Eli and his Family

(2 year old Eli - isn't he adorable!!)

I have mentioned my friend Christy and her son Eli in previous posts. Little 2 year old Eli is currently receiving chemo treatments for acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Brad & Christy are friends of ours from church back when we lived in Missouri. I remember what a blessing they were to us when the boys were first born. Christy and her mom came and stocked our kitchen for us when the boys first came home from the hospital. That is just a small picture into their generous hearts.

I was reading Christy's updates last night and my heart just hurts for them. As a mom I can't fathom having a 2 year old battling cancer and a 5 year old daughter. Their lives has been flipped upside down having to learn and immerse themselves in this new medical life.

The good news is Eli is doing well with his treatments. Praise God! It is a total answer to prayer and they would covet continual prayers for Eli. Passively Christy mentioned his treatments will continue until September 2013. I just could not believe it, 3 years of treatment is a long time! I know that it is worth it to save his little life. I am thankful for today's medicine to help Eli get better, even if in the moments it is stripping away his immune system in order to give him his treatments.

A testament to their relationship with God has been their ever present reliance on the Lord. They consistently bring their readers back to God's strength in their lives. That is such a living testament to me of being in the trenches and still crying out to the Lord! She wrote the other day:

I also want to say Happy Anniversary to Brad Tree! :) I never could have imagined where life has taken us this past 10 years. We have had some really great times, and some tough times, but through the good and the bad we have kept our faith in God and each other. I always dreamed for our 10 year anniversary we would be on a cruise ship sailing off into the sunset, but as I watch you read a book to Ellie and Eli right now, as they snuggle in close, I realize there is no where else I would rather be. I love you, Brad. ♥

It just touched my heart! I am thankful to know this wonderful family!

I ask on here for anyone that reads my blog, could you take a moment to pray for this family? For their relationship with each other? Their son Eli? Their daughter Ellie? For God's strength, for treatments, for monetary help?

If you would like to have your little kids pray for him and send him a drawing (or even send his sister a drawing), their address is:

Brad & Christy Tree

5356 W. Josh St

Springfield, MO 65802

Thank you, friends!

You can follow Eli's story on their Caringbridge webpage or their Facebook page.

Eli is home!

I first mentioned little Eli's story HERE. His mom has been updating the Facebook group HERE (if you want to join!).

She has made some amazing updates that has just made me incredibly happy for them! First, little Eli was approved to work on his treatment in his HOME TOWN, rather than driving 3 hrs to Kansas City once a week! How amazing is that???!!! They were discharged last week to head back home and that is now their home base. He also had been getting very sick on one type of medicine, and they were able to switch it to another type and it seems to be working better. His sister recovered from her cold and was able to complete their family life at home.

As you can see above he is celebrating the 4th happily with his mom (taking the picture), his dad and his sister!

I know that they still have a long road ahead of them, and their family is relying on the Lord to help them through this process. Please keep them in your prayers!

What can you do???

I like how The Message translates James 5:16a: "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."

Here are some items you can pray for specifically:

• Eli's painful/difficult times to be easier on him and his family
• Financial help for medications (just ONE of his home medicines are $75 each time they get it)
• Favor with insurance to allow their hospital to be considered "in network". Right now they are "out of network" and are starting to get some REALLY scary bills. However, this is the only pediatric oncologist in Missouri
• Rest for the family all around, renew their faith daily, and rejuvenate their lives

Thank you for praying for sweet little Eli!

Edit: for those of you in the Springfield, MO area, please check out this fundraiser for Eli. Eli's Trike-a-thon (click on the link).