Update from Madeline

Dear Family and Friends of Charley:

I'm Madeline, Charley's teacher from Shrewsbury, and I would like to tell you a little bit about yesterday (Thursday, April 19, 2007) in the ICU at Children's Hospital. When I arrived, a little after noon, Charley was hooked up in both of his arms & hands (two maybe three places in each arm) and in the groin area ...he was hooked to so many different lines and tubes carrying antibiotics, various meds, and nutrients. The night before (Wed) he had had 2 episodes of fever and was also experiencing edema (a heavy concentration of fluids causing swelling). There was also concern about his lungs.

His breathing was controlled by a BI-PAP. His nose and mouth were covered by a triangular mask which was supported by a plastic brace that went between his eyes and was held up by a head band which encircled the top of his head. His speaking was so muffled that he could only communicate by nodding or shaking his head.

Let me tell you....it was just so wonderful to be there with him!! I read him the book "Brown Bear, What Do You See?" (but I didn't have the book, so I had to try to think of the words/or make them up) So when I would guess the next line and was correct, he would nod his head...or when I was wrong, he would shake his head. "I see an orange tiger??...no, not an orange tiger? what else is orange? an orange lion??" It was just so wonderful to see his smiling eyes as I fumbled through this book!!

At this time, Deborah was able to get a little, little sleep; for Grandma and I stayed with Charley, talking with him and also looking at a Nintendo book of games. (Do you have this? Do you know how to play this? etc.)

Later on a pair of music men came into the room with a guitar and a drum, tamborine, bells, and maracas (which were in the shape of an apple or eggs.) Charley liked those, and we shook them to, "I've been working on the railroad." Charley also reached out to strum the guitar, and also had a very good aim and tossed the pick into the guitar hole!!.

X-Ray technicians came in and talked with and handled Charley ever so gently and compassionately in order to x-ray his lungs. Later two doctors and Charley's special nurse came in to take out a great many of the lines and tubes. That was tremendous!! They were so wonderful and gentle with him, asking him, "Which one do you want off first?" and re-assuring him that they wouldn't hurt him. He chose the oxygen mask...when that came off he could finally talk and move his head. He only had to have the little clips that fit into his nose to continue with oxygen.

Next most of the IVs and lines came out of his arms, the one in his groin...OUT, the catheter...OUT! Now he could move a little bit.
After the doctors left he and I played a game of "Superfection", now he was sitting up in bed.

Then he began coloring in his spiderman book, at that time two young nurses from his bone marrow transplant unit came up to this floor to visit him. They were so cheerful and chatty with him. He put Sponge Bob stickers on their hospital passes/badges, they loved it!!

Yesterday the transformation in Charley was so tremendous. Doctors came in and said, "You're looking pretty good!" His hands are quite shaky, but that's from the heavy sedation of the other days. When I left he was still sitting up and coloring, his lips were pink...and he had had no fever at all yesterday!

Deborah and I had a little time to talk. She is quite tired, physically, but she told me that her heart is peaceful. Thank you, God for that! Nehemiah told me yesterday morning that the doctors have said that there is, "....slow, but significant improvement." Again, thank God!

The medical staff that I have seen at the hospital, besides being so efficient and knowledgeable in their profession, have also been so gentle, kind, caring and loving.

Prayers:
• Please ask God for continued improvement in Charley, for strength, stamina, optimism, and good health.
• Please ask God for strength and peace for this very special family.
• Please thank God for holding the Cherng family in His gentle hands through this very, very difficult time.