More Good News!

All of John’s counts are staying up. His platelets are over 200,000 today, Praise the Lord. This is very good news. His other blood counts are holding steady on their own. He has also been fever free since Saturday. He’s feeling a little more alert today and has been up a couple of times to walk. The Doctors are slowly removing all of his IV’s except his nutrition therapy. John has lost 18 pounds while in the hospital. He is also receiving some new meds for his headaches. They will start back with the ATRA sometime next week.

EVEN MORE GOOD NEWS! John may be able to come home by Wednesday or Thursday. They are hoping for Wednesday but are still waiting to see how he continues to respond. John and his family are excited about the thought of being able to come home. John & Lorena are with John today at the hospital; Janna will be with family in the Richmond area.

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Everyone have a Happy New Year!
Keep praying!

All Counts Up! Praise the Lord!

White Blood count: 1.6, compared to 0.8; and Platelets @ 101,000 compared to 5,000. After considering John’s charts it looks as though he bottomed out on December 24th. Yesterday John was very alert and awake for several hours. It may have worn him out as he has been sleeping almost all day today. The Doctors are still quite concerned about the sores in his mouth. These are a normal side affect of the chemo, but could also be a sign of another issue going on. They are beginning some new treatment today targeting these sores in particular. They are like extreme canker sores. Concerning John’s side affects the Doctors are saying that John has been on the severe side of them. He is still off the ATRA and will be until the end of next week. He’s having a hard time eating due to the headaches and sores, but was trying to eat tonight.

Lorena says the house is pretty much ready for his return. Her and Janna will return home tomorrow for the night, and then return to Indy on Monday. Some of Lorena’s family is gathering to celebrate New Year’s in the Richmond area with one of the sisters, so Janna will be with her family. John and Lorena will be at Riley with John…watching football no doubt.

Prayer Requests: Continue to pray about John’s headaches. Also pray that when John begins taking the ATRA again next week that he’ll not experience these headaches. Also, continue to pray about all the traveling the family is doing these days.

Keep praying!

Hey John...the youth group wishes you were able to be down here in Orlando with us! We are praying for you as a group and can't wait to see ya soon! PJ

Early this morning John’s temp broke and has stayed below 100 so far today. Praise the Lord! He still is dealing with the headache, which keeps him in bed, not feeling like walking around or eating. He did eat a little yesterday and they are hoping he will eat some later today. All of his tests are coming back normal which is good news and means that his headaches are most likely being caused by the ATRA. The Doctors are going to take him off the ATRA for 1 to 2 weeks to see if it will help with the headaches. They have experienced success with this approach in the past. Another word of praise is that John has not received any blood products for the last two days. This is also very good news. They are changing his pain meds around, still trying to find the right balances to give him the most help. John is looking at staying in Riley for at least another week. John and the family are in a bit of a waiting game right now as the medicines are doing their work, and his body is trying to respond. Pray for his headaches and continued treatment. Pray for the family as they travel; make preparations for his return home; and as they try to rest while caring for John; pray for strength. We’ll keep you posted...Keep Praying!

John had an MRI today in an effort to figure out what’s causing the headaches. The Doctors are trying to rule out everything else before they concentrate on the ATRA he’s receiving. They are feeling quite strong that he is suffering from ATRA Syndrome which is common. This will cause the headaches and fever that John is having. The trick here is that ATRA is the primary treatment for APML, John’s type of leukemia…so he needs to take it. Once they confirm that it is in fact the syndrome, they will likely take him off the ATRA for a period of five days to rid his body of some of this chemical. After that time he will begin taking the ATRA once again. Many times the side affects will not return after a break of this type. Sometimes they need to do the break more than once before the side affects stop. We’ll just have to wait and see how John responds.

On Christmas Day he still had a high fever…as high as 102, and the headaches continued. He was only able to be alert and talk with his family for about 3 hours because simply doesn’t feel well. He did get a visit from “Santa” during the early morning hours of Christmas day. Actually it was a nurse that brought around presents to all the kids who are in over Christmas. Some of the presents were a little juvenile for John, but they will pass them on to others who can use them.

