Update on Cam.

Dear Friends,
  Thank you so much for your prayers for my boy.  Cam is getting better each day, and didn't need dialysis.  His blood levels are going down on their own apart from dialysis!  Today is the second day in a row he will not need dialysis.  Things are looking up!  Thank you again for your prayers.  On my side of the country, it's good to see Alice and Bethany again and to spend time with them. 
  Cheri and Cam visited the Adelaide zoo yesterday, and Cam had a good time.  It was his first time "out and about" since being moved to Adelaide.  Praise the Lord things are going well. :)

Family situation update:

Hi Folks,
  Thank you for all your prayers for our family and for Cambo.  Though he seems to be doing better, and I posted a blog to that effect, it was simply a father looking for the bright side.  He is doing better because the dialysis is helping him.  Apart from the dialysis, his kidneys aren't up and running yet.  Please keep praying for them to start working again.  Thank you so much.
  In other news, I (Jared) will be going back to Katherine to be with Alice and Bethany, and since Cam is in a routine phase, we're just in a "waiting game" for his kidneys to start working again. He's doing better during his dialysis sessions.  He knows what it's for, "To clean my blood."  I think he's getting used to it.  His steroid treatment is over(it was a 3 day regiment).  Yesterday I had quite an adventure moving the car from parking place to parking place every 2 hours.  Cheri and I took the bus to the hospital this morning, it's much easier to find a parking place that way!  Since today is my last full day in Adelaide with Cam, I'm glad I don't have to run out every couple hours to move the car.
  The people we have been staying with here have been very encouraging, and have told Cheri it's just fine for her to remain at their house throughout the treatments.  What a blessing!  Thank you again for all your prayers and encouragement.  God bless, yumob!

Cam's Condition Clarification.

Cam still needs dialysis every single day, for at least a couple of hours.  His situation is still very serious.  If he doesn't have dialysis, his kidneys aren't working on their own.  Continue to pray for him. I'm sorry if the previous post was misleading.  I didn't mean it to be.  I was simply excited that he's getting better.  Bit by bit.

Cam's moved out! :)

Cameron was moved from the PICU yesterday morning at about 5:12 am to a normal children's ward. :)  He is getting better, and may be able to stop dialysis soon.  We can see he's getting better!  He will be moving to his own room today.  :)  YAY!
  I could tell he's getting better, because yesterday he was asking if we could play a "real game", specifically "duck duck goose" or hide and seek.  He settled on a couple of games of Trouble in his bed with me and Cheri.  He is eating more, and is hopefully only going to be here for a couple of weeks.  Each day they look at his blood tests and blood pressure, measure his urine output, and decide if he'll need dialysis.  Today he does, but perhaps tomorrow he won't?  We'll see.
  We are extremely blessed, because we've been told that Cam should make a complete recovery.  We'll keep taking it a day at a time.  Thank you again for all your prayers.  You are a blessing to us, and we have seen God's hand at work here.  We have been extremely blessed.  There are many families whose children must be on dialysis daily for 4 hours at a time.  We saw a 14 year old boy yesterday while Cam was on dialysis.  I'm assuming he's been on dialysis for a long time, because all the nurses talked with him, and he seemed to be at home in the dialysis room.  There was another little boy who looked about 3 years old, and he's there usually every time Cam is in there as well.  As you pray for Cameron, please pray for all the kids who have kidney failure and their families.
  God bless, yumob!  May God give you plenty of reminders today to be thankful and lift others up to Him!

A more detailed description of Cam's condition & some pictures

We had a long talk with one of the renal paediatricians who did the biopsy on Cam's kidney.  Cam's biopsy showed that the cells in his kidneys are swollen, and his capillaries are blocked & clogged up in his kidneys... so the filtering system can't filter properly. Since there are a lot of these in his kidneys, some may be clogged more than others, which is why he still can produce a small amount of urine. His blood pressure level has remained normal, which the doctor's are very pleasingly surprised about, as this condition would normally raise blood pressure. However, there is still a chance his blood pressure could raise (specifically when his kidneys begin to function normally again, as the fluid rushes through). His condition is most likely due to his body's immune system reaction to an infection -- so his immune system is attacking his kidneys. Since his kidney malfunction is very severe, Cam has needed dialysis (usually kids with this condition do not need it, but recover without it) In fact, we were told that Cam is in the top 1% of severity of kids with this disease -- as the other 99% don't need dialysis. Cam will be receiving dialysis for everyday this week, at least. They will be starting him on 3 days of steroids (starting tonight), which are anti-inflammatory drugs, and will hopefully reduce the time Cam needs dialysis and further his kidney's recovery.  He is also having a restricted diet while in hospital (only restriction of certain foods -- e.g. sweets are good, and some health foods are bad!).  Even though his condition is serious, the doctors seem very encouraging that he will recover and most likely have no further complications or long-term issues.

