Well, I got a job. Unless my criminal background check turns up a felony I’ve forgotten about.

I’ll be working at The Children’s Choice social services, in the Human Resources department, as a recruiter, performing phone interviews for potential case workers.

I am going to work Monday, while Jeff is homeschooling Justin and making dinner.

On that note, Jeff would like me to distinctly STRESS to our readers to please contact us if you know of any positions available in I.T.

I am convinced more than ever of God having a sense of humor.

After training, I can typically work from home, which fits in really well with my hectic cancer momming schedule.

God provides! Thank you for continued support and prayer. A very special thank you to the lovely Sharon Cline, who has faithfully sent us an encouraging note every month since the beginning. Always a big cheer-up to open her cards!

Here’s a few pics from our adventures this week. Justin was able to play soccer and attend computer class at school, while also keeping up with his studies at home. God is good!

 

Clinic went really well yesterday. Justin had a relatively easy IV placement, and received his chemo in the playroom with best pal, Luke.

But Justin isn’t feeling so hot today. We are watching movies, and I’m making some of his classic chemo crave items – meatballs and banana bread.

I still haven’t come up with an appropriate way to describe our gratitude for the awesome ways God has been providing for us. But it’s kind of like that scene in “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” when the whole town is turned into ice cream and everyone runs around cheering and diving face first into mint chocolate chip snow drifts.

It’s kind of like that. But so much better.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

 

 

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 1 Peter 2:20-21

Justin cried his eyes out last night because another boy on his flag football team called him “fatty”.

Yes, I wanted to drop kick that kid. No, I didn’t do it.

Justin is on a boat load of steroids and drugs, which have caused weight gain.

He also eats stuff like cheezits dipped in chocolate milk.

We allow it and won’t be judged for it.

Chemotherapy does weird things to your taste buds and causes outrageous cravings.

It’s a very unhelpful side effect, but even doctors advise, it’s a futile battle to fight during treatment.

I know cancer moms, whose child never tasted a french fry, running out to McDonald’s at 10pm. Because when your child is in severe pain and vomiting through their nose, but also screaming uncontrollably for a happy meal because all they can do is watch TV and they just saw a fast food commercial, you go get it because that’s the only thing you can fix for them.

Parents, please remind your kids how stupid and hurtful their words can be.

Jeff has not yet gained employment, but we are ever hopeful.

Thank you for generous giving as well as unparalleled support and encouragement. Grace be with you, my friends.

We have discovered a sport Justin can play, and actually make it through a whole game. Flag football. They play two 15 minutes halves. His body can handle that once a week.

It also helps that his dad is the coach. Jeff knows when Justin needs a break.

Justin is so happy to be part of a team again. He is thrilled to be involved in sports again.

And he did really well. He looked like every other kid out there. He wasn’t significantly slower or anything like that.

And, lately, Justin has been putting more effort into his school work. And not throwing nearly as many insane, steroid-induced tantrums.

So I think: maybe he is coming back to us. Maybe he is getting well.

He’s been in treatment for so, so long. Could he finally, REALLY be getting well?!

Then I think: this has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And I have jumped out of an airplane, taught in inner-city schools and birthed a ten-pound baby.

But this. This has taken up my whole being. Staying next to this child for every second of his suffering.

And it’s been thousands and thousands of seconds.

It isn’t over. We have 6 months of treatments to go. Then who knows what beyond that.

But I think maybe Justin is coming back to us. I see him coming back.

Thank you, my friends, for your continued support and encouragement. Stay with us as we begin to approach the finish line.

And, God, let it be so that we will be able to say:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

 

 

 

This week it was more physical therapy, getting fitted for new leg-stretching braces, library day, homeschooling, keyboarding class and Justin getting caught stuffing his face with fruit snacks and cheese dip. Weird chemo cravings.

A very special thank you to Gloucester County Christian School’s boys varsity soccer team for making a sick little boy feel very special. They are wearing Justin’s initials (pictured on the sleeve below in orange) on their warm-up jerseys throughout the season. They also had one made for Justin and gave it to him at yesterday’s home opener. Thanks, guys. So cool.

After all that, here is a glimpse of today (pictured below). THANK YOU for continued support and prayer. God is good and He DOES provide.

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me; you take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. Psalm 31:3-5

 

🌟Justin played an entire game of flag football yesterday! He is exhausted today, but Buddy is there for him.

🌟I was able to travel to DC over the weekend to continue support and advocacy for childhood cancer patients, survivors and families of children who have passed, called angels in the childhood cancer community. I learned that the bill I helped lobby for has not only become law, but Congress has also voted to fully fund the survivorship, treatment, access, and research initiative (STAR act).

Someday we hope that chemotherapy will be a thing of the past. As Congressman Mike McCaul, champion of the STAR Act, put it, “we will say ‘how barbaric’!” Yes, indeed. We get that here at the Pierantozzi home.

I cried with parents who lost their child and we lit candles in their memory at the White House. We cheered for kids who couldn’t walk a year ago then took the stage Saturday night to dance ballet or sing songs they had written. For some, pain and hardship can be well-managed through exposition of the arts.

🌟We are inexpressibly grateful to God for providing through go fund me and private giving. We are able to cover all bills this month. Thank you for answering the call. God is good.

We will continue to run the campaign until Jeff gains employment. He is pursuing several leads. Thank you for continued support and prayer. Grace be with you, my friends.

https://www.gofundme.com/sponsor-grace-steps

 

One 7th grader, one 4th grader, one home school student, one big furry pain in the butt, one hurried and very imperfect picture and about nine coffees.

We are stressed and tired and making it up as we go along most of the time. But we are also proud and so very thankful.

 

Today is a routine lumbar puncture to check for leukemia cells in the spinal fluid as well as to inject chemotherapy into Justin’s central nervous system.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal anymore because, sadly, we are used to it. But when I think about what is really happening, I pretty much hate it.

I choose to focus on the fact that this treatment is saving Justin’s life. Giving him a chance to LIVE. To stay with us.

Being pushed into adopting this outlook for my own survival has certainly changed my perspective. For the most part, I have moved past typical American attitudes.

I simply don’t worry about things that don’t be really matter. I don’t feel self-entitled. I don’t work overtime to try to make everything perfect for my kids, or even fair. I’ve learned that doing so, as a parent, isn’t really doing them any favors in the long run anyway.

I make tons of mistakes. I am flawed. I am human. But I am learning how to REALLY trust God.

Some people think it’s crazy to trust in Someone you can’t see. Something bigger than our own ego and capabilities. I say, what a relief. This is grace.

I have been playing music since the beginning, but recently discovered a little song which really helps him to relax. This is Justin’s song…

 

Justin’s CBC came back good. We are home and resting. Thank you for messages of encouragement.

Psalm 145