Hello Friends.
The results from Luke's recent scans were not what we hoped for. There is still evidence of cancer in Luke's body. The spot on his sacrum remains, and a few other small spots have popped up on the scans as well. This is very troubling, because the Docs have already thrown their best punches. Luke has had four surgeries, 50+ days of focused radiation, and 18 months of chemotherapy treatments, and yet the cancer persists. His Doc is "virtually certain" that this cancer will eventually take Luke's life. This is not a huge surprise. From the beginning, Luke's prognosis has been very guarded, because this type of cancer is very aggressive and it had already spread throughout Luke's body. Most kids with similar diagnoses do not survive past five years. At the same time, we are just heartbroken for our son, for our family, and for our friends. Luke is a talented and clever young man who seeks to honor God with his life, and his influence on others is tremendous. We expect that to continue, and yet there just aren't words to describe how we are feeling as we face the thought of losing him. So...what now? Please keep praying. I guess maybe we should pray even harder, if that's possible?!? Long odds do not bother God. He is not surprised by this. He is not scrambling for a backup plan. He is trustworthy, and He is in complete control. Luke's Doc has no timeline for what will happen next, and Luke's overall health is pretty good right now. The amount of cancer in his body is very small right now, and he has been off chemo for a few weeks, so he doesn't really have too many symptoms these days. He has spent the weekend with his friends, laughing and playing video games and telling stories just like any 16 year old kid would do. He said it's the "best weekend after bad news" he could have imagined. Luke told me this morning that he doesn't want people to avoid him or be awkward around him. He wants everyone to feel free to approach him and talk and ask questions or whatever. Please let me know if you want to come hang out with Luke. He would love that!! There is a clinical trial at DeVos that Luke has decided to participate in which has some promise. His Doc doubts that it would cure Luke's cancer, but the meds involved are ones that Luke has not had yet, and they've had success in stopping or slowing the growth of Luke's type of cancer with this treatment regimen. They are going to biopsy his tumor on Wednesday, so they can study the cancer and determine its exact markers, and then develop a treatment plan specifically tailored to Luke's specific cancer. We will pray boldly that the next time they scan Luke his Doc will be amazed and speechless because of the miraculous disappearance of any signs of cancer from Luke's body. We also need prayer for peace, patience, healing, and trust in God for our entire family. We are truly exhausted, and we need God to sustain us. Our prayer, as always, remains the same. We can't stop, WON'T stop praying for God to heal our boy. WILL. NOT. STOP. PRAYING. (James 5:14-16) God bless, James & Lu (for Sam, Jay, & Luke)
33 Comments
Denise Nammack Schaffer
2/12/2017 09:37:22 am
My heartfelt prayers are among the many.
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carissa lilly
2/12/2017 09:56:44 am
I'm just so sad to read this. I don't know what to say. But I love y'all. And I want to hug you so bad.
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Sarah Cobb
2/12/2017 09:56:59 am
I "liked" this post because I appreciate your willingness to share, but I hated to read it. I feel such hurt for you. I know you are exhausted. We will pray harder along with you and many others.
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Chelsea D
2/12/2017 09:59:12 am
Our prayers won't stop for you all! Thank you for your testimony and transparency. We love you all very much!
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Dennis
2/12/2017 10:52:29 am
My heart hurts for you but am also continuing to pray for the healing power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Linda Nienaber
2/12/2017 12:35:30 pm
So heartbroken over this news. Like you, I won't stop praying for Luke! God is amazing and good all the time!
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Aaron Wentz
2/12/2017 12:45:29 pm
Hi James and Luke, this is Aaron Wentz. As someone who battled cancer myself in 2013-2014, I can relate just a little. I would like to come by show Luke one of my favorite games called backgammon if he is open to learn.
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Laura Tuel
2/12/2017 12:54:03 pm
We will continue to stand beside you and lift you all up in big, bold prayers.
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Bre O'Keefe
2/12/2017 01:44:34 pm
Praying boldly and faithfully with you!
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Tracy Smith
2/12/2017 01:59:56 pm
Continuing to pray.
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Star Davan
2/12/2017 02:06:44 pm
Continued prayers ....
