We have been so Blessed!

Dear friends,

We have been so blessed by God through the generosity of our congregation and community.  The benefit held last Saturday was such a big success.  The fundraising was incredible, the food to die for, and the fellowship meaningful and revitalizing.  

We are back in Tulsa hopefully coming home on Wednesday.  This is Coltrane's last scheduled chemo treatment here.  We are so excited about that.  He is doing very well and loving to play play play.  He's been eating a little more here and there, but please continue to pray for his appetite to grow. 

We have great news.  The latest scans (MRI, CT, Echo, etc.) are showing in the words of the doctor's reports "remarkable reduction in tumor size".  We can't express how good it feels to hear from the Docs that they are seeing such a great response from the chemotherapy.  We know this is a great blessing from the Lord.  I am so happy that God is healing Coltrane.  It's been hard and we still have a very long road ahead of us, but God is here and He is showing up everywhere.  Your prayers are so effective.  Thank you so much for praying.  

It looks like Coltrane will have to go through surgery pretty soon.  The tumor is more differentiated (harder) than it was, so that means it will be easier to take out.  They are warning us that because of the location, and how the tumor sticks to everything, that they might have to remove a kidney.  Please pray that God will make that not necessary.  Please pray that the surgeon will be able to remove all of the tumor, that Coltrane will recover well, and that his little body will be so strong for the surgery/transplant/possible radiation.  

Thank you so much for your prayers.  They are still needed.  We love you all and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  

Love,

Justin,

Sonja,

Jackson,

and Coltrane the Quarrelsome

A Pot of Prayer Soup

Dearest friends,

Coltrane is doing really well.  He has finished his fifth round of chemo as Sonja mentioned in the last post.  We have a big couple of days this week.  Most likely Coltrane will have lots of scans to see what's going on inside of his body.  He will have to be put under for these scans.  The doctors are trying to figure out if Coltrane will need surgery or not.  And the scans will determine if and when that will take place.  The doctors have talked to one of the chairmen of neuroblastoma.  He has told our Oncology team that they are not seeing that great of improvement with the sixth chemo treatment for this type of cancer.  So we might be able to skip the sixth one and go right into either surgery or the stem cell transplant.  

It's very hard to watch our son get put under.  He's done well in the past but please pray for him to not have any negative side effects from being under anesthesia.  

Also, please pray for:

Coltrane to not have to go under any type of surgery or radiation,

Coltrane to be unafraid and feel God's presence with him,

Our family to be able to make the fundraiser this Saturday,

Things to go smoothly at the hospital,

The wisdom of all the doctors,

The scans to show absolutely nothing,

And most importantly for people to see God's mercy, grace, power, love, and joy during this strange time.

God has been so good to us as usual.  Even though the world is so crazy, God is constant.  Sometimes I feel angry with God, wondering why he doesn't slap the cancer around and stop the sinful world's bullying of my son.  I wonder why God doesn't just end this.  Then I remember that God is mysterious.  And I love that.  He is good, and that's all I need to know.  He's not punishing us.  He's not doing wrong.  He's using the corrupt world and everything it does, to teach us something.  And he's stirring up a pot I'll tell you that.  A pot of prayer soup.  If I was the devil, I would be very afraid of Coltrane having cancer.  There are so many people praying it would be frightening to be on the other side.  For this is truly a WAR.  A war that is physical, emotional, and very spiritual.  God is changing people's lives through MY son.  How awesome is that?!  God is moving and he has our backs.  He loves us so much and I believe that he will indeed heal my son.  God's will is perfect and I will trust in him.

We love you so much and hope to see you at the fundraiser Saturday if you can make it.  

Love,

Justin,

Sonja, 

Jack,

and Coltrane the Palpable.

Benefit for Coltrane- Mark your Calendars

September 20th will be our Benefit for the Smith Family. We will have our spaghetti dinner starting at 4:30-6:00. Recommended donations are $7 per adult and $5 per child (2 and under are free). We will have a silent auction from 4:30-5:30 and then the live auction will begin at 6:00-7:00. Below you will find the list of items we will have available at the live and silent auctions. Please join us on this day for a fun filled event.  It will be held at Community Christian Fellowship church. 525 S Lincoln St, Siloam Springs, AR 72761

Live Auction will be from 6:00-7:00

Live Auction Items:

1. Two Razorback football tickets vs UAB Blazers on October 25th ($100 value)

2. Wooden Spoon Bumble Bee Pie ($ value)

3. Gentry Safari family pass -2 adults and 2 kids ($36 value)

4. Gentry Safari family pass -2 adults and 2 kids ($36 value)

5. Painting with a twist for 2 ($70 value)

6. Sight and Sound Theater for 2 ($80 value)

7. $100 gift card to 28 Springs located in Siloam Springs

8. Coffee Basket from Cafe on Broadway ($100 value)

9. Branson Attractions for 2-Wax Museum, Castle of Chaos, Hannah’s Maze of Mirrors, and Shoot for the Stars Minigolf ($110 value)

