Cure Search Walk 2014 was very difficult to put into words, so at the time I just didn't write. The day was charged with a roller coaster of emotions! Natalia had decorated a poster in memory of our Edgar Trejo to give to his mother, and we made one in honor of Natalia Sofia, our survivor! Charlie Belcher called up parents of a child that lost their battle, and Natalia wheeled herself to the stage, and took a white rose to give to Claudia, Edgar's mom. Unbeknownst to his mom, Edgar had been collecting money, little by little for college, in a rice bag. His mother brought the heavy bag of coins to donate gift cards to the hospital for cancer families......WOW! What a powerful statement!! Our friend could barely carry the bag full of coins, as she almost toppled over! Seeing the support of not only the friends and family that walked alongside us, as we held our posters high, but seeing the community come together to BE A VOICE for the awareness of childhood cancer was an unforgettable experience. LOTS of tears..... Unfortunately, many are unaware of how poorly funded childhood cancer really is. Poor funds lead to no research, and consequently, NO CURE. The harsh adult treatments make it difficult for the children to survive......Many survive the cancer, but NOT the side effects, and many have chronic illnesses following their treatment. This year would you join us? We would LOVE to see you there! It is important to rally around and SUPPORT those of us who have been in the trenches fighting with this ugly disease, and raising awareness in the community! We will be joining the St. Joseph's Team, Chemosabes again this year! Unfortunately, this year we will have to add more names to our memorial posters. #curesearchwalk2015 #joinchemosabes #raiseawareness #unitedwetriumph #childhoodcancerawareness

Meet our friend, Marie. Her twin girls, Jasmine and Jada are 15 months old, and they have a brother named Tahj. Jada has kidney cancer...in not just one, but BOTH her kidneys. This is very rare. The plan was for Jada to have chemo for three months, then shrink the tumor by 30% and have surgery to remove the tumors. They wanted to try and save the kidneys. After three months of chemo, scans showed that the tumor had only decreased by 20%.....so the surgeon called off the surgery and started little Jada on chemo for another 6 weeks. The tumors need to shrink in those 6 weeks...NOTHING is impossible for our MIGHTY GOD of MIRACLES!!! Would you please join our family and commit to praying for Jada and her family? We serve a MIGHTY God.......JEHOVAH RAPPHA. Thank you for praying in advance!

Join our team CHEMOSABES! This Saturday, September 12, 2015 and walk for a good cause! See you there!!! Support Childhood Cancer Awareness!!!! http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1134431&supId=412126057&extSiteType=1

Thank you all for your steadfastness in prayer!!! We got a phone call from the oncologist's office advising that we need to observe Natalia. Her pain could be from MANY different things, and we need to keep a close watch. Frustrating at its best. She has definitely increased her activity level, and she is out there conquering the world, but this was already happening over the summer. We will be prayerfully observing her over the next few days. In the evening, her pain worsens...and we end up Medicating. If we don't, she ends up having so much pain that she is throwing up. :( Father God, we continue to lift up Natalia to you. Father we look to you, fixing our eyes on you....our refuge and strong tower, in whom we trust. We will be steadfast in our faith, IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS excelling in our Lord's work. KNOWING that it is NOT in vain. We thank you JESUS ahead of time for all that you have done for Natalia and for all that you will continue to do! Please continue to lift up Natalia Sofia in prayers! 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Psalm 51:10 God, create a clean heart for me and RENEW a steadfast spirit within me. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always! Pray constantly. Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Natalia Sofia is a childhood cancer survivor. In August 2013, at the tender age of 8, she was diagnosed with localized Ewing's Sarcoma of her femur bone. In addition to surgery, She endured an intense chemotherapy for a year and radiation treatment everyday for a month. Due to harsh treatments, she is still suffering from the side effects of her treatment. By the grace of our MIGHTY GOD, she has overcome cancer and has been cancer free for 13months!!! Her fb link is: Praying for Natalia https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1679442275624994&id=1403639516538606

Natalia had some X-rays this morning, and her operated leg is stable......praise God! The surgeon suspects that the pain is from all the walking she is doing at her school. Tonight, things seemed to take a turn for the worst....she is having MAJOR bone pain in her arm, wrist, and ankles. So much pain, that she was nauseous. She's finally fallen asleep, with grandma praying a word over her body. By HIS stripes, Natalia is healed....LORD, we cry out to you...NOT our will, but YOUR WILL BE DONE. Thank you for all your prayers!! Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds. Proverbs 3:8 This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. Psalm 103:3 He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; Ephesians 6:12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

