Sunday, April 20, 2008

In the early hours of the morning...


I had such a sweet time with Ethan this morning at his 3:00 feeding. He had been asleep for 7 hours and was awake, ready to eat... and play. He was smiling like crazy as I rocked him here in our hospital room. I had slept about 4 hours at that point, and actually felt pretty rested. We stayed up for about an hour after he ate just talking and playing. He was so content and so cute. I was talking with the Lord during that time as well, and just felt at such peace that God was going to do a wonderful healing in Ethan's body. I was asking the Lord for a miracle healing. A healing that could not be explained or understood. A true miracle. And I didn't feel silly or foolish in asking for it. I actually felt very calm and almost assured. I asked God to heal his body even before we move towards a transplant. I sat in wonder as I thought about the uproar of praise that would be given to God at such a miracle. I sat in wonder as I pictured the doctors at a loss for words. I sat in wonder as I envisioned taking Ethan 'around town' in his stroller this summer, instead of taking him to another hospital in Boston for a bone marrow transplant.

I sat... and believed.

It is scary to sit here now and publicly write that I know God is going to preform a miracle in Ethan's body, because "what if I'm wrong". But I think that's exactly the type of faith that God wants us to have. Absolute, undoubting faith. A verse that was shared with me reinforces that mindset. Allow me to share some of the passage with you.

John 8:5-10 & 13

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a certurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord my servant lieth at home sick...... And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I [myself] am a man of authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed [with them], Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great a faith..... And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the same hour."

Ethan's doctor, the head specialist on his case, just came in to report that yet again, Ethan's spleen is smaller than it was yesterday, and his white blood cell counts were still in good shape. I felt slightly silly, but I told the doctor that I am asking God and believing a miracle will take place in Ethan's body, and that his team needs to be monitoring his blood closely because they could very well start to see a change in his overall blood counts, for the better. I wanted them to daily be sure he even still HAD the cancer before they moved forward with various treatments. He said they monitor everything going on in his body daily, and that if things looked like they were taking a turn for the better, they would certainly not ignore it.

So AMEN!

Pray with me for a miracle in Ethan's body even before we move towards a transplant. Have the kind of faith when you pray as if you truly believe it's going to happen. Pray with such faith not only for us and for Ethan, but for your life and your trials as well. God can handle it all... He doesn't work with a "just one thing at a time" mindset.

James 5:15a -- And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.

Rejoicing and believing, daily.

23 comments:

Carrie Comstock said...

We rejoice and believe with you.

Unknown said...

The picture of his hand holding your fingers is absolutely priceless. We certainly we will be praying for those specific requests.

Curt, Annie, Audrey, and Cole Dunn

Linsey said...

Kasey, your blog is such a blessing. Can't wait for Friday!

Megan P said...

Kasey, praying in faith and believing. Thank you for sharing about your early morning time with sweet Ethan, my heart is smiling.

Moz + Pam said...

Matthew 19:26-
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible."

Anonymous said...

Although I cry everytime I read your blog- I am so blessed by your strength! I believe with you that God will do a miracle. I am so glad I will get to see you Friday.
Love,
Alicia

Anonymous said...

I am just so humbled by your strength and faith. We are right there with you praying for a miracle. You are and will be continually blessed. To God be all the GLORY. Sharan

Anonymous said...

You are such a beautiful woman of Godly strength and faith! You are so inspiring!! Lainey and I pray every night for your sweet baby boy and the miracle that God is creating! All our love!! Jennifer and Lainey Jaetzold

Heather said...

We will pray, believing with you for Ethan's miraculous healing. There are people in NY praying for you as well! I am blessed by your faith and steadfastness to the Lord in this!

Anonymous said...

we are praying for a miracle and praising God for what He is going to do. How exciting to see God work! HOLY, HOLY, HOLY! LORD GOD ALMIGHTY. ALL THY WORKS SHALL PRAISE THY NAME IN EARTH, AND SKY, AND SEA!
Michelle from michigan

Unknown said...

22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:22-23 (KJV)

Our God truly is faithful! We are praying for you and your son that God will provide a miracle in Ethan's life.

Randy and Ronni Dunn
Davison, MI

Anonymous said...

I've never met you or talked to you, but I came across your blog and wanted you to know that my family is praying for you. God can do awesome things if you believe and you are great servants to Him. We will continue to pray. Keep trusting God and He will preform that miracle. Lots of Love.

Rob and Gretchen said...

I'm a friend of your sister-in-law Mary, and have been reading your blog every day for updates on Ethan. I just want you to know that we are praying daily for you and for Ethan. Also I want you to know what a huge blessing your unwavering faith is to me. You are truly bringing glory to God with your trust in Him. I am encouraged and amazed every time I read. God is using you and Ethan for amazing things. How wonderful that you are willing to be used. We will continue to pray with you.

