Joel's Journey: sweet "Mavie"

Thursday, December 3, 2009

sweet "Mavie"

Look who came over tonight......."Mavie," and her parents too, Dave and Kate!!!! We were just playing around and taking some pictures. We had dinner together, held and passed her around and then she had an "explosion" in the cute Christmas outfit she has on, I got it for her today!! She is soooooo sweet and soft to hold!!!! Thank you Lord for letting me hold a baby today, this day in 06 we were at the hospital from checking in around 5pm. All the children had come up and we were in such shock as to what our life was going to face in the days ahead........as I look back He does give grace at precise moments in our lives.....

8 comments:

Anonymous said...: She is just precious! So glad for your family to have a new little one to enjoy...; December 4, 2009 at 6:15 AM
Amy said...: She is so adorable! What joy ur Lord brings in spite of our sorrow!; December 4, 2009 at 7:29 AM
Amy said...: She is so adorable! What joy ur Lord brings in spite of our sorrow!; December 4, 2009 at 7:30 AM
Mandy said...: Ah, the exploding diaper . . . I know it well.; December 4, 2009 at 9:20 AM
j said...: Nothing as sweet and joyful as a baby......awe, precious. I LOVE babies. Thank the Lord for this life.

Jessica; December 4, 2009 at 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...: What a sweet baby! So glad you all get to enjoy her. Missy in TN; December 4, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Teena said...: She is beautiful!!
I remember once Mandi did that on EASTER Sunday...wow that was 20 yrs ago! I miss diaper days!

Praying for you as so many things remind you of three years ago. Remembering w/ you. Hugs

Been struggling some this week. Thanks for your friendship!

In His love,
Teena; December 4, 2009 at 10:29 AM
-stephanie- said...: What a little love. So sweet.; December 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM

Joel's Story

Joel, our 11th of 13 and a twin of Josiah, at age 3 was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, on December 6th, 2006. Joel had three perfect years of health and he and Josiah celebrated their 3rd birthday Sept. 13th, 2006. The first of Oct. Joel started having unexplained fevers for a few days and would return to active play. After the fourth round of fevers we took him to our family Dr. which they said his iron was low, so we treated that for a few weeks and took him back only to have his hemo. showing lower than before. We were referred to a hematologists and saw him a few weeks with blood checks twice a week. At a visit on Dec. 4th we showed the Dr. the bumps, (which were tumors but we did not know at the time) on Joel's head and he was very concerned and we were told we needed to admit him immediately and start extensive tests the following day. Joel went through rigorous testing and then the dreaded results were given. Joel was at a stage IV the most extensive stage, but we were hopeful that the Lord would use the means of Chemotherapy treatments to restore Joel's body. Joel endured 8 1/2 days in the hospital, came home for Christmas, and returned for his second round of chemo Jan. 3, 2007. Joel had a seizure that night after midnight and went into a coma due to a tumor bleeding in his head area and causing his brain to swell. After tests the following days, the Dr. declared Joel "brain dead" and took us to court to force us to take Joel off life support, as we did not agree with the medical field's definition of death. Our family sought to stand with the scripture, "life is in the blood,"and until Joel's heart quit beating naturally, he was living. We were making arrangements to bring him home and on January 23, 2007 his little heart stopped beating and he went to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven. Our lives are changed forever. God is faithful in the midst of this trial and we look with great hope to be with him someday.