please... join me in praying.

I remember the phone call nearly four years ago... I could hear the fear in my mom's voice. She could barely choke the words out... "They've found a large mass on his brain. We meet with the neurosurgeon tomorrow." What!? I dropped to my knees and was sick to my stomach. I'd never been more afraid in my life. I remember what I was wearing, who I was with, the conversations that followed. I remember pleeding with the Lord, begging Him to let my brother be okay. I remember the hour drive I made the next day, listening to Jeremy Camp's 'Walk by faith' and 'I still believe' over and over. I remember meeting my family at Dr. Young's office, walking in, JD saying innocently and without fear, "Hey, sissy- did you know I have something growing on my brain?" and I remember holding back the tears.
I remember the first surgery, and the second, and the third. I remember him bouncing back like it was nothing. I remember them telling us they got all of the tumor, but they weren't sure if he'd be able to speak... and right after surgery him saying 'Hey, bunkbed' to me. I didn't hold back the tears then... I rejoiced. I remember MRI after MRI. I remember radiation. I remember sitting with Jack, watching the strong little boy strapped to the table as we stood and cried, wishing we could trade him places. I remember when his hair started to fall out, and then when it grew back. I remember that first good MRI. And the second, and the third. I remember nearly two years of good reports... and then August hit.
I remember where I was, what I was wearing, who I was with, the conversation that followed. It was the first appointment I'd missed. JD called me, voice as strong as ever, unwavering... "Sissy, my tumor's growing." I remember him reassuring me that it was going to be okay, while I crumbled. He was just 12! Once again... I was so afraid. I remember surgery number 4, and how terrible it was, how hard recovery was, how hard it was to see JD like that. Then came another MRI.. the tumor was back, and this time it was serious (as if it wasn't before). Fear struck like never before. That dreadful 'c' word was being bounced around. We met with the oncologist, discussed a fifth surgery, possible radiation, definitely chemotherapy. Oh, I was afraid. I cried and cried... and cried. We begged, pleaded with the Lord... please, let my brother be okay. Please, let this work. Fifth surgery came and went like it was a walk in the park. They got all of the tumor. They started chemotherapy. Seven(ish) weeks following surgery, just a week before Christmas, they did another MRI. As soon as the doctor walked in the door he proclaimed, "First things first, the MRI was clear!" More tears, but once again rejoicing.

Will you, my friends, please join me in praying? Next week comes an MRI that will be pretty indicative of the effectiveness of the chemotherapy. I'm a nervous wreck... we all are. I find myself, once again, begging, pleading with the Lord.. please, let my brother be okay. I am heartbroken for him and all that he has endured already, at a mere 13 years of age. The strength he has, the joy he brings, the character he is- oh, what a boy!, he's such an incredible young man. I wish I could express in words what my heart is feeling. I wish you knew JD. Everyone of you. I don't even know who all reads this, and some of you may know JD, and you know... he loves people, loves to make them laugh, make them feel at ease, comfortable. He's a riot. Will make a joke out of anything. He's a wonderful, wonderful person- and even if he weren't my little brother, I would be so proud of him.

Please pray for him, pray with us, pray us through this.

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory..." (Ephesians 3:20)