On June 26th 2018 Israel was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L.) Type B. We ask that everyone please speak positivity, love and hope over him and our family. Israel needs your prayers 🙏🏻💜! Our family needs your prayers. We are staying strong for Israel. Tomorrow Israel is undergoing a procedure to have bone marrow and spinal fluid extracted. A port will also be inserted which will stay in his chest through the course of his treatment. Treatment for this type of cancer takes about 3 1/2 years to cure completely. The next 7 months will be pretty intense for Israel and our family. Israel’s hair will fall out in 3 weeks so if you see him, please just tell him how handsome, brave and strong he is😊💪🏻! We are in the best hospital on the planet. We are being informed and educated on A.L.L. by the experts here. Thank you all for your Love and prayers! This blog is dedicated to Israel and the courage he has displayed throughout his journey to become cancer free. It’s also designed to support those facing struggle in their own lives. We pray that you may draw strength and courage from our hero Israel!
Israel had his spinal tap on Monday and all the results came back great with the exception of his ANC which was a little high. The doctors informed us that the increase in medication was due to an increase in height, weight, and age.
After Israel’s spinal the Doctor let us know Israel has 2 spinal left and on the final one his port will be taken out permanently. His last chemo treatment is in September and then he will go to CHOP for frequent visits over the first year. The visits ensure the leukemia does not resurface and Israel maintains good health.
We can see the light at the end of the tunnel and are truly grateful to God! These past few months we have taken time to ensure Israel gets the appropriate treatment for his PTSD and frequency of phobias. We have been blessed to have a 20 year veteran from CHOP who specializing in pediatric psychology work with Israel. He also was awarded an at home psychologist with advanced degrees in medicine, through the state, which has really supported Israel’s recovery. Understandably the tortuous treatment these children endure causes them to suffer psychologically and when we started to see signs surface for Israel we got him help immediately.
I believe Israel will be a beacon of hope for so many people based on all he has overcome in his life. It’s truly remarkable to think that a person can go through so much tragedy and come out with such a positive outlook on life. We are seriously so proud of all he has done!
Our family needed to reconnect and it was extremely important for Rachel and I to reset expectations with our children. Everyone needs to know they are loved and cared for. Each child is unique and treasured in their own way and we wanted to restablish this connection with each of our kids. We love our family, outside of our relationship to God, it is the most important thing in our life and we are eternally grateful for it!
Please feel free to continue to support Israel’s journey. Rachel is also writing a child’s book on overcoming fears when you go to the doctors and other scary events children face.
Thank you for all the continued love and support!
💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏💙🙏
Natacha Falcon ISRAEL'S HOPE AND CURE Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a pa
It can be hard to write about the journey that Israel is going through. I have not updated the blog in sometime and so much has happened that I can only hope to remember it all. When we last updated Israel had increased his dose of chemotherapy. Typically this is done as the child gets older and there is an increase in height and weight. As a result Israel became hypoglycemic. I will preface that statement with the reminder that up to this point we believed Israel was in the clear. The idea that something significant could be wrong outside of Israel’s diagnosi never crossed our mind. Now we are adjusting medication, seeing new Drs, having new tests administrated to identify what is causing new sysmptoms. The result is a combination of changing the time Israel’s medication is administered, what he is eating before bed, using a glucometer to test blood sugar every morning. As if the cancer is not enough now you have side effects, caused by the medication used to keep Israel alive.
We begin giving Israel a combination of carbs and protein before bed to maintain blood sugar over night. Significant drops typically occur during the evening and early morning. We are unsuccessful so now we are giving Israel corn starch, as much as 5 tablespoons with a shake waking him 11pm, after being asleep since 8pm, on school nights. Why is this significant? It’s supports his blood sugar levels however combined with his medicine causes severe constipation. Israel is running to the bathroom every 5 minutes, literally, pushing out pee to no avail. The urination frequentcy continues for months as we combine benefiber, mirilax, and laxatives to support regular bowel movements. FYI severe constipation, in addition to being extremely uncomfortable, can lead to dehydration, dehydration can lead to death. Again the purpose of this blog is to share an accurate account of Israel’s journey with the hopes that it may provide comfort to families in the future. As Israel’s blood sugar, which I will now abbreviate as BS, stabilizes we begin to decrease corn starch. Glucerna shake becomes a great substitute, which does not cause constipation, and provides 6 hours of stabilized BS levels.
I’m not even sure the messaging above accurately displays the level of anxiety, fear, and stress caused during times of uncertainty. Constantly facing environments that are uncharted territory, discovering everything for the first time. Most times no one can relate to what you are experiencing so you go at it alone. Pushing fear aside to be fully present for your family is one of the greatest obstacles. I ask myself regularly what is the alternative and the answer is simple. There has to be some intercession, something to disrupt the patterns established by cancer. Remember it wasn’t long ago that we were rushing to the hospital for emergency admission to CHOP as Israel’s temp would reach dangerously high levels which may suggest infection. Each time we stop everything and get Israel in the car and to the emergency room. After a year of these unscheduled visits, spinal taps, regular visits, port access, helping Israel to overcome his fear, and so much more the BS saga opens a new chapter of discovery.
Creating disruption looks like small pockets of opportunity to replace reality with a focus on a positive outlet. Organizations exist to provide aid to families battling cancer. We were fortunate to have kisses for kyle, J19, give kids the world, make a wish foundation, which are just a few that supported Israel. A morning at chuckee cheese or gillians wonderland pier also very helpful. We have become masters at finding the positive in the worst situations. Refocusing Israel’s attention on the reward while being fully transparent about the present. Disney was a huge success and a necessary break in the norm for the entire family. We had minimal issues with Israel’s symptoms. The family was able to be a normal family and Israel was able to be a kid. Phillies games, Baltimore aquarium, starting school, run and walk Chop charity and so much more. Finding the breaks in the struggle to breath and refocus is the key to this marathon. You also have to take personal care for yourself and the other family members who all have a struggle ensuing inside.
As a side, our community needs to create more awareness around pediatric cancer. None of these children should suffer and the government doesn’t supply assistance in an easily attainable format to provide relief for families facing these traumas. It’s life altering and yet we are still suppose to function normally, go to work, pay our bills, take care of our families, be preset for our children, and take care of ourselves. If Rachel and I are able to do this successfully what about families that are not. FYI just because you seemed to have it together on the outside does not mean your not falling apart on the inside. Life becomes an escape where most don’t deal with what is until it’s served up at their dinner table. Why do we have to wait for tragedy to strike before we open our eyes to Israel’s Pain? I don’t understand, so we keep the faith, take care of each other, and hope the battle we fight sheds light on the opportunities this world faces. Behind the scenes we prep for birthday and Christmas. Rachel, Cole, and Isaiah’s birthday are all in the month of December and Christmas 🎄 is soon to follow.
