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Patient Page Ethan was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.) on April 13, 2004. After 3 years and 4 months of chemotherapy, Ethan officially completed chemotherapy on August 2, 2007!
We discovered Ethan relapsed on February 8, 2008 in his testes and his bone marrow. No one wants to travel this road again but we are here and we will persevere until this cancer is gone ONCE AND FOR ALL!! Thank God we are not alone on this journey for the Lord has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
On Friday, May 23 at 7:30 pm, the Lord's angels came down to take our Ethan up to Heaven. We are deeply saddened but rejoice in the Lord's great mercy.
Journal
Tuesday, July 8, 2008 8:44 PM CDT Yesterday, my sister-in-law, Jodie,sent me an email and told me something her daughter, my niece Jadyn, said about Ethan. They were driving in the car and Jodie heard Jadyn talking to herself. She heard her say Ethan was in the car but not Auntie Gloria, Gabriel or Uncle Gregg. She questioned Jadyn and she said Ethan was there with them, all around us, but sitting by her. When Jodie and Jadyn were saying prayers that evening Jadyn prayed that Ethan was smiling.
How cool is that! How amazing for a 4 year old to be thinking about her cousin that way. Jadyn always brought smiles to Ethan's face. He just really enjoyed her. They had a special connection. She is a special girl indeed. I know that Ethan heard her prayer and he is indeed smiling!!
Got home from work and just felt the need to watch Ethan’s video from his Celebration of Life service. I just cried and cried which turned to smiles at the end where he is laughing. This is such a tough road to travel. I have been praying for God’s peace to fill my heart and soul. I do feel that peace sometimes and yet other times I feel an enormous loss, a heartache that is inconsolable.
I thought I had God’s plan all figured out. Tyler was a perfect match in order to help him overcome some issues he was having. I figured God was going to save both of them in different ways. But you know what, we are not to try and figure out what God has planned because as Isaiah 55:8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
God is God and I am not. These are some lyrics from a song by Steven Curtis Chapman. They are so simple and yet so true. We are to trust and accept His plan, no matter what. Is it easy? No. Do we get to try and compromise with God? No. Do we have to understand it? No. Do we get to vote one way or the other? No. Can we get angry with God? Yes, of course we can, but we can’t stay in that place too long. We are to have faith that what occurs in our lives is for a purpose beyond our understanding. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
I have that faith that these past four years we struggled through were not without purpose. I have hope that we will meet up with Ethan again. I am certain that although I cannot see a physical place called Heaven, it is there because God’s Word says so. Our God is a god of love, our God is good, and our God cares about each and every one of us. Luke 12:7 says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” He knows our pain and He will give us comfort, we just need to let Him in and trust Him.
Some other lyrics of the same song I mentioned are:
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God
Enough said.
We miss you terribly, Ethan!!
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