Praying for My Son Caelan

Over the past couple of weeks, our family has been going through a pretty tough time. My last couple of posts have alluded to it a bit without really saying what it is.  Almost three weeks ago, my wife found a lump on the chest of my 8 month old son, Caelan.   We took him to the doctor, got referred to a surgeon from Children's Hospital at UAB in Birmingham, went in for ultrasound and Cat Scan, and then had a biopsy done (all of this last week).  We had to wait until today to get the results, but we finally heard from the surgeon.

She called and said that they are fairly certain that the tumor is cancer.  They do not know for sure and they are sending the tissue sample off for other tests and a second opinion, but all indications at this point are that it is cancer.  We will meet with the surgeon and oncologist on Monday in Birmingham to chart out a course of action, discuss our options, and to move toward beginning treatment.  Treatment could consist of any type of combination of medication, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.  They'll know more of what to do when they know exactly what it is.

My wife and I are choosing to trust God in this.  We are told to "rejoice in the Lord always" and I guess that now counts as always.  That even means when things are really hard.  I have been trying to live out Philippians 4:4-9 that says,

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

    ⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me— put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I truly am experiencing God's peace right now, even though our future is uncertain.  We will lift up our little boy to the Lord and pray for healing.  He is a sweet little boy and he loves to play with his brothers and sister. We will not stop praying and we will not stop praising God.  I know that there are difficult times ahead for our son, and we are praying for God's strength to pull Him through.  When people ask what they can do for us, we really do mean it when we say, "Pray believing."  God wants us to trust Him, even when life is hard. He will see us through.  We would appreciate the prayers of anyone who reads this and I will be posting updates here when I get new information.  I praise God for our church, Gateway, and all of their support and prayers.  There are a couple of things we know:  God is not surprised by this, and this is just another chance for God to prove Himself strong.  More later . . .

Comments

[Donna Spivey]

Alan, Praise God for your strong testimony and reminders of who God is and how He works. I was sharing the situation with my mother's (and my) beautician this afternoon and the lady next to her heard me and said how she had already learned something from just hearing me share about YOUR faith and how it had encouraged her to be more prayerful and have more faith. Praise HIM!!!

[Paulette Hill]

We join you in Praise and Prayer.

[Andrew Hicks]

Alan, I do desire to put into practice in my own life what I am learning and receiving and hearing from you, and seeing in you, as you walk through these difficult times.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father(from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name), that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever." "Amen."

[Jeff Richard Young]

Father, please bless Brother Alan's little son. Please heal him of this cancer, and give him a long, healthy life. Please continue to bless Brother Alan and his dear wife with peace and faith. May Jesus Christ be glorified in this family's trust in You. Please give Brother Alan the unction to preach this Sunday morning in the midst of this trial. Amen.

[Jeremy Weber]

I am praying believing for Caelan, and for you and Erika. You are a remarkable family.

[Kevin Bussey]

Alan,

I will be praying for you, your wife and Caelan. That's all I can do.

Brother Alan,

I will not cease to pray for your son and for all of your family.

Villa Rica

[art rogers]

Alan,

I am praying for you and your family. I wish I could be more of an encouragement to you, but I find myself without much to say. I hope that you will be encouraged by the promise that I will pray diligently and fervently for you, your wife, Caelan's brothers and sister and especially for Caelan.

Art

[Marty Duren]

Alan,

God was faithful through the time of my wife's diagnosis, surgery, radiation and healing. He was faithful when I had no idea what the outcome was going to be and He's been faithful for the 17 or so years after that entire episode.

A passage that sustained me during that time was Psalm 27:1-The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; through war arise agaist me, in spite of this I shall be confident. One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock."

[Karen Golson]

Alan,
I'm praying for little Caelan, Erika and you. God does give strength for the hour and I know that you and Erika will grow stronger through this experience and God will be glorified. Your passion for Christ is so evident in everything you do...and I believe that the path He is leading you on now with only deepen your understanding of His great love for us.

[Candyce DeKruyff]

My prayer is that Jehovah Rophe -- the Lord who Heals -- will reach His healing hand into Caelan's body to touch and cover this tumor, to use His healing fingers to remove it from it's place, and will use His strength to crush the tumor completely and miraculously. Amen.

[Laura]

Alan,
I am praying for Calean's healing knowing that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or imagine. Thank God for his unfailing love. I will be praying for strength and endurance for you and Erika during this time of going back and forth to Birmingham. We love you and your family so much.

[Nate Goodwin]

Alan,

I will be praying for you and your family. I know how it is to go through a tough time with a child since my wife and I have been going through some ourselves. My first child, Kendall Rose, was born January with some problems. Our God is able to do awesome things so keep your focus on Him.