Community is what we need and there are people in the world who continue to share their love which gives us hope in the moment. Just know that the smallest gesture of love and faith can make the greatest impact! Please keep praying for Israel and our family!
If you feel so inclined to support click the link below. Please join the fight as we creat awareness to end childhood cancer! Thank you for all the prayers 🙏and love ❤️
Natacha Falcon ISRAEL'S HOPE AND CURE Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a pa
We attended the Kisses for Kyle Event in ocean city this weekend! Israel’s first outing since his diagnosis. A carefully planned event compromised of a healthy balance of in and outdoor events. The first time we have been able to have a family outdoor event since Israel’s diagnosis. It was like a mini daycation filled with mini golf, pizza, decorative face painting, rides, boardwalk and more!
All the kids had a blast and as parents that is all you need to have a great time! Israel was recently approved to go to Disney through make-a-wish and this was a snapshot of how incredible of an event that is going to be! There were smiles all day long and although Israel still has limited time he can spend in direct sun light we made the absolute best of a beautiful day!
As a side note, kisses for Kyle, is an incredible organization started by Sharon Snyder. Sharon lost her son at 2 years old during his battle with cancer. I often struggle with how isolated our lives are as Americans and how limited our knowledge is of suffering communities within our local areas. I know you can never truly understand the impact of cancer or the loss of a child unless you personally have experienced it. Sharon did something amazing, she turned her suffering into celebration! Sharon was able to keep the memory of hers son’s life alive long after many of us will have passed away.
In a world consumed with itself, its own self interest and desires, it’s own personal advancements, kisses for Kyle is truly a remarkable accomplishment. Children like Israel were given the opportunity to feel a sense of normalcy and enjoy what no child should live without, a chance to just be a kid. I’m asking everyone to please take a look at her organization. Read Kyle’s s story and imagine yourself in her shoes. Let’s start focusing on the people that are hurting in this world and see how we can make a small difference in someone else’s life.
Thank you Sharon for your bravery. Thank you to all the families who came before Israel to make his life possible. Thank you to all the supporters on social. Most importantly thank you to all the families who are still in the struggle but never gave up on your children. Israel’s greatest gift is the love that he teaches all of us, the forgiveness in his heart for a disease he never asked for. We can learn a lot from people like Israel and Sharon.
As always all glory and honor to God for without his love we would not be here today!
If you feel so compelled please look at Sharon’s website and the tremendous impact she is creating in a community riddled with pain! Make a difference, no matter how big or small!
The month of June is off to an intense start. Israel woke up the morning before his spinal tap and came into our bedroom. Israel’s normal morning routine is up at 6am, snuggles with mom and dad, then back to his room for playtime. If you rewind three days prior Israel had been complaining of nausea and leg pain. He woke up this morning went into his room and fell back to sleep. Rachel noticed Israel was drenched in sweat and he never goes back to his room and goes to sleep. I was taking a shower getting ready to volunteer for the funny farm and the kids were meeting me there later for the summer festival. Rachel comes into the room and says something is wrong with Israel and I need to come right away!
Rachel gets Israel up, brings him downstairs, and applies cool clothes on his body to cool him down from all the sweating. When we take his temperature he is 96.1 and it begins to drop all the way to 94.9. We remove the cloths and put blankets on him. My immediate thought is Israel is septic and needs to be rushed to the hospital. Rachel calls CHOP emergency and I call my parents to come over and watch the kids! Our next door neighbor Crystal comes over to watch the kids until my parents get to the house. I am reluctant to take Israel because he literally has to go to CHOP the next day for his spinal tap. We know the urgency of the situation and because Israel was unresponsive at first we were in high alert mode.
I monitored Israel temperature and it began to rise. Rachel gave Israel electrolytes with peanut butter and jelly, which raised his blood sugar and he became much more responsive. Was he hypoglycemic? Did he have a tick born illness? Did he potentially contract mono? Could it have been from all the swimming over the last 2 days? It’s impossible to tell without lab work and even then it can be a guessing game. Israel began to get color back in his face and become more responsive. His heart and lungs checked out and he was able to walk on his own.
The next morning we brought him to CHOP for his vitals, lab work, and spinal tap. He threw up multiple times on the ride up. Once we arrived they access his port which still frightens Israel. The labs came back mostly positive with an ANC (white blood cell count) that was high. Dr Tasian (Israel’s attending physician since diagnosis) informed us that we would be increasing a few medications to support a high ANC level. She also said Israel is growing nicely so we would need to increase certain medications due to an increase in weight. She addressed the symptoms from the day before saying it can be a reaction to mercaptopurine, oral chemo, which can make you hypoglycemic. The fix is to give him the medicine in the morning instead of night time. Food and drink throughout the day should help to support his blood sugar levels.
Israel was cleared for his spinal tap and when we spoke to the anesthesiologist we requested the same cocktail he received for his previous spinal. They gave Israel valium to help with the anxiety, they would give him a combination of gas and liquid propofol, which is his anesthesia, and a nasal antihistamine to clear his breathing passageways. Chop gives Israel a sleeping agent to help the effects of anesthesia and give it time to ware off so he is not so disoriented. If after reading this you feel this is a lot you are correct! This does not even include his spinal chemo or zophran plus the medicines he receives when we get home. It also took about 20 spinal taps to figure out this equation which works best for Israel. Trust me there have been some nightmare spinal taps! The good news is he woke up and everything was a success! 🙏
The Dr informed us that studies have shown there is no difference between a child who gets vincristine once a month or every 3 months. She also said that it is the same for the steroids! Yeah! Big win all the way around. We will still go up to CHOP monthly but for lab work and check up only! There was one more thing. When Israel was diagnosed they were doing test studies or trials to see if boys and girls needed to be on the same treatment plan. As it stands currently girls are 2.5 years and boys are 3.5 years of treatment time. The problem is Israel missed the sign up for the trial by about a month. Well Dr Tasian informed us that the results from the trial came back and the findings suggest that their is no difference in success rate in treatment of boys and girls! What am I saying you ask? ISRAELS TREATEMT TIME IS OFFICIALLY SHORTEN BY ONE YEAR!! That’s right we only have 1.5 years left to go and Israel is done! Tears of joy and hugs of gratitude 🙏
To all our prayers warrriors out there WE BELEIVE! Let this be confirmation in your hearts and minds! While we will ask you to continue to pray we want to thank you for standing in faith for our warrior! It’s a miracle that the Soucier family happily embraces! We love you all! Thank you for your continued support! Please continue to hold our family high and we weep tears of joy and PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY!
