CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS - "OUR ANGELS"

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS PAGE ON FACEBOOK  

Please Take A Moment To Stop By My New Page On Facebook

CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS PAGE LINK

My heart's desire is to Raise Childhood Cancer Awareness :o) I've created a page on Facebook to do just that. Please feel free to stop by and join the group. There are soo many beautiful kids that are busy kickin' cancers butt right now that could really use your prayers. Also, you can check on our kids in remission & ^^OUR ANGELS^^ Sites. Thanks soo much - Stacey :o)

THIS IS ALEXIA'S PAGE 

ALEXIA'S WEBSITE

UPDATE FOR: Thursday, November 29, 2007 - Last night at 11:27 pm Alexia Vidaguren Castaneda became an angel and entered Heaven. We cuddled our Princess Warrior and held her tight as she took her last breath. She was comfortable and peaceful and she fought like the Princess Warrior she is until the very end. We dressed her in a beautiful white dress and she truly looked like an angel. Alexia was surrounded by her Mamama Vicky, Papapa Pepe, and uncles Pepe & Juancho. Abuelos Ali & Coco, uncle Javi and aunts Luli & Marina, cousin Martina & uncle Freddy also said their goodbyes to her from Argentina. She passed at exactly the same time that she was born almost four years ago. Alexia's life was short but very intense and inspirational. We can't be more proud of her. With love and gratitude, Sofia, Ursula & Ignacio

THIS IS BLAKE'S PAGE 

BLAKE'S WEBSITE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 04, 2006 01:32 PM, CST - My brother and hero left us early today to be with our heavenly father. Our amazing mother held him as he took his last breathes as she did when he first entered this world. He was surrounded by his father, two sisters, his favorite nurses Andre' and Tracy, as well as his best friend Matt. There were many others here early this morning praying for Blake's safe journey home. Blake may have left us, but he did so peacefully with those who loved him. He touched all of us in special ways, leaving his mark on society so that he will never truly be gone. Each time you laughter you will think of my brother and the kind hearted spirit he was. While this is a difficult time for everyone please remember that Blake would not want you to grieve too long, for he is watching over us and cheering us on. So when you look at the clouds think of Blake chasing angels and marking his mark on the next world. In Matthew 18:1-4 the Bible says: "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." These words could be no truer about my brother than any others, and always remember we will all meet again some day and when it is our time he will be waiting at the gates of heaven. Love, Danielle

THIS IS BROOKE'S PAGE 

BROOKE'S WEBSITE

Welcome to Brooke's Web Page. It has been provided to keep people updated about Brooke. Brooke was diagnosed July 15,2003 with bilateral Wilm's tumors. Her wonderful pediatrician found them at her kindergarten check-up. On January 20,2004, surgeons removed Brooke's right kidney and 1/2 her left kidney. Brooke has an older brother Gavin who is 10 and puppy whose name is Snowball. They are both the loves of her life! Brooke finished her treatments of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery in June,2004.Her parents are Nick and Darby Brion.

May, 2005. Brooke has now relapsed. She started having headaches and an MRI showed a tumor in her skull. There are also tumor cells in her bone marrow. The neurosurgeon doesn't want to operate on the tumor. He can't tell from the MRI if the tumor is just pressing on her sagital sinus or if it has grown into it. We are praying that chemo and possibly radiation will rid Brooke of the tumor and other cancer cells.

Brooke had her heavenly healing on December 8, 2005,the feast of the Immaculate Conception. She is now with her Grandpa Brion in heaven.

THIS IS CAMERON'S PAGE 

CAMERON'S WEBSITE

Genesis 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

THIS IS ERIN'S PAGE 

ERIN'S WEBSITE

Saturday, March 28, 2009 4:30 PM, CDT

Erin passed away peacefully in her sleep early this morning, Jim on one side of her and me on the other side.

THIS IS HALEY'S PAGE 

HALEY'S WEBSITE

Let the stop turning,
let the sun stop burning,
let them tell me love's not worth going through.
If is all falls apart,
I will know deep in my heart,
the only dream that mattered had come true;
in this life I WAS LOVED BY YOU!!!!

