Joel's Journey: Fall

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Fall

I have to say Fall is not my favorite season. I'm 100% Summer gal. I don't mind the colorful foliage and the crispness to the air but there are hard memories and situations that Fall has brought and IS bringing forth at this time. Fall is when Joel became sick. October 2006 was filled with fevers and concerns and then it only went downhill from there. Hard memories. I still have to fling myself upon his mercy and rummage through all the emotions to find the solid rock that plans and purposes were planned and puroposed for our good and his glory. I miss all the what ifs and the could have beens. And then just last Fall, Daniel was in the depth of depression. I was so afraid. I don't know what was worse having a child die, yet alive OR having a child alive, yet in one sense dead. But God who is rich in mercy worked the dispair out of Daniels life and heart. And now here it is Fall again, and the situation with my dad and Shirley. She is still only able to say a few words. My dad plans to bring her home from the nursing home this week. There will be people coming and going each week to do therapy and

assist her with her speech therapy. My heart is so heavy as he and Shirley walk this new path. So Fall and I are not best friends. Thank you for praying for any and all of these situations.

Enjoying the sweetness of my grandson. Somehow babies help us to not see all the bad but they bring newness and hope to our weary hearts.

2 comments:

Teena said...: praying for you.... I remember and I know... although I have not walked in your shoes. You are on my mind and in my heart. Praying for God to give you peace as you remember the moments, memories and hard hard time. I haven't forgotten.... I think of you so often and I think about Joel. You are such an encouragement to me (and so many) so we are holding up your arms.... hang in there... kiss sweet Rowdy for me! He is so very precious.

Love you,
Teena; October 6, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Nance said...: 'like'. True. So True. Grandbabies bring us hope. Look up . . . and look forward. Faith and hope to you and yours.; October 27, 2013 at 10:20 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.