FATHER'S DAY and Extra Sleep Needed!

Charley creates a puppet show!

After yesterday's long and exciting day, Charley needed some extra rest today. He woke up feelling a bit nauseous, but still wanted to go to church. When they were half-way to church, Charley just wasn't feeling well enough to go to Sunday School. So they returned home.

Soon, Charley felt better and asked for some Kong Pao chicken!

As Deborah and Nehemiah prayed before dinner this evening, Charley asked that they all hold hands together. This was Charley's first time joining the dinner prayer in 4 months. Nehemiah feels that this was a blessed Father's Day gift!
In addition to his request for holding both mom and dad's hands for dinner prayer, Charley picked up two Mickey Mouses (one big and one little) and sat the little one on the big Mickey's lap. Then he put them at the head of the bed and asked Nehemiah to buy a Mickey's mom to make a complete family. How precious!

Deborah and Nehemiah have had the challenge of getting Charley on a regular sleep schedule. Charley has been so energetic and excited to be home that he does not like to take naps and he likes to stay up late. So Charley's parents are working really hard to help Charley to get the sleep he needs to be healthy. This is important for boosting Charley's immune function as some literature shows that the human body enhances hematopoiesis and builds the immune system between 9-11pm. Today was the first day since discharge that Charley had a nap and went to bed by 9pm.

Charley's bone marrow is still weak. Last week, the WBC remained around 1000 and the ANC 400 while platelets were only 8,000. At this level, Charley's care demands 2 major platelet transfusions weekly.

Prayer Requests:
* Please pray for Charley to have healthier sleep patterns.
* Charley's family's need of good family care and support at home
* Charley's bone marrow will strengthen and he will be able to undergo successful transfusions in the meantime.