10. Cheese basket-cheese from Wisconsin ($150 value)

11. Fast Lanes- Bowling and shoes, laser tag, 30 minutes arcade game card, large pizza and soda for 5 guests ($100 value)

12. Framing Nailer ($189 value)

13. Razorback Basketball signed by Mike Anderson ($200 value)

14. Cedar Swing ($250 value)

15. Keeco bedding- 1Queen reversible comforter with 2 pillow shams

1 full size reversible comforter with 2 pillow shams

1 8 piece Queen size  comforter with 2 standard shams, 1 queen comforter, 1 bedskirt 1 flat sheet 1 fitted sheet and 2 pillow cases, 1 king quilt set with 2 shams ($250 value)

16. T-Fal 18 piece easy care nonstick set and 1 12 piece Farberware stainless steel knife set. ($190 value)

17. Unilever basket ($200)

18. Photo Session from Feyerabend Photoartists- Free session and $100 towards photos ($250 value)

19. Teeth bleaching by John R. Holcomb at Holcomb Dentistry in Siloam Springs ($285 value)

20. Birthday Basket includes: Party for 10 kids at Jumpzone with drinks, ice cream and 2 pizzas, two $5 gift cards to Braums, birthday plates, napkins, cups, balloons, table cloth, and banner. ($250 value)

21. Takamine Acoustic Guitar ($300 value)

22. Up to 40 hours of freelance landscape design ($40/ per hour) by Leslie Tabor

23. Pallet of tile ($1.89/square foot)

24. $1000 towards granite counter tops from Tri City Granite

25. Hand crafted coffee table ($ value)

26. Hand crafted coffee table ($ value)

27. American Gold Finch painting by Troy Anderson ($850 value)

28. Red Elk Tanned Hide ($400 value)

29. Ladies Watch- It is water resistant up to 165 feet and a stainless steel case. ($465 value)

30. Nestles basket ($300 value)

31. Purina basket ($250 value)

32. Siloam Collison $250 towards your insurance deductible

33. Dog House by TDS Portable Buildings ($250 value)

34. Kidd Photography- free 20 minute session with CD release ($150 value)

35. Weber Grill ($90 value)

36. 1 hour massage at Lee’s Family Chiropractic by Erica Poteet ($ 40 value)

37. Chem-Dry carpet cleaning up to 3 rooms ($120 value)

38. Black bench from Burlap and Lace ($139 value)

39. Fast Lanes- Bowling and shoes, laser tag, 30 minutes arcade game card, large pizza and soda for 5 guests ($100 value)

40. 2 tickets to Silver Dollar City ($120 value)

41. Scentsy with scentsy bars ($122 value)

42. Skopp Bakery Jams ($ value)

43. Siloam Springs Country Club 4 golf passes ($84 value)

44. Conversion Bayonet-made in 1907.  It is a WW1 Bayonet that got converted into a knife.  It was used in WW11 as a conversion Bayonet. It also comes with a handmade holder. ($40 value)

45. Flower Painting ($70 value)

46. Gentry Safari family pass -2 adults and 2 kids ($36 value)

47. Gentry Safari family pass -2 adults and 2 kids ($36 value)

48. Bumble Bee Pie from Wooden Spoon ($ value)

Silent Auction will be from 4:30-5:30

Silent Auction items:

1. Hannah’s Candles- jolly rancher- ($60 value)

2. Hannah’s Candles- Timber Wick ($40 value)

3. Jepson Drug basket ($245 value)

4. Heather Hill Clothing-one free dress ($40 value)

5. cheese boards

6. succulent holders

7. piano art

8. floating shelf

9.  1 -12 piece T-Fal easy care ceramic pan set ($80 value)

10. 9X12 indoor/outdoor Patio mat- black and brown ($ value)

