Fellow fighters update #8

Ryan

My heart aches as I write this. Please keep Ryan and his dear family in prayer during these final precious moments with loved ones. May God’s loving and comforting presence be so close to them during this difficult time. Here’s recent update from his parents: 


Hello everyone.  It has been an eventful couple of days.  As Ryan has been receiving treatments for his infections and bags and bags of platelets and blood, antibiotics and other medications over the past couple of weeks, combined with his underlying leukemia, we have come to the realization that his condition has not been improving.  We knew that if this routine continued, his next steps would be a transfer to the ICU.  After some very honest conversations, this is something that Ryan did not want to happen, so yesterday we took him home so that he could see his friends and family before he died.


Yesterday, Ryan was able to visit with his high school friends to reminisce about good times.  He also visited with his grandparents, Molly, and Kim's family with the rest of the Smith clan to come today.  Ryan's AAU coach, East Stroudsburg Coach, and his best bud from the team were able also spend some time as well.  As they all so eloquently  pointed out, Ryan's impact on people was not about basketball but instead about how he treated others and approached life with hard work, humility, patience, and faith.


Although we are all devastated, we are so thankful that Ryan got to come home.  He is the strongest fighter we know, as evidenced by what he had to endure over the past 19 months, but as he said yesterday "my body just gave up".  


God is good.  Although the battle is almost over, the Victory through Jesus, has just begun.  Love to all.

Craig and Kim. 


Tabby

Tabby started her next 3-month cycle of maintenance chemo with lumbar puncture yesterday. Tabby has been a trooper while battling some fatigue and this prolonged marathon. So appreciate your continued prayers for my dear niece and our family. 


Maria

Maria’s most recent bone marrow biopsy is still showing 10% of cancer cells so she needs to do more chemo prior to her potential bone marrow transplant in April or May. She recently finished up her 3rd cycle of chemo thankfully with minimal side-effects. Please pray that these remaining cancer cells would be eradicated.


Trent

It’s been 9 years since Trent was diagnosed with leukemia. He and his wife Kayla never anticipated the trials that would entail but God has been faithful to sustain them all along this journey of faith. Trent found out recently that his bone marrow is 100% donor once again! When he had relapsed, that percentage had decreased, so thankful that his brother’s cells have taken over again. Trent has been struggling with low blood counts and is still waiting for insurance to approve the drug that helps boost his counts so he can hopefully start that soon!!  He has also been battling GI issues from GVHD and is awaiting a scope to rule out an infection or celiac disease. Recently Trent was able to get the covid vaccine and praying that it will be effective in his body. 


Edward

Let me introduce you to Edward who I got to know early on in my leukemia journey. Having the same diagnosis as me, it was extremely helpful to hear how he has navigated his cancer journey the past 5 years. Ed has endured so much including suffering some near-fatal complications during his treatment and residual painful chronic disabilities to this day. He is a true fighter who has inspired me in my own fight. Here are some prayer requests he shared:


1. For continued complete healing despite of gvhd.

2. May God continued to use me and my cancer journey to be a testimony of HIS unconditional love for others.

3. As well as the cancer org I co-founded that God will be the center of it all as we continue to provide assistance to others including a fundraising event this summer to help two cancer patients here in the US.

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