Sincerely,
The Soucier Family
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
It’s been an eventful month filled with reflection, realignment, reevaluating, and revisiting. Honestly this month has been far less eventful in terms of emergency visits to CHOP. Now that Israel has entered maintenance phase it has given my wife and I more time for reflection. We have had a moment to consider all the obstacles we have overcome as a family. The depth of Israel’s diagnosis along with the realization that he still has 2 1/2 more years of treatment. The pain that he and our entire family has endured through this very difficult struggle. One memory very specifically stands out in my mind. Rachel and I are watching a movie together, on the couch alone, which rarely happens. After the movie I’m thinking back to the old Israel prior to being diagnosed with Leukemia. I realize that child is no longer and I mourn him and embrace who Israel has become now. God has a plan always but I wept from my soul. It’s easy to read about characters in the Bible and aspire to be like them but how often do we take the time to really reflect on what they had to endured to get to some of these pivotal places in their journey. The pain and hurt our family has experienced is so deep. It’s an inescapable pain that you are constantly reminded of. I don’t believe the solution is pretending that it does not exist. I believe the answer lies within accepting what is and making the choice to look for the positives every day!
When we talk about realigning it’s with each other as a family unit. I distinctly recall a conversation with my older boys. I told them I was sorry if I was ever short tempered and I explained that I know everyone is dealing with Israel’s diagnosis differently. Everyone is equally important and had the diagnosis been theirs we would have responded no differently. I reminded them of the value and importance of family. I shared that Rachel and I are making a conserted effort to spend more individual time with each one of them. I asked them what they love to do and we agreed to make a monthly commitment to have that time together. Sometimes it will be more and sometimes less but we agreed to speak freely on our feelings and to realign if expectations are not met. We spoke about communication and the availability of counseling should any of them need to talk about their feelings to someone other than our family. I love my children and I love my wife. My family is everything to me, without them my purpose is nonexistent. I needed to know, that they know, how much they mean to me and how deep my love is for all of them. Eden who recently turned three is the most challenging because of his age. However I made it a point to spend extra time holding him, snuggling on the couch, reading books at night, and playing on the floor together. I’ve seen a significant adjustment in his behavior so I know there is an impact. Sometimes you have to keep trying different methods until you notice positive behaviors more consistently. Listen it’s hard enough to be diagnosed with cancer as an individual. It becomes far more complex as a parent. The difficulty increase when you have 4 children who all require love and attention in their own way. On top of that add a marriage which deserves to be nurtured and grown. Plus you have your own emotions and feelings. This does not include all the responsibilities that don’t stop simply because you have an emergency.
It’s important to re-evaluate where you are every so often as your needs and the needs of your loved ones change. Revisiting feelings and emotions is so important because they are constantly changing. We are always transforming and evolving. Sometimes we need help and others times we are the help for others. All this is ok. When your faced with severe circumstances such as these it’s the marathon mindset that sees the journey through to the end.
I have to say I am so proud of my wife Rachel. My love has increased exponentially and grown deeper in ways I did not know were possible. I admire the work that she continues to do on her self. I love the spiritual journey she is on and I appreciate, value, and respect the dedication she shows to God! Her love for Christ is exceptional. Not only is it impactful for me but it shows our children the importance of being with a women who loves God. If it were not for God I don’t know that any of us could have endured the pain associated with childhood cancer. It’s awful to watch in your own child and equally as terrible to witness all the innocent children who have been afflicted with this diagnosis. Trust me you can’t imagine but go to CHOP, volunteer your time, and see how many innocent young children have to endure an unnecessary evil. Your life will never be the same.
We don’t have all the answers. We don’t do everything right. We don’t always make the right choices. What we do is love each other! We love God! We pick each other up and keep moving forward. We are going to have a great summer because it is what we have decided. Even with all the restrictions Israel has we will continue to find the beauty in the opportunity, the light in the darkness!
All our love ❤️
If you feel so inclined and want to impact Israel directly please click on the link below!
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
Its been a long month with Israel going to CHOP ER 3 times for fevers, sinusitis, and ear infections! Each ER visit consisted of Israel’s port being accessed along with lab work, heavy dose of antibiotics, Tylenol, flu nasal swab (ouch 😢), Drs prodding and poking, and the waiting game. (Typically 8-10 hours in a claustrophobic and stressful environment )
We are prepared for potential ER visits as CHOP has instructed us that once Israel’s temperature reaches a certain number he is to be at the hospital within the hour. The risk can be life and death so we have over night bags packs, next door neighbors on alert, parents on speed dial, and when that dreaded time arrives we move into automatic pilot! If any one of those pieces don’t line up ie. neighbors aren’t home, parents don’t respond, immediately, one of us stays home and the other takes Israel. It all happens so fast you have nothing to do but go from instinct.
Israel has his scheduled visits to Chop clinic which include chemotherapy and/or spinal taps. We wait for the lab work with anxious anticipation praying for favorable results. The oncology unit is an amazing place that puts every effort into normalizing the process for our children. They are the perfect distraction a child needs to preoccupy their little minds. When we arrive you can’t help but be overwhelmed by the number of innocent children affected by this disease. You feel helpless at times but find ways to project positivity for your child.
When it’s all said and done Israel’s counts come back positive. He is officially in Maintenance Phase and so we celebrate Israel and the strength a 4 year old demonstrates as he stands up against childhood cancer. Israel moves from clinic visits every other week to once a month and spinal taps from every few weeks to once every few months! This is a milestone for Israel and our family and a testament to your prayers and our faith in God!
It’s a terrible battle but it’s one that must be fought. We find strength in the little victories. The small wins help move us to next and our family and our team become stronger asa result.
As always your love and prayers are appreciated more than you know. Israel is the strongest person we know. He gives us strength to push past our excuses and to find calm in the storm.
If you feel so inclined to support Israel’s journey please feel free to go to the site below.
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
We never posted our last visit to the ER due to the rapid escalation of Israel’s fever. When Israel spikes a fever we go into emergency protocol. The understanding is that he is to be at the hospital with in 1 hr of a specific tempature. Rachel and I have prepared for events like these by ensuring all bags are packed, toys and games are in hand, and we are mentally ready to be fully present for Israel.
