April 6, 2002 (Saturday)

Day 42

Today began a little after 8:00. I got up and took a bath while William went downstairs to get coffee, etc. I got ready and went to Jared's room.

Kay is his nurse today. She filled us in on the latest with Jared. During the night, his machine kept clotting so it was gone when I came in. I didn't even notice. Jared is now on a morphine/vercet drip. He has been asleep most of the time while we've been in here. His blood pressure is remaining stable so they are lowering one of his drugs. Jared's lungs are also looking better today. We remain hopeful that Jared is going to pull through.

I talked with Daniel's mom (another stem cell family) earlier and she said she was praying for Jared.

It is now 10:25 and we are waiting for the latest update. We are also waiting for family to arrive.

*Lord, we thank you for this day and pray for your will. In Jesus name.

William and I continued to sit with Jared. Dr. Shipp came by and said that he was still worried but more optimistic. We waited and then Dr. Winkler came by. She said that she felt Jared was the same and was glad he wasn't worse.

William and I left and went upstairs to eat. Patrick's mom (another stem cell family) came in and we talked for a few minutes. William and I went back downstairs. The burn nurse was changing Jared's dressing so I sat in the waiting area and then went back upstairs.

William called me a few minutes later.  Tom, Dess, Joyce and Adam had arrived from home. It was really good to see Adam. We all went to the stem cell family room and they ate and then we went downstairs.  Everyone took turns going in to see Jared.

Cody, Jared's best friend, arrived soon after. He and his dad came in to see Jared. I explained to Cody what was going on with Jared. I became a little emotional but was able to keep my cool. When they went back to the waiting area, I went too. William and I went downstairs with them to get a snack.

I went back upstairs and they came up soon after. Debbie, Patrick and Mark had arrived so we all took turns visiting with Jared until 6:30.

Cody and I had went upstairs to see Adam. We came back to the PICU waiting area and then everyone went downstairs. Cody and his dad left for home and we all decided to go eat. We went to a local BBQ place. We all ate and then left around 8:30. Mark and family left to go to the State park. Tom and Dess dropped us off at the hospital and went to the Hope Lodge.

William, Adam and I went to see Jared. He was still sleeping. His dialysis machine had clotted off again. They decided to wait until tomorrow to restart it. I noticed that Jared was having some bleeding so I asked the nurse what his last platelet count was. She checked and at 3:00, it was 34,000 so she ordered platelets.

I came upstairs at 10:30 and called Rhonda. I also talked with Mrs. Weaver today. It is now 12:20 (1:20 daylight savings time) and we are about to go to sleep.

*Lord, please keep Jared safe. Watch over him and have your way. In Jesus name. Amen.

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Another story written by Jared...  :)

Cinderpete

by Jared Sangster

Once upon a time there was a boy named Cinderpete. He lived in the town of Paris, Alabama. He and his brothers and stepfather lived in a small shack on the side of Highway 1001. His brothers went to go play when Cinderpete had to help clean the house. While they were out the brothers got four tickets to the Sugar Bowl. They invited their dad but they did not have enough tickets for who else but Cinderpete. He begged to them to let him go instead of his stepdad. But they said no. Later, they left three days before the game. Cinderpete was sad but he had someone to talk to. He called for the ten dorks. All of them except for Sleepy were gone with some girl named Snow White. Cinderpete left a note and told them he needed help. The next day, the ten dorks showed up at his house. He told them his problem and they said there were enough of them to make a football team. They went out and joined the NCAA. They went to their first game and won it. After they had played five games, they were still undefeated. They were in the championship. The next day they went to the Sugar Bowl. His brothers saw him and they were very surprised. They never made fun of him again and everybody lived happily ever after.

Jared practicing his saxophone...