Joel's Journey

Monday, November 30, 2015

prayer is good.

Well, today was Terry's last day at his job at the crossroad clinic! He handed over the construction business to Elijah so right now we are jobless. But, hopefully and prayfully God will come through quick! Please pray for our situation!

Thanksgiving is behind us and Christmas is ahead. I enjoy our advent activities with the little kids. I have been planning them and we are ready for December 1!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful and memory filled holiday!! Jesus is God!

We stopped by the magnolia market on thruway home! It was wonderful!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

it never leaves....

It comes like a phantom. I never know when it will strike. I heard the electrocardiogram monitor again. The beeps and then the lonnnnnng beep and he was gone. it makes me where I can't breath. I mean I'm just laying down to go to bed and then it just happened.

The holidays will never be the same. The holidays are tough.

The kids are looking forward to our annual advent activities. I'm still gathering ideas and plans.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Engaged

Elijah asked Savanah to marry him and she said YES!!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

shocked!!!

LOOK what the kids did while we were gone!! A second anniversary surprise!!! I LOVE it so much!!! Thank you to my wonderful people!!!

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.