THIS IS JACOB'S PAGE 

JACOB'S WEBSITE

Jacob was truly an amazing child who lived life to the fullest. He loved singing, dancing, fishing, swimming and going to Walt Disney World. But most of all he loved his brothers. Jacob had a heart of gold and taught us all so much during his short time on earth. He taught us to celebrate life, to walk in faith, to never give up and to always believe in miracles. He touched many lives with his contagious smile and silliness, and he was deeply loved by all who knew him. He was a most precious gift from God, a miracle, a hero, the most Amazing Jacob. He will live in our hearts forever.

THIS IS JAKE'S PAGE 

JAKE'S WEBSITE

Jake was diagnosed June 1, 2004 with Hepatoblastoma(Liver Cancer) - Stage IV. Jake underwent 857 days of treatment. He received 20 rounds of chemotherapy, 15 rounds of radiation, and had 11 major surgeries/procedures that included 3 lung surgeries, 2 brain surgeries, and 1 liver surgery. In February 2006, Jake received a Bone Marrow Transplant as a form of therapy to fight his disease. Jake was the 2nd person in the world to receive this type of transplant for his type of disease. He beat septic shock and also a severe fungus that required him to be on a ventilator for over a month. He earned his angel wings peacefully on October 5th, 2006.

THIS IS KYLE'S PAGE 

KYLE'S WEBSITE

This page is so everyone can keep updated on Kyle and our family we also did this to show love, support, and understanding to all who have been touched by cancer. Kyle is 5, and was diagnosed on January 7, 2004, with stage IV Wilms cancer, he has had his left kidney removed, left testicle, and spots from his lung. Kyle has had numerous chemo treatments, and 24 rounds of radiation, Kyle relapsed while on treatment, and started a stem cell transplant on October 4th. On August 9th, 2005 we found out that Kyle's cancer has relapsed for the second time, we will be trying experimental therapy, the doctors don't give Kyle much of a chance but they don't realize the faith we have in Kyle and the lord, that should be able to kill any cancer!!! After trying experiemental therapy we found out that Kyle's tumor had grown, we are trying chemo to relieve pain and praying very hard that Kyle gets a MIRACLE. We tried more therapy in December of 05, and Kyle got Neuro toxicity, even though the chemo shrunk the tumor and we had surgery to remove it a week later more tumors showed up in his lungs, we have decided to give Kyle the best gift and let him be a little boy again, he is done with treatment and we pray we have a good amount of time left with our amazing little boy!!!! Kyle passed away on March 8th we will miss him dearly!!!!

THIS IS LIZZIE'S PAGE 

LIZZIE'S WEBSITE

Thank you for visiting Angel Elizabeth's page. Lizzie was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer called hepatblastoma on April 1, 2002. It then spread to her bones. During the past 4 1/2 years she had 6 surgeries, radiation to her hip, spine and left arm, dozens of chemotherapy protocols and countless scans. She had two seperate halos put on. In June 2006 the doctors told us the tumors were progressing and there was nothing more they could do to help Lizzie. In spite of it all, she stayed strong and mighty, living each moment to the fullest. Although in her last months of life she became paralyzed due to an aggressive tumor in her spine, she never stopped moving. She battled on, determined to reach as many people as she could. However, she eventually became too tired to fight any longer. On October 29, 2006, our Sweet Elizabeth took flight, and began dancing among the stars. Her younger sisters, Jessica, Abigail and Kaylie, and her daddy and I will forever carry her in our hearts.

THIS IS MAKAYLA'S PAGE 

MAKAYLA'S WEBSITE

My name is Makayla Alexis Chavers. I was born on July 17, 2006. I left my Mommy and Daddys' arms to be with Jesus on December 17th 2006. I am the baby sister of Post Cord Blood Transplant survivor, Hailey Noel Chavers.
**Never take someone for granted, Hold every person close to your heart because you might wake up one day and realize that you've lost a diamond while you were to busy collecting stones.

