Dear friends,
Our hearts are heavy tonight. Liam’s seemingly endless journey through cancer and infection carries on. It seems that every flicker of resolution gets snuffed out before we’ve reached it.
Liam had been doing so well this week. He was feeling better than he had in a long time. He had started eating and tolerating formula in his feeding tube, and he wasn’t experiencing any nausea or stomach pain. His oncology team was ready to send him home yesterday, but the infectious disease team decided to keep him over the weekend to keep an eye on him.
This evening Liam spiked a fever. As I write this, an IV therapy nurse is taking a blood culture to check for sepsis. Liam will start another antibiotic tonight. We haven’t spoken with his medical team yet, so we don’t know what this means. Was his latest gut infection still unresolved? Could he be experiencing fevers from his underlying fungal infection? Does he have a new infection brewing?
We’ve been here before. Many times. The emerging expectation of going home and normalcy is taken from us at the last second, and we’re left reeling from the blow.
I’m sad tonight. I’m sad that this year of Liam’s childhood has been robbed from him. I’m sad that he has experienced more pain and suffering than most ever will. I’m sad that people stare at him and his pale bald head and feeding tube when we take walks. I’m sad that he was so heartbroken tonight when he heard that he had a fever. He knows what that means now. I’m sad that my little boy isn’t able to just be a little boy.
While we still trust that God is faithfully with us in the midst of our hardship, and we acknowledge the many blessings that we’ve encountered through it, some days are harder than others. Today is a sad day.
Please pray for Liam’s healing, friends. Please pray for our encouragement and endurance.
I am sad to hear this. I pray that Liam will be home soon and will enjoy the sun on his face. He has been through too much. All we can do I guess is trust that the Lord has a plan. When you look at Liam - you see the joy in him. I will continue to pray for all of you. Barb-office
Mourning with you and praying for your dear boy.
Praying for you and Liam may God continue to strengthen and encourage you, may your sadness turn to rejoicing Our God is able to make a
Way when
There seems to be no way. Holding you up in Jesus name!
We are and will continue to pray for y'all!!
Heartbroken as well, praying without reading.
Dear Emily and Ben, praying with you for healing for Liam and relief— praying whatever is causing his body trouble infections or otherwise will clear up, so you can spend time at home soon! We love you all so much and are so sorry you weren’t able to go home from the hospital yet—we’ll keep praying! May God continue to comfort and strengthen you moment by moment as you need— may He fill you with His peace. Praying for complete healing and recovery— sending lots of love!
Continuing to pray
This is so sad to hear, Emily. The huge weight keeps pressing life out of you all. I want to say thank you to you and Ben - and Lilly and Jack - for being faithful to Liam and to Jesus even when it is simply too much to bear. We cry out, "Lord have mercy - bring Your strength into this family. Please, we beg you, do Your healing work." we pray in Jesus name
Dearest Emily,
My heart is sad with you and Ben, and little Liam, as I read this, and at the same time there is a gladness in my heart that you are hanging on to Jesus and the reality of what I read this morning in 2 Corinthians 5, such an amazing, profound chapter.
It is inspiring and greatly encourages this 71 year old man and I am so, so thankful for your endurance in Christ.
Love you, and thank you and Ben for taking the time in the midst of your burden to share Jesus with us.
”Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Paul’s Letter to the Christians in Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
Ron
God is still on the throne, and he hears your heart. Praying...