Kindness

Kindness by: Emily Matthews

It's kindness that gladdens each heart in this world-
It's shown in so many small ways-
The favor that helps us
The touch filled with caring,
The words that bring comfort and praise...
It's kindness that gives us new strength and encouragement
Warming us each time its shown,
That makes us feel closer to people around us,
Reminding us we're not alone.
It's kindness that brightens the darkest of days,
and brings those that need it a smile-
It fills us with friendship and love for each other-
It's kindness that makes life worthwhile.

Thank you to everyone for your kindness, love, and support!

Sometimes God says NO but will also say YES!

We are home again!  We got released yesterday in the evening. Coltrane did very well on his second round of chemotherapy.  The doctors have been very impressed with how his bone marrow is doing.  We are scheduled for an appointment in OKC on Tuesday.  This will be a preliminary appointment for the bone marrow stem cell harvest and transplant.  We will have appointments every week in Tulsa for checking his levels and such.  This whole process seems like it's going so fast.

 

Sonja and I were talking about how God is working in this trial.  It's strange to try to understand His ways and His plan.  It helps when you know His character.  We trust Him.  He has said "No." to a lot of big issues we've prayed for in all this.  We have prayed that Coltrane's bump on his head was not a tumor.  God said, "No."  We prayed that his tumor wasn't cancerous.  God said, "No."  We prayed that his body wouldn't have any more cancer anywhere else.  God said, "No."  We prayed that Coltrane's tumor would have the "good genes".  God said, "No."  It's obviously difficult to watch God saying "No" to all these big, important things that are happening to your son, your family, and everyone else who's being effected.  But we have to remember that His answer of "No." is not a "beating the hammer down No".  It's a "No" with absolute love.  I imagine God saying, "Well Justin, I can't say "Yes" to this because this has to happen.  And if I say "Yes" to this prayer, then I can't show you about this and change your life in this way.  I need to say "No" to these prayers.  Trust me, my son."  I know He doesn't like to see us hurt, but he knows that we don't understand everything too.  It's very much like parenting your children.  My three year old definitely doesn't comprehend why "No." has to be.  But he's learning.  And so are we.  

 

But here's what God has shown us.  God has said "Yes" to so many other things.  First off, I have been praying that Sonja would be able to stay home with our children for four years now.  Not the way I wanted it to happen, but I'll take it.  We prayed that no cancer would be in his body.  God said "No." but spared his brain, spine, and most of his bone marrow.  We prayed that God would give us peace.  He said "Yes."  We have days with peace, and days that we struggle finding it.  But at the end of the day He provides what we need to have that peace.  We only need to rely on HIm.  We asked God that Coltrane would not get sick from the chemo.  God said, "Yes.  I will do that."  So far, he's not been effected by the chemo in this way.  We prayed that when we went back to the hospital for Round 2, that Coltrane would not be clingy, afraid, weak, stay in bed, not be happy, not eat, not walk.  God said "Yes." with all those things.  I asked God to help me with my job.  My Dad has been unbelievable to work with.  He is one of the most generous men I know.  He has been a great support with my Mom.  It's been so nice to spend quality time with him during those working hours.  We are asking for people to not stop praying for us.  God is saying "Yes."  We are asking Him to give us wisdom.  We are asking Him for financial help.  God is most graciously saying "Yes" to these prayers.  

God is fascinating to say the least.  He is the mastermind.  He is the Creator.  And He is the Great Physician.  I don't know His plans, but what I see is a plan that I don't understand.  But I do see how things are connecting.  In some ways, it's really nice and it gives me peace that I don't know that plan.  The fact that somebody else knows exactly what to do and when, relieves me the control that I strive to grasp.  God is responsible for His own plan.  I am responsible for how I serve His plan.  I am not drowning.  I don't need to gasp for air.  I breathe air, constantly.  God gives us what we need.  And I will trust Him completely.  In the end, God is creating in my life and in our lives, a beautiful creation in itself, similar to what He's done with the world, with people, humanity, and with everything else in the universe.  A blossoming flower that will reveal itself in a time I am unaware of.  But I do see the beauty of this whole mess.  And that is God.  He WILL be glorified.

 

Please continue praying for us.  We love you and God truly loves and cares for each of us.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Justin,

Sonja,

Jackson,

and Coltrane the Hardy

Prayer Request from the Smith Family

It's Coltrane's chemo week.  We are in Tulsa.  We got the results from the national study and the results are positive, which means his tumor has the bad genes.  This was expected by the Oncologists.  Usually stage 4 neuroblastoma cases have them.  This means Coltrane is a little more high risk than before.  It also tells us that the treatment will be more aggressive.  At one point he will have a really strong chemo treatment (in OKC), and his immune system will be VERY low.  This is when he will receive the bone marrow transplant.  Not the best news, but God knew about it and His will is perfect.  We will trust in Him.