THIS IS MATTHEW'S PAGE 

MATTHEW LEFT THIS WORLD & EARNED HIS ANGEL WINGS ON JANUARY 3RD, 2009 - HE WILL BE DEARLY MISSED & ALWAYS REMEMBERED! PLEASE KEEP HIS FAMILY & FRIENDS IN YOUR PRAYERS! Love - The Reich's


Matthew Robert Joseph Epp November 30, 1992 January 2, 2009 Either God Will Take My Cancer From Me Or Me From My Cancer Either Way I Win Matthew was the amazing, wonderful son of Dwayne and Nicole Epp and Robert and Brenda Larrabee. He was big brother to Christian, 8 years old and Emmanuelle, 7 years old; Grandson to Ed Mercier and Sharon Johnson, Rodney and Marlane Fox, Richard and Darlene Epp, Marjorie Larrabee, Tom and Mellonie Larrabee; Great-Grandson to Laurence and Cynthia Mutlow, Bill and Vendora Peters and Egland Mercier. He was nephew to Michael and Courtenay Mercier, Chris and Krystle Rawson, Curtis and Laura Epp, Kevin Epp and Lita Norman, Michael and Joanne Epp, Steven and Jennifer Rowan, Nicole Epp, Jean Paul Larrabee and Sterling Larrabee. Matthew also had many great aunts and uncles, cousins and wonderful friends. He was predeceased by his aunt Melanie Epp, his great-auntie Loraine Mercier, great-grandfather Kenneth McKenzie, great-grandfather Noel Mercier, great-grandfather Jacob Epp and great-grandmother Katharina Epp. Matthew was diagnosed with Wilm's tumor, cancer of the kidney, when he was almost two years old. He relapsed three times. His whole life revolved around cancer treatments, cancer remissions and cancer relapses. Yet, Matthew never saw his life that way. He always said that he was happy, and that his life was good. He had many wonderful experiences during his short life. His wishes came true thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation, he was 2004 Champion Child for the Children's Health and Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan, and he was a published author of the book Hope and the Dragon. He helped raise money for cancer research by participating in Relay for Life in Rosetown and by his book sales which a percentage of the proceeds go to the Childhood Cancer Foundation. Matthew loved canoeing, fishing, camping and just spending time with his family. He also loved quading and spending time with all of his friends. He loved playing playstation with his brother Christian and cuddling with his sister Emmanuelle. Anyone who knew Matthew all know how much he enjoyed trying new foods, cooking, barbecuing, restaurants and just talking about the foods he had tried. Matthew also loved Camp Circle of Friends, a camp at Diefenbaker Lake for children touched by cancer. He started going there at six years old and went almost every year after that. He loved the friends he met there and it was exciting when his brother and sister were able to join him in 2008. Everyone who met him was touched by his zest for life, positive attitude and desire to just be a normal kid. Matthew attended D'arcy elementary school and then attended Rosetown Central High School, a place where he met amazing teachers and friends all of which gave our family so much support and kindness. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for that! We would like to thank Dr. Ali, Matthew's oncologist since he was two years old, nurses Kathie and Jan and all the other amazing nurses from the Saskatoon Cancer Clinic. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses at the Rosetown Hospital who always made Matthew feel special. A special thank you to Shelley, Bev and the homecare nurses. We would like to thank the nurses and doctors from the pain management team at St. Paul's Hospital and thank you so much to our community, our friends and our family who gave us so much love and support all these years also, a special thank you to Matthew's best friend, Kaitlyn McIntyre. We are going to miss him so much, and life will never be the same again. I always called him my angel boy when I put him into bed at night, so I would like to finish this by saying one last time, goodnight my angel boy, I love you so much. The Funeral Service for Matthew will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rosetown Alliance Church with Pastors Claire & Garth Ewert Fisher officiating. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the Saskatchewan Children's Health and Hospital Foundation, the Children's Wish Foundation of Saskatchewan or to the Children's Cancer Foundation. Clements Rosetown Funeral Home entrusted with the arrangements.

MATTHEW'S FAMILY - UPDATE FOR: Saturday, January 3, 2009 10:57 PM CST - The funeral will be held Wednesday, January 7 at 1:00 p.m. at the Rosetown Alliance Church, 1002 6th street East.

MATTHEW'S FAMILY - UPDATE FOR: Saturday, January 3, 2009 2:25 AM CST - I said goodnight to my angel boy for the last time at 11:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2nd.

MATTHEW & FAMILY - UPDATE FOR: Thursday, January 1, 2009 7:11 PM CST - He is slowly fading away from me. He is incoherent, confused, and tired. I am so scared for him... I am so scared for my family... I am so scared for myself... How am I going to breathe without him?




