We wish you all very Merry Christmas and know that 2010 is going to be the best year yet!!

Marley

Luc has been having pain pretty consistently for the past few months.  This does not necessarily mean that the tumor is growing.  It could just be him growing.  For our peace of mind we decided to schedule a scan before the end of the year. 

Luc had an MRI yesterday and we will receive the results this afternoon.  Our Christmas wish is that there will be either no change or (dare I wish it) shrinkage.  We know that all things are possible with the Lord and our biggest wish would be that his body be tumor-free.  We also realize that this may not be in line with the Lord's will and we are not out to try and change His will.  We trust in Him completely and know that whatever happens it is for our eternal salvation.

We, again, ask for your prayers as we await and receive the results that they will be positive and that Luc will be able to enjoy his school year and look forward to all the things that an almost 15-year-old normally anticipates.  We thank you so much for all the support you have given us over the years.

Our desire for you is that your Christmas be all that you want it to be and that 2010 be an amazing year for us all!

Marley

Marley

Luc's grandpa called on Thursday asking him if he wanted to go for a quick trip to Panguitch.  Do I even need to say what his answer was?  He arrived back home today.  They fished, sighted in a gun, shot some clay pigeons, went to a rodeo, and relaxed. It was a good weekend for the two of them.

He is all ready to start school tomorrow.  He still thinks he needs a few more weeks of summer.

We are so grateful for the Lord's tender mercies.  He does look upon the heart and upon our ability to endure and each of our paths are so individualized so that we can all endure it well if we put our trust in Him.

Marley

Luc's hair is thicker than ever.  In fact, I had to thin it out like crazy last time I cut it because we couldn't get a comb through it.  He was so handsome when he was bald and is just as handsome with his thick, curly hair.

This Tuesday, the 11th, we have an MRI scheduled.  As always, with an upcoming scan comes a little anxiety.  Luc has been having pain off and on and feels like the tumor is growing.  We won't know until the scan.  Our faith lies in God's purposes.  We know that we have sufficient faith for Luc to be healed.  If God is allowing it to grow, it just means that there is a greater purpose in that fact.  We trust Him and know that whatever the future holds, He will be with us and help us endure it well.

Again, prayers are greatly appreciated.  We feel the strengh and peace that comes with them.

Marley

The "new" Luc is almost 17 pounds lighter and has a full head of WAVY hair.  He looks SOOOO good!!  His stamina has improved by leaps and bounds.  Where before he couldn't even walk to the corner without stopping to rest, he now goes to the bike park for hours on end, rides his ripstick all over outside and keeps up with all his friends.  You'd never guess what he went through over the past year and a half by looking at him.  It's amazing!

He left Thursday to go to Panguitch with his grandpa.  A month ago he purchased a new muzzleloader rifle and they took it to "sight it in".  Panguitch is his favorite place in the world and when he's there with his grandpa it is doubly good.

We ask for a special prayer for the Huish family in our ward.  Little Sadie has taken a turn for the worse and has deteriorated rapidly.  She is now receiving hospice care.  Our hearts go out to them and we wish them peace during this very sacred time.

Marley

After about an hour he was finished and we had a few hours before we were to be at clinic.  He suggested we go to lunch, but not at the cafeteria!  We decided to go downtown and have soup, salad and breadsticks at the Olive Garden.  He was in much better spirits, so happy and positive.

We returned back to the hospital and went to the oncology clinic to meet with Dr. Lemons.  When we arrived they informed us that the dr. wanted to get labs.  They had taken the i.v. out down in radiology.  Luc has never done well if something unexpected is thrown at him.  Even when he was a toddler and needed stitches, as long as I could explain what was going to happen before it happened then he was okay with it.  He just couldn't stand the thought of another i.v. and stood his ground.  I wasn't too worried because he has done so well these past few months.  I supported him in his decision as did the oncology staff.  It turned out not to be a big deal.  Luc decided last year that, if at all possible, he did not want to be in the room when the dr. gave the results.  He had had too many bad experiences that he had opted to let me tell him after.  He waited in the hall while I met with Dr. Lemons.  Dr. Lemons informed me that the tumor is virtually unchanged, stable!!  He said he wouldn't be surprised if we even saw some delayed shrinkage.  He also told me that Luc will not need another MRI until August, unless he becomes symptomatic again.

We felt before we went that we would have good news.  We know what the Spirit has indicated, but also realize that our intrepretation could be erroneous.  We have come to completely trust the Lord's will.  Even Luc said,"Mom, I know everything will be okay.  I will be okay.  Even if that means that I am not supposed to stay.  I do trust God."  When push comes to shove, Luc shows his true colors.  He has a testimony of God's Plan of Salvation.  He knows he has a part in that plan and, even though he doesn't understand his part completely, trusts that the Lord will lead him to fulfill his part.  It takes some people, like me, a lifetime to develop the kind of faith he has in a short 14 years.  I feel extremely blessed and grateful to have the privilege of being his mother.  He may have been born a couple thousand years later, but he truly is a stripling warrior!

