We recently got to experience something similar. We found ourselves on the 'other side' of something we would have never envisioned ourselves on. Our situation was reversed. We were on the giving side first and now found ourselves on the receiving end. This has been an extremely humbling and emotional experience so I hope I can adequately explain. I might need to give a little background first though to help it make sense so please bear with me a moment to give you our 'church background before I share further.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Other Side
We recently got to experience something similar. We found ourselves on the 'other side' of something we would have never envisioned ourselves on. Our situation was reversed. We were on the giving side first and now found ourselves on the receiving end. This has been an extremely humbling and emotional experience so I hope I can adequately explain. I might need to give a little background first though to help it make sense so please bear with me a moment to give you our 'church background before I share further.
Friday, December 19, 2008
A Heart Full of Faith
Our biggest challenge as a family now is making decisions in regard to this time of year. What holiday parties to attend and how often to see friends and loved ones (especially the ones visiting from out of town). This is not only the holiday season but also the cold and flu season and that is constantly on our minds. CJ has 5 little cousins and 4 aunts and uncles in town that all want to see him and play with him and we struggle with the weight of those decisions. Please pray for discernment and a shield of protection for CJ against illness. We realize he may be doing well but if anyone else is sick it keeps him away from his family and friends. He has struggled lately with his inability to see people and attend events.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
CJ's Star
Therefore, we charge in to stage three confident of continued healing and thankful for all of Gods grace in CJ's treatments. We are asking for prayer for continued protection against toxicity from the chemo and from painful side effects that are common at this stage.
I have shared with you before about how emotionally draining and painful it can be to be at the pediatric ambulatory unit for hours upon hours each week. But I have longed to share with you this feature of the pediatric ambulatory unit for some time. It is a feature most of the rest of the hospital actually knows nothing about unless they have been down there so you are getting a rare glimpse into a unit at the hospital not seen by many. It is a wonderful feature that brings comfort, hope, joy, smiles and even color to a very sad and depressing unit; but not until you get past its powerful implications.
I pray that this simple ceiling tile will not only bring hope and encouragement to other patients as they visit the unit, but I also pray his star sings praises to the Lord as it is suspended from above just like the stars in the heavens do.
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels,
praise him all his heavenly hosts,.
Praise him sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sharing CJ's Story
Dwayne Wade holding a pray for CJ bracelet!
Alonzo Mourning receiving a Pray for CJ bracelet.
And he put it on! Thank you Mr. Mourning! You just made this 9 year olds day! Nothing else you put on today is more valuable in Gods sight!
Even these pictures flooded us with painful memories of the past. CJ attended the Miami Heat Basketball camp in the summer of 2007. His stomach was in severe pain and he struggled to get through the week. He was very excited about the camp and we just thought it was a stomach bug or nerves. At the end of the week the coach writes an evaluation on each child. They point out positive aspects of the child's performance and give pointers. CJ did well but the coach also wrote, "Sometimes it seems like you are not having much fun". This always stood out to me because CJ is so outgoing and friendly. I realized he must have really not been feeling well for the coach to have noticed. Looking back now, it is amazing CJ even was able to complete the week. Who knows what was beginning to develop in his little body considering that one year later he was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma. He is my hero!
Here is CJ at the camp in June 07:
CJ in his Wade jersey at camp.
CJ receiving his evaluation from his coach.
And there you have it....33:3 .....Sorry folks, but at this point we are way beyond coincidences!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Scan Results
IMPRESSION:
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Links to Newscast
News Clip: http://cbs4.com/video/?id=66727@wfor.dayport.com
Jim's Blog is... http://pod08.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=WFOR_JROBINSON
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Tune In....
As CJ was getting his CT scan today at the hospital, Lotsy Dotsy, the hospital clown, walked in the room. As soon as he heard her voice behind him, he strained his neck to see her with a big smile plastered across his face. I was so relieved to see that smile because he has just endured a painful process of getting an IV in three different veins until they could find one that worked. It wasn't pretty.
Lotsy played the harmonica for him as he got his scan and then she told us she had good news. Channel 4 was on their way to the hospital to do an interview with CJ and Lotsy! It is meant to be a heartwarming piece about a boy and a clown and how that clown helps this boy get through some of the most difficult days spent at the hospital battling cancer.
We were all very excited about this news but I noticed CJ began trembling. We thought he was cold but he was a little nervous when he heard about the interview. When the journalist, Jim Robinson, showed up, CJ was completely at ease. We were all so impressed with this man as he interviewed CJ. He was fantastic and made CJ very comfortable. It was like sitting down and talking to a friend. At one point, CJ whispered in my ear, "Mommy, why does TV movies make journalists look so mean? They are really nice." I had to laugh because I realized why he was so nervous at first.
The interview went great and we are excited to see how the piece turns out. It is scheduled to be aired on Channel 4 between 5 and 7pm tonight! Be sure to Tune in! It will also be on the Channel 4 web page at www.cbs4.com/mojo in case you miss the TV one or do not live local. Mr. Robinson said he will put a link to this blog from his blog so I strongly encourage all the blog readers to check out his blog at http://pod08.prospero.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?webtag=WFOR_JROBINSON and read the article on CJ he wrote and let him know you appreciate this piece. I would love to see him get a flood of response from this piece. Then he will be sure to follow up with CJ's story in the future and we will make more people aware of children battling cancer.
Don't forget to pray as we anxiously await the results of today's scans. We know they got good pictures and we are praying that means good and 'clear' pictures, with no sign of any further disease. He is also scheduled for PET Scans on Thursday after his chemo. Please pray with us that the tumors will be completely gone and not just "nearly" completely gone as we were told before.