A child born with Down Syndrome is at a higher risk to develop leukemia then a “typical kid,” therefore when the child is six months old their pediatrician will commonly order a Complete Blood Count (CBC) Test. (For more information please read our post, “Blood Tests Preformed For Babies Born With Down Syndrome.”) Among other things, the CBC shows the concentration of white blood cells (which fight off infection), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), and platelets (which help our blood to clot) in a person’s blood.
Noah turns six months old on the 15th of this month, (wow, that’s hard to believe!) and per his doctor’s orders, we took him to Children’s Medical Center to have his CBC tests preformed today. (By the way, we are regulars to the blood lab at Childrens‘ – if your child ever needs to get blood drawn and you live near Dallas – this is the place to go! They do great work!) I must admit I didn’t say much on the way to hospital. The thought of our son having leukemia scares me. A lot.
One thing I didn’t know until Noah was born was that children born with Down Syndrome respond really well (much better then
“typical kids”) to cancer treatment. In fact, there have even been cases of the cancer curing itself! Some scientists speculate that it has something to do with the fact that they have an extra copy of their 21st chromosome! Pretty cool!
Regardless of that awesomeness above, I hope you won’t mind my being honest when I say I really don’t want Noah to have leukemia. I know there are lots of families out there journeying through the realties of cancer, and I don’t believe there is anything about our family that makes us exempt from that reality. If the results come back, and Noah has leukemia we’ll put it in God’s hands just like we have done with everything else. It’ll be scary, it’ll require faith, but it won’t be the end of the world – by any means. God is still God. I’m just letting you know ahead of time that that isn’t the option I prefer. 🙂
It’s mind-blowing to think that in the next 24-48 hours (when we get the results of the CBC back) that there is a chance our little Noah could have cancer. (Actually, when you think about it, we’re actually all only one test away from news like that….Down Syndrome, or no Down Syndrome. We think we have “control” of our own life. Control is an illusion.)
No matter what the results are, we have trusted God since before Noah came into this world, and we’ll keep on trusting Him no matter what we face. We’ve found that God does a really good job of being God. I’ve said this a thousand times, but “our” children aren’t ours. They are on loan from God. They belong to Him. We are their parents. The sooner a person gets that, the better they are. (I’m stilling trying to get that, by the way.)
I’d l like to ask you to pray for our son, and for the results of the CBC test. Specifically that the results come back, “all clear” and there is no sign of leukemia. Thanks so much for loving on our family, and our son. You have no idea how encouraging it is.
By the way, if you are a new parent (or just looking for more information on Down syndrome) I want to encourage you to take a look at our new parents guide to Down syndrome.
-Rick
(P.S. – Please visit our connection page and subscribe so we can stay connected. Thanks!)
About Rick Smith
He’s a tough guy! What a cute kid!!!!
Thanks! He really is a tough guy! He’s gone through a lot in the first six months of his life! 🙂
Praying.
Thanks Brian!
Saying a prayer for you right now bro…
Thank so much. We really appreciate that.
ok, that was the saddest video so far, my son doesn’t like getting shots or giving blood, and felt bad that noah had to get that done, but we know it’s important to take care of business. gotta do the work. we said a prayer just now for your family.
Tell me about it..! I had to hold him! 🙁
I just wanted to say thank you for allowing us to stand with you in prayer. Your Noah is absolutely precious, and such an amazing gift from God. I know he has been through a ton in his first six months of life. I am grateful that God is faithful. I continue to pray for Noah,and for you and your wife. May God continue to hold y’all in His capable hands – showing you His faithfulness, peace and strength – both while you wait, and moving forward.
Thanks so much!
Praying for little Noah .
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
Said I prayer. I know it was heard. Lets pray once again that it is in Gods will. Before He was arrested, Jesus asked if they were any other way it could be done.. But He also said “let it be Your will, not Mine”.. if we are walking right with the Lord, He always does what is best for us. God bless
Thanks, David! I’ll be keep everyone posted via this page. You can visit http://noahsdad.com/subscribe to stay connected.
Praying now… Father God, You and You alone know what Noah’s needs are and what your plans are for him. Please comfort him and his family and let them know You will carry them through!!! In sweet Jesus name I pray ye… AMEN!!!
