Caleb has been back to his normal self the last week. He has not had any chemo in two weeks and is eating well, including eating a big Thanksgiving meal. His appetite has been nonexistent while taking chemo, so it was good to see him getting some good food down.
We start back with the chemo tomorrow. They are planning on doing tomorrow and Thursday in the clinic. We will get our December schedule this week, but I would expect that next week we will have some more inpatient care at the hospital. Last week, Caleb’s white blood cell counts were almost that of a normal child not taking chemo. He has been doing fantastic! We know that the tumor is gone and believe that all the cancer cells are, as well. We are still standing firm on the Rock.
We went home to Avera the day after Thanksgiving to visit Holly’s family and tidy up at the house a bit. We really miss being at home. As I said in a previous post, we will have to go all the way through the chemo treatments. We miss our home and I miss working, but we make whatever sacrifices we have to for our family, as any of you would do, too. This, too, shall pass.
It made my day to get a call from an old friend from high school Thanksgiving night. This friend is world-famous trombonist (current and SIX-time JJA Jazz Trombonist Of The Year), Wycliffe Gordon. We went to high school together and became very good friends – constantly pushing each other musically – and have kept in touch over the years. He was in Augusta visiting family and wanted to come by and see Caleb. He was impressed with Caleb’s musical gift of perfect pitch and that he could sing any note on demand without an instrument to help. He encouraged Caleb and told him he got where we is today because of spending lots and lots of time practicing. He told Caleb that he could do the same with hard work and practice. He gave Caleb a copy of his practice book that he wrote and autographed it for him.
We talked about old times and shared more than a few laughs about our times in the Butler High Band. He stayed here almost two hours and I hated to see him go, but it was like we had only been apart a couple of weeks and picked right up on an old conversation. It’s good to be blessed with friends like that. He was leaving the next day to go to Spain and next week he’ll be in Germany. I’m so proud of all that my friend has accomplished. He is the best trombonist in the business, and that is said not just by a friend, but by jazz critics worldwide.
Today’s scripture:
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
-Psalm 27:5-6
Here is a photo that Wycliffe took with the boys:
I got a chance to talk to Caleb Sunday at church & except for the hair (or lack of) he was as bright & cheerful as he has always been. If I wasn’t aware of his situation I surely would not have known about the attack he suffered by how he looked & acted! That’s a hats-off & pat-on-the back for you Keith & your beautiful & talented wife Holly, that you raised your boys to be such fine, strong young Christian men. Congratulations to all of you for everything that has happened since the devil tried to kill Caleb! And as you already know, God will carry all of you through the entire procedure left ahead of you & emerge as a family all healed, happy & ready to witness to the world about the healing power of Jesus Christ. We love you all so much.