It is with great tears of joy I share the following news. My dear cousin’s son was diagnosed suddenly, with a life threatening cancer just days after I began my Twelvemonth of Self Love blog. Somehow these two journeys are connected in my mind and heart. The path of trust, commitment, the unknown and the unending extending of love on a minute by minute basis have melded into one. So many times the texts would come for more prayer, firm willingness, and unwavering trust. My cousin gathered as many as possible to stand with her and the family in faith to pray for her son. Today I have received such great news I decided to share her update in total so you can feel the joy yourselves. The tumor was completely and fully removed after months of aggressive chemotherapy, no further heart surgery is required and an long and happy life is expected. My joy is in both this wonderful news and the incredible constancy of faith and tender care of God’s infinite love. It has been (will continue to be) the greatest honor to pray for and stand in His Infinite Mercy and Love with Skylar and family. Thank you and thank you and thank you.
Dear Family and Friends: (Our Faithful Prayer Warriors)
Skylar graduation from Vanderbilt was held in the hospital where he was undergoing treatment.
Hello, I can’t believe it’s been 12 days since my last update. Skylar was in the hospital for 7 days following his surgery, and we have continued to stay in Nashville because he has had several doctor appointments and blood work done every couple of days to adjust his Coumadin levels, and to make sure there was no complication with the graph on his IVC. It has been very hectic, but Skylar is beginning to feel better as of the last couple of days. Praise the Lord!
A lot has happened this week, and it is with tears in our eyes and with deeply grateful and humble hearts that we share more good news with you all today. The results from Skylar’s pathology report finally came back and the tumor was completely dead! Also, all tissue samples came back clear, showing no signs of any cancer cells in his abdomen, abominable lymph nodes, duodenum, pancreas, and all the other surrounding organs! Now that is an unbelievable miracle.
As if that wasn’t enough good news, the Lord gave us another miracle and an answer to all our collective prayers. We were told a couple of days ago Skylar’s TEE (Transesophageal Echocardiography) showed there was NO tumor in the heart and they did NOT see the thrombus/emboli in his pulmonary artery! Consequently, (are you sitting down?) Skylar does not need to have cardiac surgery! Yes, you read it right! We got our 2nd miracle!! The Lord in His mercy moved another mountain and answered all our collective prayers! We are so happy, so relieved, and still in a little bit of shock, but jumping up and down with joy!
And as if that wasn’t enough good news, Skylar was told a couple of days later that he doesn’t need any more chemotherapy or radiation, he just needs to be on blood thinners to dissolve the clots in his lung which are still a bit of a concern. They will do CT scans again in a couple of months to evaluate whether or not they are dissolving, in addition doing scans to make sure his graph on the IVC is doing well; but so far it’s good. So, we would appreciate your continued prayers for him!
We have so much to be thankful for, and we give all the Glory to our heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who guided us and the VB medical community (especially Dr. Keedy his oncologist, and surgeon Dr. Parikh) in all the many decisions regarding his treatment plan. Both are planning to write up Skylar’s case in the medical journals because of their success. This was something we prayed for from the beginning because if you have to go through something this difficult, you truly want someone else to benefit from what they have learned.
By FAITH, day after day, month after month, our family has passionately stood firm in our faith, believing in God’s Word that we can approach His heavenly throne in prayer, that we can move mountains by faith . . . but we did not do it alone!
You all have been by our side this past 8 months through unbelievably difficult times. And it never failed that on those days we felt the most down and so alone as a result of being so far from home, many of you managed to send a card, write a letter or email, forward a text, make us a meal, drive to Nashville, or give Royce and I a phone call–all of which lifted our aching hearts out of the miry pit of despair. We will always be eternally grateful for your friendship and your kindness to our family!
You all have been by our side this past 8 months through unbelievably difficult times. And it never failed that on those days we felt the most down and so alone as a result of being so far from home, many of you managed to send a card, write a letter or email, forward a text, make us a meal, drive to Nashville, or give Royce and I a phone call–all of which lifted our aching hearts out of the miry pit of despair. We will always be eternally grateful for your friendship and your kindness to our family!
Lastly, we will finally be able to move back home next week! We are so looking forward to celebrating Christmas together as a family at home. We have so much to thankful for; and we feel such deep gratitude for all the Lord has done for us, along with all our family and friends across the globe. Your prayers, your loving concern, your faith and belief that all things are possible with God helped Skylar and our family get through some of the darkest days imaginable!
There are four dates on this journey that will forever be memorialized in our family. April 14th, when Vanderbilt called us and told us to come quickly and plan to stay awhile because Skylar was in critical condition. April 18th, when we were told to say our final goodbyes (I can’t hardly even type those words); yet, we went to the waiting room and prayed on our knees for our Lord Jesus to intervene and He did. November 26, the day of Skylar’s surgery to remove the tumor after 7 1/2 months of aggressive chemotherapy, and finding out he was spared a Whipple procedure and the cancer was attached only to the vena cave. And finally, December 9th, when we found out he did not need cardiac surgery after living under the constant threat since April 18th! Yes, like the Israelites who always placed memorial stones to teach future generations what miracles God had done for His people, we too have our memorial stones that we will pass on to this generation and the next so that all may know we serve a mighty God who deeply loves His chosen people–believers everywhere!
Time for joy.
I believe our family will bow on our knees everyday of our life in prayerful gratitude for all the Lord has done for our precious Son. Jesus said in Mark 10:27 “With men, it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Our lives the past 8 months are a living testament to this truth! And last May when we realized the army of prayer warriors that were coming along side us across the US, we vowed to take Skylar to all the churches supporting him in prayer so that he (we) could thank everyone personally and he could share his testimony. So let us know if your interested and we will plan to visit. What a joy it will be!
What a wonderful Christmas present! It is truly amazing that we will be home for Christmas after 247 days at Vanderbilt! God is good!
All our love,
May we graciously ask you to continue to pray for the following:
Prayer Requests:
1. There will be no complications with the graph on his IVC.
2. His incision will heal properly as he is having some minor problems with scar
tissue forming.
3. He will be able to regain his health and physical strength as a result the extensive
chemotherapy and surgery.
4. The clots in his lungs with dissolve over the next couple of months and no
additional treatments will be necessary.
5. Skylar will enjoy a long and healthy life so that he may share his testimony and
give others great hope in their darkest moments.
Praises:
1. Successful removal of the tumor! Praise our almighty God in heaven!
2. The was completely dead and there were no cancer cells found anywhere! Praise
the Lord!
3. No cardiac surgery! Praise God!
4. Skylar’s recovery is going well!
