Declaring God's grace in Micah's life

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me. (Micah 7:8)

Welcome to Micah's Web Page. We've created it to keep you informed of how Micah is doing and especially to tell of the great things our wonderful God is doing in his life.

MICAH'S HISTORY AND DIAGNOSIS

BORN: DECEMBER 22, 1989
DIED: DECEMBER 17, 2005

Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2001, one month before Micah’s 12th Birthday, he fell about 20 feet from a tree, broke his leg, lacerated his spleen, got a small puncture in his lungs, and crushed his vertebrae. He was in the intensive care unit at Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC. We were thankful that he was alive. His blood counts were too low to operate, so they put his leg in traction. Once his spleen was stabilized he was transferred to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC.
Wed. 11-28-01 he had a bone marrow aspirate and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). The next day, they operated to put a rod in his leg and gave him his first chemotherapy to begin treating the leukemia. They found no leukemia in his spinal fluid. Because of his age, Micah was in a high risk category, so he was put on an intense treatment of chemotherapy for 2 ½ years. About a month after diagnosis, another bone marrow aspirate was done and Micah was found to be in remission, the goal of the initial, very intense chemotherapy. He continued to do very well throughout most of his 2 ½ year treatment protocol.
On Memorial Day 2004 Micah broke a toe and had to have an operation to put a screw in. While under anesthesia he had a bone marrow aspirate done which showed he remained in remission. He also had his port-a-cath removed.
June 2004 The 2 ½ year treatment plan ended.
August 2004, Micah’s blood counts began to drop and after two bone marrow aspirates they found that Micah’s leukemia had returned. The decision was made for him to have a bone marrow transplant at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. This was his only chance of survival and would be a difficult rode to travel. All of his 7 born siblings were tested to see if they were a match. His 9 year old sister, Priscilla, the 6th of 8 children was the only match and a perfect match. This was a blessing from the Lord. Priscilla had really prayed and wanted to be the match, and was so excited. December 22, 2005, Lydia, our 9th child, was born on Micah’s 15th birthday. Her cord blood was collected and stored as a back up. Micah was given several months of intense chemotherapy at Baptist hospital to put him back in remission. Then he had one week of radiation at Duke.
February 25, 2005 Micah was admitted to Duke Hospital, for a bone marrow transplant. He had two days of intense chemotherapy to wipe out his bone marrow and immune system.
March 1, 2005 Micah had an Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant with Priscilla being the donor. Micah did very well. His updates are recorded in the history section of our Caringbridge web site.
March 23, 2005, day 22 post transplant Micah was discharged . July 5, 2005 Micah relapsed again. Micah went back to Baptist Hospital, where he finished up two rounds of chemotherapy that we hoped and prayed would get him in remission to have another transplant, using Lydia’s cord blood, which we found was also a perfect match. We give God all the glory for everything He has done and will do.
According to God’s Sovereign plan, we found out in Oct. that the leukemia was too aggressive and there was nothing they could do medically to bring a healing. Micah said that either the Lord would do a miracle and heal him, or He would take him home to be with the Lord. Micah continued to run the race that was set before him, strong until the end. He trusted in the Lord’s mercy and grace to help him through the suffering and continued to confess till the very end, that he just wanted the Lord’s will and he knew that whatever it was that the Lord had been good, was good and will be so good to him.
Heb 12:1-2
12:1 The Race of Faith
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Micah never complained and was determined to do all he could to glorify God in his last days. He loved to draw near to God in prayer and Bible reading and he had a great love for worshipping the Lord. On December 17, 2005 at 9:20 Am, Micah went home to be with the Lord. He left us with a legacy of faith and trust in the Lord, through his poems, songs, prose and journal entries, and life, that testify of his love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now Micah is forever in our Lord’s presence, face to face in heaven. We look forward to seeing him again when the Lord calls us home too.
1 Cor 13:12
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
Phil 1:22-24
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

We appreciate all the prayers, love, financial, practical and emotional support, and encouragement from our family, friends and even strangers and new found friends, these past four years. Your prayers were not in vain. God did mighty things in Micah and our family to draw us into a closer walk with Him. We ask for your continued prayers as we grieve the loss of our sweet Micah who was so dear to us. Mark and I and Micah’s three brothers and five sisters miss him so much. We love you and praise God for you all.
Please send us a message by signing in the guest book or e-mailing any time you want. We would love to hear any memories or ways Micah’s life touched yours. We may continue to post from time to time as the Lord continues to work in our lives. We also may share some of Micah’s songs or prose with you.
God bless you. Love, Mark and Laura Leake and family

Journal

Friday, December 17, 2021 6:34 PM CST

Hospital Information:

Duke Pediatric Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant

Links:

E-mail Author: malachi46@rtelco.net

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Note: The foregoing information was authored by the patient, parent or guardian, or other parties who are solely responsible for the content. Such announcements or their content are not necessarily endorsed by CaringBridge, Inc. or any sponsoring agent.  This information does not confirm that anyone is or was actually a patient at any facility.