Joel's Journey: the day Joel and Josiah were born!!!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

the day Joel and Josiah were born!!!

Happy Birthday

Joel and Josiah!!!!!

Josiah is eight today!!!!!

what a blessing he is !!

Josiah loves playing outside.

he is always telling

me he can help or

do something for me!!

he really likes helping

Terry with any jobs

big or small

and recently just "earned"

some cash!!

I am so thankful to the

Lord for

the mercies He

has shown me through Josiah's life

being here to help my heart!!

I would think that if Joel

were here, I could say

the same about him......

Happy Birthday

Joel,

I miss you and love you

still!!

Sept.13, 2003-Jan.23, 2007

9 comments:

LJR said...: Happy Birthday Josiah! Wow when did he get so big!? Remembering Joel today, and wishing Josiah a blessing filled birthday.; September 13, 2011 at 8:04 AM
Unknown said...: Ahhh, a bittersweet day. Celebrating life. One that flourishes and grows before your very eyes, another that lives and waits for you in heaven. Blessings to you all.; September 13, 2011 at 8:11 AM
Janet said...: Wishing Josiah a very happy Birthday, and sending warm hugs to you today as you remember the life of your precious Joel xx; September 13, 2011 at 10:15 AM
j said...: Happy B-day Boys!!!

Josiah looks like your older twins and what a blondie!!! I hope your heart can find joy today, remembering Joel and all the blessings his life brought you.

Love,
jessica; September 13, 2011 at 9:23 PM
Teena said...: I was gone all day yesterday but I thought of you!

Love you much!
Teena; September 14, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy birthday, Josiah and Joel! =); September 14, 2011 at 7:33 AM
Marie said...: Happy Birthday Josiah ! What bittersweet memories I know you must have of this day....thinking of you all :)
I have a random question for ya .....did Danielle have a boy or girl ? Somehow I missed finding out.
Take care,
Marie; September 14, 2011 at 12:16 PM
Daniel and Jaynee Lockwood and Family said...: I always think of you in September. Happy Birthday, Joel and Josiah! Thinking of how the Lord is using and will continue to use you both for His glory!
Love you, Cindy! Hope to see you SOON :); September 15, 2011 at 11:28 PM
Rachel said...: Josiah is a beautiful boy. I am sure Joel is, too! I think you are the coolest mom, ever! It looks like you have perfected birthdays... I guess you get alot of practice on that one! :) Thanks for writing me still. It means a ton! Rachel; September 21, 2011 at 8:45 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.