Some praises to be thankful for:
-God has provided accommodation for Jared & myself (this is Cheri writing the blog this time! :) )
-God provided a car for us to use while here!
-So far no issues with Cam's blood pressure
-Good procedures so far, and a hopeful outcome.

  God Bless,
     Cheri

Here are some pics of Cam's time so far:

 Cam @ Katherine Hospital

 Cam leaving Katherine hospital to ambulance, to take him to airport to fly to Darwin... 

Cameron & Daddy in the ambulance, all ready to go! 

 Another pic of Cam @ Katherine hospital...

  Cameron in Adelaide, after his biopsy, and during dialysis....

Being read to by Mummy... much better than movies! :)

Update on Cam, 3

We have been overloaded with information in the last day.  We have settled in in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, and have talked with so many doctors I don't know all their names. :)  Cameron has a busy day today.  As I write this blog, he is in surgery having a biopsy done on his kidneys so the doctors can better diagnose what is causing his kidneys to malfunction.  Later on today he will be going through kidney dialysis.
  Basically, we're going to be here for at least 2 weeks.  I (Jared) will stay for the first week, or at least until we have a clear idea of what has to be done to help Cam.  The doctors we have talked to have been very encouraging, and we know that Cam's situation is VERY serious, but not life threatening.  The doctor told me last night that in the short term, Cam's outlook is very positive, however we'll have to see what the long term looks like.  The biopsy will help to decide that.
  Cam has been a good boy, in spite of all the pokes and jabs and blood taken.  He's doing okay.  When we get into a routine, that will be helpful.  Part of the stress has simply been not knowing what's next.  The doctors assured me that there will be a routine once they have figured out the best way to help Cam.
  We are thinking of the long-term, and I may be going back to Katherine while Cheri stays with Cameron, we're still thinking and talking about it.

Things you can be praying for:
1. Wisdom for the doctors.
2.  Healing for Cam.
3.  Peace for us.
4.  That the biopsy will really give the doctors a clear understanding of what needs to be done to help Cam.
5.  Please pray Cheri and I will take care of ourselves so we can better serve Cam and help him.
6.  Pray for Alice and Bethany while we're apart from them. (though I'm sure they're having a blast with their friends in Katherine!  They are in good hands.)

Things to praise God for:
1.  We are in a country and a city where Cam is in the best possible place to help him!! (He even has his own personal nurse!)
2.  We got to fly on the same plane down to Adelaide.
3.  So many people are praying for us that we can't even count them all!
4.  Good friends watching over Alice and Bethany in our absence.
5.  Cheri's teachers have been very understanding of our situation, and have given her "study leave" as a result of the circumstances.

Thank you again so much for your prayers and love.  We know God is in control, and we feel blessed to know so many people are lifting us up in prayer, and especially Cameron.  God bless, yumob! :)

Cam's in Darwin, where to next?

For all of  you who have been praying for us, and specifically for Cameron, thank you.  Today we were airlifted by CareFlight up to Darwin.  I have spoken to one of the doctors here, and the renal(kidney) ward here isn't sufficient for Cam's needs, because it's not focused on children.  So, in a matter of time(within the next day or so?) we will be leaving the NT and Cam will be flown to Adelaide, SA. (South Australia)
  We are waiting on his blood tests to come back to find out when exactly we'll be leaving, but the later it gets, the more it seems we'll be going tomorrow.  On a positive note, he did use the toilet today! :)  He hasn't used it since early EARLY this morning, which is a sign that something is very wrong with his kidneys.  He's a bit puffy in the face, and legs, because the water is being retained and not "flushed out"...bad pun?  maybe.
  Anyway, he needs help they can't give from Darwin as well as they can give it from Adelaide.  Thank you for your constant prayers.  Since we have friends on both sides of the world, I'm confident we've been covered nearly 24 hours a day with your prayers.  I think without them, we would have long ago lost hope.  If I sit long enough with my thoughts, and the "not knowing" I could let worry creep in.  HOWEVER, that is NOT the road we want to take. :)
  Cameron is in God's hands, as he always has been, and we will trust God with whatever may come.  Just because I haven't put it on the blog yet, Cam apparently has GLOMERULONEPHRITIS.  
  That means his kidneys aren't working properly.  Dangerous situation.  The doctor told me tonight that they may not know what is causing his kidneys to fail for quite awhile.  ...  Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement for our family and my boy.  
  I will be glad when this is all a memory of "Look how God brought us through this."  Until then, we truly covet your prayers and are daily encouraged to see how many people are raising Cam up to our Father in Heaven, who DEFINITELY has this under control.  Each of you are a huge blessing to us.  Thank you so much for your love and prayers.  We will continue to keep you all posted, and again, THANK YOU so much for all of your kind words, and help.    God bless, yumob!  Any friends in Adelaide?  It would be great to see you. :)

