From Jody O’Briant:
“On this last day of Childhood Cancer Awareness month Jasper is recovering in the PICU from his bilateral thoracotomy. This very serious and complex surgery involves the doctor literally holding both lungs in his hands, one at a time, and physically feeling for and removing any tumors- some the size of grains of sand. Most people would have little to no experience with this procedure in their lifetime…this was Jasper’s second in less than one year. We feel like his recovery is going very well so far-his pain is well controlled and he has been able to get up and move a bit, though he is restricted by chest tubes.We have shared all of these posts this month so that you might have just the tiniest glimpse of what fighting childhood cancer involves.Over the past two years we have had so many people reach out to help us. We are thankful for the prayers as well as the tangible efforts! We hope this information can help you know how to offer specific help to a family facing any kind of hardship. It’s a blessing to us when someone says they feel led to do a specific thing and then they do it!Also, please remember the entire family is affected by childhood cancer. In our case, the past 2 years have brought struggles for Nathan and Gabriel also! Cancer has disrupted EVERYTHING & Jasper’s diagnosis came at a pivotal time in all 3 of our boys’ lives. Nathan was starting his first year at Texas Tech University and Gabriel was 15 (that’s how old Jasper is now!)- they have all struggled through school and life and just growing up. We have dealt with other health issues, financial concerns, questions about how to best serve our family & our church, & so much more.Please continue to pray for Jasper’s healing, for our family, & for God to be glorified through all of it. Though this world sometimes brings sorrow, We KNOW that this world is not our home and that we have an eternal home with Jesus.‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.‘2 Corinthians 4:17-18Jesus IS King!”
