Soren's Team!

Wow! First off I'd like to thank you all for participating. It was really nice to see all the pictures hopefully next year Soren and I can join too! As a team we raised 3,948.74 that is just awesome. For those of you who participated please leave feedback on your experience in the walk. I want to thank all of you who came to walk with Tim and for those who helped raise money in honor of Soren. I heard we had a fun rowdy group that's great I can't believe I missed all the fun again. Special thanks to Jennifer and Ricardo who worked especially hard to help make our team so successful!

Kiss Country Radio-thon 2007

As many of you know we were back in the hospital last week because Soren had a virus and a fever with low counts! He is at home and feeling much better he just shared his little virus with mommy and daddy. They released us with directions that said keep him off his meds. and wash hands frequently and stay away from sick people. So does anyone want another child LOL! While we were there one of my favorite radio stations was there having a fundraiser for the hospital. I was blown away with the amount of people I saw volunteering it was pretty cool. I wanted to contribute something since this truly is our home away from home. I wrote a short letter with hopes that Tim would read it on air ( Because he is the stronger one) he told me no babe you read it. So I went to the radio DJ and asked her to read it but she talked me into reading it so I did. I did get choked up on a couple of parts so for those of you who may have been listening I typed it out. I do however think it is something for everyone in the valley to ponder on. I know many of our friends and family are working hard to help us out with Soren's Team for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. I know someone told me we should of been change bandits instead of doing the light the night walk. Let me explain. The radio-thon collects for the hospital for instance the funds go to purchasing equipment for the hospital such as incubators for preemies etc. That is just awesome. The light the nigh walk assists with research not just for children for everyone! So basically they are two entirely different things. Thanks for all your support either way anything helps either organization.

To Kiss Country and all their dedicated listeners,

On behalf of my family I'd like to thank you for your devotion to such an awesome facility. On April 27, 2007 our son Soren was taken to his regular doctor for what we thought was a regular cold and maybe an ear infection. That day the doctor sent us to get lab work that evening she called and asked if we could take him to Valley Children's Hospital the next day for some more lab work. On Saturday, April 28, 2007 we went to Children's hospital and a couple hours later we received a call to come back to the hospital that our son Soren was going to be admitted to the oncology department because they suspected he had leukemia. We drove right back and walked straight in to a room that was ready for us. They sat us down and confirmed our biggest fear our 3 year old son had leukemia. I recall feeling completely helpless, but I remember all the staff was very supportive and there with us. So basically in about 24 hours we were directed to one of the best places possible. That whole day was a blur, but one thing I do remember was Dr. Johnson welcoming us to the family. Soren was diagnosed with A.L.L. Leukemia will continue to receive treatment ere for the next 3 years ( until 2010). There have been times when we had to come back to the hospital 4 times a week for chemo. We are fortunate to live in Fresno and be able to drive back and forth and continue work and be a somewhat normal family. Just knowing that we have a facility of this magnitude in our back yard with the quality of staff here to care for our children means the world to me. I would like to thank all of you who have chosen to make this hospital a priority. As a parent we always want to give our children the world why not make sure that if and when necessary there is a world class facility available to them. The children really deserve to have a hospital that specializes and caters to all their needs. Thanks again for supporting this hospital and putting our children first. God Bless all of you who continue to support our children and help provide them with such an amazing hospital. Trish

Light the Night Walk In Soren's Honor!

I went to a meeting a couple of weeks ago to kick off this event. I was very impressed. I was able to meet many people who have been affected by this organization in a positive way. I realized that I was doing the right thing. Considering all of this has been so new to us all. I know many of you have constantly asked if there is anything you could do or even felt sorry for us. Unfortunately, many times there was nothing you can do but, pray for all of us. Now, if each of you either participate or donate to Soren's Team you are helping us and many others out there who can only pray that one day there will be a cure! Your donations help with research, as well as families that live here in the valley who may not have health insurance or even a ride to the hospital. Leukemia took the lives of 6 people(19-35 years of age) during the month of June, 2007 here in Fresno. It affects everyone young and old. I am very glad that many of you have chosen to walk with us for such a great cause. I understand that many of you are unable to attend but, I ask that you make a donation anything would be greatly appreciated. It can be something as small making a sandwich for lunch and donating your lunch money. For those of you who are walking please try to raise at least $ 100 dollars. That can be asking 5 people for ten dollars and two for 25.Whatever you chose to do know that you are making a difference. I apologize for not being as involved as I would have liked to be. This whole bed rest thing really threw me off. I know now that my team most likely will not meet it's goal. But just know every little bit does make a difference!

Finally

Soren is now in the interim maintenance phase. He should be in this phase for about two months and then it will get crazy. So in this phase he can be normal. The only thing is now I can't do anything. However, dad took him to the zoo and they had tons of fun! We just have to be extremely careful since it is now flu season. Soren is feeling much better he is mommy's little helper. Thank you for your prayers!

What's New in the Jacobsen Household!

We are still waiting for Soren's counts to go up so he can move on to the next phase. His ANC counts are still very low which means he is unable to fight off anything. So he is still isolated. I know this blog is used to keep everyone updated on Soren's health. But since everyone is so faithfully praying for him I thought I add another request to your prayers. This week I started to have contractions and had to be taken in to the hospital. They were able to monitor the baby and she is fine. I was given a shot to stop the contractions and two shots to help develop her lungs if she comes early. I am now on bed rest! So please pray that she waits it out and that I don't go crazy. Thankfully my mom was here to stay with Soren while we were at the hospital that just amazes me how my mom always happens to be here when we need her. She usually comes up every Thursday to watch Soren for us while we both work on Friday. But, it just so happened she came early and went with us to his clinic appt. Then she stayed here with us even on her birthday to help us out. So just continue to pray for all of us as we deal with another obstacle.

Just Waiting

Hello, I just wanted to update on Soren's progress. Last Wednesday he had a blood transfusion because his hemoglobin counts were too low. He also received some chemo after his transfusion. He is doing pretty good we are praying that his counts go up by this Wednesday. So we can move on to the next phase. Soren can't wait to go visit everyone! He is doing great thanks to you all for your prayers. He loves going to the hospital and doesn't even cry when he is getting poked! It still amazes me how tough he is. He does have a favorite nurse who is just amazing with him. Her name is Kim, she is awesome! Soren says his prayers every night. He says,

"Dear God, thank you for this food ,

pray for Soren to get better,

for my counts to go up,

pray for my baby sister,

mommy and daddy,

Nana and papa,

papa, great grandma and papa, Ama, and ..... in Jesus name AMEN!"

On our way to Interim Maintenance

Today was his last day of chemo for this week. For the last two weeks he has had chemo 4 times a week. He has been doing pretty good a little moody at times and nauseous but, overall he is doing fine! Keep praying for him. The next couple of weeks he will be finishing up this consolidation phase and moving into Interim Maintenance. However, his counts are dropping which is normal for him at this stage. The reason we are excited that he is almost ready for the next phase is because it will not be as intense as this phase he is currently in. We may even be able to be a little more normal! So as soon as he is on the next phase his counts should begin to go up! We shall see... I know I am getting a little ahead of things It has just been hard for him to have to be so confined. This Wednesday will be a tough day for him. He will have a different dose of chemo and what is called PEG (two long needles administered at the same time in his quadriceps). This is just brutal for us all, he has had this done several times and many of the times we were able to do it while he was still out but, this time he will be awake. After this he is very sore. Like I said before your prayers are extremely helpful!

P.S. Happy 30th Birthday Tim!