Matthew was diagnosed with Wilm's tumor, cancer of the kidney, focal anaplastic, unfavorable histology in October 1994. He was just about 2 years old. He underwent 16 months of chemotherapy and one week of radiation. In August 1998, his cancer relapsed in his right lung. He had 2 years of chemotherapy and 10 days of radiation. They stopped his chemo early because the cure became worse than the disease. In December 2002, his cancer relapsed once again in his right lung. He had 6 months of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation treatments. Matthew's doctor stopped his chemotherapy early again, because, once again, the cure became worse than the disease. Matthew relapsed once again in July 2004. We are doing no further medical treatments. Matthew is now 14 years old. He lives in Fiske, Saskatchewan with mom (Nicole), dad (Dwayne), his brother, Christian, who is 7 years old and his sister, Emmanuelle, who is 5 years old.

MATTHEW'S BOOK - LINK TO PURCHASE HIS BOOK

I HAVE A COPY OF MATTHEW'S BOOK & I WILL CHERISH IT FOREVER!!!
MATTHEW WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE US ALL - WE WILL MISS YOU SOO VERY MUCH, MATTHEW!



What happens when an inspiring boy uses the four powerful values of Hope, Faith, Courage and Love to overcome adversity? First-time young author Matthew Epp is all too familiar with this. Since the age of 2, the boy from Fiske, Saskatchewan has successfully combated a rare form of cancer. But now, the 14-year-old is fighting the cancer relapse of his life. His book Hope and the Dragon is finally providing young cancer patients with something they've never had: a powerful story written by one of their peers, offering the strength to beat the illness. The story tells how a boy undergoing surgery to remove a tumour dreams of a magical land. While a dragon becomes the metaphor for the cancer, the boy receives four special powers to slay the demon. Beautifully illustrated by Maris Chisholm, Hope and the Dragon explores a personal life story - from surviving a major illness to embracing the support of loved ones. "I have Hope, Faith and Courage on my side and Love standing guard at my back. No Dragon in the world is a match for all that," says the boy in the book, based on Epp's own courageous journey. Hope and the Dragon will certainly fill anyone with inspiration and tell them what it takes to survive a major challenge.

ISBN 9780973782486
Size: 8.25 X 8.25
Number of pages: 20
http://aaspirationspublishing.com/author_links.shtml

THIS IS SAMUEL'S PAGE 

SAMUEL'S WEBSITE

No Weapon Formed Against Thee Shall Prosper. Isaiah 54:17

This scripture has been our anthem since the beginning. I see now that it is true even in death. If you are a child of God, NO weapon formed against you on earth will prosper. In earthly death comes eternal life. Absent from the body is present with God for eternity. I know where Samuel is and Samuel knows where I am. One glorious day, we will be reunited for eternity.

SAMUEL IS HEALED, WHOLE, HAPPY AND WITH JESUS!
Rejoice, he is FINALLY restored! Glory to God, it is finished. Amen.