Rachel contacted me at work and informed me Israel had a fever low grade. He already had a cold which he most likely contracted from his younger brother. His older brother had a fever so seemingly he caught both illnesses simultaneously. Rachel continued to inform me as Israel’s temperature rose until it was evident he was reaching the danger zone. After a brief call with CHOP, on call physicians, we were prompted to go to CHOP ER.
It’s not as simple as getting him in the car and driving up to Philadelphia. We have to call my parents, who live 30 mins away, we call our next door neighbor and have them come over until my parents arrive, we pack the car, and do our best to keep Israel calm. At this point Israel is very upset and our hope is that all the pieces are in place so the other children do not have to accompany us to the hospital.
The ER is by far my most dreaded place to visit. They always make you wait, it takes way to long, and the care you receive leaves so much to be desired. I’m a positive person, who maintains positive thoughts, and strongly believes in prayer and meditation. However I’m also a realist and the ER is no fun for the average person or the ultimate guru!
We get Israel to the ER and we are made to wait close to 30 minutes. When we are finally seen it takes the nurse 20-30 minutes to get Israel’s port accessed. When we go to clinic it’s 1-2 minutes. We request Israel is given IV fluids to ensure he does not get dehydrated. Israel has a fever, he is throwing up, and he is taking chemo all which dehydrate him automatically. The nurse ensures us that he is receiving fluids and we monitor Israel vitals while we wait for his labs to return.
When Israel’s labs come back they are excellent. The Dr comes in and informs us that we will be discharged soon. We arrived at the ER at 7pm it’s now around 10:30, and my father,who came at Israel’s request, is now getting ready to leave. We are in good shape right? Should be discharged within the hour, right? Wrong! The IV was set on a slow drip to simply keep Israel’s port open. He wakes up and he is choking and has a look similar to when he wakes up from anesthesia after a spinal tap. He begins throwing up uncontrollably until a ton of mucus and food fills the bottom of a basin. We turn the lights on and after closer observation I notice his lips look dangerously dry. As if he were in the desert and was in dyer need of water. Rachel recounts he has not gone to the bathroom significantly in many hours.
We immediately inform the nurse who in turns gets the Dr. The fluids are increased and within the next few hour he begins to normalize. We are now staying over night but are not discharged from the ER until 330am. We are exhausted both mentally and physically. Israel is emotionally distraught and is now in a panic about his scheduled clinic visit on Monday. Lesson learned! Rachel and I agree moving forward we will be in charge when we enter the ER. Israel has gone through and will continue to go through more than a child should endure over the next 3 + years. Why should he have to go through additional stress and pain because of the absent mindedness of professionals. I should not be telling you my son is dehydrated and needs IV fluids you the medical professionals should be informing us. The thing is the ER in particular lacks empathy. This is not everyone but it’s a lot of the people there. Parents if you find yourself in these situations big or small speak up. Your the voice for your children, your the protector of the innocent.
Needless to say Drs came in next morning said Israel has an upper respiratory infection but the fever has subsided so we are good to go home. We are human we all make mistakes but this was avoidable. A simple display of empathy and treating the patient not just the symptoms.
We love you all and appreciate you following Israel’s story! Stayed tuned as we pray for good news to follow! We hope to cruise through February going strong into March! Thank you for the continued love and prayers! 🙏💙🙏
If you feel so inspired donate to Israel’s page
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
It’s amazing to reflect back over the last year and consider all the changes that have occurred in our lives. As most of you know Israel was diagnosed with cancer, Leukemia A.L.L Type B on June 26th 2018. It’s been so difficult to process his diagnosis as reality, even now. Our lives and the lives of our friends and family have been forever changed. I still remember the doctor informing us of Israel’s diagnosis. I remember holding back tears and unimaginable pain, attempting to be strong for Israel. I recall the first time I called my parents and my grandmother, as I wept like a baby in the fetal position, on the hospital grieving room. I was so distraught and I felt as if my world had come to an end. I have always prided myself in my preparedness and yet nothing could have prepared me for this.
A nightmare that you never truly wake up from, a pain that never leaves your side, disillusioned by the hope that maybe all of this is a bad dream you have not awoken from. As time passes and the severity of Israel’s treatment sets in we began putting emotions and feelings on hold to support Israel in coping with treatment no child should endure. Rachel and I quickly devised ways to distract Israel. During his 7 days stretch in the hospital he received spinal taps, port insertion, bone marrow chip and extraction amongst many other drugs and procedures. Nothing really prepares you for moments like these you simply find ways to adapt to support the person in need.
The greatest challenge we faced was explaining why. Israel could not comprehend why this was happening. As the hour grew later he began to assume he did something wrong and somehow this was his punishment. The consequences for the actions of eating too much candy or not taking enough baths. Heart breaking, truly heart breaking to think my child would even consider that cancer would be something he brought on himself. Then the steroid phase came and boy was that difficult. Your child transforms into something that is completely unrecognizable. Outside of his original diagnosis and our first week in the hospital I probably spent the most time in tears during this phase. I never let Israel see me cry and did my best to not let him know anything was wrong, even though everything was. Waking up at 5am to get Israel up to Chop sometimes 3 times a week, literally feeling like an emotionless zombie. Digging deep to muster the courage to put on a strong face so Israel could be brave.
We started informing Israel when he would be going to clinic along with what procedure would be done that day. He struggled with waking up to find out that he was headed to clinic again so we decided to try informing him in advance and it helped tremendously. Rachel became a master at shopping at 5 below and the dollar store. Once Israel’s port was accessed, a needle penetrating his chest, every visit, which petrified him, we would pull a prize out of a bag and give it to him for his bravery! It helped and let me tell you it’s the little victories that really make the biggest difference. At some point you move on and realize that you cannot take the pain, panic, and fear away from your child. They have a mission in life and must walk through the peaks and valleys just like everyone else. Once I accepted this he accepted it. We stopped pretending it didn’t hurt or that it wasn’t tough and we started explained the by definition courage and bravery is facing your pain and fears and moving forward, in faith, anyway!
