Joel's Journey: a sweet boy!!!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

a sweet boy!!!

Remember Bethany going to Illinois a week or so ago?? She went to see her bestie friend, Danielle and to help with the baby while she had a gall bladder surgery.....eeeek!!!! (Danielle is doing good by the way!!!) Bethany was in her wedding and the last time Danielle and Aaron were here, she was prego!! Well, I meant to share a picture along time ago but i just totally forgot about it but when Bethany showed me these pictures I HAD to show you!!! Now this is what I call ADORABLE!!!! Meet Layton Russell and he is 3 1/2 months old now!!!! Bethany has just gone on and on how precious he is and I sure wanna meet this little guy so he can figure out what he will call me, hahah!!! I am so happy and proud of Danielle! I know many years ago and alot of long talks and alot of prayer and encouraging her that God would be Faithful to her in every area, like providing a godly husband and now a wonderful home and a gift of a baby boy in her life! Daniell's mom went to be with Lord Jan.3, 2007, just twenty days before Joel. She has known the great deep of grief and I think she would testify God has carried her every inch and I know she still misses her mom, but I think her lips would give praise to His providence and plans for all that has unfolded since 2007! Its a blessing to me to see a young woman come to know and find a hope in the Lord through such sore trials and now she has a testimony to tell others by His grace!!

Blessings are all around us.......may you Praise Him today as you hug your baby, play with your toddler, visit or talk to your mom on the phone. What a wonderful God we have!!

Cindy

2 comments:

The Ahlgren Family said...: He is just the handsomest little guy! We sure hope they can come for a visit sometime soon! We want to meet the little man!; November 23, 2011 at 11:50 AM
Danielle said...: thank you so much for doing this post! :) It's easy for me to forget what God has brought me through, but as I remember back I am SOO thankful for God's providence. Never in 1000 million years would I have dreamed I could have had this life. To be blessed with a wonderful husband and *PERFECT* son! I'm incredibly blessed! Coming up on January it will be hard I'm sure, but one thing is for sure. I would never have met Aaron or had the life I did now if it weren't for what happened. God has most definiately used even the darkest of times for HIS glory! He has brought good to even a miserable and terrible thing! Thank you Jesus!!!

I can't wait to make it down there so everyone can see my lil man! We'll have to think of something for him to call you! :) He sure does love his Aunt Besh! Maybe yall will make it here first! We have some great skiing hills! It opened yesterday!! C'mon and well hit the hills! :)

Love you guys!; December 2, 2011 at 2:57 PM

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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.