"I love you" — Murphy's Miracle

“I love you”

These were the words that Murphy whispered to me as I held him in my arms. Last night I picked him up to take him to the bathroom, and as I held him, he managed to get out those three simple yet heart-warming words. What makes that moment even the more beautiful is that he was non-verbal for the entire day yesterday, due to the pain in his throat and mouth being too much to bear. Secondly, what made it special is that Murphy isn’t an overly affectionate person, and finally he had just woken up and in urgent need of the toilet. It hit me in an instant when he said it, because he meant it with his whole heart, and the sound of his frail and squeaky voice was so special to hear after another long day in hospital. I am blown away that amongst his own pain, he wanted to express his thankfulness to me for looking after him.

Nat and I have been desperately seeking God’s Grace, and asking our heavenly Father that our boy not get as sick as he did last transplant. I wrote in my last post about the potency of the Chemotherapy that Murphy had last week, and it breaks our hearts having watched his body fall into a slow descend of sickness and pain. As I write today, Murphy is showing similar symptoms as he did last round of Chemo and Transplant: nausea, pain, itching skin, inability to talk, fevers, Tachy Cardic Heart rate, multiple infections, and irritability. I find comfort in our belief and hope that Murphy will pull through the other side of this, but it hurts seeing your boy in such a state of pain. An hour ago, I was squatting next to Murphy holding his vomit bag and trying to encourage him by repeating, “Good, good job Murphy.” However, with great sadness in his eyes and pain written all over his face, he lifted his hand and pointed his thumb downwards. This was his way of saying, “It’s not good, I’m not good.”

Heartbreaking.

Exhale. Inhale.

Ok, now for some light-hearted updates…

Murphy is still loving his activities! By 7am he has wanted to play a game, watch a DVD, complete some craft or COOK! Here in the Oncology ward, we have used the mini benchtop oven and Toasty maker to cook fried eggs, pancakes, carrot cake, chocolate cupcakes and then vanilla cupcakes! What a workout that little sandwich-press has been on! I have been blessed to be able to take a week’s leave from work to be with Murphy and Nat throughout this transplant week, and that also means I have been Murphy’s side-kick in the kitchen, as well as the fellow action-figure buddy and craft maker. A week of my life I won’t forget. The low moments are still matched with some incredibly fun high moments. Last week for May the 4th the ward was gifted toys and costumes by Disney Star Wars, and this week we’ve had some police visitors.

In the coming days, can you please press in and pray for Murphy. Pray that the new cells from the Transplant activate, make their way to new Bone Marrow, and get to work repairing his body. Luke chapter 8 shares a story of a very sick person who kneels before Jesus and asks, “Lord, if you will, heal me.” Jesus, with no hesitation reaches out, touches the person and answers, “I will”. (This is the Daniel paraphrased version  ) It is in the nature of Jesus to heal, therefore please pray for this with me.

Lord, if you will, speed up the recovery of Murphy right now and remove all cancer.