It’s been a roller coaster and we still have a minimum of 3 years to go. However we are mentally in a good place. We have made it through some of the most difficult hurdles including Israel’s admission in the hospital over the Holliday’s, only to experience a Christmas miracle and be released on Christmas Day! There have been many miracles to support our journey. The biggest one is the community that surrounds us both local and out in cyberspace. My parents who have provided the greatest support,while in their own pain and suffering, amidst all their responsibilities. For two people to be so selfless and clear their entire lives to support our family is purely selfless. I’m so grateful for them and no words will ever do them justice and no act, monitary or otherwise will pay them back. Aunt Patti for coming up whenever we need her. The special bond she has built with our children and the love and support she has shown Israel. Our neighbors, especially Crystal, who has been there whenever we need her and her family has provided support even when we never asked. Our family who offered financial and emotional support, honestly too many to mention. The organizations that put fundraisers together to raise money and create awaresness. Amazing people line J19 foundation who has been there for us since the beginning! Our church’s at praise and coastal. The funny farm, grace and glory yoga, Bernie’s barber shop, heroes organization, love your melon, Tilton fitness, my Apple family, PA state police, and soon our friends at EHT police, and many more. All of our friend’s prayers, empathy, donations, and the love and generosity you have shown us is insurmountable. Please know that everyone of these acts lifts up the people who are supporting the ones they love in the struggle. I have learned that outside of Faith and Family their is no greater support than community. We love you! Israel loves you!
So it’s a new year and while this never quite goes away we are all stronger for it! I don’t think much changes in terms of Israel’s strategy. Chop has been phenomenal and I would recommend anyone who is facing such a difficult diagnosis to bring your family here. In terms of family we are making a conscious effort in 2019 to ensure all of our children experience the love and support they deserve. While Israel has taken in the brunt of this torturous treatment the emotional impact on our family has been unimaginable. We never asked for this yet cancer showed up anyway. While we may not possess the power to take it away we can learn, grown, and become stronger as a result! This will be our best year yet and we are committed to spreading awareness around childhood cancer.
One final note: I am especially proud of my wife. There is no greater pain than that of a mother who experiences the pain and hurt of their child. I know great pain watching my son go through this battle but Rachel carried Israel and gave birth to him. I ask the Lord for a special protection to be placed over her. I ask God to lift her up along with my entire family and to provide us all with the Lords strength and courage as we move into the new year!
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers! If you would like to donate to a worthy cause check out
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
Essentially Israel will experience the most challenging time in his treatment. He has and will continue to receive over 20 needles in 40 days. The chemo injections will transpire in his legs and arms which is in addition to his port being accessed. Israel is the strongest and bravest warrior I know!
Often he will ask me why I am putting him through this torture. Israel begs me to make it stop and tells me that I don’t know what if feels like. He shakes uncontrollably in fear in anticipation of his needles. Mon-Thurs he will receive injections at home or clinic which penetrate the skin and burn as they enter the blood stream. The other needles administered Mon, wed, and fri are in the muscle. The muscle hurts the worst and he will receive these shots for 2 consecutive weeks. Israel will have a break and then receive the intramuscular shots again for 2 cosececutive weeks. Yesterday he received both shots simultaneously. There were 3 nurses in the room, I held Israel’s arms, another nurse held his legs, and the additional 2 nurses administered the injections simultaneously!
Needless to say our Christmas will look very different this year. Quite frankly our lives will never be the same. Please understand sympathy is not what Israel requires during these tumultuous times. Empathy is what will see him through the challenges to come. He needs a reason to push through and a clear understanding that his suffering has an impact on others. My wife started the #4israel Christmas lights campaign. To everyone who took time out to put up their decoations early and hashtag #4israel we love you! Those of you that keep our family and Israel in your prayers we love you!
As you scroll through the photos you will notice our car was totaled. My wife put something on Facebook but prior to that I never mentioned it and most people did not even know what happened till well after the fact. I just didn’t want to take away from the positive support and attention Israel is receiving.
Bottom line I hit black ice crossed over a lane on 73 as I went into a 180 degree spin, turned into the spin, cross the lane safely, but began to drift, looked up and there was a single wired telephone pole larger than I could put both hands around. I totaled the car but escaped with my life. The accident released all 5 airbags and I was left unconscious for a short time. The aftermath was a trip to ER with a concussion, whiplash, and cuts from glass in my hands.
I was cleared and back to work in 3 days. I went to Israel for his chop appointment that Monday and the accident occurred on Thursday. The reality is I was left unscathed with the exception of my faith. My confidence in God and the protection He provides over my family is unquestionable. No one can deny that we are going through difficult times however we are always kept safe and provided for. My belief in our ability through Gods guidance is solidified.
How will we get a new vehicle? How can Israel continue to go through this struggle? How will my family survive? What about my marriage? What is happening to the other children?
I say confidently with God and through Him all things are possible! If your struggling, we ask you to hold your head high and carry yourself with a knowingness that God will provide! I’m not without tears but those tears serve a purpose as does my life! My heart is forever yours God and I offer up my will to you!
If you want to support Israel please put up a Christmas picture and hashtag #4israel. You can support Israel’s journey monetarily by going to
Our little Israel is the most thoughtful, kind, wonderful, and LIVELY four year old that has such a passion for life. He was diagnosed with
Thank you! We love you all! Blessings this Christmas that it may be filled with meaning and purpose. Find your reason to be grateful, if even for this new found insight, based on Israel’s journey! God Bless!
I pray that today is better than yesterday and tomorrow is better than today. 🙏
It has been a very difficult week for Israel. We attended a routine visit at CHOP where Israel was given Pegaspargase, or Peg, a version of chemo that can cause negative reactions. Israel has not received this chemo since his original diagnosis. Upon arrival Israel’s port was accesssed, which he still struggles with. We were not informed by the nurse that they first gave him Benadryl as a way to offset any adverse effect of the Peg. He immediately starting saying he felt weird and went to lay in my wife’s lap. When we inquired they told us that Benadryl had been given. I told the nurse Israel does not respond favorably to this medication and she should have let us know in advance. The nurse apologized and said she should have informed us but she was under the impression we already knew.
Let’s rewind for just a minute. You may recall several weeks back Israel had an adverse reaction to the anesthesia and I literally had to restrain him for 2 hours. He fought, kicked, screamed, and bit me with his eyes closed. He was in a stupor unaware of his surroundings. Israel was feeling out of control and he kept trying to get off his hospital bed but had no control over his body. If I let him go he would fall and almost cause severe damage to himself. If I held on to him he would try to bite me or scratch me and scream to let him go all while unconscious. Oh did I forget to mention that prior to his procedure the nurse attempting to access his port missed and poked him in the chest. Think about that, no lidocaine, no silicone, just flesh on a 4 yr old who is in total fear of needles.
