Michael is doing well these days. We are continuing to have trouble with his broviac line. It is flushing well but we are not able to get labs from it. He is now 31 lbs and 35.5 inches. He is getting his hair back. It is coming back in dark. When it gets a bit longer we will see if it has the chemo curl.

Russ and Makayla are down with a tummy bug. The rest of us are ok for now. Makayla got the bug Thursday night and Russ got it today.

Hopefully this cold weather will go away soon. Come on spring! I don't know about you but after being locked inside for over a year, I am ready to get out of the house and enjoy.

Abel Nichols

Below is an Update from Jim Nichols on his sons progress.

Abel will be turning one on March 3rd and will be celebrating his birthday with family on the 6th.

We have been talking to Doctors at John Hopkins/Kennedy Krieger as well as Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Although these are supposed to be experts on Abel’s condition it seems we may have exhausted their expertise. Our family doctor is surprised with the improvement in some of Abel’s lab results and is looking for additional specialists to refer us to.

We are continuing to treat Abel with food and supplements based on information we find on the web. He recently started eating solid foods. His doctors were doubtful that he would ever do this. He really likes carrots and apples. He also is getting regular physical therapy, occupational therapy, osteo-manipulative therapy and chiropractic care.

Thank you for your prayers for Abel and Michael.

Please keep them coming.

Michael had a wonderful time visiting different churches this weekend. Thank you United Methodist church in Webberville. We enjoyed the time we spend with you. Thank you for all your support over the last year. Thank you for your hospitality this weekend. We hope through our struggles and victories that we have encouraged many this weekend. We must always remember that God is in control.

Michael had his labs today and his liver panel came back over hundred twenty lower then last time. This is very good news. That means his liver virus is recovering. We go back to have labs done next week. If all is well then or the number is even lower then we know that he is headed in the right direction. Thank you for all the prayers.

Michael's test came back and his liver panel (AST, ALT) has come back up again. This time it is at 254. Normal is 5-44 at this lab. I contacted Dr. Craig and he said to go back on Friday and have the test done once again. He feels that it might be a virus and not related to the cancer that was there. If the test comes back even higher next time then we will be going in for an ultrasound. They want to find out if there is something that is maybe on the liver. Maybe a cyst or something like that on or near the liver. Anyway, we should know more on Friday. Please pray for Michael to get a normal level for his liver panel test.

Makayla is feeling sick so she is resting in her room and watching a movie. Please pray for her to feel better.

So far everyone else is feeling good.

Michael seems to be doing pretty good. He is doing well with his potty training. If all goes well tomorrow and the snow holds off until the afternoon, I will be able to get the labs done for Michael. This test will help us to determine of we need to worry about Michael's liver. He will get a full liver and reno panel done. I don't know how long we will have to wait for the liver panel.

Thanks you for the prayer for his immunity. He now has a good immunity. Please continue to pray that his liver panel test comes back normal.

The result from the tests Michael had today were pretty good. His Red and White blood cell counts are normal. His platelet count is normal. His immunity is at 6.9. That is the middle of normal. Yeah! The AFP or cancer cell number was.... 3.8. Yeah! again. The only concern we have is a slightly elevated liver AST count. This tell you if you liver is showing signs of damage. They think that the elevation is due to a liver virus. We are going to have a complete liver count done on Wednesday. If the count is normal then they will just keep an eye on it. If the number goes up we will have to get scans to find out why it is elevated. Thank you for your prayers for his immunity.

Michael was full of energy today he has a new hobby. He loves to sit at the computer and play with his school software programs. He already knows how to click on the software program to start it and to navigate his way in the program to what he wants. I even caught him today printing his picture out by himself. Then he goes in the den and gets his print out.

Michael is doing well. He is trying more type of food. He finally is back to eating bananas. This is his first fruit that he has eaten since the chemo started. He is now on a regular schedule and taking really good naps. I plan on taking the kids on bike rides this year. I have order a child bike trailer for Michael. I can't wait to get out of the house and out doing things with the children. Tomorrow I take Michael to the cancer center for a checkup. We will get labs and a new cancer cell screening. We should also know then too if his immunity is back up to the normal level. Please keep praying for Michael. He has a long journey still ahead of him. In two month we find out if anything has grown. He will have been off chemo for three months by then.