HOME (December 24)

 After over 2 weeks in the hospital, Madilyn was finally able to come home! She's doing fine with the radiation treatments and now gets a few full days away from the hospital. Adam and Laurissa do have a some medications that they need to get Madilyn to take during this time, which isn't easy. They also have to be careful, Madilyn is considered immunocompromised and should not be around others who are ill. Even the slightest fever means a trip to the ER. They will be heading back to London on Sunday evening, as Madilyn's next treatment is at 8:30am on Monday (December 29th). She's now considered an outpatient, which means she does not have to stay in a hospital room. They will be staying at the Ronald McDonald House between treatments, which gives them more freedom. 

Adam, Laurissa and Madilyn drove straight from London to Palmerston for the Boonstra family Christmas. It was bittersweet. We were so excited that Madilyn was able to come. We are all so thankful we could celebrate Christ’s birth together. We laughed. We joked. We watched the little kids run around without a care in the world. It felt wonderfully normal and yet so different at the same time. At the end of the evening, there were some long hugs, and certainly some teary eyes. 

Tonight, on Christmas Eve, Madilyn gets to sleep in her own bed. No IV fluids, no nurses coming to check vitals, no setting off alarms due to movement. And she's so excited and happy for that simple blessing. 

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Ps 4:8














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