John Sr. became sick Christmas night and had to come back home. He’s feeling a little better today. He will work on Thursday and return to Indy after work with Janna. He’s planning to stay through next Wednesday. Lorena is in Indy today. Continue to pray for John, his headaches and fever, and for his continued treatment. Also, remember the family as they travel back and forth and try to sleep there in the hospital. We’ll keep you posted…keep praying!

The report for this evening is that all of John's counts were down today and that John slept almost all day. This evening though, John was awake and ordered his Christmas Eve dinner...pizza and french fries. (As of this post, we're not sure how much he ate. But at least he was up to the challenge.) John had another bad temp today. His temp reached 104 causing the doctors some concern. To combat the temp they cooled his room, continued to give him ice packs and wet wash clothes. So, while John is now comfortable the rest of the family has to bundle up in blankets. :)
Sometime Wednesday a specialist is suppose to come in to check the optical pressure in John's eyes. The results of this test will hopefully help them with some understanding to the headaches and the temperatures. Let's pray that there will be some clarification from these tests.
Specific prayer requests continue to be the headaches and the temperature that is causing John so many problems and discomfort.

Due to Tuesday being Christmas, we won't have any reports so check back on Wednesday for the latest.

Merry Christmas to all!

Sunday afternoon the family had their "mini-Christmas" down at Riley. Lorena said it was a nice time to open their stockings together with everyone together. They'll finish celebrating their family Christmas once John gets home. Today is about the same as yesterday. He has spiked another fever, in as much as this raises concerns...all the blood cultures that have been taken come back negative to any other infections. The headaches are continuing to be an issue for John. Due to the headaches, he sleeps a lot, doesn't get to walk around like he needs to or doesn't eat like he should. He is still receiving nutritional supplements through an IV to help give him some strength and energy. John's platelet levels continue to bounce around causing him to receive more platelets this morning and a couple bags of blood. The side effects of the chemo are also starting to show themselves. John is beginning to loose his hair and will soon be sporting the look of his father. John still has a good attitude and loves to joke around when he is feeling well. Right now, it is just a period of waiting for his white counts to bottom out and then begin to come back up.

During this Christmas season, let's continue to lift this family up with our prayers and thoughts!

These last few days have been difficult days for John & the Pearson family. John’s platelets have dropped again today and he did receive another unit. His hemoglobin is holding steady. His white blood counts are still elevated…which is in keeping with this roller coaster his condition has been on these last few days. He had a fever today…as high as 102, which keeps him down most of the day. Worst of all are the headaches. The Doctors are trying to find a way to get him some relief. The headaches are most likely due to the ATRA he’s taking, and he has to continue to take that medicine. Headaches are one of the possible side affects. Today’s headache was most severe. The Doctors are saying that he’s on the right track and is responding to the treatment and will most likely begin to feel better in a week or two. That’s when he’ll likely be able to come home. He did eat some soup and three-quarters of a vanilla milkshake today…that’s more than he’s had in a couple of days. Most of the day he spent resting, because he just doesn’t feel very good. He hasn’t been walking much due to the headaches. He is receiving nutrition therapy through his IV now which is helpful.

Specific Prayer Requests: Please pray for the headaches to subside. Even if they would stay at a more manageable level, it would be a blessing. Secondly, pray for John, Lorena and Janna as they are being taxed to the greatest level. Pray for sleep when the opportunities come, and for added strength amidst this weary schedule.

The family will gather on Sunday for a “mini-Christmas” together as Janna has to work the next two days. John is staying through Wednesday, and Lorena will join him on Monday and plans to stay the next three nights. We’ll keep you posted. Keep praying!