It's hard to come back to this "world".  It was so nice to be at home the last couple of weeks.  Coltrane was eating well, walking well, and having lots of fun.  It felt like it used to.  Coming back to Tulsa hit me in the face.  It slammed me back into reality.  It forces me to remember that God works in mysterious ways.  And to not lean on my own understanding.  Which should be easy, but I guess not because I think I understand more than I do apparently.  God's showing me that for sure!

Good news!  Coltrane is doing well.  Sonja is well, Jack is well, and I am well.  Yay!  Also, a phone call got rid of $125,000 that the Insurance Company said they wouldn't pay due to frivolous hospital needs.  Sheesh, glad we called.

God is really showing us who He is and how He works.  He is especially showing how He uses people for so many different things.  We are so well supported.

It was great to play drums again!  Rahhhhhhhhhh!  I did have my practice pad at the hospital.  But there's nothing like playing the real deal.  :)  It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces at church and around town.

Please pray for God to heal Coltrane.  Pray for Jack's and  Coltrane's comfort and peace.  Pray for him to eat well, and continue to get stronger and stronger.  Please pray for Coltrane to continue to not have any negative side effects to the chemo.  Pray for our family to be uplifted.  And for God to lead us in all of the different decisions we're making.  And pray for our faith, trust, and humility to grow exponentially through this whole process.  Pray also for us to be great examples of Christ, showing what it means to be a true disciple.

THANK YOU!  We love you and are so happy to be a part of the church body and the church Body.

Love,
Justin,
Sonja,
Jack,
and Coltrane the Grumpy (Well, I had to be honest- he doesn't enjoy the nurses....at all.)

God is Great!

I just want to say how amazed I am at all the support the Smith family has received. Thank you to everyone and please continue to pray for this family.  

I wanted to give an update on Coltrane. He goes back Monday, June 16th for his second round of chemo. It should take about a week to monitor and administer this round. The first round went well. He had no side effects and his blood work is showing that his white and red blood cells are back into the normal range. His hemoglobin levels are also in the normal range. All this means is that his body is rebuilding these cells!  

How can you help?
Prayers- Continue to pray for quick healing and no side effects.
Donations for the benefit on September 20th (see previous post)
Share this link and the gofundme link with everyone.  

Thank you again for your love and prayers. 

Spaghetti dinner and live auction

We will have a spaghetti dinner and live auction for the Smith family on September 20th at Community Christian Fellowship in Siloam Springs from 4:30-7:00. Please mark your calendars and we hope to see you there. If you would like to help, then I have listed some great ways to help below. 
 1. Donations! Donations! Donations! Anything we can get to auction off would be very much appreciated. We will be more than happy to go pick it up. You can contact me at hogwildamber@gmail.com.

 2. Pies! Pies! Pies! We will also need pies made or bought to auction off at the dinner. Please e-mail me if you would like to bring a pie and how many. You can contact me at hogwildamber@gmail.com.

3. Items for the Spaghetti dinner! (We are looking to feed about 300-350 people) 
We need several items: 
a. noodles
b. 30 pounds of hamburger 
c. salad
d. salad dressing 
e. bread
f. cookies
g. to go boxes
h. tea or lemonade 
i. paper goods 

If you are able to donate any of these items again please contact me at hogwildamber@gmail.com The Smith family is forever grateful for your support. We will be looking forward to seeing you on September 20th from 4:30-7:00.

Why help?

My name is Amber Sisemore, and I have the best job in the world. I work every day with kids. I am a second grade teacher in Gravette, Arkansas. Part of being a teacher is not only the students but building relationships with my coworkers. They become your family and honestly some days they help get you through. I am starting this website on behalf of one of my coworkers, Sonja Smith. Her 1 year old son Coltrane was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma in May of 2014. He was diagnosed after finding a mysterious bump on his head and was not able to walk one day. The Neuroblastoma was considered stage 4 because of the multiple tumors that were found. After multiple scans, they discovered a tumor in his abdominal area, by his kidney. He has a tumor that is visible on the outside of his skull. He may also have tumors in other areas, possibly by his mandible and humerus bone. Coltrane's treatment plan will include several cycles of chemo, possible surgery to remove the abdominal tumor, stem cell harvesting and transplant, and radiation. Sonja has had to quit her job in order to care for her son and all the treatments over the next year. With these treatments and no job the cost will be significant. We are working to help Sonja meet these costs.

Coltrane Smith

Coltane was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma in May of 2014. He was diagnosed after finding a mysterious bump on his head and was not able to walk one day. The Neuroblastoma was considered stage 4 because of the multiple tumors that were found. After multiple scans, they discovered a tumor in his abdominal area, by his kidney. He has a tumor that is visible on the outside of his skull. He may also have tumors in other areas, possibly by his mandible and humerus bone. Coltrane's treatment plan will include several cycles of chemo, possible surgery to remove the abdominal tumor, stem cell harvesting and transplant, and radiation. Everything will depend on the response of the Neuroblastoma during the treatment..