Update on Matt...

This is a journal entry from Matt's dad. He posted it about 4:30pm today.

Day +7 (July 20)

Matt had a pretty good night, but had rough morning. He needed platelets to try and get the internal bleeding (in his vomit and stools) stopped. They have actually raised the threshold of needing platelets from 10K to 40K, so he will likely be getting more transfusions until he can maintain that level.

He was doing well non-the-less, so Di and I decided to both head to the National Marrow Donor Program to speak at their monthly staff meeting. (They had asked us if we would last week) There were about 200 in attendance and another 150 on the phone. It was great to finally meet so many of the people that we've talk with over the last 5+ years. Alexandra even stood at the front of the room and said "thank you" to the crowd. We left right after our talks and headed back to the hospital.

Unfortunately, Matt was throwing up when we walked into the room. The mucusitis is getting worse and his lips are swollen and the pain has increased in his stomach and lips. This pain is the cause of his getting sick. He continued to have a "bad day" until about 2:30 and then turned the corner. He is doing pretty good right now. Hopefully that will continue through the night.

His hair is starting to fall out, he said, "I'm just not ready for that yet, dad" I told him he only had a day or two of it left but not to worry, it will be back before he knows it. More later.

Pray

Click here to view video from a St. Louis News Channel about Matt.

Only a few more hours until Matt will recieve his Bone Marrow transplant. The offical time of surgery is scheduled for 1:30am July 14th. Today there is a woman somewhere in the US who is having cells drained from her body and later they will be flown to MN. for the doctors to give them to Matt.

The road ahead is long. Matt is already sick from treatments to prepare his body for transplant and it is only going to get worse before it gets better.

If you watch the news clip you will be able to see and hear from Matt's parents and you will see Matt in his hospital bed taking medicine.

On their Web Journal they have asked that you take time to pray for Matt today, but also that you would take time to hug your loved ones and celebrate life today - for Matt.
Something to pray:
(a quote from the web journal)
"just believe with us these cells can take over this little child's body and make it new again. He is moaning from the pain fighting high blood pressure and fever as I write. The nights are long as he needs so much care and constant monitoring. He will be on morhine soon for the pain and is on TPN through his IV line for nutrition but he insists on standing in the shower and walking to the bathroom as much as possible. His sweet spirit soars with hope and more love for his family and friends than any of you can imagine. Thank you and celebrate life for Matt today."

Alex & Matt

Thanks for ALL your prayers.
Praise God we have Hope!

Yummy!!!

My new favorite recipe...and who would have guessed Salmon! Not me...but I love it. I actually made it twice last week and truthfully I'd eat it again tomorrow, but I don't want to burn myself out on it. I don't really enjoy eating fish, but I feel like I should for certain nutrient reasons. Well, now I get the best of both worlds.
You have to try this recipe - even if you're not sure. Let me know what you think.
Props to All Recipes.com and to Arnie Williams, who submitted the recipe.
Also, we have Dillions (Kroger grocery) here and they sell individual portions of Salmon for $1/4oz serving...amazing price!
I served it with roasted potatoes, and a spinach salad w/ dried cranberries and a sweet vinaigrette dressing.

Baked Dijon Salmon
Submitted by: Arnie Williams Rated: 5 out of 5 by 993 members
Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes Yields: 4 servings
"Salmon fillets brushed with honey and Dijon mustard, coated with bread crumbs and baked."

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
4 teaspoons chopped fresh
parsley
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.
In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley.
3.
Brush each salmon fillet lightly with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture.
4.
Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon.

Matt

It's me again...posting for Matt, my little cousin I told you about in my previous post titled, "a must read"

Matt very much wants strangers and friends to sign the guest book on his website. He wants to hit 500,000 signed guests before the 13th. He is getting close.

Please take a min. or two and sign his book, tell him how you found out about him, the city, state you live in and anything else you may want to share (an encouraging word, a prayer, a funny story, anything is fine).

go to www.alexandmatt.com
you can click on the guestbook link there.
also you can click on "journal" to read daily updates of their journey and prayer requests. Pray pray pray for this life saving transplant!

Matt will have his transplant on July 13th, they have been wrestling with the insurance company who did approve his transplant and then yesterday told the hospital it was not approved. I think they are back on track again and insurance is back to their previous verdict to cover the expenses. What a ride!

Thanks again for your prayers - also don't forget to sign the guest book - even if you don't know him he would LOVE To know you are praying and thinking about him.