So fast forward to his last spinal tap. I sit down with the anesthesiologist and informed him that we cannot have Israel respond the way he did the previous procedure. He makes the concoction that he feels will work best with Israel. We partner with nurses to look over previous procedures to see if there are any patterns in the successful attempts. I provide the anesthesiologist with my findings but ultimately concede to take his direction one final time. In the event this is unsuccessful we will no longer adhere to what they tell us without multiple opinions and our own parental intuition.
Here is the thing, you are the guardian of your children. You are the protectors of your household. We live in volatile times where the art of distraction is at an all time high. Why is that? Simple, a distracted audience isn’t focusing on the changes being made behind the scenes. How can you be? When your child has cancer it takes your every living fiber to stand up and be strong, especially when it’s a young child. Your child who trusts you and loves you but does not understand the process. The last few times Israel got his port accessed he said “Daddy don’t let them hurt me, protect me daddy.” You cannot imagine how deep those words penetrate my soul. I would give my life for my family but that is not the option I have been provided. Naturally I am going to question the process when my son is in pain. It’s not that I don’t trust modern medicine, it’s simply the fact that this is our sons health at stake. So the story ends well, he recovers from the procedure with an additional sleep agent that allows him to stay under until the effects of anesthesia are almost worn off. We prayed all the way up to CHOP and Rachel and I were so relieved when it was over.
This brings me to our most recent visit, on Thursday, for the Pegaspargase. Israel is already reacting strangely because of the Benadryl. They give him the Peg, again unbeknownst to us, and he moves from a sleeping state to standing upright with his hands on his throat, choking uncontrollably. He starts throwing up but his throat is closing up, due to a reaction from the Pegaspargase. It all happened so quickly even the nurses seems nervous. We have a doctor in front of us who is trying to gain control over the situation. As I look at the tears flowing down my wife’s face I hold Israel and sofltly reassure him that everything is ok. The steroids are administered and his Peg is discontinued, shortly after he begins to level out. Had they told us the Peg was being administered and what to potentially expect it would have made the situation slightly more tolerable. Instead, we all had the scare of a lifetime and Israel is the one most scarred in the situation. He wants it all to be over, he wants to stop the suffering, he wants to stop the pain, he just wants to be a normal 4 year old boy.
Many of you may have seen my wife’s post about decorating for Christmas early. When we ask you to put up your holiday decorations it’s not so Israel can have an early Christmas. Our struggle is day to day. We look for ways to move beyond moments of pain and fear to get to next because it’s how Israel best copes with a difficult situation. Your participation in decorating shows Israel he is not alone. Every time he faces struggles he is reassured that his suffering is filled with purpose. Israel is reminded that this too shall pass. The hope and faith that comes with this holiday is what Israel deserves. No child should have to suffer in this way and no parent should have to witness their child go through this pain. Stand up in unison with us this Christmas. Stand up for the innocent! If you decorate early post it to our feed as we share the photos with Israel. If you feel so inclined get your neighborhood to decorate early. If we are in close proximity we will bring Israel to see the decorations. Israel is moving into a blackout period where his ANC and white blood cell count will be to low to fight against potential threats. He will be inside during this time however we can bring him out in the car to drive through your neighborhood.
If your looking for a worthy cause to donate this year you found it. You can go to www.gofundme.com/israelscure
What the **%!?%#!!!! You can fill in the blanks! Seriously we go up for a routine spinal tap and Israel comes out of anesthesia completely disoriented! He was screaming, crying, yelling and not making any sense. He wanted to be mobile but could not open his eyes or maintain any sense of balance. My wife and I took turns holding him up as all his body weight went limp. If we were not there he would have severely hurt himself from a dangerous fall. I’m too filled with anxiety to display any video or photos from the procedure. I was filled with anxiety and exhaustion throughout the day and late into the night. My wife and I were in a panic but kept it cool on the outside. Literally 2 hours of this exhausting behavior. You seriously cannot imagine unless your living it.
I look around and my observation is cancer has no prejudice. It touches people of all nations, color, creed, religion, age, and gender. This is madness and I am in a fit of rage 😡 at the moment! The sheer number of people touched by cancer is outrageous.
I have no explanation for my son who wants nothing less than for this to be over. Oh it’s ok Israel just 3 more years, time flys...yeah right. You look at your child who is in the midst of suffering and find the words....they don’t exist! He is tired, exhausted, suffering, in fear and I’m not far behind him. GOD WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
So what do you do? I have no idea! You know what we did, tired, exhausted, and depleted of all energy? That’s right! We threw a Halloween 🎃 Party 👻🎈 for Israel! We painted pumpkins, watch videos, ate too much candy and pizza, and hung out with friends. The adults may have had a glass of wine or vampire juice to the kids! It was all worth it simply because it brought a smile to Israel face and a comfort to his soul!
You know what cancer I may not have the power to make you go away but we can certainly be an instrument used towards Israel’s happiness and well being!
Last week we shared Israel’s dilemma due to lab results lower than expected. As we approached the funny farm fundraiser for Israel it was still a toss up as to whether he would be in attendance. A major complication with poor lab results is chemo cannot be administered because it continues to lower the immune system, making Israel more susceptible to sickness. The immune system plays a critical role in his health and the chemo supports Israel’s recovery by fighting off Leukemia. Leukemia is what keeps white blood cell counts low therefore allowing sickness to take over the body. Without treatment the Leukemia has a 80-90 percent chance of resurfacing.
We went back 2 days after his labs were down and they tested Israel again. This time he was good to go and the chemo was administered that day. I’m glad I already had the day off but between worrying about his health and life it’s a miracle it all worked out. I will say these miracles happen regularly. Following this Israel has another week of labs that are excellent and chemo is administered again. He has a few episodes throughout the week of vomiting 🤮 but overall it’s a great week leading up to the fundraiser.
The entire week leading up to the funny farm event the weather is terrible. We pray for the rain to clear and although it rained for a few hours the day of it held off for most of the day. We had a great turn out with a very intimate setting at the funny farm. Many friends and family showed up to support Israel’s recovery! We also had followers from social media for both Israel and the funny farm attend. People cheered Israel on from all corners of the earth all the way up to heaven. Look at the pictures you can tell he felt it but so did everyone else. It’s amazing to see the impact Israel’s journey continues to have on so many.
When difficult and challenging events arise we bind together and become stronger. It’s the first premise of anything in life, it’s either a gift or a curse. The vantage point you choose to view from, along with the lense you look through, determines what you see. Yes, this is an extremely difficult time for our family. Yes, we struggle regularly and experience deep sorrow. No, we are not immune to depression and anxiety. The difference is we choose to be proactive, living inside positive expectations of what we choose to believe. This mentality can be applied to any situation in life.