I’ll be praying for Noah and our family, he’s a sweetheart!
Praying now… Father God, You and You alone know what Noah’s needs are and what your plans are for him. Please comfort him and his family and let them know You will carry them through!!! In sweet Jesus name I pray ye… AMEN!!!
Agreeing with you on the covenant God has given us in Psalm 91 for Noah
We declare of the LORD that he alone is our refuge, our place of safety; he is our God and we trust him because he rescues us from every trap and protects us from the fatal plague.
He shields us with his wings. He shelters us with his feathers.
His faithful promises are our armor and protection.
We have made the LORD our refuge, we make the Most High our shelter, no evil will conquer us; no plague will come near our dwelling; for he orders his angels to protect us wherever we go.
God bless and be praised.
Sam
Praying for Noah.
In Jesus Name Be Healed Little Noah. Amen
Hi Rick… Now that I am not only teary, but also having a big gulp of unrecognized feeling in my chest. God bless you Noah… Like in the Bible, a man named Noah born to do tremendous-great things. You are no exception.
Father we come to You today and we hold up your child Noah and ask that you give him an extra special blessing we ask that you put your hand on these test results and make them come back with no illnesses no diseases.. Father we know that it is in Your will for us to be healed so we are just cashing in on Your promises Father.. We thank You Father and praise Your powerful name and know that You will give this little boy favor..In Jesus wonderful precious name we ask.. Amen
It seems clear to me that Noah has a ministry, already. Clearly God is using him and thus has His mighty Hand on Noah, on you, and on your family. I pray that He continues to keep you all in the palm of His hand, keeping you safe from any and all harm that is not part of His Wonderful plan. I pray, too, that God will always be “Present”, and that Noah and your family will never have cause to doubt or feel alone. Now excuse me while I go hug my own kids…
Thanks for sharing so openly and honestly. We will continue to pray for Noah til we get the ‘all clear’ from you. What a sweet precious boy he is! Adorable! 🙂 Hope y’all have a great day!
Rick and Abbie, Psalm 144 v 12. Claim this as a promise and prophesy for Noah. “That NOAH may be as a plant grown up in his youth.” Some versions: a strong tree. He will be strong and mighty like a great oak. Healthy and strongly rooted. He will be a mighty man of God. He will be a blessing to thousands. We do NOT accept illness in his body. We command disease and any attack to leave his body, in Jesus’ name! He is protected by the blood of the Lamb. We all agree.
We worship a God who loves to turn crucifixion into resurrection. Praying for Noah and also want to assure him that God does miracle every moment; we are testimony to it.
God Bless
P S Khual
Mumbai, India
I am praying for Noah. I worked with Developmentally Disabled adults. They were the highlight and joy of my life for many years….God bless you and your loved ones!
wow..man,im so sorry. i will pray for Noah. Hope he will be okay. 🙂
Hey thanks so much! Actually we get the update today, all is well! Thanks so much for your prayers!
God works in mysterious but powerful ways. Glory to God.
Amen!
I’m grateful to God that everything is ok. I pray that God will perfect all that concerns Noah & he will fulfill destiny.
Thanks for bringing such joy to his life, i can feel the radiation of the love you have for him.
May God bless you.
Thanks so much! We are also!
I notice you don’t have a gravatar….you should get one! 🙂
http://en.gravatar.com/site/signup/ <————
Just got a “normal” result for Owen’s first CBC test. Big sigh of relief!
I have only just found this post but I’m so chuffed to read that Noah got the all clear and I’m assuming that following cbc have also come back clear?
Jasper was born with leukaemia of Down syndrome and unfortunately because of the fluid around his heart, jaundice, low sugar & body temp, we & the drs didn’t want to risk it ‘curing itself’ (which it has for so many kids and I’m so pleased that it does!! The extra chromosome really is amazing in more ways than one!)
He had to have 2 courses of chemo, 3 platelet & 3 blood transfusions and at 6 wks old he got the all clear 🙂 regular tests since and the blood is behaving itself :-))
Glad to hear your little girl is doing.
Noah’s doing better today, and we haven’t gotten a CBC. We don’t get the very time he gets these little red dots. 🙂
However kids with Down syndrome should have a CBC test preformed once a year and Noah is due for one soon anyways, so we’ll check then.