11. Kitchen utensils ($ value)

12. Kenny Auto- free oil change ($40 value)

13. Kenny Auto- free oil change ($40 value)

14. Brother’s Jewelers $50 gift card

15. Brother’s Jewelers $50 gift card

16. Brother’s Jewelers $75 gift card

17. Casey’s General Store- $25 gift card and 3 large pizzas ($60 value)

18. Occasions- Owl theme basket ($125 value)

19. Main Street Studio $50 gift card

20. Malco-4 movie tickets ($40 value)

21. Community Bowl- $20 gift card

22. Jim’s Razorback Pizza- 2 Large pizzas and bread sticks ($ value)

23. Edible’s by Zoe- a cake ($40 value)

24. Barnett’s Dairyette- $25 gift card

25. Anytime Fitness- 3 months free ($196 value)

26. His/Her Salon $30 gift card

27. His/Her Salon $30 gift card

28. His/Her Salon $30 gift card

29. Bell’s Office Supply $50 gift card

30. Dogwood Junction- 2 bike rentals ($44 value)

31. Dr. Roberts at Siloam Eye Doctor- sunglasses and $100 towards exam or glasses ($200 value)

32. Dr. Hoffman- $50 towards a spinal manipulation

33. Snappy Dry Cleaner- $25 gift card.

34. Pink Poodle- $35 gift card.

35. His and Her Salon- Nail design by Sue Nation ($45 value)

36. Savy Salon- cut, shampoo, and style

37. Creative Corner- greeting card scrapbook kit ($20 value)

38.  Daylight Donuts -$20 gift card

39. Daylight Donuts -$1

5 gift card

40. Daylight Donuts -$15 gift card

41. Daylight Donuts -$10 gift card and one dozen donuts

42. Kimberly Clark basket ($75 value)

43. Fatiga Sub Station- $25 gift card

44. Pour Jons- 2 t-shirts and $30 gift card ($70 value)

45. Fratellias- $20 gift card

46. Razorback basket- yankee candle, 1 shirt, pen, paper, golf balls, golf tees, flip flops, coozie, coozie coolers, 4 mens basketball tickets ($175 value)

47. Custom Tees- Razorback earrings and t-shirt ($50 value)

48. Paris Presents Gravette west office gift basket ($200 value)

49. Lighthouse pools and Spas- pool toys ($138 value)

50. Weather Station ($100 value)

51. Work Light ($85 value)

52. A-Z Overhead doors- $75 gift certificate

53. A-Z Overhead doors- $75 gift certificate

54. A-Z Overhead doors- $75 gift certificate

55. A-Z Overhead doors- $75 gift certificate

56. Baby Mamma- diaper cake and hospital bag ($75 value)

57. DaySpring Outlet-basket and a wooden plaque for the wall, a butterfly with the words "God Sees the Real Me"  ($25 value)

58. Burlap Wreath ($60 value)

59. Siloam Springs Pawn-4 special edition hot wheels and a Premier edition 1/18 scale truck replica with opening hood and engine. A tin "Harley Davidson" sign.  ($50 value)

60. US Nutrition basket- protein bars and shake ($60 value)

61. Arkansas Outdoor Supply gave us a "Condor Outdoor Messenger Bag"  The guys there laughingly called it a Man Purse.  It has places for guy stuff for hunting and looks a little like a army green backpack.  ($36 value)

62. His/Her Salon- hair product basket ($224).

63. Handmade baby blankets

Update and Next Steps

Dear Prayer Warriors,

Coltrane has finished his 5th cycle of chemo.  We were in the hospital for 5 days and it went well. Coltrane got doses of the chemo which is highest on the nausea scale.  We saw his appetite go way down after he started this cycle.  He has been nauseated on and off but nothing ongoing or severe. Please pray that his appetite will return soon and he can begin to gain weight.  We will be home for a couple of weeks and are always so happy and grateful to be home.  

Coltrane did get his hearing tested before the 5th cycle of chemo but he was uncooperative (believe it or not!) and  it was hard to get accurate results.  We will try again in a week.  Although, I really doubt that Coltrane has any hearing problems.  When he heard his daddy say the word “outside” in a completely normal voice, he came running from 2 rooms away!  However, please continue to pray that his hearing will not be damaged and that his organs will be protected during his high doses of chemo.  

We continue to go to the clinic twice a week to check Coltrane’s levels and to check to see if he needs a transfusion.  

What’s next?  We will be returning to the hospital on September 22 for the 6th cycle of chemo. During our stay there, Coltrane will be doing all sorts of scans to check on his progress.  We will then evaluate the possibility of surgery to remove his abdominal tumor.  Then we will begin to make plans for the stem-cell transplant to take place in OKC.  Please pray for great results from all of the scans and wisdom for the doctors and us.

Over the last 2 weeks, our family has been dealing with the loss of my dad (Papi).  He was an amazing father, grandfather, and husband.  The kids have such a great attitude and understand that Papi is in Heaven with a new body.  We all saw my dad in his last weeks, not being able to communicate or move very well.  It is a celebration to know that he is home and no longer confined to the body that he was in.  The boys love to talk about him and thank God in their evening prayers that he is in Heaven.  We are still grieving and the world is never going to be the same without him. Thank you for your prayers for all of us during this time.

Our benefit will be held at our church (CCF) on September 20 and we have been totally showered with great donations and volunteers helping.  Everyone is invited and welcome.  It is sure to be an awesome time of fellowship and community uniting together for this purpose.

We love you,

Sonja, Justin, Jackson and Coltrane the Ornery