Joel's Journey: I Never Would Have Thought...

Monday, August 25, 2008

I Never Would Have Thought...

Two years ago on our first day of school we played some games for our opening projects that morning, Joel and Josiah had a race together! Today on our first day of school, I decorated his grave with fall flowers.......

Cindy

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Cindy,
You are a wonderful woman and I am so sorry for your loss. My hearts still aches everyday when I read your blog. I know if pales in comparison to your heartache, but just know that you are dearly loved by many people. Someday maybe I will have the honor of being able to meet you. Thank you for your postings. I pray that you will never stop, for I will never stop reading them. They are so full of life and they help me to strive to be a better wife and mother. May God bless you and your family.
With MUCH love from Kansas.; August 26, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Nikki Bettis said...: Cindy....my heart aches for you. I cannot hold back the tears and though I cannot even begin to fathom the pain the tears still come when I think of you on a day like this with a post such as this. I am at a loss sometimes as to what to pray for you but know that you are being held up in prayer in so many ways. Words fail me now but I am praying.; August 27, 2008 at 11:35 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.