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.)