Prayers and Praises



Dear blog readers,

This past week has been probably one of the most trying ones for our family. We've been through a lot this past year, with the passing of my Grandfather and Uncle and a cousin, but I'd like to ask for prayer for my little sister R.

You might remember me asking for prayer for her earlier this year when she had a really bad fever. R is twelve and has Down Syndrome, a disability that makes her act younger than she is and she has problems growing and processing things. This past Wednesday my sweet little sister R was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is even now going through Chemo as I write this. It was a shock to the entire family and the doctors- no one would have ever guessed. To think that R, who already has Down Syndrome, could get cancer, is mind blowing. It's terrifying. It's scary. It hurts inside more than I care to tell. She doesn't understand why she has to stay in a hospital, why she has to be hooked up to an IV or why she can't go home. She keeps asking about our camp trip we had planned, to which we had to explain we're not going on. R will be in the hospital for two weeks minimum as she goes through the first bout of Chemo treatment, then will continue to come back for visits that could last up to four days or so. If all goes well this will be a two and a half year journey to get her cancer free.

R really, really needs prayers right now. She doesn't understand really anything. But along with telling you this, I'd like to offer up some praises. I firmly believe that, no matter what the situation, good things can be found in it. There are many praises we  can offer up to the Lord right now in R's case.


1) They caught it before it got so much worse.

2) Her nurses are wonderful and she really likes them

3) Because she is disabled, R can only think about the problems right at the moment, not what the future holds. She doesn't worry about the next two weeks of Chemo or the next two and a half years as we work to make sure she doesn't get sick or get infected.

4) We live next to one of the biggest medical facilities in the Northwest and don't have to travel anywhere else to get her treatment.

5) They're letting us stay the night with her and even gave us a room for us to sleep in.


This is hard. It's hard on us, it's hard on my parents, it's very hard for R. We all love her so much, it just about breaks our hearts to see her have to go through this without any understanding of why. Please keep her in your prayers as we go ahead on this road. Please keep us in your prayers as we walk with her through this long journey ahead of us.

I want to leave you with this somewhat funny happening. Our sweet little R, in the middle of having to take such horrible medication and feeling so sick, decided to name her portable IV machine Wall-e from the movie Wall-e. She hates IVs to the core, but named him Wall-e so she can pretend he's her robot friend. How's that for an upbeat attitude?

Thank you so much for your prayers. We really, really appreciate it. God is good and will help us through this. It will be hard. It already is hard. We hurt, we're sad, but we know the Lord is good.

Thank you for praying for us.

Comments

  1. I've been praying. I hope she'll be better very soon!
    Aw, that's cute, naming it Wall-E. It's great that she has a good attitude about it all. :)
    Just remember: God is good. He'll never leave, nor forsake us. That's a great reminder in times of trouble.
    No matter what happens, He will always be there for us!
    God bless!

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  2. I'm praying, Emily. I know the diagnosis is so hard, but, yes, praise the Lord they caught it early! Remember, God has a reason for this. No matter how hard or unnecessary it may seem now, God has your family going through this as part of His divine plan. When you are tried and purified, then you and your family shall come forth as gold! Remember, He always has a plan!
    And no matter what happens, He will never, NEVER leave you!!!

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  3. I teared up when I read she named it Wall-E. She is such a little light to me. I will be praying for you guys.

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  4. I'm praying for you lots, Emily! Just be glad R.'s a girl! Boys take longer with leukemia treatment (what I heard at the children's hospital my sister went to for cancer treatment).
    Isn't God great to give the cancer victims such a cheerful attitude! When my sibling got home from the hospital, they sat down and proudly asked my other sibling, "So, (blank sibling's name), what do you think of having a sister with cancer?!" Hard on everyone else, but they were positive-and made it through with flying colours! R. can as well, with lots of love and prayers! Which she will get!
    God bless you all!

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  5. I'll be praying for you all, Emily. I know this much be so difficult, but we do know Who holds our future and Who knows all things.
    We have some friends who's little girl (also with Down Syndrome) was diagnosed with cancer when she was about 3. It was a hard struggle, but the little girl is fine now.

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  6. I'm sorry to hear that but I'm glad you shared this with us. I will add R and your family to my prayer list. Trials and struggles are always tough...but in 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says " There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I know God will help you through this! God is good all the time, and all the time God is good!
    Love and prayers for you and your family!

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  7. Things like this are always so hard! I will be praying for you ALL! As will my family!

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  8. I'm so so sorry! I'm praying...I know what it's like to have someone you love sick and it's hard. But God has a plan, and you just have to trust in Him.

    ~Lydia~ <3

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  9. Emily, you, R. and all of your family are in my prayers as well as the hospital staff. May God give you all comfort and strength in this difficult time. :) Always remember everything happens for a reason, even though none of y'all may ever see it.

    That's so sweet that she named the IV machine! ;) What a great attitude to have!
    Downs Syndrome children are so precious and special. ;) There was a girl I knew that had Downs and got to be the homecoming queen at the high school! I feel a connection towards these special people, because I was 'supposed' to be Downs Syndrome. :) That's a story for another time though.
    Your family will be in prayers! :-)

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  10. Anonymous8/17/2015

    Emily, you and your family are so blessed to have R's cheerful attitude to lighten up the situation, even if it is only by a bit. After reading all those praises you listed, it is impossible for me to see how God is NOT carrying you through this event. He is certainly planning something for your lives. :)
    I will continue to pray for your family, R, and the hospital staff. Please keep us updated!
    Lots of Love to Your Family,
    ~JT

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  11. Thank you everyone for your encouraging words, Bible verses and prayers. We really appreciate it. I will update you on R as things progress. Tonight I talked to her on the phone and she was very, very happy, happier than she's been the last couple days. We sang a song over the phone and it just made me so glad to hear her feeling a little better. :) Thank you all for praying!

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  12. You already know that I am praying for your sister and the rest of the family. I know this has got to be so hard. I'll be looking out for updates. Praise God for all the positive things that happen in life! Trust that God knows what He is doing and is going to make this trial help everyone in your family grow closer to him.

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  13. I will be praying for your little sister! We need to remember that our God is bigger than any cancer and this no problem for Him! I will be believing for complete recovery so fast the doctors will be astonished. :-)

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  14. I will be praying for your sister and your family!

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  15. I will be praying for your sister and your family!

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  16. Anonymous8/24/2015

    Wow. That's really rough. I know what it's like having to spend a lot of time going in and out of the hospital when a family member is in for chemo. It can be difficult not only for the patient but also for the visitors because of emotional stress. I will keep you guys and your entire situation in my prayers. I'm glad that there are still some bright spots, like naming the IV, that you guys can see. As difficult as this is, just remember that God will not only be with you, He will be helping you and taking care of you.

    --Kara F

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