Today John has spiked a fever and unfortunately his headaches continue to be bad. His platelet levels were low this morning leading him to have to receive another unit of platelets. The doctors are also making a few changes with his medicines to protect his kidneys from potential problems. The doctors have also increased the calories that he is receiving through his IV to help give him some strength while he doesn't eat. Johnny continues to be tired but seems to have some good moments where he can read his mail and watch a little bit of TV.
Let's continue to send our love, words of encouragement and prayers to John and the family through these challenging days!

John made 8 laps around his unit this morning and has eaten a little bit. This morning John has a low grade fever which makes him tired and not feeling the greatest. His white count continues to drop which is normal and his platelet count keeps jumping around. Today his platelet count is low. Yesterday the doctors performed a CT scan to see why John was having headaches and is experiencing sores in his mouth. The CT scan came back normal which is a good thing, but it doesn't help with the understanding of the cause of the headaches and sores. John has eaten a little bit but not like he should. Due to the sores in his mouth he doesn't feel like eating or talking. This is an area we can be praying specifically for John today.
Big John reported that the doctors are encouraged with where John is with his treatments and how he is doing. They have seen many others do much worse at this point. Our prayers are being answered!
Continue to pray for Lorena as she finishes this semester and for Janna as she has to work a lot during the holidays. John will be down at Riley since his work is in "shut-down" for the next week.

John continues on his “roller coaster” today. He was to have a CT scan this afternoon. They are trying to figure out what is causing his headaches. It could be caused by the ATRA (Oral chemo he’s taking), but they want to rule out anything else that could be going on. He has been up walking these last couple of days, but has been a lot more tired due to the pain medicine he’s been given. He has received both morphine and Tylenol 3 to try and help with the pain. His platelet count was holding steady today, only a slight drop, which is good news. He did receive a unit of red blood yesterday afternoon. His white blood count is still rising, but they are unclear as to what that means exactly. His appetite is waning due to his headaches...nobody feels like eating when your head hurts that bad!

“Big John” is heading down tonight with Lorena and he will be staying for the next week. John’s job is on “shut down” for the Christmas holiday, so he’s planning to stay down there. Lorena will return to finish out the week at LCS. Janna will return tonight with Lorena. Continue to pray for John’s condition, his appetite and his spirits. Pray for the family as they are traveling back and forth to Indy. God is helping and answering your prayers in miraculous ways. The family is most grateful.

We’ll keep you posted. Keep praying!

After talking with Janna this morning, the report for today is that John has a bad headache. Yesterday he had to receive another dose of platelets which has also caused him to be very tired. John is still not very hungry and therefore not eating as he needs to. Last night the physical therapist came in and met with John to give him a list of exercises he can begin to do. Pray today for John to have an appetite as well as a renewed strength. Pray also for John and Lorena as they are working this week, trying to get things ready for John to come home in the next few weeks and as they travel back and forth. Pray for Janna as she continues to help motivate and encourage John to eat and exercise.

John’s condition today is basically the same as yesterday. He is alert and in good spirits. He enjoyed a lot of visitors today. His platelets were down again today so he received another unit of platelets. His hemoglobin was also down today, therefore another unit of blood. Please pray for John concerning his platelets and hemoglobin. His white blood cells were elevated today, in keeping with the roller coaster he’s been on of late. They are looking for his wbc to bottom out…but this may take a few days.

Lorena stayed at home today due to the weather. John Sr. will return tonight in order to return to work tomorrow. Lorena is planning on teaching Tuesday – Monday this week. They are in the process of making preparations at home for John’s return home. Janna is staying at the hospital with John. Continue to pray for John; his treatment; the response of his body to the treatment; his appetite and his spirits in general. Praise the Lord for many answered prayers. Also, continue to pray for the family as they travel back and forth to Indy. Keep praying!