So the funny farm was an absolute blast. The healing principles which exist in the spirit of the farm animals are a welcomed breath of fresh air. There has always been something so special about the farm. It speaks to our underlining message, which we have been practitioners of, far before Israel’s sicknesss. There is something so powerful about volunteering your time to benefit the well being of others. There is a reward that lies deep inside the soul, beyond the eyes to see. A precious gifts which fills the void of life’s expectations.
A huge thank you to everyone who showed love and support for Israel on this day! Much love to the funny farm rescue, all the volunteers, and owner Laurie who made this all possible. Thank you for the continued support at www.gofundme.com/israelscure and www.israelscure.com we know many of you wanted to be there but in your absence donated to a worthy cause. We want everyone to know how much we love and appreciate you. Thank you 🙏
Finally, thank you God for giving us the strength to continue to fight on this journey. In our weakest moments, when we feel like we can go no further, You are there. We are eternally grateful. Come join hands and rise up as we stand for the elimination of cancer. When our work is complete I pray that no family will suffer from the grips of cancer ever again!
I love ❤️ this picture! Seeing my babies smile brings comfort to my soul! In times where laughter can be scarce we take every opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of moments of happiness, stretching them out as long as humanly possible! 🙏💙
Last week we brought Israel to clinic in high hopes. Since his remission we have seen a decline in his need to visit CHOP for scheduled visits. He literally went from 7 days in the hospital, to visiting the clinic twice weekly, to once a week, to now every 10 days! Needless to say we have been very hopeful, not to mention it’s easier to explain to your child that he does not have to go rather than he has to go more frequently.
However, last weeks visit brought with it some set backs. Israel had his labs drawn and during this time all his counts seemed normal until we receive his neutrophil (ANC) count, which should live in the 500k range, but for some reason was sitting at 250k. There is never a clear answer as to why, could be a virus or an adverse effect to the chemo. Nonetheless, he is told they will be unable to administer chemo today because it could bring his levels down making Israel more susceptible to viruses/ disease and tberfore danger. During treatment Drs make it clear that Leukemia is known to resurface without treatment, so it is critical to stay as close to on track as possible.
As a parent it’s extremely difficult to hear that his counts are low and that they are unable to pinpoint exactly why. There is a struggle that ensues where you begin to over analyze everything wondering if you could have done anything differently leading up to this week. The worst part is this is suppose to be an easier phase before we get to the more difficult period. I’m feeling like I let my guard down. I began to relax and even enjoy the decrease in visits and medicine intake. Did I miss something? Was I focused on how tired I had become? What did I do wrong that I should not have done that potentially put Israel in a compromising position? ...STOP!!! ...Breathe... Just breathe.
I realize now that God is in control we can only do our best to serve him by taking the best care of ourselves and the ones he has entrusted us with. It’s normal to scrutinize ones actions and even blame yourself for something going wrong. Here is the thing, it’s unproductive and any energy spent in a direction that does not entail your child’s health improving is a waste of time. It’s inevitable things are going to go wrong. It’s what you do in moments of uncertainty that impacts the overall changes of events which will occur. Live in the desired outcome and focus on the steps to get there, it’s far more productive! I chose to hand my self scrutinizing indulgence over to Christ, lay my burdens before Him, and focus my energy on Israel’s well being.
Ok, they schedule the next appointment for 4 days from now. We will revisit all his levels to determine whether he is able to withstand the existing level of Chemo therapy or if he will have to lower the level of intensity of the treatment. Life has a way of putting things in perspective to give us a better understanding of what we should be thankful for, even in the worst of situations. To be continued...
The one thing I have yet to figure out is how people go through such a difficult journey without God. What do you do when your energy is depleted, everything you love is under attack, and your will is exhausted? When your the last line of defense and you fail, what’s next? See for me I had to come to the realization that I could not do this on my own. What supported my decision is how important my marriage is to me. I thought about how much I love my wife. We have this beautiful saying called God love 💜, this is the love we possess for each other. It’s deeper than anything physical or material. God love 💜 runs deeper than what you see in the mirror, it impacts you from a heart and soul perspective! God love is what created our children. It’s what makes the hard times worth it. It’s what makes the impossible possible.
You don’t think your marriage will be in jeopardy when you face loss or devastation at the level my family has? Think again. Even the most powerful people, Aristocrats, Nuevo riche, celebrities, athletes, can’t keep their marriages and their families from falling apart! You know why? When you lean on your own understanding, when your driven by your own results, when all you have is what you see in the mirror, YOU ARE GOING TO FAIL!
We all fail, we all fall, we all lose control and at this time when everything you know is spiraling out of control, this is where God comes in! He relieves you of your pain. He brings people into your life like my parents who have been so incredibly strong 🙏💙 during this time helping to take care of our family. Supplying us with medical wisdom, love, and support. Aunt Patti and Uncle Bucky who have been down this road before and are able to offer up wisdom and strength. My cousin Danielle who saved her placenta from her babies birth and is willing to offer up this selfless support.
God shows up with thousands of people praying 🙏 for your baby boy, that do not even know him, because they are so moved by his story. People like Marc, Laurie, Allie, Amanda and Natacha who offer up resources to create fundraiser and awareness. People like Mark from the J19, come support you in areas of your life you cannot possibly keep up with, churches like Praise and Coastal. Family and friends which are too many to mention, who contribute with time, money, prayers, and gifts for Israel Amazing teams of Drs, nurses, and staff who comfort your child during the most difficult and torturous procedures. People like Lorraine and Stephen who offer state police 👮protection and software expertise to bring the message out through social media. People like Leroy and Kris who have Rachel and I stand up at their wedding, where this picture was taken, and ask us to come up and receive prayer from the audience, for Israel. During their wedding, the happiest day of their lives, really, are you kidding? No,it actually happened and during a time where the world would have you believe everyone is out for themselves or hates each other, love triumphs! Truly this is only half the story and a quarter of the people who have shown up. The point is without God how much of this would have really happened?
Israel’s pain becomes his own when I fail, when the last line of defense can no longer keep it together. I was always raised to do it myself. I rarely relied on others for fear of what they may say I owe them in return. What happens when your failing? When your nights are spent sleepless, in fear, crying on your floor, wishing this plague never came to your doorstep? What then? What about the rest of your family? I have 3 other children? What happens to them? I tell you what happens. You lose everything! All of it. This is not going to be me and this is not going to happen to my family. I truly believe that without God Israel would not be doing as well today as he is.