[Paul Burleson]

Alan, Know that I am praying for Caelan and all the rest of your family. No words, no experiences, nothing I can say will ever plumb the depths of where you and your wife are right now but, perhaps, knowing you are being prayed for and that I'm asking THE GREAT PHYSICIAN to do what only He can do whether through Doctors/medicine/divine intervention or any method that will honor Him, will help bear the burden. And I'm only one of MANY.

Paul Burleson

[Alan Cross]

Thank you all so much for the comments and the prayers. It is such an encouragement. We've just begun to hear stories of other families who have gone through this and how their children were healed, so I am encouraged. You are all a blessing and my family so appreciates your prayers.

[Kevin Bussey]

Alan,

I have two friends in Mobile, Jason and Tammy Pate who are going through cancer with their little girl Collette. Here is her site http://www.caringbridge.com/al/colette/

[Vicky Van Patten]

Alan & Erika...We are praying for Caelan's healing and for strength, peace and endurance for you and your family...and many here at my church are praying as well. "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zeph. 3:17. Our family loves you guys!

[Jamie Wootten]

Alan,

My heart breaks for you guys. I can't imagine, but God knows. He wasn't caught off guard. I will pray for you and may you not forget that because of the cross and empty tomb we have a hope that the world cannot understand.

God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, please grant Alan and his family peace and courage during this time. Please bring healing to this little child. And may they conduct themselves in a way that shows the world what a glorious almighty God we serve.

[Rick, Beth, and Rachel Mellinger]

Alan,

Your faith is an inspiration to us! Beth and I have talked about your situation and could only hope to have the faith you have demonstrated to your church and to not be gripped by self-pity. You and Erika are truly examples as to how God's people need to live their lives and look to HIM in faith! We and our home church in Maryland (as well as my mom's in PA) continue to pray for your family. God Bless!

[John, Cathy Beale and Family]

Alan and Erika,
Our Tucson, AZ family hurts with you. This is such tough news to understand for such a young, strong, vibrant child like Caelan to have this condition. I thank God that you guys acted on this as soon as you found it.

This is a temporary condition because Caelan is a strong boy, anointed by God for his service. And when God calls his servants, he brings provision. Healing comes in many ways, and not always by our way. You know God and his heart as your relationship with him has developed over the years in His service. Trust in that. He knows your heart and the plans He has for Caelan. Think long-term as now you and Erika are in a different place in your walk with God. How one day changes so many things.
You are now living the pain that many of your friends and family have experienced as you remember them asking for your prayers.

So much encouragement and prayers are going to God for Caelan and you. Some very direct for Caelan's healing, others to share proof that God answers prayers by their testimony, and others letting you know that you are not the only ones that have this pain. You are truly blessed to have such caring people around you. Many are prayer warriors, others are even learning how to encourage by your situation.

My prayers are for you to focus on the resolution. Focus on the facts and don't let your mind go crazy with "what ifs". Freely share Caelan's situation with anyone who will listen. A child's pain softens the hardest hearts. Let God do his work.

[Mary Frances & David Garner]

Alan & Erika,
Please know that you and your precious family are lifted up in SPECIAL prayers during this difficult journey. I believe angels are hovered over Caelan right now protecting him...strengthening him. Remember, time and the Good Lord can HEAL and REVEAL. Thanks for sharing your amazing walk of FAITH and PEACE at this time. Know many friends are praying for you and especially that little one! God Bless You and keep Caelan healthy and strong and cradled in His arms. Blessings to your sweet family! If LOVE and PRAYER can HEAL...he's certainly on his way upward!

[Pastor Joe]

Alan: I am sorry to hear about your son. He will be in my prayers. God's blessing on your family.

[Amy Loretz]

Alan and Erika,
I will never forget July 29th, 2003...it was the day the bottom dropped out of my world. That's the day the neonatal doctor told me there was something seriously wrong with my baby but they didn't know what. They were sending me home after 5 weeks with a sick baby basically to let him die. Alan, you rushed over to the hospital as soon as you heard, and you prayed over my baby...I will never forget that. My son is a living testament to God's faithfulness...there is not a thing wrong with him. He is a happy, normal, precocious 2 1/2 year old. I believe that through God's grace, Caelan will one day be able to give a testimony to God's faithfulness of how one day the doctors said....
I pray for peace for your family - the peace of knowing that Caelan is in His loving hands through the uncertain times that lie ahead.

[Dorcas Hawker]

I am praying for your precious little one. Sweet Caelan ... sleep well tonight.

[Kiki]

Alan and Erika,

As a Mom, my heart just froze when I read your post. Our family is praying for you. My kids, Anna and Joshua, will also be praying for Caelen.

We have another little friend who had surgery yesterday. She is 2. God held her in his hand and brought her through. We are praising Him for that today.

I believe there is a special place in God's heart for our little ones. I love the story of Jesus calling the children to Himself.

Lord, I pray for the Cross family, that you would give them an overwhelming sense of your presence. Heal little Caelen, and surround them with your love and peace.

Isa 40:11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.