The LORD is a refuge…a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

John is alert and joking around today. He was experiencing nausea last evening for some reason, but today is better. He tires very easily. His chemo finished on Friday at around 1:00 pm. He is still on the ATRA (oral chemo treatment) and he will be taking this for quite some time. Today his platelets are down to 13,000 which is cause for concern. He received more platelets this morning. His hemoglobin is also low today and will receive another transfusion this afternoon. His white blood cell count is up today…but this is part of a “waiting game” as they are expecting his wbc to bottom out sometime in the next 10 days. They are watching his blood pressure today because it was a bit low. John has a lot of family in town today. 4 out of the 5 sisters in Lorena’s family are together today, so there’s a bit of a reunion happening at Riley today. John has been able to eat alright today.

Continue to pray for John and his family. They are watching the weather closely, like the rest of us, due to flight schedules for Loretta and plans for traveling back and forth. Continue to pray for John’s platelets and hemoglobin as these two issues are a concern. Also pray for patience as the Pearson’s are all waiting for the treatment to run its course and for John’s body to response. They are encouraged by all the prayers and the many signs of your support. We’ll keep you posted. Keep Praying!

John is doing well again today. He was able to eat breakfast this morning without getting sick. He has also been up walking; eleven times around his unit. The goal for today is twenty-one. Janna is really pushing him hard. Don’t you feel sorry for all of her future patients? His white blood count is quite low. His hemoglobin is looking good. One cause for concern today is that his platelet levels have dropped again. They want him to stay above 35,000, but he has dropped below this benchmark, so will have to receive platelets this afternoon. He is feeling pretty good; is awake and talking. He was getting ready to nap a bit just after 12:30 today. Lorena thought that if he continues to improve as he has been doing he may be able to come home in the next week or week and a half. But that could change. It all depends on his progress. A lot of the family is traveling in and out this weekend, so keep them all in your prayers. Lorena is coming home tonight and will likely return tomorrow. Her sister is coming in from Michigan, and Loretta will be flying out on Monday. The family enjoys reading the notes; cards; and appreciates all of your prayers and your support. We’ll keep in touch. You all keep praying!

John is having another good day today. Janna is proving to be a good nurse and is “ordering” him around. He had a good night and this morning his fever is down. His platelet count is holding steady at 49,000, and the Doctors are quite pleased with this. He ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast this morning; praise the Lord! He also has been up and walked around the halls…only made it once today, but still it’s good for him. His white blood cell count is still quite low. This is expected to “bottom out” at some point due to his treatment. It’s still unclear exactly how long he’ll need to stay at Riley, but it could be as long as a couple of weeks. However, if he continues to improve, and his platelets stay up, he may be released sooner. Continue to pray for John as he receives one more day of treatment. Friday will be the last day for chemo. Then he needs to recover and build his strength. The family is beginning to work on plans for bringing him home, which may mean a few changes to his bedroom. Remember the daily drives to Indy for John Sr., and many family members who are traveling in this weekend.

We’ll continue to keep you posted as we receive new information. Keep Praying!

Here is a photo of Brice and his family that we are also praying for. This family lives in Evansville, Indiana and has to make regular trips to Riley so that Brice can receive his treatments. Pray for God's strength and peace to be with this family as well.

John continues to enjoy a good day today. He spiked another temp during the late morning but with the help of some Tylenol his fever broke again. He was also able to eat some Cheezits and drink some Gatorade. Praise the Lord. Another praise...John got up today and walked around his unit three times. He has only napped for an hour and a half today, so these are all good reports from Riley.

God is faithful...Keep Praying!

John is doing better today. He's on the up-swing of this roller coaster he's on. His fever broke in the night and this morning his temp is below 100. He did need to receive platelets last night because counts had dropped below 40,000. His White Blood Cell count is still low, but is better than yesterday. His count is around 140 and should 1000. He's not feeling dizzy or nauseous today which is good. Lorena says he is "perky" and more awake today, more than yesterday. One concern for today is that John needs to eat. His appetite is gone due to the chemo, and he's losing weight. He needs to be getting some calories in him. The goal today is for John to eat something.

