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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Powerback! 💪

Image
After almost 3.5 years since my diagnosis, I’ll be returning to the work that I love. I’ll be starting a job this week with a company called “Powerback” where I’ll be doing home care visits providing physical therapy… ironic name considering the past several years of battling cancer.  😅   I’m excited and grateful for not only this particular opportunity but just the privilege of being able to return to work as a PT, as there were many times when I questioned whether I’d be able to have the strength and endurance to do this again. So, my excitement is tempered by a sense of nervousness as I consider what I’ve been through and it’s just been such a long time! But I feel ready and take this next step of reintegration back to life in faith, knowing that God must have a plan for me.  The initial thought of potentially doing home care PT crossed my mind while I was receiving home care nursing visits myself. I got to know many of my awesome nurses quite well and so appreciated ...
Read more

“Living in Bonus Time”

Image
I still vividly remember my eyes being swollen shut from tears for days after receiving the news of my diagnosis. As my thoughts went constantly to Grace and my kids, I recall one conversation that I had with my son that wrecked me. He asked me what he needed to do at home... taking out the trash, etc. I figured he meant while I was in the hospital, but I realized he was thinking about when I’d no longer be around... ever! He said, “I got it dad.” Those words coming from my 12 year-old broke my heart. Though I’d appreciate his help with the trash (which he’s done a great job with since then to this day  😙 ), this was way too early to be thinking like that. And that was a turning point in my heart and will that I needed to keep fighting as the Lord willed... to beat this cancer!  🥊🙏 During this cancer journey, I’ve read several books that were recommended by friends that have all provided such helpful insight and perspective on areas such as suffering and turning hope into a...
Read more

Week 1 update

Image
As this first week comes to a close, it’s been a blur filled with mostly fatigue and nausea, side-effects of the chemo and other meds. Most of the past few days have been filled with sleep as I’ve been glued to my bed, struggling to get up only to try to eat, use the bathroom, or do some exercise.  I finished my chemo conditioning today and will be receiving my total body radiation tomorrow in preparation for transplant on Friday!   My cousin Bo’s stem cell collection went smoothly in Chicago and they transported it to Philly! Can’t thank Bo enough for his sacrificial giving of himself to afford me this life-saving transplant.  😌 Thank you for your prayers and esp. the many of you who prayed for me this past Saturday as I began my chemo conditioning this week.    It was a rainy day coming to HUP... the rain was fitting and symbolic as many tears were shed as we reflected on all God has brought us through to this point as well as s...
Read more