Joel's Journey: Christmas.....

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Christmas.....

Happy advent things are happening. Baking, crafting, eating, special places and much more. The kids love advent!! I love planning it!!

Keep praying for Terry's job situation. He did end up taking the salesmen commission job. Monday was his first day. This whole week is training. So tough as it is, he will work 40+ hours this week and only get compensated $150. Please pray next week he will have sales and began building his clientele. Tough.

It was so wonderful to have Daniel and Erin on the farm. And so thrilled for new baby in the womb.

Nine years ago, we were in the midst of our greatest trial....Joel and his cancer. Each day is cemented in my mind. I love Christmas and hate it at the same time.

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!

2 comments:

Teena said...: Love your advent pics. Hugs to you. I do think of you so much this time of year....

Teena; December 16, 2015 at 3:17 PM
Unknown said...: I really love your blog!

https://livinglifefullyalive.wordpress.com/; December 30, 2015 at 10:26 AM

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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.