A quick word on visitors. Now that John's white counts are low, caution is a good rule. When John is having a bad day (bottoming out), which is going to happen, he is very suseptible to catching infection from others. If you're wanting to visit, you may need to contact Lorena before you go. Her cell phone is 765-661-8395. Feel free to call her to find out if it's a good day to visit or not. Also, you may need to wear a mask while in the room for John's protection.

Pray for Janna and Loretta (Lorena's sister) and John as they travel to Indy later today.

Praise the Lord for all He is doing. Keep praying!

John is having a bad day today. These types of ups and downs are to be expected given the type of treatment he is receiving. Today is similar to last Thursday. He is in a "neutropenic" state; neutropenia-a condition in which the white blood cells are much lower than they should be. As a result John is very tired and not as likely to be alert and talking, as he was yesterday. He is also at a greater risk of infection from others. His temp is still elevated and they are giving him Tylenol to help. John has also lost weight due to his lack of an appetite. The nutrition specialists are trying to get him to take on some special drinks which contain alot of calories. If he is not able to begin eating they may have to start nutrition therapy thru his IV.

If you should decide to visit today, you may want to check with Lorena first. Certainly check in at the nurses station, as you may need to wear a mask while in the room. Caution would be a good rule for John at this point. Thanks for keeping up to date on John's condition and for supporting the family with your prayers. More later...
Keep Praying!

The question has been asked if it's possible to donate blood on John's behalf. Yes, in fact you can. This doesn't actually mean your donation will actually go to John...but you can donate in his name to offset the amount of blood he's being given. According to the Riley staff you need only to contact our local blood donation center in order to give. Contact MGH for details concerning donating blood.

Today was a good day for John. He was able to sit up and watch TV (Sportscenter mostly) for a while. Usually after being up a while, he gets tired and closes his eyes. He was able to stand and walk to the bathroom without getting dizzy which is a blessing. Pray for "Big" John this week as he is back to work and then driving to Indy each afternoon...and then back again. Lorena's twin sister, Loretta, is in town from California helping out the family. Janna is planning on staying with John on Wednesday, after her finals are finished.

John was excited to watch the Colts Sunday night. He fell asleep, like the rest of us, when the Colts started running away with the game. It was good to see John smile today. God is answering prayers and the family appreciates your support. Keep praying!

John is having a good day today. His blood pressure is Much better today and he is off oxygen. His headaches are also better. The specialist was in and is pleased wuth his progress. He continues to receive antibiotics for fever. He is receiving chemo each day and will through Friday. His white blood cells are very low due to the chemo. He did receive more platelets on Sunday night. His numbers were good Monday morning. He has no appetite...also typical His hemoglobin is good. John will need to stay at Riley until his white cells come up. We'll post more larer. keep praying.

It's exam week for Janna. Let's remember her in prayer as she finishes the semester. Here's her exam schedule:

Monday-4:00 pm
Tuesday-8:00 am
Wednesday-8:00 am

Mark these times down and remember to pray for Janna this week.

Keep praying! God is faithful.

As the Choir sang "Silent Night, Holy Night" the
Westview church family gathered around Janna
Pearson for prayer. It was a great moment and
the Lord visited us there at the altar.

John enjoyed a visit today from several in the
Youth Group. Pastor Jeff loaded up the church van after church and made the trip to Indy.
John's vitals seem to be leveling out
today. They were struggling to keep his blood
pressure under control, but it's better this
afternoon.

We'll keep you updated as we have more
to share. Keep praying!

Thank you all for your continued prayer support for John during these last few days.

Today John's condition is holding steady for the most part. X-rays of his chest remain unchanged today. John's breathing has been shallow at times and he's received oxygen as needed. His platelets remain low. His levels have been around 44,000 and the goal is to hold steady at 50,000. As a result he is continuing to receive platelets. The issue with the platelets is cause for concern and should be added to your specific prayer list concerning John's treatment and recovery. John is receiving three different kinds of chemo, and is now receiving treatment through his pick-line. He has been placed on a heart monitor because this type of treatment can be hard on the heart. His hemoglobin is holding steady. Mornings seem to be better than evenings for John. He is still experiencing constant headaches and has very little energy. He has received alot of visitors today. The family is thankful for all your support.