Marley

Luc also started on a nutritional program about 2 weeks ago.  I had been thinking so much about what we could do to get all of those awful toxins out of his system and get his body functioning the way it should.  His metabolism has been messed up since his first chemo 4 years ago.  I was mentioning this concern to my brother, Bruce.  Bruce told me about a program he has been doing for over a year that has totally changed his body and his outlook on life.  I have always tried to counsel with the Lord and discern what is right for Luc.  There have been many people that have suggested many different things to help, but there have been very few that I have felt were right for him.  The one my brother told me about felt right.  After discussing it with both Ron and Luc, and praying, we decided to go ahead and get him started.  After just 5 days Luc was expressing how much better he felt and how even his attitude about things was changing.  He has had some de-tox symptoms, nothing terrible, and he has lost 6 lbs so far.  He is so excited about it and wants to tell everyone how great he feels.  It makes me feel so happy to see him becoming healthy again.

An MRI is scheduled for April 15th.  We appreciate any prayers offered in his behalf.  Also, please remember my cousin, Stewart Olsen, in your prayers.  Six months ago, after 6 months of treatment, he was cancer-free. Last week at his routine six month check, the doctors found the cancer to be growing again.  He has Hodgkin's Lymphoma. 

Thank you so much for all your support and for celebrating our successes with us!

We met with Dr. Randall 2 weeks ago.  He explained what the next step would be; an even more invasive, major surgery where he would basically take his whole shoulder off and bring it around to lay it on his chest while he operates.  This would enable him to see clear into the chest cavity.  Immediately after the surgery he would have to start radiation.  We listened, but feel comfort in our belief that the Lord has healed him.  We truly believe that the tumor is dead!

The doctors will continue to monitor Luc through regular MRIs.  His next is scheduled for April.

Your prayers have been so appreciated.  Please to continue to pray for Luc's faith to continue strong.  The adversary has been using his dreams to try and put fear into him.  We are praying for angels to surround him while he sleeps so that he will be shielded from these attacks.

We are so grateful for the Lord's power working in our lives!

Marley

Marley

Marley

Luc decided to do one more chemo treatment.  We go to the hospital on Thursday, Jan. 15th.  He is so glad to see the "light at the end of the tunnel".  Even though he doesn't want to do even one more, he knows it is what the Lord would have him do.  I am so proud of his maturity and his willingness to submit to the will of the Lord.  I know that because he is submitting in this most difficult thing, he will be able to follow the Lord's will in all things.  He is such an example to me!

Marley

Marley

Today we had a wonderful visit with a friend of Luc's 4th grade teacher, Eileen Nagle.  Her friend, Brother Pratt, is almost 98 years old.  He is an amazing man who has had a miraculous life.  He shared some of those miracles with us today.  His experiences just add to our testimony of God's power and that He is still a God of miracles.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  The Spirit abounded in his home, touched our hearts and increased our faith and hope.  He is a living example of the power of faith.  I am so grateful to Eileen for arranging this visit and to Bro. Pratt for taking time to share part of himself with us.  We are forever changed.

Luc will be having an M.R.I. on Friday and we ask, again, for your prayers of faith to be combined with ours petitioning those miracles that the Lord sees fit to bestow upon him.  This has been, and continues to be, a very sacred journey that has allowed us to see the goodness of our Father through His children.  We thank each of you for helping us to feel His love.

Marley 

I found out that Caitlyn passed away at 2:30 p.m. yesterday.  I feel like I have been hit in the stomach.  Even though I didn't know Caitlyn, and had only talked with Calleen a short time, I am grieving for them.  I just wanted to put out a plea for prayers for the Williams family.  I know this is extremely difficult for them.  They are mourning their daughter and also have to go through treatment with their little son.  If anyone is going to the temple soon, please put the Williams family on the prayer roll.

As far as Luc is concerned, He is doing really well.  This break has been absolutely wonderful.  He is feeling good and he even has a five-o-clock shadow on his head!  His next treatment starts January 2nd.  We are so grateful he has been able to enjoy the holidays and feel a little more normal.

At this season (and always), we are eternally thankful for our Savior.  We know that He suffered all things for us, and that He is walking with us in our journey.  We know that He is comforting the Williams family, and all those around the world who are mourning.  We are grateful for the records that were kept that give an account of his life, ministry, and atonement.  We are thankful for His grace and the hope we have through Him.  May your Christmas be filled with His grace and unwavering hope.

Marley