Listen, take the step towards faith. Leave your own understanding behind. Ask God to fill you with his wisdom! Be prepared to see the world in a way you would have never experienced before! Take my word for it your life will never be the same again! 🙏💙🙏
Israel’s most recent visit to the clinic for his spinal tap went much smoother this week. During the spinal tap, fluid is being extracted to determine if there are any traces of Leukemia, simultaneously chemo therapy is being administered into the spinal chord which travels up to the brain. The procedure is preferable to radiation and has been proven to create the same results. As you can imagine radiation treatment is far more evasive and comes with greater risks of side effects.
We brought our 10 year old Isaiah with us and the special bond israel has with Isaiah helped to support him emotionally. Israel did so well during his procedure I would say he even seemed less fearful during his port access. All around it was a great visit with positive lab results. We will find out the results from his spinal fluid extraction and keep you all up to speed.
I will say that the Zantac stopped Israel from vomiting as regularly as we have come to expect however we moved it to once at night and once in the morning with much better results. A lot of what we do as parents is trial and error. They tell you in the very beginning no one knows your child better than you, if you see something or something doesn’t feel right tell us. Great advice and we take it everytime.
This life is our new normal and the faster we can help Israel adapt and make it his new normal the more comfortable and accepting he will become. Stress is a killer, it can speed up any toxins negative effects in the body. Find a way to create love and laughter and the toxicity levels will decrease!
The new normal is becoming a change agent. It’s becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s doing whatever it takes to make sure the ones you love are taken care of. It’s playing bubbles with your younger brother or going to swimming lessons. It’s sitting down as a family to watch a movie 🍿 🎥 on the couch. It’s whatever it takes to bring a smile to your baby boys face! Stayed tuned we will keep you up to date on Israel’s results!
I wish I could say things get easier but that is not the case. You have good days and bad days. We learn to adapt to the circumstances always presenting a positive appearance and attitude . Israel was vomiting for 48 hours prior to his procedure at Chop. His fears have been magnified partially due to coming off the steroids and partially to the reality of torture he must be subjected to. Don’t get me wrong I do not want to sugarcoat this experience. We developed this platform as a way to express our challenges as parents, a healthy outlet to share our emotional struggles. However, in addition to inform Team Israel, we want to create a blueprint for future parents to follow. There are so many unknowns and having some idea what’s going on is helpful.
Ok, so Israel is vomiting the morning of his procedure, literally in the van, on our way to Chop. He also has to poop 💩 which never materialized b/c throwing up keeps his mind off pooping. (If your traveling with your child and are faced with this situation have a pee jug and Clorox wipes in the event you have to visit any unsanitary bathrooms 🚽 during your travels.)
We arrive at the clinic and inform the nurse of Israel’s status. He is brought back to his room, given fluids, administered Zantac, and later given Zophran. We arrived at 830am and were there until 12pm with a visit from our attending physician 👩⚕️ along with labs being drawn. The anesthesiologist decides that it is unsafe for us to continue with his procedure so his spinal tap is cancelled. All that preparation, sleepless nights, anxiety trying to figure out what’s going on, calming your child who is begging not to go, having his port accessed, tending to the rest of the family. CAN I SCREAM NOW!!! CAN WE CRY 😢 NOW?!!! No Rachel and I must keep it together for Israel. We must go to work, see our clients, take care of our other children, try to understand what’s happing, prevent future vomiting. It’s so much more than anyone can imagine and more than I have to energy to write.
Israel is having trouble getting his port accessed. The fear is magnified and he is petrified! I am forced to hold his legs with my legs, his arms with my arms, he screams and fights the entire way. Our toy distractions of the past are no longer effective. We call his name, hold his hand, turn his head, and no matter what mom and I do he screams in terror until his access is complete…then he returns to Israel.
Intense, really intense! On a lighter note Israel’s blood work comes back favorably! He is a warrior, he continues to stand tall, be brave, and fight to find that Peter Pan like smile that we all love so much. Don’t give up Israel, keep pushing through son, YOU GOT THIS!
We stand in faith in the name of Jesus Christ and come against any spirit that would obstruct or attempt to bring down the ultimate LOVE ❤️ of Israel! We refuse to accept anything other then a complete healing of mind, body, and soul! Israel you will come through this and on the other side awaits your destiny. God will use you to move mountains and as your name proclaims, “Israel wrestled with man and with God and over came!” You will move mountains ⛰ my son and we will help you do it! Stand up and fight with us as we eliminate childhood cancer!
When we say Israel is in remission it is certainly a time for celebration 🎉! When we announce he is not showing any trace of Leukemia in his body, it’s a miracle! However, the journey is just beginning. We look at these first 30days and it feels like 30 years. Israel knows it’s important for him to return to CHOP weekly but never really understands why. Much like a child who asks for an ice cream 🍦 or a toy they really want. Children typically ask and ask until they get what they seek. Unfortunately, no matter how many times he asks we cannot stop taking him to the clinic and we cannot stop giving him his medication because the cancer can resurface. We have asked so many times if there is another way but the answer remains the same. The good news is his blood work came back and all his levels are where they need to be. The tough news is he will have 2 more spinal taps following this one and more difficult procedures to come. Israel was very scared to get his port accessed this time. We wonder if it has anything to do with being off for a week and a half. It could also be him coming off the steroids. It’s always so hard to tell and your never completely clear about the how and why. The attending physician went over the next 3 + years of treatment and it feels very overwhelming. The key is taking it one moment at a time, one minute, one hour, one day! We do our best to be prepared with new toys and games to keep Israel distracted. Israel’s support team is critical during this time. It’s important that he always feels love and supported. I believe we have done a good job of this and will continue to do so @4israel. All of you are an extension of our family!💪🙏. Please know whether you pray, donate, give time, like his page, share our story, watch Israel’s videos, or whatever it all helps. We believe prayer 🙏 has afforded Israel the opportunity to be cancer free. We hold onto that vision and ask that you do the same. Remember over the next 3+ years there are phases where things may go up or down, we know that holding steadfast to a vision of Israel in perfect health and happiness along with his family is all we are willing to see. Vision is key for any purpose no matter how big or small. When we first learned of Israel’s illness, team Israel came together in agreement that he would be fully healed. God has answered that prayer and now we stand here again for complete restoration and an avoidance of the pitfalls that can come. We ask you Lord as one voice to have your angels raise Israel to the heavens and hold him him in your kingdom of many mansions. Set Israel free and in so doing make examples of all who stand faithfully in your word as Israel’s healing becomes living testimony of your limitless miracles! 🙏💙🙏
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