the day when she is not suffering from so many side effects. Please pray that her immune system will begin to work in spite of the lack of an essential enzyme. And we especially want to pray that there are no long term adverse health effects for Kaeli.  We know that she has a beautiful and bright future.  

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

Courtney Spears, who wrote the beautiful lyrics to Kaeli’s Clouds which were posted a few weeks ago, has put the lyrics to music and made a demo recording of it.  She will be going into the studio soon to record it professionally, but agreed to let us listen to it now.  If you would like to listen to it, please go to Courtney’s website at www.courtneyspears.com.  Once there, click on the “Sweet Peas” page.  (Be sure to turn off the song that is streaming on the bottom of the page before playing Kaeli’s Clouds so there is not an overlap of songs.)  Here is what Courtney said about her inspiration in creating this beautiful song for Kaeli:  I was trying to keep it light and childlike for her where she would want to spin and dance to it.  

We can all imagine Kaeli now and Kaeli when she is fully restored to health as she spins and dances to Kaeli’s Clouds.   

Lisa and Kaeli were in the hospital ALL day Tuesday, even into the evening hours.  Kaeli’s blood count is very low again meaning she again has no means to fight off infections.  It has stumped the doctors that her immune system has been so weak.  She continues to break out with various skin rashes and lesions.  Kaeli just finished some antibiotics for pneumonia this past week, but they had no effect on her skin outbreaks.  So several biopsies were taken from the lesions on her legs Tuesday in hopes of finding out what else is in her system besides the results of leukemia, chemos, and steriods.  (They have had to cut back on the chemos, which increases the fears of returning cancer.)  The results of the biopsies were far worse than expected. The doctors have determined as a result of the testing that Kaeli is missing a certain enzyme that enables her to fight off infection.  So rather than fighting off the bad cells, her body tends to attack the good ones.  Kaeli will now have to endure a blood transfusion every month for the next year to combat the Grade A bacteria they discovered on her skin lesions.  In addition, in an effort to halt the rapid spread of the lesions, they are going to try to remove as many as possible while she is sedated for chemo on April 1.  The recovery from this procedure will be extremely painful for Kaeli, in part because there are so many.  On top of all this Kaeli had her normally scheduled chemo treatment this week and she is also currently on a round of steroids, which are usually accompanied by mood swings and sleeplessness.  

Through all this pain, Kaeli’s incredible childlike faith remains strong. Tuesday as they were going up to the hospital Lisa was crying, and Kaeli wanted to know why.  As Lisa explained what she could about the heaviness of cancer, cancer treatments, and even the loss of other children they have known at the hospital, Kaeli suggested they pray.  So both Lisa and Kaeli prayed as they headed up the hill to Doernbechers.  Once there, they both went to visit a woman they have gotten to know whose son is back in the hospital with a returned cancer.  They brought a teddy bear for 7 year old Luke, at Kaeli’s insistence.  As Lisa and the woman were embracing in tears, Kaeli (not quite 4 years old) went over to Luke’s bed, took his hand in hers and prayed for him!!

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!”

Thank you for praying.  It’s hard for us to imagine how one little girl can endure so much pain and sickness and our hearts are heavy with compassion and sorrow.  Yet we are challenged by Kaeli’s compassion for her mommy and for her friend and her enduring faith in Jesus who loves her.  Let’s approach the throne even more boldly in light of Kaeli’s own testimony and pour out our prayers in faith and love.   

With such low resistance to infection, Kaeli is struggling through these days of recovery.  Thank you for supporting Kaeli and her family with your prayers.  Friday night Kaeli spiked a high fever.  That combined with her severe coughing led James and Lisa to take her to the emergency room at OHSU.  Her coughing is so bad that the family hardly sleeps at night.  One of the specialists thinks there is a spot in her lungs that is indicative of her having an infection. They are going to put Kaeli on antibiotics and codeine to help her sleep and get on the other side of the coughing.  I’m sure you can imagine how difficult it is to listen to Kaeli’s little body racked with uncontrollable coughing.

Please lift your prayers to the Lord and ask him  to touch Kaeli’s lungs and heal her infection. Pray that God will bring relief to the whole family allowing them to sleep, for his kindness knows no bounds. Please pray that Kaeli’s chemo treatments will go smoothly and that Jesus will protect her heart from discouragement.  Our faith in God’s goodness and careful watching over Kaeli will not be shaken!  We long to hear a joyful noise from Kaeli soon!

Now faith is beings sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

As you lift up your prayers for Kaeli this week, let the words of local songwriter, Courtney Spears, inspire and encourage you.

Kaeli’s Clouds

Her pig tails are gone but her will stays strong
she looks in the mirror and smiles
Still dances around in her pink flowered dress
Still knows in her heart she’s a princess

Jesus blow these clouds away
My mommy and me want a picnic today
as the sun starts to shine
He whispers “Kaeli you’re mine”
hold her close
help her fight
be her blanket tonight
We don’t have to know the why

Her Mommy and Daddy would take her place
answers to prayers sometimes don’t go her way
and coping with days when the pain won’t sustain
still smiles through the wind and rain
 

We lift up our hands to our Healer above
we trust in the plan You created in love
when the fears begin to take control
when the tears have made Your bottle full
Once again let Your glory unfold
 

Hold her close
Help her to fight
be her blanket tonight
We don’t have to know the why

Written for Kaeli Allison
Words and music by Courtney Spears 2008

Kaeli received another round of chemo on Tuesday.  Doctors almost admitted her to the hospital while she was there due to complications of a severe cold and other generalized infections.  She has been very sick for about a week with lots of coughing.  Her skin has become very irritable, sore and dry.  The doctors have given her various antibiotics to treat all her symptoms.  Kaeli’s road to recovery continues to be a struggle.  Your prayers are helping Kaeli to hang on  through each roadblock.  Together we are trusting our gracious and loving Father who loves Kaeli completely.

Thank you for your prayers for Kaeli this week.  Although she has spent a couple of days at the hospital while the doctors ran tests and decided what to do, she has not been admitted, for which we thank God.  Next week a decision will be made about the success of the kidney operation and whether another surgery is necessary.  Please pray that no further surgeries will be needed.    Kaeli is receiving the most important chemo in her treatment at only 50% right now, due to the unusual reactions her body has to chemotherapy.  The doctors surmise that Kaeli may be missing an enzyme which others have, and that this is what is causing the unusual problems Kaeli is experiencing with kidney stones, low blood counts, and infections.  Please pray that the chemo will be effective, nonetheless, and that healing will continue.  Thank you once again, for standing firm with Kaeli and the Allisons in this struggle.  Our God is faithful and we will not be shaken.

My heart shall not fear, for in the time of trouble He will hide me.  He will set me up high on a rock and now my head shall be lifted up.  Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle, I will, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. (Psalm 27)

Kaeli has suffered this week with severe stomach pains and a high fever. The lesions on her body are spreading slightly, and she has been on the verge of being admitted to the hospital. Please continue to ask God to heal Kaeli completely. Please pray that James and Lisa will have the strength to look to God and not at their circumstances as they remain strong and faithful. We believe as we pray that God has them covered with His grace, His power and His love. He is there with Kaeli.

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:8-10