PLEASE consider taking part of this very important campaign. Here's the link to the printable sign....or you may make your own. Www.tinyurl.com/ncimorethan4 We simply want NCI to realize that current federal funding for childhood cancer is too low.......and they need to do more than 4%. We need to get rid of outdated treatments with long term effects.......united we can take a stand! Thank you all for your support! #MoreThan4

Natalia accidentally fell yesterday at the therapist's office. It happened very quickly, as she was walking out, she looked back to get something and down she went....... She is fine, thank God, physically she is fine....but her war wounds from her cancer journey are wide open, bleeding, and still hurting TODAY. She broke down and said that she did not want doctors, hospitals, needles, medicines....please momma, don't take me to the emergency room. I'm tired of doctors, scans, emergency rooms, hospitals, needles, medicines.....please don't take me....PLEASE! She pleaded with me.... The therapist said......mom, she's tired. Watching in the sidelines as my little girl is violently stripped of her childhood. Trading it for weekly hospitalizations, toxic medicines, ports, emergency room visits, anesthesia, surgeries, being poked and prodded, REAL physical pain, scans.....she was thrust head first into the cancer world. A world that NO CHILD should have to endure. It is beyond unfathomable. She was made to grow up.......FAST....NOW. As a mom, you wish you could take it for them.... from the first devastating sign that the chemo was working, causing the hair on her head to become opaque and brittle....and the shocking reality that her beautiful long head of hair was dead....causing endless nights of weeping....even now. I have had to watch painfully all the different stages that encompass this childhood cancer world....and some days it is totally unbearable.... Gone are the days in which she ran free, doing cartwheels as she pleased. Days she wishes, to this day, that she could come back to. She just wants to be a normal kid. As harsh as the reality of childhood cancer is, the GOD we serve is BIGGER. He has us in the palms of his hands....even through all of the tears and pain. Some days it is too much to handle, I just have to shift my focus to the one who CAN handle this....Jesus Christ. THROUGH HIM....I CAN. I CAN'T.....BUT HE CAN. NATALIA CAN'T....BUT JESUS CAN. He has already set aside my daily provision of strength. WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE WITHOUT HIM? We would have perished. We would have sank. Our HOPE is in The Lord.... Philippians 4:13 I CAN DO ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me. Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have NO might He increases strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I want to thank everyone that has supported us through our journey....THANK YOU, your support means the world to us!

5 weeks of prayer and fasting....... Due to the intense radiation and chemotherapy treatments that Natalia endured, (let's not forget her second degree burn to the radiated area) growth has stopped in her upper leg, and remains completely at a stand still. We knew this was a high possibility. Dr. Cheong stated that because she is not feeling pain, her hardware has not shifted, and she is weight bearing, HE FELT THAT HE COULD GIVE HER ANOTHER 5 WEEKS. Another 5 weeks of physical therapy, and ultrasound treatments......being EXTREMELY careful that we do not put the hard ware at risk of shifting or even collapsing. IF after 5 weeks the bone has not grown, we will move into the next option: BONE GRAFT SURGERY. Fair enough. Our family has been on our knees, daily.....crying out to The Lord. For this VAST army is bigger than us, and we do not know what to do.....yet he keeps saying to us, it's NOT your battle, but the Lord's, DO NOT be afraid or discouraged........DO NOT fear. This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.....it is HE that is in total control....it is all part of a plan, part of his purpose, his will, the BIGGER picture....for ETERNAL GAINS....if this means going thru with surgery....so be it. The Lord, Jesus Christ has this! Thank you Jesus, because you always show up...you are ALWAYS giving us the strength and the peace to get thru! Thank you Lord, because you have us in the palm of your hands! We serve an awesome, living, mighty God! Thank you to those who have voluntarily come alongside us in fasting and prayer.......May The Lord multiply your blessings!! We will NEVER forget. 2 Chronicles 20:2-4, 15, 17 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” that is, En Gedi. Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

Last week, we barely made it home from Maine.....with all the snow storms threatening to close down the airports. Natalia LOVED the camp!! What an amazing group of kind hearted volunteers! She had such a great time! We hit the ground running with all of the doctor appointments, and on the way to the hospital at 6:30 in the morning, out of the blue she says: " mommy, even If they cut off my leg and tell me that I can't walk........I CAN still walk..............." I asked "How?" And she quickly replied........."In my faith." W. O. W. 2 Corinthians 5:7 For we WALK by FAITH, NOT by sight. Hebrews 11:1 Now FAITH is CONFIDENCE in what we HOPE for and assurance about what we DO NOT see. Last night, after praying she said "If they decide to do surgery on my leg, it's because I really need it." Tomorrow is the day we go in to talk to the surgeon about the options for her leg...... We know that the outcome is in the Lord's hands........NOT OUR WILL, BUT HIS. NOT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE, BUT HOW HE SEES IT'S BEST FOR US. HE KNOWS. Through HIM, we can go down the path HE chooses for us....ONLY THROUGH HIM. THE ONE WHO MAKES US STRONG ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND SUCH EVENTS IN OUR LIVES. We WILL go down the chosen path GLORIFYING and PRAISING the TRUE LIVING GOD every step of the way.......knowing that IT IS HE WHO KNOWS BEST. Our family is grateful for all of your continued support and all of your prayers! THANK YOU!!! May God continue to BLESS you! Matthew 6:10 Let your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Mark 11:22 “Have FAITH in God,” Jesus answered. Luke 8:48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your FAITH has healed you. Go in peace.” Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you BELIEVE, you will RECEIVE whatever you ask for in prayer.”

BALANCING on the WII board! Putting weight on her surgical leg is NOT an easy task.....but she's up for the challenge!

They are flying us out tomorrow morning, and we will be traveling ALL day. Please keep us in your prayers! #looooongday #cancercamp #brrrrrrrrrr #mentalhealth

Natalia had such a good time being a "normal" kid with her AHG sisters!!! Her giggles and laughter brought such joy to my heart!! So grateful that she was able to take part of this trip! Praying for more days like these.....no more sickies!!!