Natalia's first week of school was a success!! She is loving her new school, her new schedule, and I'm loving my new school badge! Lol! Of course, it wasn't complete without an emergency call from the nurse....today. :( Three days into the week, Natalia felt a pain in her upper left thigh, and she's been complaining of pain on/off in her left ankle. And today, her ankle pain was the worst. A call to the surgeon led to an emergency appointment this Monday. Due to her condition, there is ALWAYS that possibility, that impending doom, that chance...with ANY ache and pain. I decided to hand it over to The Lord, instead I CHOSE to pray, intercede, and stand in the gap for my fellow comrades....the ones that are still fighting for their child against chemotherapy, in the trenches, and the ones that have a child in the presence of The Lord. It is NOT coincidental that our paths have crossed, God is intentional and he is a purposeful GOD! I will CHOOSE to focus my attention on my beautiful mommy friends that are still warring against cancer, than my "impending" doom. In the meantime, HE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR NATALIA....HIS WILL WILL BE DONE, WE have already SURRENDERED HER TO THE ONE, SOVEREIGN, FAITHFUL, LOVING GOD. For HIS Glory...HIS purpose. Please feel free to join our family in praying for our fellow brothers and sisters that have lost a loved one, or are still fighting/undergoing treatment. We are so grateful for your support! Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is VERY powerful in its effect. James 5:16

#tbt2013 #diagnosisanniversary #flashback #hearthurts Today marks the 2 year anniversary of the cancer diagnosis....the FIRST time Natalia had to be given Morphine for her leg pain right when we walked into the hospital, the FIRST time Natalia had to be under anesthesia for her MRI because she could not hold still from the leg pain. The FIRST of many exams, pokes and prods, EVER! The FIRST time the doctor confidently said the word...........cancer. The next morning, after she had a femur X-ray (the previous night), we were abruptly woken up to get our STAT MRI by seven am...they knew something was wrong from the X-ray...the bone looked frayed throughout the margins. Of course, NOONE would say a word....till we got back from recovery after the MRI test. EVERYone was waiting for us in an office to go over the diagnosis and films. After hearing the pediatrician say the word cancer, everything else was a blur. Dumbfounded.....numb....our child?.....questions and thoughts.....swirling room, our lives were totally turned inside out AND outside in.....BUT GOD! BUT GOD, through it all has been there alongside us. HE HAS NEVER LEFT US NOR FORSAKEN US. Hebrews 13:5 It is always under HIS DIVINE CONTROL...with a PLAN and a PURPOSE for Natalia Sofia and our family! I remember turning over Natalia Sofia saying, Father, you gave her to us, now we give her back to you....LET YOUR WILL BE DONE....NOT OURS. TOTAL SURRENDER. Surrendering EVERYTHING, including our baby girl. Psalm 16:8 I keep the Lord in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will NOT be shaken. Psalm 126:3 The Lord had done great things for us; we are joyful. Psalm 68:3 But the righteous are glad; they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy. Hebrews 13:6 Therefore, we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? *****This post was written right after finding out that the MRI showed a large aggressive tumor coming out from her femur bone, and it was likely cancer. Two years later we can STILL say our Lord is faithful, HE is good, HE has carried us through, HE has been our refuge, our rock, our provider, our defender, our strong tower, our savior, our peace, our strength, and sooo much more!! Without JESUS we would have perished. Thank you, Lord for giving us the gift of life! Thank you for ALL that you have done for us! You truly are THE ONE, TRUE, LIVING GOD! Thank you JESUS, YOU have carried us a looooong way!! We are soooo grateful!

AWESOME BREAKTHROUGH!!!! REJOICE IN OUR VICTORY!!! GOOD NEWS!!! SHOUT IT OUT!!! Today is the day that The Lord has made just for Natalia Sofia!!! We went to the surgeon's office for a follow up of her bone graft. After the X-rays, we were on pins and needles waiting to see the Dr....when he walked in saying ENCOURAGING NEWS.........it was all over!!! Lol He showed us the progression the bone had made, and was stating that she didn't need any more physical therapy.....for now!! In 6 WEEKS WE ARE TO REMOVE THE CRUTCHES ALTOGETHER! W. O. W. No words. The moment we have been waiting for! The words we have been waiting to hear! The room was charged with emotion, as we watched her walk by herself to the surgeon and back!! Emotional hearts turned to THANK the one who made this happen, the one who created Natalia Sofia......JESUS CHRIST. We want to shout it from the top of the mountain!!! LOOK WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE!!! There is nothing HE cannot do. He can resurrect dry bones, and call dead things to life by breathing HIS LIFE into it. Praise JESUS, HIS WORD IS LIVING TRUTH, AND IT MUST DO WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL DO!!! IT IS CHARGED WITH LIFE! Thank you ALL for your incredible spiritual support!!! May God continue to BLESS each of you! Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Psalm 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.