5/8/08 2nd Update: "Did we really just do that?" I have asked Mark this so many times today in reference to helping Samuel as his earthly body died in our arms. Mark said it felt like our homebirth experiences in that it was he and I working so hard to do something so important and yet so painful and Samuel working hard too. Difference is the end result. I haven't slept well in days, probably weeks really and today all my muscles feel as if I have just run a marathon. My leg muscles feel burnt. I cannot sleep as hard as I just tried and just need to get this out on paper. As honest as all the previous updates have been, I will warn you, this one will continue to break your heart. The house is quiet today. There is no more screaming, no more pain, no more IV crap, and no more Samuel. It is so quiet. Yesterday was yet another day of suffering for Samuel. Once again, his drugs were not covering him. His dose of dilaudid was six times that of which we started with in the morning and it still was not covering him. It was enough to sedate him off and on but when he woke, he would whisper, "Help me." Like a ghost trapped in a body. "Help me." It was just another insult in four long years of insults to Samuel's physical body. Samuel's body got a fever by midafternoon that went up very quickly. He was unable to regulate it. His heartrate his 180 and remained there until he died. He was restless, his legs were restless and so was his spirit. We upped the dilaudid so much that he just started dry heaving so badly that we adjusted it back lower because that seemed worse than the pain at that point. No amount of anti-emetics even covered it. To those who sent gifts in the mail, he was able to look at each item and feel the joy of them, but unable to do anything but beg us to "help him. " I took him to bed at 9pm knowing full well we were not going to sleep. All of my children were able to tell him goodnight, kiss him and tell him they loved him. I will never forget Daniel saying he would see him in the morning. I thought when he said it that he would be lucky if he did. I decided to try Tylenol and ibuprofen to see if I could get that fever or heartrate down and while he never puked them up, they did nothing. I don't think they were absorbed. Yesterday we went out to the box we packed of Samuel's keepsakes and brought in his first duck, "Quack Quack" , his Ocean Wonders Music Box, and his ducky leg pillow to help him feel more comfortable. That music box used to help him relax and sleep every time I turned it on. He only liked the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Song though. I played it all night as we were up and down trying to ease pain, cry out to God and sleep. I pulled my cot right up next to Samuel's bed and lay half on it and with my head on his pillow, hand on his heart. He was up several times peeing and even pooped surprisingly enough. He still said, "Help Me." I told him to call out to Jesus for help and he did. All the fluid was peed off over the past day and his lungs were clearer than I have ever heard them. He was just SO hot. Samuel woke me up a bit before 5:30am and said, "Mommy, I need you." I wrapped my arms around him and he gave me the biggest strongest hug I have ever received. I kissed him and he kissed me and said he loved me. I continued to talk to him but noticed his eyes were drifting in and out, sometimes seeing me and sometimes rolled up. He stopped talking at that point even though I was asking him things. I realized I needed to get Mark. I ran to wake him. Samuel saw his Dad and said "Hi." We snuggled that boy, kissed him, talked to him, prayed for God to take him quickly, told him to go, held his hands and watched him drift in and out of consciousness. There were a few moments where he did Samuel things such as looked at his dad and blew raspberries with his tongue. That is how all his dinos fart in your face just so you know. He liked to do that to RN's. At another point he had both our hands and twisted them as if to break them which is another way he used to play with his day, hand wrestling. But then he would be gone again. All the time I held his hand, he was holding on for dear life. I changed hands a few times and had to pry his fingers off mine and quickly change to the other hand. I thought he was just going to stop breathing as his breath was so shallow but instead he had a seizure. It was awful and we were unprepared for it. It lasted maybe ten seconds but they are the longest ten seconds of you life. Even after that his heart pounded. He seemed to breathe louder after that and you could see the stress on his body and I think it was crying. It just killed me inside. We were hoping he was just not there after that. We paged the hospice RN who also hoped that Samuel left his body after waking me and giving that huge hug. She thought he might still have hours to live. We hoped not. I prayed my kids would not get up to this scene. Within ten minutes Samuel had another seizure. My hand was on his heart the whole time and I felt the breath leave his lungs and his heart stop. He was gone. The seizures were really the final insult to a long hard battle. The hospice RN was kind enough to say that it probably took a seizure to stop Samuel's will to live, to stop his heart. He was not just going to drift off into sleep and succumb. He went out fighting. But oh, I could have done without the seizures. We spent several minutes kissing him and talking to his spirit if it was still in the room with us. He will always know how much we love him. Samuel entered Heaven at 5:58am. About the usual time he would get up for the day. Well before the other kids got up. We dressed Samuel as best we could and brought his body downstairs to lay him in his place on the couch. In a matter of hours, his face lightened up right before our eyes and a smile appeared on his lips. Everytime I felt his body, it seemed to respond to my touch though no one else felt it. I felt it. His smile was amazing. The Hospice RN arrived an hour after he left our world and did all the calling and arranging. SHE IS FANTASTIC!!!! We