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Jane Reutter
2/12/2017 02:27:19 pm
We WILL. NOT. STOP. Praying for Luke either friends. We serve an amazing God. Whom is in the miracle making. What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27. We love you all. Hugs❤
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Jason Block
2/12/2017 04:00:56 pm
Continuing to pray!
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sandy
2/12/2017 04:18:45 pm
PRAY BOLDLY!! >>read this>>
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Dana
2/12/2017 05:20:20 pm
Praying harder.
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Jon Braeutigam
2/12/2017 06:08:26 pm
Our Father - we thank you for Luke. He is such a gift and such a beautiful son of yours. We thank you how Luke reflects your glory so strongly! We thank you for this family and for all the other saints, your sons and daughters, who are praying. We ask for healing for your glory. We ask and will continue to ask. We don't care how it comes. We ask you use Luke powerfully for your glory as you already have.
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Lorrie Dundon
2/12/2017 06:13:52 pm
Thank you, Lord, for such a nice weekend for Luke. I know that no matter what, God will be truly glorified through Luke's story. I hope, with all of you, that His glory will happen through Luke's healing, as we mentally touch the cloak of Jesus. Know that you are surrounded by a community that will continue to cheer Luke on, embrace his family with our love, and petition God for this special favor.
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The Wortzes
2/12/2017 06:22:57 pm
Praying, praying, praying!!! <3
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Karen Hossink
2/12/2017 07:07:03 pm
Praying. For Luke. For you. For God's glory!
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Sonia Thompson
2/12/2017 07:12:39 pm
I feel honored to be able to follow along with your family's story through your updates, and though you write with such clarity, hope, and faith, as a mother myself, I know that this must be immeasurably heartbreaking and scary and, like you said, exhausting for Luke and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers daily, and in the meantime, what is it that those of us following "from a distance" can do that would be most helpful right now? Still gas and gift cards??
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Allan
2/12/2017 07:46:48 pm
Man brother James, I don't know what to say. I just can't even imagine. These are heavy words yet you have hope and trust and that is encouraging to us. So we are joining with you to say we won't stop praying. Much love to your fam!
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Michelle Gilsdorf
2/13/2017 10:39:35 am
Breaks my heart to hear this news. Will continue to hope and pray without ceasing.
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Elissa Sterkenburg
2/13/2017 11:04:38 am
Praying for you all. Isaiah 46:4
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Jason
2/13/2017 01:16:03 pm
When it feels like God is silent, I pray that He make it abundantly clear where he is in all of this. And I pray that He and He alone would heal Luke.
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Sue Provencal
2/13/2017 03:47:08 pm
Praying with you for healing, strength and hope. Your family is an inspiration to me.
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Mandy Pressley
2/13/2017 07:23:48 pm
Luke continues to be in my daily thoughts and prayers, as all of the Granger family.
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Jamie B
2/13/2017 08:17:48 pm
We are going to pray very hard for your family and for Luke that God will cause a miracle to happen and his cancer will be healed.
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Carol DeBar
2/14/2017 01:36:55 am
I continue to pray for ALL of you, as we each boldly come to His throne asking for complete healing for Luke. This kind of news appears to be a setback, which I totally understand how devastating it seems. It just will provide an even greater healing miracle! God is a God that makes the impossible possible. Glory to HIS name! I continue to pray for Luke and each one of you. WILL. NOT. STOP PRAYING❣️
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Kris Richards
2/14/2017 09:59:51 am
We will pray with open heart for this young man and his family
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Chris Theule-VanDam
2/15/2017 02:55:45 am
Continuing to pray.
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Chelsea
2/16/2017 07:58:26 am
Praying hard!
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Sue and Josh Segerstrom
2/16/2017 08:43:20 pm
Lord, we lift up your dear children, the Granger Family, each one of them, as they grapple with such unbelievable news of their son and brother, Luke. We pray for Your peace and Your strength in their daily moments. The weight of such a trial and burden is so exhausting . We ask that your loving arms wrap around them- through Your love and the love and care of others. And, God, we would be more than happy to see your miraculous Hand at work in Luke's body- to heal him completely!
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Mary Jo Slingerland
2/18/2017 10:29:04 pm
My daughter, a real estate attorney in Okemos, MI, has posted this on her Facebook. I am a teacher in Ann Arbor, MI. All of the teachers at my school are praying for Luke. Love, Mary Jo
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