New update on Cam

Thank you so much for praying for our family during this time.  Unfortunately, Cam's situation isn't getting better.  His kidneys are not improving, so we've been told we are going to Darwin.  Actually, I'll be going to Darwin with Cam, and Cheri will be staying home with the girls.  He will be airlifted in just a matter of a couple of hours.
  There are pediatricians who can monitor his condition closely in Darwin, instead of having to have phone conferences back and forth about him.  Please pray for a quick recovery, but I have a certificate for a week of "missing work" from the hospital.  If you have a specific question and would like to know more, please simply ask me on this blog.  Or email me.  Thank you so much for your prayers, and for your support during this trial. 
  Remember, God is in control, and He has us all in His hands.  No worries, mate... right? :) Thank you again for all your prayers.  We are so grateful for each of you.  'til next time!

-Jared for the Mullet Mob

Update on Cam's situation:

Cheri called and told me Cam would be in the hospital for a couple of days.  She is staying with him tonight at the hospital, I will be staying with him tomorrow night.  Thank you all for your prayers.  He had a bit of a rough night last night, throwing up 3 times.  No new news from the doctors.  Tonight I'll be staying with him, and I'll be praying he can come home soon.  Hopefully we'll have more news to share later on.  Thank you for your prayers.  We really appreciate them and feel blessed to know so many people are lifting up our boy.  God bless, yumob. :)

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST.

My son, Cameron, is currently in the hospital.  He has been vomitting and can't keep anything down.  The doctor has told Cheri his kidneys are not working properly, so he has been throwing up.  Please pray for healing and for wisdom for the doctors.  I don't know what else to say.  If you have questions, post them here.  Please just pray.  Thank you.

-Jared

A Walk Through the Cemetary

Our family has been living in Katherine for 9 months now.  It is beginning to feel like home, and since it's not a HUGE town, we are getting to know people around town.  Working at the motel for 6 months helped with that, and working at Mission Australia now is helping me get to know more people yet. :)  Each person has their own story, and each person has a dream of some sort.  They have goals they want to accomplish, things they want to see happen in their lives.  It's been neat to cross paths with many of them.
  I've also really enjoyed taking bike rides with my children.  For the first time in this Mullet family history, we all have bikes!  Going on a family bike ride is relaxing (usually...) and the kids love it.  Any time I say, "I'm going on a bike ride!" the kids all yell, "Can I come too?" :)  It makes my heart happy.  It's neat to spend time with them, and it also gives opportunities to teach things like, "Watch for cars.  Look out for the person in front of you and behind you--if they fall, help them up.  We help each other."
  One evening we took a bike ride over to the hospital about 2 km from our house because there's a bike path there.  They also have the cemetery 1/2 km from the hospital.  I've always been interested in going into grave yards and reading people's headstones.  I think about what they might have been like, look at how long they have lived, and read what their family had as their epitaph. 
  There are so many different messages on the headstones, and each tells a bit of a story: "Beloved   Husband and Father" "Beloved Wife and Mother,Dearly Missed" --"Reunited at last." 
  Some of the graves had Bible verses on the headstones, "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."  "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." 
  Some of the grave markers were so worn out with age over the years that it was hard to make out the name on the stone.  Some were impossible to make out.  Those were the gravestones that made me think the most, and those ones allowed me to teach a lesson to my kids.
  Psalm 103 tells us  "As for man his days are like grass.  He flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone.  And its place remembers it no more."  The truth of that passage became very clear to me.  This life is short, before we know it, we'll be just a faded memory.  Perhaps no one will remember us in the future.  However, there is One who will never forget us.  There is One who has everything we will ever do written down in His books.  He knows how long we'll be here on this earth, and He loves us.  He also gave us a promise:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 
1 Corinthians 15:58


No matter how short my life is, if I am living it for the Lord, I have NOT wasted it.  If I am keeping in step with the Spirit, God is glorified and my life is not wasted.  Even if everything seems like it's crazy and a bit upside-down, if I'm truly giving my life to Christ, it will all work out.  Nothing a believer does by the power of the Holy Spirit is ever wasted.  Even if no one remembers or even knows AT ALL, our Father in Heaven does not forget, and He is honored and glorified through our acts of love and kindness.  Even the "little" things, which really aren't as little as we think.  May God be glorified in us, His children, as we seek to serve and be a blessing and light in this world.