spent time with his body and all the kids came downstairs and learned the news. For the most part, we were all relieved that his suffering has ended. Around 9:30am, Mark carried Samuel's body out of our house for the last time handing him to the funeral home owner. That was very difficult to watch the child's body which came out of me, leave for the last time. Samuel's body looked like a person who has been in a concentration camp. His scars, deformities and bones broke our hearts once again to remember the suffering which came with each one. And if he looked that bad on the outside, how much worse was the inside. Mark removed Samuel's port and NG tube immediately after he passed. His NG was riddled with blood clots and the bottom was permanently stained with blood. The horrendous amount of suffering this child endured has hit us like a ton of bricks today. We endured it right along with him not able to take time to grieve for it before now since it just kept going and going and had to be constantly managed. Now, the totality of that suffering is upon us. The kids are coping well and have been out playing with the neighbors. Mark and I have been cleaning out all the medical crap getting rid of all the evidence of medical failure. Samuel is free and we are also free of this lifestyle. We are free of the medical system which has failed us, our son, and our family. It is a system I despise and we are thrilled to be rid of it. What we will do with all the time we have no clue. I know I won't be spending it with people who have no clue how to help, give up, or stab me in the back anymore. To the few MD's and many RN's who helped us, THANK YOU. To the rest, good riddance. We miss Samuel's spirit but we don't miss his pain and suffering. We miss the joy he brought to this house when he was feeling good. We miss his jokes and antics which he still displayed even moments before his body died. It was like he was watching us from above and thought we needed comic relief. I miss him so much already. I hear the screams of labor for my loss and yet we know he could not stay here any longer. He did what I told him to do. He ran to Jesus. We have peace about that part. But, my God, I could have done without the seizures. Really. All I can think is that the devil was just like a suicide bomber. Kill horribly and cruelly if you are taking yourself with it. My thoughts are that Samuel must have been such a threat to Satan because so many have been touched by his life and spirit. We would like to ask those who have been touched, saved, or changed by Samuel to put it in writing on real paper, not e-mail and mail it to us at the PO box addy above. I have a keepsake box of every card we have ever received for Samuel from the beginning and I want to add them to this box to save for my children to read when they are older and understand. I would love to receive beautiful love notes to Samuel in the mail for a few weeks. Samuel's body will be cremated. I am certain he will look down from Heaven and enjoy seeing that corpse burn. It failed him. I will never forget him telling me that his body was sorry. That body failed him and it failed us. It also failed to trap his beautiful spirit. We took his handprint and a lock of his hair. I kissed that lifeless body for hours before it was carried away. I wept for every scar. I caressed him and touched every part of him for the last time embedding in my mind everything I could. We will not be having a service for Samuel immediately. We have decided to wait a month or so until the dust has settled, and see how we feel at that point. We will do something joyous which will not add to the scars in our hearts or those of our children. I will post on the site details when we make them final. We have taken on the burden of our son's care for so many years and we plan to take the next few weeks to rest, and try to deal with all the things we have never been able to deal with completely. Not to mention deal with the burden of reliving all of this again and again until it is settled in our spirit. I know Samuel is free. He can eat. He can run. He can play. He doesn't hurt. I know this and I am so thankful that the Lord has prepared a place for us to go. He has a new heavenly body which is perfect. He is NOT an angel in heaven, but a six year old boy who will be raised as such there until I am able to be with him again. He might be a big man by the time I see him. But my heart is broken of course for the boy I love who should have NEVER had to go through all this. The pain continues to come in waves for us all. It will be strange to switch gears after spending all these years trying to give him a life with some quality. I know we did or he would not have found joy so quickly when there was not physical pain. What a battle. What a journey. I am so thankful that I had him for six years and in awe, broken and humbled over how much he chose to suffer to stay. Many have asked what they can do to help. Obviously pray for us to heal and get past the tormenting memories of the four years and especially last month and of course today. If you want to do something tangible, please consider making a small donation to Samuel's Medical Fund through the Paypal link above. In four years time, we have tapped out every known cash and credit resource and taken out a second on our home in order to be able to stay home and care for him. Being riddled in debt only adds insult to injury. No amount of money can cover a life and I would do it all again, I would continue doing it, if he had a fighting chance at a good life. Unfortunately, his body was done. It was finished. We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the past four years. We could not have done this without your support. You have all held us up in more ways then you know. Our gratitude to you is enormous. We thank you so much for all the love and send it back to you a hundred fold.

5/8/08 1st Update: Samuel is free. He is with Jesus. At the very time he would get up to start his day, he left Mark and my arms to be with Jesus. After over four years of suffering, he is now free.