Sunday night at 6:00 there will be an opportunity to join together for a time of prayer as a church family for John and Brice; John's little roommate the first two nights. You will also have an opportunity to help the family in a practical way during that service. We plan to have cards for the church family to write some encouraging notes to John and Brice, following the service.

Keep visiting this site for more updates. Keep praying!

Praise the Lord for a good day. John has felt better today and actually got up to take a shower this afternoon. He has not been able to eat anything as of yet. He began receiving chemo today through his pick-line. It's possible that this will cause him to get sick again, so keep him in your prayers. He hasn't been bleeding today...also a good sign. The family is encouraged to see him feeling better. Keep praying!

In case you're not aware. You can send an email to John, which will be printed out and hand delivered to his room. Go to http://rileychildrenshospital.com/ and click on the "Email a Patient" tab. Simply enter his name and your encouraging message and the Riley staff will hand deliver it to his room. Keep Praying!

Good Morning...
John had a good night last night. His oxygen was removed later Thursday evening. This morning he is awake and more alert. He is more responsive and talking to his family this morning. His temperature is also down today. He hasn't had any bleeding in his mouth since yesterday morning. His platlets are still dropping and this is cause for concern. They are giving him platlets to help with this problem. He was even able to stand under his own power this morning in order to go the bathroom. John Sr. stayed the night with John at the hospital; Lorena went with her sister Angie and stayed with a friend. Reports are that she had a good nights' sleep. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness. He is answering prayers. The family is most appreciative of all your prayer and support. We'll keep you posted with the latest news from the Pearsons as we have it available.

Sunday night at 6:00 pm we'll have a prayer vigil at Westview for John, including cards to sign and send down, and opportunities to be a help to them in practical ways. All are welcome. Keep praying!

Johnny is improving slightly this afternoon. He's still sleeping but does come around when summoned. He has been able to go to the bathroom which is a good sign. The next two-three days are critical for John. The family appreciates all of the prayers. Keep praying!

Johnny has started to respond a little better since this morning. His temp is down a bit and he's receiving platlets. He has not been moved to ICU which is very good news, but they may still need to send him. They've put him on oxygen to help. His condition is on the edge of critical. Keep praying!

At 2:30pm today (Thursday) the student body of Lakeview Christian School will be meeting for a school wide prayer vigil. All are invited to come join the students as they pray.

Also, please plan on being a part of a prayer service at Westview Wesleyan Church on Sunday night, Dec. 9th at 6:00pm. At this service an update on John's condition will be given and the congregation will be asked to specifically pray for John and his family. There will also be an opportunity for people to write some notes of encouragement and support which will be taken to the family.

Last night (Wednesday) was not a good night for Johnny. He didn't react to the medicine as they had hoped and his platelets levels continued to drop causing him to bleed. This morning John is being monitored and may possibly be moved to a room in ICU so that he can be given more individual attention.

A routine trip to the dentist's office raised concern when John's mouth wouldn't stop bleeding. After consulting the dentist and the family doctor the decision was made to have some blood work done. Monday, Dec. 3, the doctor called the family and asked them to come directly to the hospital for some more tests. The blood work had come back with low white and red counts. At that point the doctor sent John along with his parents to Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis for further tests. Blood work at Riley verified the findings of Marion General. After more tests, it was determined that John has APML leukemia.

John and his parents all remain at Riley as even more tests are run and the doctors confer to determine a plan of attack.

Please pray for John through this trying time. Pray for God's peace, strength and comfort as a course is being set for the next few weeks and months to come. Pray for John and Lorena as they wait patiently and do their best to support their child. Pray also for Janna as she continues to finish up this semester while wanting to be close by her families side.

As news is available, we will do our best to update this site.