Anonymous said...

Kasey & Adam,

We have a 12 week old daughter and we can't imagine the pain you must be feeling at this time. You do not know us but we want you to know that we will be praying for Ethan often as you all are weighing heavy on our hearts. We wanted to pass these verses on to you as encouragement in your days ahead. Just remember our GOD is holy and powerful and has great things planned for your family. You have touched us with your faith and perseverance!

Love in Christ,
Jon and Tammy (& Isabella)

Isaiah 40:28-31
Isaiah 41:10,13

Anonymous said...

Kasey,

I ran across your blog through another blog that I check every now and then. I also graduated from DBU (2000), and I also have a loved one who is flighting cancer. My sweet husband was diagnosed in November of last year, 5 months to the day after we were married. Like you, I found myself numb with shock as the doctors gave me the news. I have since discovered that though this is not an easy thing, it CAN be a very GOOD thing. God has walked with us each step of the way, and blessings have been poured out on us daily. He has brought us into contact with people we would not have met otherwise, and allowed us to be a "light" in places filled with sickness, suffering, and fear.

I know that God will both bless you and use you, Kasey. Continue to seek out those sweet, quiet times with Him, and just listen. It is hard to do when your mind is racing and filled with thoughts about chemo treatments, tests, appointments, etc., but this is what will continuously instill within you that peace that you wrote about in your posts.

And I pray that God's healing hands will be upon your beautiful little man, and that his body will be restored to health.

Many prayers,
Melanie Barry Swan

Kim said...

Kasey and Adam,
Your faith is such an encouragement to me, and I am sure all who are reading your story...I know God can perform a miracle in Ethans little body, and then he will not just be the little flirt on the 4th floor, but the big guy that God healed, (and why can't we explain it...) AMEN to that faith, I am absolutely praying for healing and continue to cry and read daily you tremendous words. Kasey, God is using you and Ethan for something big here, you may never know what, until we reach heaven, but be sure that all the praise will go to our Creator King.
Matthew 6, God doesn't want us to worry...
Vs 26: Behold the fowls of the air:.....Are ye not much better than they?...vs 31-34 Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? and what shall we drink: or wherewithal shall we be clothed?...for your heavenly Father knoweth you have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God.....Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...
Ethan and you and Adam are so much more important than the birds, the flowers and grass, and look how well He takes care of them!!! We are so VALUABLE to God.
Praying for a Miracle with you,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Kasey,
Thank you for keeping us abreast of what God is doing with your precious little boy. You may not remember us but we have known Adam and his family for many years, and I have met your mother at church. We are praying for Ethan and for you and Adam as well. We have enlisted our entire church in praying for you as well as both of my sisters churches in Maine and NJ. We are praying with you for a miracle!I also am asking God to continue giving you that "perfect peace" Of IS 26:3,4. Thank you for being a blessing to us even in this time of difficulty. Our love and prayers!

Dean and Wendy Burhoe

jo said...

Kasey, Kari's mother-in-law is a friend of mine from work and told me about Ethan and gave me your blogsite. I have forwarded it to my family, friends and church. I wanted you to know that many prayer warriors are being added daily and we are believing with you. We have seen and believe in the miracles of God. I believe that God will do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can even ask or expect. Thank you for allowing God to use you to be an encouragement to others.
In the joy of the Lord, Jo (Lavaca,AR)
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future."

Chaplain Mayhugh said...

Kasey and Adam,

Deb and I are continually praying for you and Ethan. Praise the Lord for the comfort you have in His Word. I am excited to see Ethan's progress each day. Our hearts still break for that precious baby boy as even as the church prayed for him yesterday in the morning service. We know God desires to be glorified in your lives and through this time. I think He is getting the glory as you rely in His Word and trust in Him. Keep up the faith. He can heal Ethan.

Anonymous said...

We pray for Ethan everyday and night in fact numerous times throughout the day!! I too believe Kasey that a miracle will surely take place for Ethan it is so powerful just a feeling that can not be explained.
love to you all
Desira

Anonymous said...

We pray for Ethan everyday and night in fact numerous times throughout the day!! I too believe Kasey that a miracle will surely take place for Ethan it is so powerful just a feeling that can not be explained.
love to you all
Desira

Anonymous said...

As we were reading this morning, great promises stood out to us in John 15:1-14. We are thankful that Ethan's situation has brought the Word of God so much more often to mind for all of us. We were thrilled to see Adam yesterday and look forward to seeing all y'all!!(that's for Kasey)Love, Hunts
Keep abiding in Jesus.

Anonymous said...

Kasey and Adam,

That picture alone speaks volumes. Thank you so much for your testimony of faith -- you are being used of the Lord to teach us so very much.

We love you, and we pray for you and precious Ethan daily.